Siege of Smolensk

Timeline

1. 1632Outside Smolensk · RussiaShein arrived before Smolensk with over 30,000 men and a large train of artillery, established siege lines, mounted batteries to fire on the walls, and launched repeated infantry assaults, all repulsed by the defenders. The Polish garrison of about 3,000 under deputy voivode John Sokolinski resisted stubbornly.
2. 1633Siege lines at Smolensk · Eastern EuropeThe siege dragged on into 1633 without the Russians breaking the defenses. Meanwhile, Crimean Tatars, instigated by Poland, raided heavily on Russia's southern frontier; the Russians had to detach troops to relieve it, weakening the siege force, morale sagged, and mercenaries began deserting over unpaid wages.
3. 1633–1634Outworks of Smolensk · Eastern EuropeKing Władysław IV personally led about 25,000 reinforcements, cut the Russian supply lines, and surrounded them completely. Caught between internal and external attacks and out of supplies, in February 1634 Shein marched out with some 8,000 survivors to surrender, leaving all artillery behind; the soldiers were allowed to withdraw unarmed to Russia.