Battle of Kalisz

Augustus II in the battle of Kalisz

Date	October 18, 1706 (O.S.) October 19, 1706 (Swedish calendar) October 29, 1706 (N.S.)
Location	Kalisz, Poland
Result	Allied Coalition Victory

Belligerents

Swedish Empire

Warsaw Confederation

Saxony

Tsardom of Russia

Sandomierz Confederation

Commanders and leaders

Arvid Axel Mardefelt

Augustus II the Strong

Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov

Adam Mikołaj Sieniawski

Strength

14,000:

4,358 Swedes,
9,000–10,000 Poles and Lithuanians,
10 cannon

35,000–36,000:

6,000 Saxons,
10,000 Russians,
10,000 Poles,
6,000 Kalmyks,
4,000 Cossacks,
17 cannon

Casualties and losses

4,900:

2,000 killed,
2,900 captured
(of which 700 killed and 1,800 captured being Swedish)

about 3,000 killed and wounded

The Battle of Kalisz took place on October 29, 1706 in Kalisz, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Great Northern War. It was a three-hour fight which could have been prevented if Augustus II of Poland had informed the Swedes and Russians of certain matters. At the time, an alliance existed between the Poles, Saxons, and Russians. The battle was fought by Russian cavalry, led by commander Aleksandr Menshikov; against a smaller Swedish force headed by colonel Mardefelt. The Russians played a role of significance here because they needed to support their Saxon allies under Augustus.

Charles XII of Sweden's victory in the Battle of Fraustadt had forced August the Strong of the Electorate of Saxony to drop out of the Great Northern War and abdicate his claims to the Polish crown in the Treaty of Altranstädt, marking an end to the Civil war in Poland (1704-1706).

When he learned of the recently arranged treaty while on his travels with Menshikov, Augustus chose to keep the news from him. His decision was based on the Russians' support through generosity in expenses. They were prepared to fight for him and Augustus could not risk angering his ally with the recently learned information. His last attempt to mend the situation was also unsuccessful. He sent word to the waiting Swedish force begging them to retreat upon meeting, but Mardefelt, having been unaware of the treaty, interpreted the plea as a trick of battle. As a result of poor communication, and to Augustus' dismay, the Battle of Kalisz did occur.

At the time, king Augustus of Poland, also the Electorate of Saxony, had in secret negotiated a peace treaty with the swedes. This because after five years of marching, war and burning, the swedes had attacked Augustus where it hurt; his own electorate. Thus, the main Swedish army was at the time in Saxony.

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Wikipedia