In the 16th century, Russia needed access to the Baltic Sea. He opened trade routes and eliminated intermediaries: German merchants and Teutonic knights. But Livonia stood between Russia and Europe. And Russia lost the war with her.

The beginning of the war

Livonia, aka Livonia, was located on the territory of modern Estonia and Latvia. Initially, this was the name of the land inhabited by the Livs. In the 16th century, Livonia was ruled by the Livonian Order, a military and political organization of German Catholic knights.
In January 1558, Ivan IV began to "cut a window to Europe." The timing was right. The chivalry and clergy of Livonia were divided, weakened by the Reformation, and the local population was tired of the Teutons.
The reason for the war was the non-payment by the bishopric of the city of Dorpat (aka Yuriev, aka modern Tartu) to Moscow "Yuriev's tribute" from the possessions ceded by the Russian princes.

Russian army

By the middle of the 16th century, Russia was already a mighty power. Reforms, the centralization of power, and the creation of special infantry units - the Streltsy army - played an important role. The army was armed with modern artillery: the use of a gun carriage made it possible to use guns in the field. There were factories for the production of gunpowder, weapons, cannons and cannonballs. New ways of taking fortresses were developed.
Before starting the war, Ivan the Terrible secured the country from raids from the east and south. Kazan and Astrakhan were taken, an armistice was concluded with Lithuania. In 1557, the war with Sweden ended in victory.

First successes

The first campaign of the Russian army of 40 thousand people took place in the winter of 1558. The main goal was to get from the Livonians a voluntary concession to Narva. The Russians easily reached the Baltic. The Livonians were forced to send diplomats to Moscow and agreed to transfer Narva to Russia. But soon the Narva Vogt von Schlennenberg ordered the shelling of the Russian fortress Ivangorod, provoking a new Russian invasion.

20 fortresses were taken, including Narva, Neishloss, Neuhaus, Kiripe and Dorpat. The Russian army came close to Revel and Riga.
On January 17, 1559, in a major battle at Tierzen, the Germans were defeated, after which they again concluded an armistice and again for a short time.
By the fall, the Livonian master Gotthard von Kettler enlisted the support of Sweden and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and opposed the Russians. Near Dorpat, the Livonians defeated the detachment of the voivode Zakhariy Ochin-Pleshcheev, then proceeded to siege Yuriev, but the city survived. They tried to take Lais, but suffered heavy losses and retreated. The Russian counteroffensive took place only in 1560. The troops of Ivan the Terrible occupied the strongest fortress of the knights Fellin and Marienburg.

The war drags on

The success of the Russians hastened the disintegration of the Teutonic Order. Revel and the cities of Northern Estonia swore allegiance to the Swedish crown. Master Kettler became a vassal of the Polish king and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund II Augustus. Lithuanians occupied more than 10 cities of Livonia.

In response to the aggression of Lithuania, the Moscow governors invaded the territory of Lithuania and Livonia. Tarvast (Taurus) and Verpel (Polchev) were captured. Then the Lithuanians "walked" through the Smolensk and Pskov regions, after which full-scale hostilities unfolded along the entire border.
Ivan the Terrible himself led an army of 80,000. In January 1563, the Russians moved to Polotsk, besieged and took it.
The decisive battle with the Lithuanians took place on the Ulla River on January 26, 1564, and thanks to the betrayal of Prince Andrei Kurbsky, it turned into a defeat for the Russians. The Lithuanian army went on the offensive. At the same time, the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey approached Ryazan.

Formation of the Commonwealth

In 1569 Lithuania and Poland became a single state - the Commonwealth. Ivan the Terrible had to conclude peace with the Poles and deal with relations with Sweden, where his enemy Johan III ascended the throne.
In the occupied Russian lands of Livonia, Grozny created a vassal kingdom under the leadership of the Danish prince Magnus of Holstein.
In 1572, King Sigismund died. The Commonwealth was on the verge of a civil war. In 1577, the Russian army invaded the Baltics, and soon Russia gained control of the coast of the Gulf of Finland, but the victory was short-lived.
The turning point of the war occurred after the accession to the Polish throne of Stefan Batory. He suppressed the turmoil in the country and, in alliance with Sweden, opposed Russia. He was supported by the Duke of Mangus, the Saxon Elector Augustus and the Brandenburg Elector Johann Georg.

From offensive to defense

On September 1, 1578, Polotsk fell, then the Smolensk region and the Seversk land were devastated. Two years later, the Poles again invaded Russia and took Velikie Luki. Pali Narva, Ozerishche, Zavolochye. At Toropets, the army of Prince Khilkov was defeated. The Swedes occupied the Padis fortress in Western Estonia.

Batory invaded Russia for the third time in 1581. His target was Pskov. However, the Russians figured out the plans of the Poles. It was not possible to take the city.
In 1581, Russia was in a difficult situation. In addition to the Poles, she was threatened by the Swedes and the Crimean Khan. Ivan the Terrible was forced to ask for peace on the terms of the enemy. Pope Gregory XIII acted as a mediator in the negotiations, hoping to strengthen the position of the Vatican in the East. Negotiations took place in Yama Zapolsky and ended with the conclusion of a ten-year truce.

