Siege of Smolensk (1613–1617)

For other sieges, see Siege of Smolensk (disambiguation).

The siege of Smolensk (1613–1617) is an episode of the Polish–Muscovite War (1605–1618).

Siege of Smolensk(1613-1617)
Part of the Polish–Muscovite War (1605–1618)
Date August 1613 – May 1617 Location Smolensk 54°47′N 32°03′E Result Polish-Lithuanian victory
Belligerents
Tsardom of Russia	Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Commanders and leaders
Dmitry Cherkassky Ivan Khovansky	Alexander Gonsevsky Alexander Lisovsky
Strength
Up to 12,000 (the largest number) 5,000–6,000 (average number)	Up to 2,000 (garrison) Up to 2,500 (troops outside the fortress)
Casualties and losses
Light	Light

Prelude

After the tactical victory in the Battle of Moscow (1612), the Russian government made an attempt to repulse the Poles from the strategically important fortress of Smolensk. Russian troops without a fight retook Vyazma (July 7, 1613), Dorogobuzh, and Bely, an important outpost on the Lithuanian frontier.

Siege

Russian troops for almost four years led a protracted and unsuccessful siege of the city, which consisted mainly of blockade of the garrison. During the siege, no attempt was made to assault. In the beginning of 1617, with the onset of the offensive of Polish–Lithuanian troops on Moscow (Wladislaw III campaign), the siege was lifted.

Aftermath

The unsuccessful siege of Smolensk predetermined the unsuccessful completion of the Polish–Muscovite War (1605–18). According to the Truce of Deulino, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth retained the Smolensk lands, which were captured by Russians only in 1654 at the beginning of the next Russo-Polish War (1654-67).