Smolensk War

Timeline

1. 1632Along the route from Moscow to Smolensk · RussiaPolish King Sigismund III died, and Russia declared war during the vacancy of the Polish throne. Tsar Michael Romanov ordered the boyar commander Mikhail Shein to lead an army westward with the goal of recovering Smolensk.
2. 1632–1633Smolensk · RussiaShein surrounded Smolensk with over 30,000 Russian troops, bombarding the walls and repeatedly storming the city without success. During the siege, Tatar cavalry raided southern Russia, diverting Russian attention and threatening their supply lines.
3. 1633–1634Outskirts of Smolensk · Eastern EuropeThe newly elected Polish King Władysław IV personally led a large army to relieve Smolensk, encircling Shein's Russian forces in turn. The Russians were trapped deep in encirclement, cut off from supplies, morale collapsed, and mercenaries deserted in large numbers.
4. 1634Polyanovka River · Eastern EuropeShein was forced to surrender his remaining forces to the Poles, abandoning all artillery and baggage. After returning home, Shein was executed on charges of losing the army and territory. In June of the same year, both sides signed a peace treaty at Polyanovka: Russia returned some of the lands occupied during the war, Poland retained Smolensk, and Władysław IV formally renounced his claim to the title of Tsar of Russia.