Outcomes

Ivan the Terrible's attempt to open a window to Europe ended in failure.
Under the treaty, Rzeczpospolita returned to the Russians Velikiye Luki, Zavolochye, Nevel, Kholm, Empty Rzhev, the Pskov suburbs Ostrov, Krasny, Voronech, Velu, Vrev, Vladimirets, Dubkov, Vyshgorod, Vyborets, Izborsk, Opochka, Gdov, Kobylye settlement and Sebezh.
The Moscow state transferred 41 Livonian cities to the Commonwealth.
The Swedes decided to finish off the Russians. In the fall of 1581, they captured Narva and Ivangorod and forced them to sign a peace on their own terms. The Livonian War is over. Russia lost part of its own territories and three border fortresses. The Russians were left with only a small fortress Oreshek on the Neva and a corridor along the river a little more than 30 kilometers long. The Baltic remained unattainable.

Livonian War (briefly)

Livonian War - a short description

After the conquest of the rebellious Kazan, Russia sent its forces to the capture of Livonia. Researchers identify two main reasons for the Livonian War: the need for trade of the Russian state in the Baltic, as well as the expansion of possessions. The struggle for dominance over the Baltic waters was between Russia and Denmark, Sweden, as well as Poland and Lithuania.

Reason for the outbreak of hostilities (Livonian War)

The main reason for the outbreak of hostilities was the fact that the Livonian Order did not pay the tribute that it was supposed to pay under the peace treaty of 1954. The Russian army invaded Livonia in 1558. At first (1558-1561) several castles and cities were taken (Yuriev, Narva, Dorpat).

However, instead of continuing a successful offensive, the Moscow government grants the order a truce, while at the same time equipping a military expedition against the Crimea. The Livonian knights, using the support, gathered forces and defeated the Moscow troops a month before the end of the armistice.

Against the Crimea, Russia did not achieve a positive result from the hostilities. The favorable moment for the victory in Livonia was also missed. Master Kettler in 1561 signs an agreement, according to which the order passes under the protectorate of Poland and Lithuania.

After the conclusion of peace with the Crimean Khanate, Moscow concentrated its forces on Livonia, but now, instead of a weak order, it had to face several powerful contenders at once. And if at first it was possible to avoid a war with Denmark and Sweden, then a war with the Polish-Lithuanian king was inevitable.

The greatest achievement of the Russian troops in the second stage of the Livonian War was the capture of Polotsk in 1563, after which there were many fruitless negotiations and unsuccessful battles, as a result of which even the Crimean Khan decided to abandon the alliance with the Moscow authorities.

The final stage of the Livonian War

The final stage of the Livonian War (1679-1683)- the military invasion of the Polish king Batory in Russia, which at the same time was at war with Sweden. In August, Stefan Batory took Polotsk, and a year later Velikie Luki and small towns were taken. On September 9, 1581, Sweden took Narva, Koporye, Yam, Ivangorod, after which the struggle for Livonia ceased to be relevant for Grozny. Since it was impossible to wage war with two enemies, the king concludes a truce with Batory.

The result of this war the conclusion was perfect two agreements that are not beneficial for Russia, as well as the loss of many cities.

Main events and chronology of the Livonian War

In January 1582, a ten-year truce with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was concluded in Yama-Zapolsky (not far from Pskov). Under this agreement, Russia renounced Livonia and the Belarusian lands, but some border Russian lands captured by the Polish king during the hostilities were returned to it.

The defeat of the Russian troops in the simultaneously ongoing war with Poland, where the tsar was faced with the need to decide even on the concession of Pskov if the city was taken by storm, forced Ivan IV and his diplomats to negotiate with Sweden on the conclusion of the Peace of Plus, humiliating for the Russian state. ... Negotiations in Plus took place from May to August 1583. Under this agreement:

ü The Russian state was deprived of all its acquisitions in Livonia. Behind it there was only a narrow section of the outlet to the Baltic Sea in the Gulf of Finland from the Strelka River to the Sestra River (31.5 km).

ü The cities of Ivan-gorod, Yam, Koporye passed to the Swedes along with Narva (Rugodiv).

ü In Karelia, the Keksholm (Korela) fortress departed to the Swedes along with a vast district and the coast of Lake Ladoga.

The Russian state was again cut off from the sea. The country was devastated, the central and northwestern regions were depopulated. Russia has lost a significant part of its territory.

Chapter 3. Domestic historians about the Livonian War

Domestic historiography reflects the problems of society at critical periods in the development of our country, which is accompanied by the formation of a new, modern society, then, according to the time, the views of historians on certain historical events also change. The views of modern historians on the Livonian War are practically unanimous and do not cause much disagreement. The dominant views of Tatishchev, Karamzin, Pogodin about the Livonian War in the 19th century are now perceived as archaic. In the works of N.I. Kostomarova, S.M. Solovyova, V.O. Klyuchevsky reveals a new vision of the problem.

Livonian War (1558-1583). The reasons. Move. Outcomes

At the beginning of the twentieth century, another change in the social system took place. During this transitional period, outstanding historians came to Russian historical science - representatives of different historical schools: statesman S.F. Platonov, the creator of the "proletarian-internationalist" school M.N. Pokrovsky, a very original philosopher R.Yu. Vipper, who explained the events of the Livonian War from their own points of view. During the Soviet period, historical schools successively replaced each other: the "Pokrovsky school" in the mid-1930s. The twentieth century was replaced by the “patriotic school”, which was replaced by the “new Soviet historical school” (from the late 1950s of the twentieth century), among the adherents of which one can mention A.A. Zimin, V.B. Kobrin, R.G. Skrynnikov.

N.M. Karamzin (1766-1826) assessed the Livonian War as a whole as "ill-fated, but not inglorious for Russia." The historian places the responsibility for the defeat in the war on the tsar, whom he accuses of "cowardice" and "confusion of the spirit."

