AI illustration
Imagined winter military march.
1648–1668
Timeline
The Swedish Deluge lasted from summer 1655 to the Peace of Oliva in 1660. This timeline also follows the events before the invasion and the Commonwealth’s subsequent history.
Entries link to sources and full articles. Where the exact day is unknown, we show the month or year.
1648–1655
Before the Deluge
The Khmelnytsky uprising and war with Moscow. The crisis preceding Sweden’s decision to invade.
Why did Sweden invade? Read the background-
1648
Military action
Khmelnytsky Uprising begins
A Cossack uprising began in Ukraine, tying down Commonwealth forces years before the Swedish invasion.
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1649
Military action
Siege of Zbarazh
In 1649 Cossack and Tatar forces besieged the Crown army at Zbarazh. That war drained the Commonwealth before Sweden invaded.
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1651
Battle
Battle of Berestechko
John Casimir's victory over Cossack and Tatar forces in 1651 did not end the war that continued during the Deluge.
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1654
Political event
Pereiaslav agreement and war with Russia
The Cossacks turned towards the tsar; war with Russia began in 1654, before Sweden invaded.
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1655
Military action
Russian offensive threatens Lithuania
In summer 1655 Russian forces took Minsk and approached Vilnius. Lithuania faced an eastern threat as Sweden prepared to invade.
1655–1660
The Swedish Deluge
Invasion, occupation, resistance and peace with Sweden. This section also includes events from other conflicts unfolding at the same time.
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1655
The invasion beginsMilitary action
Swedish army crosses the border
Arvid Wittenberg’s Swedish army invaded on 21 July 1655. The capitulation at Ujście followed four days later.
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Treaty
Capitulation at Ujście (1655)
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.
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Treaty
Capitulation of Kėdainiai (1655)
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.
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Military action
Swedish forces occupy Warsaw
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.
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Battle
Skirmish at Inowłódz
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.
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Battle
Battle of Żarnów
John II Casimir’s forces were defeated by the Swedes at Żarnów. The royal army continued its retreat after the battle.
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Siege
Siege of Kraków (1655)
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.
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Battle
Defeat at Nowy Dwór
The Swedish army routed the Mazovian noble levy at Nowy Dwór. Another force raised to defend the Commonwealth failed to halt the invasion.
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Battle
Battle of Wojnicz
The Swedish army defeated Crown forces at Wojnicz. The defeat further weakened the position of Kraków’s defenders.
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Battle
Resistance at Kościan
Krzysztof Żegocki attacked and defeated the Swedish garrison at Kościan. The action showed that resistance continued in Greater Poland despite earlier capitulations.
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Political event
John II Casimir leaves the Commonwealth
With Swedish forces advancing and some nobles submitting to Charles X Gustav, John II Casimir left the Commonwealth. From exile he continued to seek support for resistance.
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Political event
Crown hetmans submit at Wiśnicz
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.
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Siege
Siege of Jasna Góra (1655)
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.
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Political event
The Opole proclamation
John II Casimir issued a proclamation at Opole calling for resistance to the Swedes. He made the appeal while outside the Commonwealth.
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Battle
Battle of Krosno
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.
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Political event
Tyszowce Confederation (1655)
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.
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Political event
Death of Janusz Radziwiłł
Janusz Radziwiłł died during the war, soon after the Kėdainiai agreements. His political choices remained among the most contested episodes of the invasion.
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1656
Political event
The king returns and the Łańcut confederation
John II Casimir returned in January. At Łańcut a confederation formed around him to support resistance against Sweden.
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Battle
Battle of Gołąb
Charles X Gustav defeated Stefan Czarniecki’s forces at Gołąb. Polish troops nevertheless continued operations against the Swedish army.
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Battle
Battle of Janów
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.
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Battle
Battle of Jarosław
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.
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Political event
John Casimir’s Lwów vows
John II Casimir made his vows in Lwów Cathedral. The act had both religious and political meaning as resistance to Sweden revived.
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Battle
Battle of Warka (1656)
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.
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Military action
Recapture of Lublin
Lithuanian troops under Paweł Jan Sapieha retook Lublin from the Swedes. The city’s recovery formed part of operations against scattered occupation garrisons.
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Battle
Battle of Kłecko
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.
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Treaty
Temporary ceasefire with Russia
Commonwealth and Russian commanders agreed to suspend fighting temporarily. The two states had been at war since 1654, and the Swedish invasion changed their strategic positions.
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Political event
Vows outside Warsaw
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.
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Treaty
Treaty of Malbork
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.
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Military action
Swedish garrison surrenders in Warsaw
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.
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Battle
Three-day Battle of Warsaw
From 28 to 30 July, Commonwealth troops fought a combined Swedish-Brandenburg army. The allies won the field battle, but the war continued.
