Battles of Wenden (1577–1578)

The Battles of Wenden were a series of battles for control of the stronghold of Wenden (Cēsis, Kiesia, Võnnu), in present-day Latvia, fought during the Livonian War in 1577 and 1578. Magnus of Livonia besieged the town in August 1577, but was deposed and replaced by Russian forces under Tsar Ivan IV, who eventually sacked the town and castle in what became a symbolic victory. Polish forces, however, re-captured the stronghold in November and beat back a Russian counter-attack in February 1578.

This article is about a series of battles in 1577 and 1578. For other uses, see Battle of Wenden.

Battle of Wenden (1578)
Part of Livonian War

Cēsis (Wenden) Castle today
Date21 October 1578
Location
Cēsis, Latvia
57°18′50″N 25°16′8″E
Result Swedish–Polish victory
Belligerents
Sweden
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth		 Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Andrzej Sapieha,
Göran Boije		 Ivan Galitzin
Strength
4,000–6,000 18,000–22,000 (Livonian claim)
Casualties and losses
about 400 men

6,280 killed (inflated Livonian claim)
3,000 captured
1,720 dispersed
20–30 artillery pieces

At least 162 mentioned in a 17th-century Russian sinodik

In October 1578, the Russian army again laid siege to the town, but was destroyed by a smaller Swedish–German–Polish relief force. This marked the turning point in the Livonian War, shifting the initiative from the Tsardom of Russia to Sweden and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It also marked the end of the Kingdom of Livonia, which collapsed when Magnus retired to Courland.

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