According to N.I. Kostomarov (1817-1885) in 1558, before the start of the Livonian War, before Ivan IV, there was an alternative - either "to get rid of the Crimea" or "to seize Livonia." The historian explains Ivan IV's decision, contrary to common sense, to fight on two fronts by the “discord” between his advisers. In his writings, Kostomarov writes that the Livonian War drained the strength and labor of the Russian people. The historian explains the failure of the Russian troops in the confrontation with the Swedes and Poles by the complete demoralization of the domestic armed forces as a result of the oprichnina actions. According to Kostomarov, as a result of the peace with Poland and the truce with Sweden, "the western borders of the state were shrinking, the fruits of long-term efforts were lost."

The Livonian War, which began in 1559, S.M. Soloviev (1820-1879) explains the need for Russia to "assimilate the fruits of European civilization", the carriers of which were allegedly not allowed to Russia by the Livonians who owned the main Baltic ports. The loss by Ivan IV of seemingly conquered Livonia was the result of simultaneous actions against the Russian troops of the Poles and Swedes, as well as the result of the superiority of the regular (mercenary) army and European military art over the Russian noble militia.

According to S.F. Platonov (1860-1933), Russia was dragged into the Livonian War. The historian believes that Russia could not shy away from what was "happening on its western borders" that "exploited and oppressed it (unfavorable terms of trade)." The defeat of the troops of Ivan IV at the last stage of the Livonian War is explained by the fact that then there were "signs of a clear depletion of funds for the fight." The historian also notes, referring to the economic crisis that befell the Russian state, that Stefan Batory "beat the already lying enemy, not defeated by him, but lost his strength before fighting him."

M.N. Pokrovsky (1868-1932) claims that the Livonian War was allegedly started by Ivan IV on the recommendation of some advisers - without any doubt, who left the ranks of the "army". The historian notes both "a very favorable moment" for the invasion, and the absence of "almost any formal reason" for this. Pokrovsky explains the intervention of the Swedes and Poles in the war by the fact that they could not allow the transfer of "the entire southeastern coast of the Baltic" with trade ports under Russian rule. Pokrovsky considers the main defeats of the Livonian War to be the unsuccessful sieges of Reval and the loss of Narva and Ivangorod. He also notes the great influence on the outcome of the war of the Crimean invasion of 1571.

According to R.Yu. Vipper (1859-1954), the Livonian War was being prepared long before 1558 by the leaders of the Chosen Rada and could have been won - in the event of an earlier intervention by Russia. The historian considers the battles for the Eastern Baltic to be the largest of all wars fought by Russia, as well as "the most important event in European history." Vipper explains the defeat of Russia by the fact that by the end of the war "the military structure of Russia" was in decay, and "the ingenuity, flexibility and adaptability of Grozny had run out."

A.A. Zimin (1920-1980) connects the decision of the Moscow government "to raise the issue of annexing the Baltic states" with "the strengthening of the Russian state in the 16th century." Among the motives that prompted this decision, he singles out the need for Russia's access to the Baltic Sea to expand cultural and economic ties with Europe. Thus, the Russian merchants were interested in the war; the nobility hoped to acquire new lands. Zimin considers the involvement of "a number of major Western powers" in the Livonian War as the result of "the short-sighted policy of the Chosen Rada." With this, as well as with the ruin of the country, with the demoralization of service people, with the death of skilled military leaders during the oprichnina years, the historian connects the defeat of Russia in the war.

The beginning of the "war for Livonia" R.G. Skrynnikov connects it with the "first success" of Russia - the victory in the war with the Swedes (1554-1557), under the influence of which "plans to conquer Livonia and establish themselves in the Baltic states" were put forward. The historian points to the "special goals" of Russia in the war, the main of which was the creation of conditions for Russian trade. After all, the Livonian Order and German merchants hindered the commercial activities of the Muscovites, and Ivan IV's attempts to organize his own "refuge" at the mouth of the Narova failed. The defeat of the Russian troops at the last stage of the Livonian War, according to Skrynnikov, was the result of the entry into the war of the armed forces of Poland, led by Stefan Bathory. The historian notes that at that time there were not 300 thousand people in the army of Ivan IV, as previously stated, but only 35 thousand. In addition, the twenty-year war and the devastation of the country contributed to the weakening of the noble militia. Skrynnikov explains the conclusion by Ivan IV of the peace with the abandonment of the Livonian possessions in favor of the Commonwealth by the fact that Ivan IV wanted to focus on the war with the Swedes.

According to V. B. Kobrin (1930-1990) The Livonian War became unpromising for Russia, when, some time after the start of the conflict, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland became Moscow's opponents. The historian notes the key role of Adashev, who was one of the leaders of Russian foreign policy, in unleashing the Livonian War. The terms of the Russian-Polish armistice, concluded in 1582, Kobrin considers not humiliating, but rather difficult for Russia. In this regard, he notes that the goal of the war was not achieved - "the reunification of the Ukrainian and Belarusian lands that were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the annexation of the Baltic states." The historian considers the terms of the truce with Sweden even more difficult, since a significant part of the coast of the Gulf of Finland, which was part of the Novgorod land, was "lost".

Conclusion

In this way:

1. The aim of the Livonian War was to give Russia access to the Baltic Sea in order to break the blockade from Livonia, the Polish-Lithuanian state and Sweden and establish direct communication with European countries.

2. The immediate reason for the start of the Livonian War was the question of the "Yuryev's tribute".

3. The beginning of the war (1558) brought victories to Ivan the Terrible: Narva and Yuryev were taken. The hostilities that began in 1560 brought new defeats to the Order: the large fortresses of Marienburg and Fellin were taken, the Order's army blocking the path to Viljandi was defeated near Ermes, and the Master of the Order of Furstenberg himself was taken prisoner. The success of the Russian army was facilitated by the peasant uprisings that broke out in the country against the German feudal lords. The result of the company in 1560 was the actual defeat of the Livonian Order as a state.