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Battle
Battle of Łowicz
Stefan Czarniecki’s forces won an engagement at Łowicz. Operations against Swedish forces continued after the July defeat near Warsaw.
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Military action
Recapture of Łęczyca
John II Casimir’s army captured Łęczyca from its Swedish garrison. The recovery of towns and fortresses gradually reduced the area under Swedish control.
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Battle
Battle of Prostki
Wincenty Gosiewski’s Polish, Lithuanian and Tatar force defeated Swedish-Brandenburg troops. The battle was fought in Ducal Prussia.
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Battle
Battle of Filipów
Swedish-Brandenburg forces defeated Wincenty Gosiewski’s corps at Filipów. The defeat came two weeks after his victory at Prostki.
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Treaty
Truce of Niemieża
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.
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Treaty
Agreement with the Habsburgs in Vienna
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.
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Treaty
Treaty of Radnot
Charles X Gustav and his allies agreed on a proposed division of Commonwealth territory. The planned partition was not carried out.
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Political event
John II Casimir arrives in Gdańsk
The king arrived in Gdańsk, which had not surrendered to the Swedes. The port remained an important centre of resistance and contact with allies.
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1657
Battle
Battle of Chojnice
Commonwealth and Swedish forces fought at Chojnice. Fighting in Prussia continued after the 1656 campaign.
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Military action
George II Rákóczi invades
Early in 1657 the prince of Transylvania invaded the Commonwealth as Sweden’s ally and a party to the Treaty of Radnot.
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Political event
Denmark enters the war against Sweden
Frederick III of Denmark declared war on Sweden. This opened another front, with Denmark and the Commonwealth opposing the same enemy.
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Military action
Warsaw falls to Transylvanian and Swedish forces
George II Rákóczi’s troops and their Swedish allies forced Warsaw to capitulate. The capital was again held by John Casimir’s opponents.
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Battle
Battle of Magierów
Commonwealth forces fought the retreating Transylvanian army at Magierów. The campaign against George II Rákóczi was nearing its end.
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Military action
George II Rákóczi capitulates
After defeats suffered by Transylvanian forces, George II Rákóczi capitulated. His Swedish-backed campaign did not bring about the planned partition of the Commonwealth.
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Treaty
Treaties of Wehlau and Bromberg
The agreements with Elector Frederick William ended his alliance with Sweden. The Commonwealth recognized his sovereignty in Ducal Prussia.
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1658
Military action
Blockade of the Swedish garrison in Toruń
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.
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Military action
Crossing to the island of Als
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.
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Military action
Swedish garrison of Toruń surrenders
The Swedish garrison of Toruń surrendered to Polish and imperial forces. This ended a months-long siege of a major Swedish stronghold in Prussia.
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1659
Military action
Recapture of Grudziądz
During the 1659 campaign, Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski’s troops retook Grudziądz from the Swedes. The city had been occupied since late 1655.
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Military action
Czarniecki leaves Denmark
Stefan Czarniecki and his division left Denmark after the campaign against Sweden. Some Polish units remained with the allied forces.
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1660
The war with Sweden endsTreaty
Treaty of Oliva (1660)
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.
1660–1668
After the Deluge
War with Russia continued after peace with Sweden. Later years brought Lubomirski’s rebellion, the Truce of Andrusovo and John Casimir’s abdication.
What happened after the Peace of Oliva?-
1660
Battle
Battle of Połonka
After peace with Sweden, Commonwealth armies still fought Russia. At Połonka, Sapieha and Czarniecki defeated Russian forces.
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Battle
Battle of Chudniv
Polish forces under Potocki and Lubomirski defeated a Russian army at Chudniv. War in the east continued despite peace with Sweden.
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1661
Political event
The Brotherly Union demands overdue pay
Confederated Lithuanian troops formed the Brotherly Union and demanded overdue military pay.
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1662
Political event
Abduction and killing of Wincenty Gosiewski
Soldiers of the Brotherly Union abducted and shot Lithuanian Hetman Wincenty Gosiewski, a royal supporter.
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1665
Political event
Confederation in support of Lubomirski
A confederation in Lwów backed the exiled Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski. His dispute with the king escalated into civil war.
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1666
Battle
Battle of Mątwy
Royal troops lost to rebels supporting Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski. This was a civil war after the fighting with Sweden had ended.
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1667
Treaty
Truce of Andrusovo
The truce ended the main phase of the Commonwealth’s war with Russia, begun in 1654, and changed its eastern borders.
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1668
Political event
John II Casimir abdicates
Eight years after peace with Sweden, John II Casimir gave up the throne, ending his reign and the Polish Vasa line.