Lietuvos kariuomenė Livonijos karo kampanijose 1578-1581 m ; The Lithuanian army during the Livonian war campaigns in 1578-1581
The first great international conflict of the Modern times in the North Europe was the Livonian war, that lasted for about twenty years. In the final stages of this conflict two major powers - the Poland-Lithuania state and Russian the Grand duchy of Moscow opposed each other in series of the final decisive battles. In 1575–1577 Russia tried to establish it's domination in Livonia invading territories controlled by Sweden and Lithuania. King Stephanus Bathorius mobilized financial and human resourses of the Lithuanian-Polish nobility and in person took part in modernization of the army and planning of military actions. In 1578 the Lithuanian army regained initiative and began repulsion of Russian forces from Livonia. In 1579 joined Lithuanian-Polish army recaptured Polock district. In 1580 Livonia was almost cut from Russia by deep invasion in Velikie Luki region. Objective of the final campaign of 1581 was Pskov city, but after long blockade Pskov wasn't taken. Finally Russia was military defeated and agreed on withdrawal from Livonia by the peace Zapole Jama 1582. During the war the Lithuanian army was independent and the largest part of the joined forces but during all campaigns it played secondary role and was used mostly for blockade of Russian strongholds and cutting of reinforcement routes. The Major action taken by the Lithuanians during these campaigns was daring expeditions into depths of Russia. After the war lack of the Lithuanian military strength allowed Polish. [to full text]