4. Since 1561, the Livonian War entered the second period, when Russia was forced to wage war with the Polish-Lithuanian state and Sweden.

5. Since Lithuania and Poland in 1570 could not quickly enough concentrate their forces against the Moscow state, tk. were exhausted by the war, Ivan IV began in May 1570 to negotiate an armistice with Poland and Lithuania and at the same time create, neutralizing Poland, an anti-Swedish coalition, realizing his long-standing idea of ​​forming a vassal state from Russia in the Baltic States. The Danish Duke Magnus in May 1570, upon his arrival in Moscow, was proclaimed "King of Livonian".

6. The Russian government undertook to provide the new state, which settled on the island of Ezel, with its military assistance and material resources, so that it could expand its territory at the expense of Swedish and Lithuanian-Polish possessions in Livonia.

7. The proclamation of the Livonian kingdom was supposed, according to the calculations of Ivan IV, to provide Russia with the support of the Livonian feudal lords, i.e. of all German knighthood and nobility in Estonia, Livonia and Courland, and therefore not only an alliance with Denmark (through Magnus), but also, most importantly, an alliance and support of the Habsburg empire. With this new combination in Russian foreign policy, the tsar intended to create a vice from two fronts for the too aggressive and turbulent Poland, which had grown due to the inclusion of Lithuania. While Sweden and Denmark were at war with each other, Ivan IV led successful operations against Sigismund II Augustus. In 1563, the Russian army took Plock, a fortress that opened the way to the capital of Lithuania Vilno and to Riga. But already at the beginning of 1564, the Russians suffered a series of defeats on the Ulla River and near Orsha.

8. By 1577, in fact, in the hands of the Russians was the whole of Livonia to the north of the Western Dvina (Vidzeme), except for Riga, which, as a Hanseatic city, Ivan IV decided to spare. However, military successes did not lead to a victorious end to the Livonian War. The fact is that by this time Russia had lost the diplomatic support that it had at the beginning of the Swedish stage of the Livonian War. Firstly, in October 1576, Emperor Maximilian II died, and the hopes for the capture of Poland and its division were not justified. Secondly, a new king came to power in Poland - Stefan Batory, the former prince of Semigradsky, one of the best generals of his time, who was a supporter of an active Polish-Swedish alliance against Russia. Thirdly, Denmark fell away completely as an ally and, finally, in 1578-1579. Stephen Bathory managed to persuade Duke Magnus to betray the king.

9.In 1579 Batory captured Polotsk and Velikiye Luki, in 1581 he laid siege to Pskov, and by the end of 1581 the Swedes captured the entire coast of Northern Estonia, Narva, Vesenberg (Rakovor, Rakvere), Haaps-lu, Pärnu and the entire Southern (Russian ) Estonia - Fellin (Viljandi), Dorpat (Tartu). In Ingermanland, Ivan-gorod, Yam, Koporye were taken, and Korela in Ladoga.

10. In January 1582 in Yama - Zapolsky (not far from Pskov) a ten-year truce was concluded with the Commonwealth. Under this agreement, Russia renounced Livonia and the Belarusian lands, but some of the border Russian lands captured by the Polish king during the hostilities were returned to it.

11. The Plus Peace Treaty was concluded with Sweden. Under this agreement, the Russian state was deprived of all its acquisitions in Livonia. The cities of Ivan-gorod, Yam, Koporye passed to the Swedes along with Narva (Rugodiv). In Karelia, the Keksholm (Korela) fortress departed to the Swedes along with a vast county and the coast of Lake Ladoga.

12. As a result, the Russian state was cut off from the sea. The country was devastated, the central and northwestern regions were depopulated. Russia has lost a significant part of its territory.

List of used literature

1. Zimin A.A. History of the USSR from ancient times to the present day. - M., 1966.

2. Karamzin N.M. History of Russian Goverment. - Kaluga, 1993.

3. Klyuchevsky V.O. Russian history course. - M. 1987.

4. Kobrin VB Ivan groznyj. - M., 1989.

5. Platonov S.F. Ivan the Terrible (1530-1584). Vipper R.Yu. Ivan the Terrible / Comp. D.M. Kholodikhin. - M., 1998.

6. Skrynnikov R.G. Ivan groznyj. - M., 1980.

7. Soloviev S.M. Compositions. History of Russia since ancient times. - M., 1989.

Read in the same book: Introduction | Chapter 1. Creation of Livonia | Military actions 1561 - 1577 | mybiblioteka.su - 2015-2018. (0.095 sec.)

The best that history can give us is the enthusiasm it generates.

The Livonian War lasted from 1558 to 1583. During the war, Ivan the Terrible sought to gain access to and seize the port cities of the Baltic Sea, which was supposed to significantly improve the economic situation of Russia by improving trade. In this article, we will talk briefly about the Levonian War, as well as all its aspects.

The beginning of the Livonian War

The sixteenth century was a period of continuous wars. The Russian state sought to protect itself from its neighbors and return the lands that were previously part of Ancient Rus.

The wars were fought along several lines:

• The eastern direction was marked by the conquest of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, as well as the beginning of the development of Siberia.
• The southern direction of foreign policy represented the eternal struggle with the Crimean Khanate.
• The western direction - the events of the long, difficult and very bloody Livonian War (1558-1583), which will be discussed.

