Battle of Rakvere (1603)

Battle of Rakvere
Part of the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611)
Date March 5, 1603 Location Rakvere, modern-day Estonia Result Polish-Lithuanian victory
Belligerents
Sweden	Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Commanders and leaders
Anders Lennartsson	Jan Karol Chodkiewicz
Casualties and losses
170 killed	1 killed and 2 wounded

The Battle of Rakvere took place March 5, 1603 during the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611). Jan Karol Chodkiewicz leave a some forces in Dorpat and moved on March 2 with 4 squadrons of cavalry (300 men) to help endangered the crew Rakvere. On the spot joined to him 500 soldiers of the crew. To the north of Rakvere March 5, Lithuanians unexpectedly encountered the vanguard of the Swedish army numbering 1000 soldiers. Swedish in command Colonel Krister Somme.

When the hussars started to charge, reiters fled, leaving the lonely peasant foot. At a time when hussars cut out infantry, reiters back strengthened by going through vanguard unit the nobility. When the hussars left infantry and went on reiters, they again fled. Soon there is goes from Rewal main Swedish forces commanded by Colonel Anders Lennartsson. On their view hussars stopped pursuit and waiting for the coming the infantry. Infantry however long did not come and Chodkiewicz seeing a large numerical superiority of the enemy retreated. Lennartsson also feared the attack and decided to retreat.

In the battle the Lithuanians lost only one soldier was killed and two wounded. The Swedes lost 70 Germans mercenary and 100 Estonian peasants. The victory at Rakvere accelerated capitulation Swedish crew Dorpat.

References

• Leszek Podhorodecki, "Rapier i koncerz", Warszawa 1985, ISBN 83-05-11452-X