Battles & Campaigns · 1702
Battle of Kliszów
Kliszów, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland
What happened
A Swedish army under King Charles XII fought a Saxon and Polish army under King Augustus II. Charles marched his army in four columns hidden by a forest and surprised the Saxon camp. When the Polish army appeared, he moved troops to his left. Saxon cavalry attacked across marshy ground but were held off, and in the afternoon Swedish infantry stormed the Saxon position on a hill.
Why it matters
Augustus's army was badly weakened and he lost standing among Poles. Charles was free to move through Poland.
What came next
Charles took Kraków on 29 July. Augustus later gave up the Polish crown.
Did you know?
Among the spoils was a large Turkish tent captured by Augustus's father at the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
Timeline
- 19 Jul 1702Battle of Kliszów.
- 29 Jul 1702Charles XII takes Kraków.
- 1706Augustus gives up the Polish crown.
- 14 Jul 1708Charles wins at Holowczyn.