Livonia is a region in the eastern Baltic. On the territory of modern Estonia and Latvia. In those days, there was a state created as a result of the crusading conquests. As a state entity, it was weak due to national contradictions (the Baltic people were placed in feudal dependence), religious schism (the Reformation penetrated there), and the struggle for power among the elite.

Livonian War Map

Reasons for the start of the Livonian War

Ivan 4 the Terrible started the Livonian War against the backdrop of the success of his foreign policy in other areas. The Russian prince-tsar strove to push the state borders back in order to gain access to the shipping areas and ports of the Baltic Sea. And the Livonian Order gave the Russian Tsar ideal reasons for starting the Livonian War:

1. Refusal to pay tribute. In 1503, the Livni Order and Russia signed a document, according to which the first pledged to pay the city of Yuryev an annual tribute. In 1557, the Order single-handedly removed itself from this obligation.
2. The weakening of the external political influence of the Order against the background of national disagreements.

Speaking of the reason, it should be emphasized that Livonia separated Russia from the sea, blocked trade. Large merchants and nobles who wanted to appropriate new lands were interested in the capture of Livonia. But the main reason is the ambitions of Ivan IV the Terrible. The victory was supposed to strengthen his influence, so he fought the war, regardless of the circumstances and the meager capabilities of the country for the sake of his own greatness.

The course of the war and major events

The Livonian War was fought with long breaks and is historically divided into four stages.

The first stage of the war

At the first stage (1558-1561), hostilities were relatively successful for Russia. In the first months, the Russian army captured Dorpat and Narva and was close to capturing Riga and Reval. The Livonian Order was on the verge of death and asked for an armistice. Ivan the Terrible agreed to stop the war for 6 months, but this was a huge mistake. During this time, the Order passed under the protectorate of Lithuania and Poland, as a result of which Russia received not 1 weak, but 2 strong opponents.

The most dangerous adversary for Russia was Lithuania, which at that time could in some aspects surpass the Russian kingdom in its potential. Moreover, the Baltic peasants were unhappy with the newly arrived Russian landowners, the cruelty of the war, extortions and other disasters.

Second stage of the war

The second stage of the war (1562-1570) began with the fact that the new masters of the Livonian lands demanded that Ivan the Terrible withdraw his troops and abandon Livonia. In fact, it was proposed that the Livonian War end, and Russia was left with nothing as a result. After the Tsar's refusal to do this, the war for Russia finally turned into an adventure. The war with Lithuania lasted 2 years and was unsuccessful for the Russian Kingdom. The conflict could be continued only under the conditions of the oprichnina, especially since the boyars were against the continuation of hostilities. Earlier, for dissatisfaction with the Livonian War, in 1560 the tsar dispersed the "Chosen Rada".

It was at this stage of the war that Poland and Lithuania united into a single state - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was a strong power that everyone had to reckon with, without exception.

Third stage of the war

The third stage (1570-1577) is the battles of local importance between Russia and Sweden for the territory of modern Estonia. They ended without any meaningful results for both sides. All battles were local in nature and had no significant impact on the course of the war.

Fourth stage of the war

At the fourth stage of the Livonian War (1577-1583), Ivan IV again captures the entire Baltic region, but soon the tsar's luck turned away and the Russian troops were defeated. The new king of the united Poland and Lithuania (Rzecz Pospolita) Stefan Batory expelled Ivan the Terrible from the Baltic region, and even managed to capture a number of cities already on the territory of the Russian kingdom (Polotsk, Velikiye Luki, etc.).

Livonian War 1558-1583

The fighting was accompanied by terrible bloodshed. Assistance to the Commonwealth since 1579 was provided by Sweden, which operated very successfully, capturing Ivangorod, Yam, Koporye.

The defense of Pskov saved Russia from complete defeat (from August 1581). During the 5 months of the siege, the garrison and the inhabitants of the city repulsed 31 assault attempts, weakening the army of Batory.

The end of the war and its results

The Yam-Zapolsk truce between the Russian kingdom and the Commonwealth of 1582 put an end to a long and unnecessary war. Russia abandoned Livonia. The coast of the Gulf of Finland was lost. It was captured by Sweden, with which the Plus Peace Treaty was signed in 1583.

Thus, the following reasons for the defeat of the Russian state, which summarize the results of the Liovna war, can be distinguished:

• adventurism and ambitions of the tsar - Russia could not wage a war with three strong states at the same time;
• the pernicious influence of the oprichnina, economic ruin, Tatar attack.
• A deep economic crisis within the country, which broke out at the 3rd and 4th stages of hostilities.

Despite the negative outcome, it was the Livonian War that determined the directions of Russia's foreign policy for many years to come - to gain access to the Baltic Sea.

Siege of Pskov by King Stephen Bathory in 1581, Karl Pavlovich Bryullov

• Date: January 15, 1582
• Location: the village of Kiverova Gora, 15 versts from Zapolsky Yam.
• Type: peace treaty.
• Military Conflict: The Livonian War.
• Participants, countries: Rzeczpospolita - Russian kingdom.
• Participants, representatives of countries: J. Zbarazhsky, A. Radziwill, M. Garaburda and H. Varshevitsky - D. P. Yeletsky, R.

  Livonian war

  V. Olferiev, N. N. Vereshchagin and Z. Sviyazev.

• Mediator in negotiations: Antonio Possevino.

The Yam-Zapolsky peace treaty was concluded on January 15, 1582 between the Russian kingdom and the Commonwealth. This agreement was concluded for 10 years and became one of the main acts that ended the Livonian War.

