Battle of Klushino
Near Klushino, Smolensk Oblast, Russia
What happened
A Polish-Lithuanian army under Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski fought a Russian army under Dmitry Shuisky and foreign mercenaries under Jacob De la Gardie. During Russia's 'Time of Troubles', a period of civil war, Poland-Lithuania invaded. At Klushino, the outnumbered Polish-Lithuanian army, mostly winged hussar cavalry, charged the Russian positions again and again. The Russian army broke, and many of the foreign mercenaries changed sides.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Soon afterwards the Russian tsar Vasili IV was overthrown, and Żółkiewski entered Moscow with little opposition. Russian nobles offered the throne to the Polish prince Władysław.
What came next
Władysław never actually ruled Russia. The Polish-Lithuanian garrison in Moscow was besieged and surrendered about a year later.
Did you know?
The battle is named on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw.
Timeline
- 4 July 1610Poland-Lithuania wins at Klushino.
- 1610Tsar Vasili IV is overthrown; Żółkiewski enters Moscow.
- 7 October 1620Żółkiewski dies at the Battle of Cecora.