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Muscovy-Lithuanian Border War
In the 1450s the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania repeatedly fought along Rus' western border over Smolensk, Vyazma and vassal …
Timeline
- 1451–1454Vyazma · Smolensk OblastMoscow and Lithuania contested suzerainty over border towns such as Vyazma and Mozhaysk. Vassal princes backed by the two sides repeatedly switched sides, small armed clashes were frequent, and the border zone remained tense.
- 1454–1456Smolensk region · Western Rus'Vasily II sent armies west to attack Lithuanian-held lands in western Rus'. Moscow's forces made progress at several border fortresses, but key towns such as Smolensk remained within Lithuania's sphere, and the two sides fell into a seesaw struggle.
- 1457–1460Western Rus' border · Western Rus'By the late 1450s Moscow and Lithuania had reached a de facto border equilibrium: Moscow consolidated its core lands, while Lithuania still held Smolensk and large tracts of western Rus'. Border conflict temporarily eased, but territorial disputes lingered until the era of Ivan III.
Sources
- The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania, Vol. I — Robert I. Frost (2015)
- A History of Russia — Nicholas V. Riasanovsky (2005)