Chapter II: The First Estonian War
At the outset of the war, Poland looked as if it might have it´s hands full, dealing not only with the Swedes in Estonia, but also Sweden´s North German allies of Mecklenburg, Holstein and Pommerania, who joined up and captured several cities and fortresses in western Poland, among them, Poznan is one worthy of mention.
Two-thirds of the Polish troops were with the King in Livonia, and others were required along the Eastern border, in case of any insurrection. This left the hetman in the West, Koniecpolski, with less than ten thousand men at his command. Standing against him were the combined forces of the former Hansa cities of northern Germany, surely three or four times the size of his own.
Yet, Koniecpolski was not deterred. He boldly lead his army south and around the huge enemy troop concentration south of Danzig, and laid siege to Poznan, and captured the city in a few months.
After capturing the city, the Poles marched into Hinterpommern and beleaguered Stettin, where they encountered and defeated an army from Pommerania and Holstein roughly their size. As a result of the battle, the combattants signed a treaty forcing all of Sweden´s allies out of the war. No land changed hands, however.
In the north, Sigismund invaded Estonia with a large army, numbering perhaps as much as 30.000. In the winter of 1627, Sigismund suffered a humiliating defeat against a Swedish army of 25.000 under King Gustavus Adolphus, losing nearly half his men. For much of the following year, many small skirmishes were fought back and forth across the Estonian border, with no clear victor apparent.
In early Summer of the next year, Sigismund had rebuilt his forces almost completely, whilst the Swedes only had a very small army present, as Russia had declared war on Sweden earlier that Spring. However, the army facing the Polish was the best in Europe, and was lead by Gustavus Adolphus himself, whom Sigismund had learned to respect.
As the forces clashed on 3rd June, 1628, Sigismund must have known it was his day. His 20.000 soldiers slaughtered the Swedish army of 6.000 to a man, and captured Gustavus Adolphus himself. It would still take several years until all the major Estonian cities had fallen. Sigismund now realized this was his chance at destroying Poland´s long time enemy for good.
Nevertheless, it was not to be. On January 9th, 1630, Sigismund III Wasa died peacefully in his sleep, a few days before the invasion of Finland was to take place. Upon his death, the Sejm now decided to make peace with Sweden, and in May, the treaty of Narva was signed giving the Polish Crown 200.000 ducats as compensation.
With a new King, would there finally be peace?
The Commonwealth at Sigismund´s death