Yam-Zapolsky peace treaty: conditions, results and meaning

Under the terms of the Yam-Zapolsky peace treaty, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth returned all the conquered Russian cities and territories, namely the Pskov and Novgorod lands. The exception was the region of Velizh, where the border was being restored, which existed until 1514 (until the annexation of Smolensk to the Russian kingdom).

The Russian kingdom gave away all of its territories in the Baltic States (territory belonging to the Livonian Order). Stefan Batory also demanded a large monetary compensation, but Ivan IV refused him. The treaty, at the insistence of the ambassadors of the Russian kingdom, did not mention the Livonian cities that were captured by Sweden. And although the ambassadors of the Rzecz Pospolita made a special statement, which stipulated territorial claims in relation to Sweden, this issue remained open.

In 1582, the treaty was ratified in Moscow. Ivan IV the Terrible intended to use this treaty to build up forces and resume active hostilities with Sweden, which was still not implemented in practice. Despite the fact that the Russian kingdom did not acquire new territories and did not resolve contradictions with the Commonwealth, the threat in the form of the Livonian Order no longer existed.

Introduction 3

1.Reasons for the Livonian War 4

2.War Phases 6

3. Results and consequences of the war 14

Conclusion 15

List of used literature 16

Introduction.

The relevance of research... The Livonian War is a significant stage in Russian history. Long-term and exhausting, it brought Russia many losses. It is very important and relevant to consider this event, because any military action changed the geopolitical map of our country, had a significant impact on its further socio-economic development. This also applies directly to the Livonian War. It will also be interesting to reveal the diversity of points of view on the causes of this collision, the opinions of historians on this matter.

Article: The Livonian War, its political meaning and consequences

After all, the pluralism of opinions indicates that there are many contradictions in views. Consequently, the topic has not been sufficiently studied and is relevant for further consideration.

The purpose of this work is the disclosure of the essence of the Livonian War. To achieve the goal, it is necessary to consistently solve a number of tasks :

- identify the causes of the Livonian War

- analyze its stages

- consider the results and consequences of the war

1.Reasons for the Livonian War

After the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates were annexed to the Russian state, the threat of invasion from the east and southeast was eliminated. Ivan the Terrible is faced with new tasks - to return the Russian lands, once seized by the Livonian Order, Lithuania and Sweden.

In general, the reasons for the Livonian War can be clearly identified. However, Russian historians interpret them in different ways.

So, for example, N.M. Karamzin connects the beginning of the war with the ill will of the Livonian Order. Aspirations of Ivan the Terrible to reach the Baltic Sea Karamzin fully approves, calling them "beneficial intentions for Russia."

NI Kostomarov believes that on the eve of the war Ivan the Terrible faced an alternative - either to get rid of the Crimea, or to take possession of Livonia. The historian explains Ivan IV's decision, contrary to common sense, to fight on two fronts by the “discord” between his advisers.

SM Soloviev explains the Livonian War by Russia's need for "assimilation of the fruits of European civilization", the carriers of which were not allowed to Russia by the Livonians who owned the main Baltic ports.

IN. Klyuchevsky practically does not consider the Livonian War at all, since he analyzes the external position of the state only from the point of view of its influence on the development of socio-economic relations within the country.

S.F. Platonov believes that Russia was simply dragged into the Livonian War. The historian believes that Russia could not evade what was happening on its western borders, could not come to terms with unfavorable terms of trade.

MN Pokrovsky believes that Ivan the Terrible started the war on the recommendations of some "advisers" from a number of the army.

According to R.Yu. Vipper, “The Livonian War was prepared and planned for quite a long time by the leaders of the Chosen Rada”.

RG Skrynnikov connects the beginning of the war with the first success of Russia - the victory in the war with the Swedes (1554-1557), under the influence of which plans were put forward for the conquest of Livonia and the establishment in the Baltic. The historian also notes that "The Livonian War turned the Eastern Baltic into an arena of struggle between states seeking domination of the Baltic Sea."

V.B. Kobrin pays attention to the personality of Adashev and notes his key role in unleashing the Livonian War.

In general, formal reasons were found to start the war. The real reasons were the geopolitical need for Russia to gain access to the Baltic Sea, as the most convenient for direct connections with the centers of European civilizations, as well as the desire to take an active part in the division of the territory of the Livonian Order, the progressive disintegration of which was becoming obvious, but which, not wanting strengthening of Russia, hindered its external contacts. For example, the Livonian authorities did not allow more than a hundred specialists from Europe invited by Ivan IV to pass through their lands. Some of them were imprisoned and executed.

The formal reason for the start of the Livonian War was the question of "Yuryev's tribute" (Yuryev, later named Derpt (Tartu), was founded by Yaroslav the Wise). According to the agreement of 1503, an annual tribute was to be paid for him and the adjacent territory, which, however, was not done. In addition, the Order entered into a military alliance with the Lithuanian-Polish king in 1557.

2. The stages of the war.

The Livonian War can be conditionally divided into 4 stages. The first (1558-1561) is directly related to the Russian-Livonian War. The second (1562-1569) included primarily the Russian-Lithuanian war. The third (1570-1576) was distinguished by the resumption of the struggle of the Russians for Livonia, where they, together with the Danish prince Magnus, fought against the Swedes. The fourth (1577-1583) is associated primarily with the Russian-Polish war. During this period, the Russian-Swedish war continued.

Let's consider each of the stages in more detail.

