The Lithuanian defense of Polotsk repelled a Muscovite siege and gave rise to the first miracle attributed to Saint Casimir, advancing his canonization.
Key Facts
- War
- Fourth Muscovite–Lithuanian War (1512–1522)
- Russian commander (Novgorod)
- Vasily Nemoy Shuysky
- Russian commander (Pskov)
- Ivan Vasilievich Shuysky
- Lithuanian reinforcement commander
- Albertas Goštautas, Voivode of Polotsk
- Polish mercenary commander
- Jan Boratyński
- Miracle attributed to
- Saint Prince Casimir Jagiellon
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Grand Duchy of Moscow pursued an expansionist series of wars against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to recover former Kievan Rus' territories. A new conflict erupted in 1512, and by 1518 Russian forces from Novgorod and Pskov, equipped with heavy artillery, moved against the strategically important city of Polotsk.
Russian forces set siege towers and bombarded Polotsk's walls, but soon suffered food shortages and sent foraging parties across the Daugava River. Lithuanian reinforcements under Albertas Goštautas, including Polish mercenaries, crossed the river—guided, according to legend, by an apparition of Prince Casimir—then launched a night attack using burning haystacks to disorient the enemy, inflicting heavy losses on the Russians.
The Russians were forced to retreat with significant casualties, ending the siege. The legend of Prince Casimir's apparition was recorded by chroniclers Bernard Wapowski and Marcin Bielski and recognized as his first miracle, which deepened his cult veneration and ultimately contributed to his formal canonization by the Catholic Church.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Vasily Nemoy Shuysky, Ivan Vasilievich Shuysky.
Side B
1 belligerent
Albertas Goštautas, Jan Boratyński.