Maps

In July 1655 the general levy of the nobility of the Poznań and Kalisz voivodeships, gathered on the Noteć, surrendered without a decisive battle to Arvid Wittenberg's Swedish army.

In August 1655, near Kėdainiai, the Grand Hetman of Lithuania Janusz Radziwiłł proclaimed the act submitting the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the protection of the King of Sweden; in October the Union of Kėdainiai was signed here.

On 8 September 1655, Warsaw surrendered to Charles X Gustav's army without a battle. Behind that brief notice lies a story of a municipal decision, occupation taxes and a map bearing two dates.

Stefan Czarniecki’s troops defeated the rearguard of Arvid Wittenberg’s Swedish army. The action was an early instance of armed resistance in the 1655 campaign.

John II Casimir’s forces were defeated by the Swedes at Żarnów. The royal army continued its retreat after the battle.

In the autumn of 1655 Stefan Czarniecki defended Kraków for more than three weeks against the army of Charles X Gustav, then surrendered the city under a capitulation and led the garrison out under arms.

The Swedish army routed the Mazovian noble levy at Nowy Dwór. Another force raised to defend the Commonwealth failed to halt the invasion.

The Swedish army defeated Crown forces at Wojnicz. The defeat further weakened the position of Kraków’s defenders.

Krzysztof Żegocki attacked and defeated the Swedish garrison at Kościan. The action showed that resistance continued in Greater Poland despite earlier capitulations.

The Crown hetmans accepted Charles X Gustav’s authority at Wiśnicz. Their later return to John Casimir’s side marked a political reversal in the campaign.

For nearly six weeks the defenders of Jasna Góra refused to admit a Swedish garrison. Meet the decision makers, explore the fortress and learn why its defence became the defining image of the Deluge.

John II Casimir issued a proclamation at Opole calling for resistance to the Swedes. He made the appeal while outside the Commonwealth.

Janusz Radziwiłł died during the war, soon after the Kėdainiai agreements. His political choices remained among the most contested episodes of the invasion.

Forces loyal to John Casimir under Wojniłłowicz defeated Swedish troops at Krosno. The victory was one of several local actions against Swedish units and garrisons.

At the end of December 1655 the Crown hetmans, the army and the nobility formed a confederation at Tyszowce which renounced allegiance to Charles X Gustav and called for war against the Swedes.

Charles X Gustav defeated Stefan Czarniecki’s forces at Gołąb. Polish troops nevertheless continued operations against the Swedish army.

Paweł Jan Sapieha’s Lithuanian forces fought Bogusław Radziwiłł’s troops at Janów. The action formed part of the fighting in Lithuania alongside the Crown campaign.

Stefan Czarniecki defeated the vanguard of Charles X Gustav’s army at Jarosław. The engagement took place during manoeuvres in the south of the Commonwealth.

In April 1656 Stefan Czarniecki's army defeated, on the Pilica between Warka and Czersk, the corps of the Margrave of Baden, which was marching to the aid of Charles X Gustav.

John II Casimir made his vows in Lwów Cathedral. The act had both religious and political meaning as resistance to Sweden revived.

Lithuanian troops under Paweł Jan Sapieha retook Lublin from the Swedes. The city’s recovery formed part of operations against scattered occupation garrisons.

Forces led by Stefan Czarniecki and Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski fought the Swedes at Kłecko. The Polish Army Museum assesses the outcome as a Swedish victory.

Outside besieged Warsaw, John II Casimir renewed the promises he had made at Lwów. The king was with the forces seeking to recover the capital.

Charles X Gustav concluded an agreement at Malbork with Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg. In exchange for military aid, the elector was promised territory in the Commonwealth.

The Swedish garrison in Warsaw surrendered after a siege by Commonwealth forces. The capital’s recovery preceded a major field battle outside the city later that month.

From 28 to 30 July, Commonwealth troops fought a combined Swedish-Brandenburg army. The allies won the field battle, but the war continued.

Stefan Czarniecki’s forces won an engagement at Łowicz. Operations against Swedish forces continued after the July defeat near Warsaw.

John II Casimir’s army captured Łęczyca from its Swedish garrison. The recovery of towns and fortresses gradually reduced the area under Swedish control.

Wincenty Gosiewski’s Polish, Lithuanian and Tatar force defeated Swedish-Brandenburg troops. The battle was fought in Ducal Prussia.

Swedish-Brandenburg forces defeated Wincenty Gosiewski’s corps at Filipów. The defeat came two weeks after his victory at Prostki.

The Commonwealth and Russia concluded a truce in their war that had begun in 1654. The agreement reflected the changed situation created by Swedish advances.

The Commonwealth and Austrian Habsburgs signed an agreement in Vienna on aid against Sweden. The war was drawing in a growing number of European states.

Charles X Gustav and his allies agreed on a proposed division of Commonwealth territory. The planned partition was not carried out.

The king arrived in Gdańsk, which had not surrendered to the Swedes. The port remained an important centre of resistance and contact with allies.

Commonwealth and Swedish forces fought at Chojnice. Fighting in Prussia continued after the 1656 campaign.

George II Rákóczi’s troops and their Swedish allies forced Warsaw to capitulate. The capital was again held by John Casimir’s opponents.

Commonwealth forces fought the retreating Transylvanian army at Magierów. The campaign against George II Rákóczi was nearing its end.

After defeats suffered by Transylvanian forces, George II Rákóczi capitulated. His Swedish-backed campaign did not bring about the planned partition of the Commonwealth.

The agreements with Elector Frederick William ended his alliance with Sweden. The Commonwealth recognized his sovereignty in Ducal Prussia.

Commonwealth and imperial forces began a blockade of Toruń, held by a Swedish garrison. The operation formed part of the recovery of fortresses in Royal Prussia.

Stefan Czarniecki’s corps joined the allied crossing to the Danish island of Als. The Danish campaign took Commonwealth soldiers far beyond their own borders.

The Swedish garrison of Toruń surrendered to Polish and imperial forces. This ended a months-long siege of a major Swedish stronghold in Prussia.

During the 1659 campaign, Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski’s troops retook Grudziądz from the Swedes. The city had been occupied since late 1655.

The treaty concluded on 3 May 1660 in the monastery at Oliva ended the war between the Commonwealth and Sweden; Sweden returned Royal Prussia but kept the greater part of Livonia.