A Swedish defeat near Reval during the Polish–Swedish War that cost 2,000 men and shifted command of Swedish forces in Estonia.
Key Facts
- Date
- 3 February 1567
- Swedish losses
- 2,000 men
- Swedish commander
- Henrik Klasson Horn af Kanckas
- Polish commander
- Fältöverste Talwosa
- Notable prisoner
- Knight Johann Maydell Goswinsson
- Conflict
- Polish–Swedish War (1563–1568)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In 1566, Erik XIV ordered Henrik Horn to recapture Pärnu or ravage the Diocese of Riga to forestall a Polish attack on Swedish-held territory in Livonia. Swedish raids under Klas Kursell failed to retake Pernau, prompting the Poles to launch a retaliatory offensive into Swedish territory in early 1567.
On 3 February 1567, Swedish forces commanded by Henrik Klasson Horn af Kanckas clashed with Polish forces under Talwosa near Runafer, close to Reval. The Swedes suffered a heavy defeat, losing an estimated 2,000 men. The Estonian nobility, serving in a military capacity for the first time, performed poorly and sustained severe casualties.
Following the battle, the Poles continued to plunder Swedish territory but lacked sufficient resources to capitalise fully on the victory. Henrik Horn lost royal trust and was replaced by Kursell as commander of Swedish forces in Estonia. The Polish commander Talwosa was similarly unable to exploit the outcome due to a shortage of resources.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Talwosa.
Side B
1 belligerent
Henrik Klasson Horn af Kanckas.