"Grandfather of Poltava Victoria" - the battle of Kalish

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"Grandfather of Poltava Victoria" - the battle of Kalish

Karl, unable to overtake the Russian army, which was moving away from Grodno and impose a battle on it on its own terms, turned back to the west, began to pursue Augustus. From Polotsk, the Swedish army moved through Lutsk and Lublin to Dresden. Without much resistance, Swedish troops in September 1706 occupied the whole of Saxony.

In the meantime, the authorized representatives of the Saxon prince were conducting secret negotiations with the Swedes. 13 (24) September 1706, Augustus concluded a separate peace with Sweden in the village of Altranstadt. The Saxon Elector Augustus II rejected the crown of the Commonwealth in favor of the Swedish protege Stanislav Leschinsky, refused to union with Russia. In addition, he pledged to withdraw Saxons from the Russian service and issue the Russian representative and commander of the auxiliary Russian corps, Johann Patkul (issued and executed in 1707) to the King of Sweden, as well as all other Russian soldiers who were in Saxony. Augustus also promised to transfer the Polish fortresses to Krakow, Tykocin and others with all the artillery and property of the Swedish army and to let the Swedish garrisons into the Saxon lands. Augustus II also pledged to patronize the Lutheran religion in Saxony. The Swedish king Karl, for his part, pledged to protect Augustus II from reprisals from Moscow and, when concluding peace with Russia, to protect the interests of Saxony. Contemporaries called this treaty capitulation, “unparalleled in stories". In fact, the agreement gave the entire King of Sweden to the power of the Swedish king and untied his hands for an offensive against Russia.

Negotiations were conducted in secret, Augustus did not warn his ally, Peter, about them. The Russian command at that time was trying to help its ally. There was an instruction to concentrate the army at Zolkiev. The volatile 20 thousand corps (corolant, from the French corps volant) under the command of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was instructed to help Augustus. This unit was created in 1701 year, as a temporary military unit in the cavalry, infantry transported on horseback and light artillery. The flying corps was created for action on enemy communications, in its rear, for pursuing a defeated enemy and was able to solve strategic tasks in isolation from the main forces of the army.

In Lublin, the Menshikov corps joined up with the 15 thousand corps of the Polish-Saxon cavalry under the command of August II (as already mentioned, he hid a separate peace with Sweden, leading a double game). Menshikov received a message from intelligence that the 7-8 thousand Swedish squad with the Polish Polish army 20 thousand (supporters of Stanislav Leschinsky) under the command of Arvid Mardefeld is concentrated in the area of ​​the city of Kalisz. On the way to Kalisz, Augustus ratified the Altranstedt Treaty, but did not dare to confess to Menshikov the surrender of Saxony. The elector expected that Mardefeld would have time to retreat and secretly informed him about the approach of the Russian-Polish-Saxon troops, about making peace with Sweden, but Mardefeld did not believe him and decided to take the fight.

Battle

18 (29) October Allied army approached Kalisz. The Swedish general took a strong position beyond the Prosnoi River, it was covered from the flanks and the front by swamps, this was to reduce the capabilities of the superior Menshikov cavalry forces. Mardefeld placed a Swedish detachment in the center (4 thousand cavalry and 3 thousand cavalry), on the flanks were Polish troops. Menshikov built his forces in three lines, on the right flank there were Russians, on the left Saxon forces.

The first attacked the army Menshikov. The first line crushed the Poles and they ran, but then the Saxon cavalry ran into the Swedish infantry and she threw the Saxons with a strong firing. The Russian first line was also overturned by the Swedish cavalry.

The Swedish cavalry, fascinated by the pursuit, ran into the Russian second line — fresh dragoon regiments. Menshikov led the cavalry at this critical moment and was wounded in battle. After a fierce battle, the Swedes were chopped up. The Swedish infantry was left alone - the Poles fought reluctantly, quickly scattered. The Swedes lined up in a square - the battle order of the infantry, built in the form of a square, was used to defend against the enemy's cavalry. The Swedes repulsed several attacks of the Russian cavalry. Then Alexander Menshikov ordered several compounds to hurry and attack from the front, and the cavalry to attack from the flanks. The army went to the general attack. After a three-hour battle, the Swedes were completely defeated. General Mardefeld was captured. The next day, surrendered those Polish units, who sat down in a train.

