Wyprawa Fryderyka Augusta I do Inflant 1700-1701 w świetle wojny domowej na Litwie

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Didysis šiaurės karas; Abiejų Tautų Respublika; Švedija; Saksai; Livonija; Augustas II. Keywords: The Great Northern War; Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth; Sweden; Saxons; Livonia; Friedrich August.Reikšminiai žodžiai: Augustas II, 1670-1733 (Frýdrichas Augùstas I, Friedrich August I, Stiprusis); 17 amžius; Valdovai; Šiaurės karas, 1700-1721 (Great Northern War); Livonija (Livonia); Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); Karai; Rulers; 17th century; Wars.

ENThe book is the first monographic publication about Saxon-Swedish war of 1700-1701 which marked the beginning of Great Northern War (1700-1721). Because of the significant connection between the events, which took place in Livland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the same time, the consecutive chapters are about both of these, complementary topics. The Author takes into account the military history of change at the turn of XVII and XVIII centuries and some issues of international diplomatic relationship and the influence of those historical events on Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Author uses a variety of historical sources, published and written, as well as maps and modern historical books, trying to present an objective view of the described war campaign. It is manifested in an effort to compare the same issues for Saxony and Sweden and different points of view. One of the Advantages of the book is the fact that the author relys on the point of view of a few historians and quotes from historical sources adding his own commentary as well. The timeline is determined by two important historical events - one especially significant for Lithuanian plot and the second, for Saxons and Sweds. The starting point is ratification of The Puzewicze Treaty (20th December 1698) between the nobility of Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the powerful Sapieha Family, who terrorized public life in Lithuania. It is a the change which will cause in consequence the Lithuanian Civil War 1700, and let the Saxon forces stay in the northern border of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Author describes preparations of Saxon commanders for the invasion of Livland, the condition of the army which stayed for more than a year near the borders of the Duchy of Courland, as also the diplomatic decisions of a Saxon elector tending to design the alliance against Sweden.The book presents different attitudes of the Lithuanians to the presence of foreign military forces such as attempts to use Germans against the much hated Sapieha Family and efforts to getting rid of them from Lithuania. The Author focuses on events which took place right after a short ceasefire between the opponents in the Grand Duchy and first attempts of the Saxons to conquer Livland during winter and spring of 1700 with a adding detailed descriptions of victories and defeats of Germans led by General Jacob Heinrich von Flemming. The book contains a special chapter about the situation in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after the outbreak of war, showing different opinions of Polish noblemen on dangers to Poland and the result of Polish Rada Senatu (The sitting of Senat) which took place in May 1700. This chapter attempts to identify those who supported the policy of Wettin and those who were against it. The author writes about the forgotten idea of Polish-Russian war, linking the events from Riga military camp and Ukraine - both its Polish and Russian part. The following chapters are about the summer war expedition of the Saxon elector and the only victory on the battlefield that he personally won, apart from the successful battle of Kalisz 1706. The author writes a lot about the multinational Saxon army consisting of volunteers of different nationalities: Poles Lithuanians, Tatars and Germans from Courland, as well as the situation of the Swedish army under the command of General Vellingk providing details of The battle of Probstinghof. Further, the author writes about the siege of Riga in August 1700 and analyses the reasons for the changes in Wettin's plan he further describes the capturing of Kokenhausen castle. He doesn't forget about cavalry skirmishes in central Livland and the issue of winter quarters for Saxon troops in Courland.Then the author again writes about the situation in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and describes events which caused the outbreak of civil war. An Important issue is that of a role of Wettin, who ordered the nobility to arm themselves in order to secure the national borders against Sweds. This decision accelerated the outbreak of war. The Author writes about an assassination attempt in Vilnius during Janusz and Michał Wisniowiecki's presence in the city, their alliance with Lithuanian nobility, then about skirmishes and main battles of Oszmiana and Olkieniki and their consequences for Commonwealth, Lithuanians and Saxons. One of the final chapters is about Polish-Saxon-Russian negotiations in the Lithuanian castle of Birże, the treaty signed by the tsar and the elector as well as also the diplomatic mission of Postnikow, who was ordered to convince Polish representatives of the necessity to accept alliance conditions between Commonwealth and Russia during Sejm (the sitting of Parliament) 1701. The Chapter is interesting because of the details of Russian propositions and of an unrealized possibility of regaining a small part of eastern lands taken by Russia in 1667. The last part of the book is about the decisive battle which ended the Saxon campaign and caused a necessary retreat of the Germans. The Author concentrates on presenting the situation of Swedish army after a victory of Narva, writing also about skirmishes with Saxons and Cossacks during the winter and spring 1701. He describes the march of carolean army to Riga, battle plan of Charles XII and Saxon defense preparations including Order of Battle on both sides. Most of the chapter is about other phases of Spill Wen battle 19th July 1701, Saxon and Swedish casualties and consequences of the battle such as the destruction of Kokenhausen castle and Swedish invasion of Courland. [...]. [Annotation in the book]