First stage. In January 1558, Ivan the Terrible moved his troops to Livonia. The beginning of the war brought him victories: Narva and Yuryev were taken. In the summer and autumn of 1558 and at the beginning of 1559, Russian troops passed all of Livonia (up to Reval and Riga) and advanced in Courland to the borders of East Prussia and Lithuania. However, in 1559, under the influence of political figures grouped around A.F. Adashev, who impeded the expansion of the scope of the military conflict, Ivan the Terrible was forced to conclude an armistice. In March 1559, it was concluded for a period of six months.

The feudal lords took advantage of the truce to conclude an agreement with the Polish king Sigismund II August in 1559, according to which the order, lands and possessions of the Riga archbishop passed under the protectorate of the Polish crown. In an atmosphere of acute political differences in the leadership of the Livonian Order, its master V. Furstenberg was removed and G. Kettler became the new master, keeping a pro-Polish orientation. In the same year, Denmark took possession of the island of Ezel (Saaremaa).

The hostilities that began in 1560 brought new defeats to the Order: the large fortresses of Marienburg and Fellin were taken, the Order's army blocking the path to Viljandi was defeated near Ermes, and the Master of the Order of Furstenberg himself was taken prisoner. The success of the Russian army was facilitated by the peasant uprisings that broke out in the country against the German feudal lords. The result of the company in 1560 was the actual defeat of the Livonian Order as a state. The German feudal lords of Northern Estonia passed into Swedish citizenship. Under the Treaty of Vilna in 1561, the possessions of the Livonian Order came under the rule of Poland, Denmark and Sweden, and his last master - Kettler - received only Courland, and even then it was dependent on Poland. Thus, instead of a weak Livonia, Russia now had three strong opponents.

Second phase. While Sweden and Denmark were at war with each other, Ivan IV led successful operations against Sigismund II Augustus. In 1563, the Russian army took Plock, a fortress that opened the way to the capital of Lithuania Vilno and to Riga. But already at the beginning of 1564 the Russians suffered a series of defeats on the Ulla River and near Orsha; in the same year, a boyar and a major military leader, Prince A.M. Kurbsky.

Tsar Ivan the Terrible responded to military failures and escapes to Lithuania with repressions against the boyars. In 1565 the oprichnina was introduced. Ivan IV tried to restore the Livonian Order, but under the protectorate of Russia, and negotiated with Poland. In 1566, the Lithuanian embassy arrived in Moscow, proposing to partition Livonia on the basis of the situation that existed at that time. The Zemsky Sobor convened at this time supported the intention of the government of Ivan the Terrible to wage a struggle in the Baltic states up to the capture of Riga: "Our sovereign of those Livonian cities that the king took in guardianship should give up unsuitable, and befit the sovereign to stand for those cities." The council's decision also emphasized that abandoning Livonia would hurt trade interests.

Stage three. Since 1569 the war is becoming protracted. This year, at the Sejm in Lublin, the unification of Lithuania and Poland into a single state - Rzeczpospolita took place, with which in 1570 Russia managed to conclude an armistice for three years.

Since Lithuania and Poland in 1570 could not quickly enough concentrate their forces against the Moscow state, since were exhausted by the war, then Ivan IV began in May 1570 to negotiate an armistice with Poland and Lithuania. At the same time, he creates, by neutralizing Poland, an anti-Swedish coalition, realizing his long-standing idea of ​​forming a state vassal from Russia in the Baltics.

The Danish Duke Magnus accepted the offer of Ivan the Terrible to become his vassal ("goldman") and in the same May 1570, upon his arrival in Moscow, he was proclaimed "King of Livonian". The Russian government undertook to provide the new state, which settled on the island of Ezel, with its military assistance and material resources, so that it could expand its territory at the expense of Swedish and Lithuanian-Polish possessions in Livonia. The parties intended to seal the allied relations between Russia and the "kingdom" of Magnus by marrying the tsar's niece, daughter of Prince Vladimir Andreyevich Staritsky - Maria.

The proclamation of the Livonian kingdom was supposed, according to the calculations of Ivan IV, to provide Russia with the support of the Livonian feudal lords, i.e. of all German knighthood and nobility in Estonia, Livonia and Courland, and therefore not only an alliance with Denmark (through Magnus), but also, most importantly, an alliance and support of the Habsburg empire. With this new combination in Russian foreign policy, the tsar intended to create a vice from two fronts for the too aggressive and turbulent Poland, which had grown due to the inclusion of Lithuania. Like Vasily IV, Ivan the Terrible also expressed the idea of ​​the possibility and necessity of the partition of Poland between the German and Russian states. More closely, the king was concerned about the possibility of creating a Polish-Swedish coalition on his western borders, which he tried with all his might to prevent. All this speaks of the tsar's correct, strategically deep understanding of the balance of power in Europe and his precise vision of the problems of Russian foreign policy in the short and long term. That is why his military tactics were correct: he sought to defeat Sweden alone as soon as possible, until it came to a joint Polish-Swedish aggression against Russia.

After the conquest of Kazan, Russia turned its gaze to the Baltic and put forward plans to take Livonia. For Russia, the main goal of the Livonian War was to conquer the outlet to the Baltic Sea. The struggle for supremacy at sea was between Lithuania and Poland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia.

The reason for the start of the war was the failure to pay tribute by the Livonian Order, which they pledged to pay under the peace treaty of 1554. In 1558, Russian troops invaded Livonia.

At the first stage of the war (1558-1561), several cities and castles were taken, including such significant ones as Narva, Dorpat, Yuryev.

Instead of continuing the successfully launched offensive, the Moscow government granted the Order a truce and at the same time equipped an expedition against the Crimea. Taking advantage of the respite, the Livonian knights gathered military forces and defeated the Russian troops a month before the end of the armistice.