The outcome of the battle. It was a complete victory, which is why historian V.A. Artamonov called Victoria under Kalish “the grandfather of Poltava Victoria.” The Swedish-Polish corps ceased to exist: up to 5 thousands of dead and wounded (including the Swedes - 4 thousands, they put up the most stubborn resistance), 5 thousands of prisoners (including 2 thousands of Swedes), 3 guns seized, hundreds of guns. The Menshikov Army lost several hundred killed and wounded (including more than 400 Russians). It was a major achievement of Russian military art - in the "right" battle a strong opponent was completely destroyed. The Russian cavalry acted perfectly, and Menshikov showed himself to be an excellent cavalry commander, personally brave and resolute, at the critical moment he rushed into battle, dragging soldiers and officers along with him. The victory had a great psychological significance for the Russian army. It should be noted that the victory was won solely by the Russian regiments, Augustus prudently stayed away from the battlefield, and the Saxon army retreated after the first failure.

Its value reduced the surrender of Augustus. In addition, the Saxon Elector deceived Menshikov, took all the Swedish prisoners and handed them over to Karl.


Medal "For the victory at Kalisz. 1706.
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12 comments
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  1. Region71
    +5
    24 February 2012 15: 13
    That’s what saddens me most of the registered members of the site discuss and break spears mainly in political topics. And here are such interesting articles about unknown battles in Russian history, and there are not a lot of comments from visitors. Thanks to Alexander for reading the article.
    1. 0
      25 February 2012 01: 38
      we read the article to broaden our horizons, but to discuss what the story is written, it cannot be redone. Our ancestors are proud and remember, but I do not want to write empty cheers. so do not blame the members of the forum.

      By the way, is 1141 viewing per day really small?
  2. Hauptmannzimermann
    +5
    24 February 2012 16: 10
    I agree with you. You need to study history, in it you can find answers to many modern questions. Doing what our ancestors did must strengthen our spirit and strength. HISTORY IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR STATE.
  3. predator
    +1
    24 February 2012 16: 39
    an interesting person, A.D. Menshikov is a great commander, went on the attack himself, climbed the fortress walls, boarded ships, at the same time also the embezzler, for which Peter personally regaled with a club on the back.
    1. 0
      24 February 2012 17: 15
      Along the way, he had a connection with the future Catherine the First (and not only him), and managed to shove her into Peter.
  4. +2
    24 February 2012 21: 10
    Glorious History of the Russian Army and Russian weapons!
  5. +7
    24 February 2012 23: 29
    How many secret betrayals our army had to endure! The Saxons and Poles, then Mazepa, later the Austrians, vilely set up Suvorov’s troops in Switzerland - and still the Russian army with honor came out of difficult situations and won victories. Truly courageous army!
  6. Rodver
    +2
    25 February 2012 14: 53
    Glorious victory of the Russian army. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov - proved to be a real hero and commander. Indeed Kalish is the forerunner of our victory near Poltava.
  7. Georg Shep
    +2
    25 February 2012 15: 59
    How important it is in the current education system to replicate our glorious military history. Kalish, like Poltava and other victories of Russian weapons and spirit, should always be in front of the eyes and in the hearts of our people - and especially among young people.
  8. smoke
    +1
    25 February 2012 18: 29
    another confirmation that the west cannot be trusted
    Georg fully support
    1. Georg Shep
      0
      26 February 2012 18: 11
      Thank you.
  9. 0
    26 February 2012 16: 50
    Hello!

    Thanks to the author for the article on the little-lit victories in our history!
    I support the above in the comments about the fact that it is the truth about our own history, where not only victories but also defeats will allow the younger generation to be educated.
    So Aleksashka Menshikov is not only a "embezzler", but for the most part the Sovereign Man!

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