Battle of Kircholm (Salaspils) in 1605. The current state of research

Abstract

Abstract Background: The article aims to present the state of research on the Battle of Kircholm (Salaspils), which took place in Livonia (now Latvia) on September 27, 1605., between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden. 74% of Swedes were killed, and the winners lost only 3% of their forces. It was an absolute massacre carried out by an army consisting in two-thirds of cavalry against an enemy with an advantage in infantry and artillery, which in theory is more modern. Methodology: The author has analyzed the known and unknown historiography of sources, including archaeological, epistolary, historiographic, iconographic, narrative, and normative materials. He compared the results with previous literature on the subject. Principal Findings/Results: The analysis conducted showed a brilliant tactic by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s army, consisting of combining cavalry with infantry. This, along with many errors in command of the Swedish army, led to the downfall of the Scandinavians. Conclusions/Significances: The success at Kircholm saved the Polish-Lithuanian rule over the Daugava River. Unfortunately, it cemented Polish-Lithuanian nobility in the mistaken belief about the power of the army of the Republic, that without money and reforms, they began to lose advantage over opponents.