Russia did not achieve results in the war against the Crimean Khanate and missed opportunities for victory in Livonia. Moscow made peace with Crimea and concentrated all its forces in Livonia.

The second stage of the war (1562-1578) for Russia passed with varying success.

The highest achievement of Russia in the Livonian War was the capture of Polotsk in February 1563, followed by military failures.

In 1566, Lithuanian ambassadors arrived in Moscow with a proposal for an armistice and so that Polotsk and part of Livonia would remain behind Moscow. Ivan the Terrible demanded the whole of Livonia. Such demands were rejected, and the Lithuanian king Sigismund August renewed the war with Russia. In 1568, Sweden dissolved its earlier alliance with Russia. In 1569, Poland and Lithuania united into a single state - the Rzeczpospolita. After the death of Sigismund Augustus in 1572, Stephen Batory took the throne.

The third stage of the Livonian War (1679-1583) began with the invasion of Russia by the Polish king Stefan Batory. At the same time, Russia had to fight with Sweden. On September 9, 1581, Sweden captured Narva, and after that the continuation of the struggle for Livonia lost its meaning for Grozny. Realizing the impossibility of waging war with two opponents at once, the tsar began negotiations with Batory about an armistice in order to concentrate all his forces on the reconquest of Narva. But the plans for an attack on Narva remained unfulfilled.

The result of the Livonian War was the conclusion of two treaties, disadvantageous for Russia.

On January 15, 1582, the Yam Zapolsky treaty on a 10-year truce was signed. Russia ceded to Poland all its possessions in Livonia, and Batory returned to Russia the fortresses and cities he had conquered, but retained Polotsk.

In August 1583, Russia and Sweden signed the Plyussky armistice agreement for three years. The Swedes held onto all the captured Russian cities. Russia has preserved a section of the coast of the Gulf of Finland with the mouth of the Neva.

The end of the Livonian War did not give Russia access to the Baltic Sea.

The course of the Livonian War can be divided into three stages, each of which slightly differs in the composition of the participants, the duration and nature of the actions. The reason for the outbreak of hostilities in the Baltics was the fact that the Dorpat bishop did not pay "Yuriev's tribute" from the possessions ceded to him by the Russian princes. In addition to the oppression of the Russian people in the Baltics, the Livonian authorities violated another clause of the agreement with Russia - in September 1554, they entered into an alliance with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, directed against Moscow. The Russian government sent a letter declaring war to Master Furstenberg. However, hostilities did not begin then - Ivan IV hoped to achieve his goals through diplomacy until June 1558.

The main goal of the first campaign of the Russian army in Livonia, which took place in the winter of 1558, was the desire to obtain a voluntary concession from Narva from the Order. The hostilities began in January 1558. Moscow equestrian ratios, headed by Kasimov's "king" Shah - Ali and prince.

M.V. Glinsky entered the land of the Order. During the winter campaign, Russian and Tatar detachments, numbering 40 thousand soldiers, reached the Baltic coast, devastating the environs of many Livonian cities and castles. During this campaign, Russian commanders twice, at the direct order of the tsar, sent letters to the master about the resumption of peace negotiations. The Livonian authorities made concessions: they began collecting tribute, agreed with the Russian side on a temporary cessation of hostilities and sent their representatives to Moscow, who were forced to agree to the transfer of Narva to Russia during difficult negotiations.

But the established truce was soon broken by the supporters of the Order's military party. In March 1558. The Narva Vogt E. von Schlennenberg ordered the shelling of the Russian fortress Ivangorod, provoking a new invasion of Moscow troops into Livonia.

During the second trip to the Baltic States in May-July 1558. Russians captured more than 20 fortresses, including the most important ones - Narva, Neishloss, Neuhaus, Kiripe and Dorpat. During the summer campaign in 1558. the troops of the Moscow tsar came close to Revel and Riga, devastating their surroundings.

The decisive battle of the winter campaign 1558/1559. happened at the city of Tirzen, where on January 17, 1559. met a large Livonian detachment of the Riga domprobst F. Felkerzam and the Russian Forward Regiment, headed by the voivode Prince. V.S. Silver. In a stubborn battle, the Germans were defeated.

In March 1559. The Russian government, considering its position sufficiently strong, with the mediation of the Danes, agreed to conclude a six-month truce with Master V. Furstenberg - from May to November 1559.

Having received in 1559. an urgently needed respite, the order authorities, led by G. Ketler, who became on September 17, 1559. new master, enlisted the support of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden. Kettler in October 1559. broke the truce with Moscow. The new master managed to defeat the detachment of the governor Z.I. Ochina-Plescheeva. Nevertheless, the head of the Yuryevsky (Dorpat) garrison, voivode Katyrev-Rostovsky, managed to take measures to defend the city. For ten days, the Livonians unsuccessfully stormed Yuryev and, not daring to take a winter siege, were forced to retreat. The siege of Lais in November 1559 was equally unsuccessful. Kettler, having lost 400 soldiers in the battles for the fortress, retreated to Wenden.

The result of a new big offensive by the Russian troops was the capture of one of the strongest fortresses in Livonia - Fellina - on August 30, 1560. A few months earlier, the Russian troops, led by the governors Prince I.F. Mstislavsky and Prince P.I. Shuisky occupied Marienburg.

Thus, the first stage of the Livonian War lasted from 1558 to 1561. It was conceived as a punitive demonstration campaign with the obvious military superiority of the Russian army. Livonia stubbornly

resisted, counting on help from Sweden, Lithuania and Poland. The hostile relations between these states allowed Russia for the time being to conduct successful military operations in the Baltic States.