Battle of Wojnicz

Part of the Second Northern War and The Deluge

Conflictus apud Tarnovam et Wounicium Ubi Rex Carolus Gustavus cum parte Sui equitatus, Conietzpolscium Polonicum Die 23 septemb 1655 by Erik Dahlbergh

Date	October 3, 1655
Location	Wojnicz
Result	Swedish victory

Belligerents

Swedish Empire

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Commanders and leaders

Charles X Gustav

Field Crown Hetman Stanisław Lanckoroński

Great Crown Hetman

Strength

3,600–5,700

6,300–8,000

Field Crown Hetman Stanisław Lanckoroński

The Battle of Wojnicz was fought on October 3, 1655 between forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth commanded by Field Crown Hetman Stanisław Lanckoroński and Great Crown Hetman on one side, and on the other Swedish forces commanded by Charles X Gustav. The battle ended in Swedish victory.

In the early stages of the Siege of Krakow, Polish royal units of Hetman Lanckoronski decided to abandon the city, as the situation of the defenders was hopeless. Together with king Jan Kazimierz, the Poles headed eastwards, to Tarnów. At some point, the king with the royal court turned southwards, to Nowy Wisnicz and Nowy Sacz, while the army of Lanckoronski joined units under Hetman Potocki.

Swedish king Charles Gustav, who commanded the siege of Krakow, decided to chase the Poles, leaving Arvid Wittenberg with 8,000 soldiers in Krakow. Charles Gustav had app. 5,000 soldiers, mostly infantry, while Polish units were more numerous, including the hussars under Stanislaw Koniecpolski. The Poles camped among the hills in the vicinity of the town of Wojnicz, near the Dunajec river.

Due to poor visibility, the Swedes sent two cavalry regiments for reconnaissance purposes. The regiments clashed with Polish cavalry, which was sent for the same purpose. The skirmish turned into a full-scale battle, which took place in the Polish camp, among tents. Charles Gustav quickly sent reinforcements, attacking wings of the Polish cavalry. Under pressure of disciplined Swedish musketeers and their firepower, the hussars, who were elite force of the Polish army, had to retreat behind the Dunajec. Stanislaw Lanckoronski narrowly escaped death.

...
Wikipedia