Arka Noego
Encyclopedia
The Arka Noego was a war pinnace in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy
that played an important role in two naval battles of the Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629)
. Small, fast and lightly armed when compared to the impressive man 'o war galleons of the Swedish Navy, excellent leadership, a fine crew and aggressive marines combined to bring the Arka Noego into parity with her larger opponents. Major roles in two impressive victories followed in the fall of 1627.
, in the Polish-Lithuanian Complex. She saw significant action on more than one occasion.
On May 17, 1627, with the galleon Król Dawid Wodnik, (King David Aquarius), the Arka Noego engaged a squadron of the Swedish Navy in the vicinity of Hel, Poland
. The two forces separated after a brief exchange of cannon fire. The next day, the Arka Noego was attacked by elements of a 24 ship Swedish Leba convoy. After a brief exchange of cannon fire, the much larger Swedish convoy broke through and sailed to Kolobrzeg
. During the fight, one cannon on the Arka Noego blew up but caused little damage. After a few days, the Polish ships returned to the Wisłoujście squad after running the Swedish blockage of Gdańsk Bay.
The Arka Nuevo was captured by the Swedish Navy, sometime in 1635 and her fate thereafter is unknown.
The ten ship Polish fleet was commanded by Admiral Arend Dickmann
in the galleon Sankt George (Święy Jerzy) which was anchored at the Danzig roadstead. The Swedish squadron of six ships sailed from the Hel Peninsula. The less experienced Poles immediately took the attack to the Swedish squadron, an aggressive move that surprised the Swedes. The battle then split into two separate events. 1. The Polish flagship Sankt Georg (galleon, 400t, 31 guns), supported by the smaller Meerwieb (Panna Wodna -160t, 12 guns) attacked the Swedish flagship Tigern (Tiger, 320t, 22 guns), that was commanded by Admiral Niels Stiernskold. Entangled together, the Polish marines boarded and captured the Tigern. 2. The Vice Admiral's ship of the Polish Navy, the small galleon Meerman (Wodnik, 200t, 17 guns) attacked the larger Swedish Solen (Sun, 300t, 38 guns), whose captain blew up the ship, rather than let be captured. The remaining four Swedish ships fled and escaped pursuit. Both the Polish and Swedish Admirals were killed.
( Stary Targ) that was signed on September 25, 1629. The Truce of Altmark favored the Swedes but it did return to the Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth territories such as the southeastern region of Latgale
that had been occupied since the 1625 invasion. The remainder of the Polish navy fleet was marked for transfer to Sweden. The ambitious Poland Lithuanian Confederacy King Sigismund III Vasa
(English)- Zygmunt III Waza (Polish) - (June 9, 1595 – May 20, 1648 (reign 1566-1632) and the Catholic League (German)
, remained active and belligerent, particularly as Zigmund III Vasa wanted to revive his hereditary claim to the Swedish throne because he was a descendant of the House of Vasa, and had briefly been King of Sweden. The Polish flotilla sailed to Wismar
, the famous Hanseatic League port, and took part in several skirmishes against the Danish and the Swedish Navies. In January 1632 , Wismar
was conquered by Sweden who remained in control of the city until 1903.
The Treaty of Stuhmsdorf or Sztumska Wieś, was signed on September 12, 1635 between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and King Władysław IV Vasa
(son of Zigmund III Vasa) and Sweden. Essentially, it was an extension of the Truce of Altmark. Sweden was willing to give up their conquests in Prussia if Władysław IV Vasa would renounce hiis claim to the Swedish crown, and Sweden could retain their conquests in Livonia
. The peace between Poland and Sweden was also supported by French Cardinal Richelieu Meanwhile, Zigmund III Vasa gathered a new army of about 21,000 soldiers and he sent Gdańsk (Danzig) merchant (Jerzy Ossoliński
) to gather up Polish allies in non-occupied Prussia. With the help of Georg Hewel, he bought ten merchant ships to be converted into warships, and established the 'Sea Commission' (Komisja Morska) - led by Gerard Denhoff.
The Polish flotilla sailed to Wismar
, the famous Hanseatic League port, and took part in several skirmishes against the Danish and the Swedish Navies. In January 1632, Wismar was conquered by Sweden who remained in control of the city until 1903. “Arka Noego” was seized at that time and incorporated into the Swedish navy under the name “Vita Hunden”. The last mention of “Arka Noego” dates from 1636, when the vessel was sold into private hands and the subsequent fate of the ship is unknown. Denmark destroyed the remainder of the Polish fleet in 1637 without formally declaring war.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy was the navy of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.- Battle of Oliva :During the time of Polish–Swedish War in 1627, the Commonwealth fleet under command of Admiral Arend Dickmann achieved it most famous victory, breaking the Swedish blockade at the Battle of...
that played an important role in two naval battles of the Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629)
Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629)
The Polish–Swedish War of 1626–1629 was the fourth stage in a series of conflicts between Sweden and Poland fought in the 17th century...
. Small, fast and lightly armed when compared to the impressive man 'o war galleons of the Swedish Navy, excellent leadership, a fine crew and aggressive marines combined to bring the Arka Noego into parity with her larger opponents. Major roles in two impressive victories followed in the fall of 1627.
Battle at Hel, May 17, 1627
The Arka Noego (“Noah's Ark”) was a 16 gun war pinnace that was built for the Polish Navy in 1625. Her Master was Magnus Wesman and her home port was GdańskGdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
, in the Polish-Lithuanian Complex. She saw significant action on more than one occasion.
Hel, Poland
Hel is a town in Puck County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, located on the tip of the Hel Peninsula, some 33 kilometres from the Polish mainland.-Early developments:...
. The two forces separated after a brief exchange of cannon fire. The next day, the Arka Noego was attacked by elements of a 24 ship Swedish Leba convoy. After a brief exchange of cannon fire, the much larger Swedish convoy broke through and sailed to Kolobrzeg
Kolobrzeg
Kołobrzeg is a city in Middle Pomerania in north-western Poland with some 50,000 inhabitants . Kołobrzeg is located on the Parsęta River on the south coast of the Baltic Sea...
. During the fight, one cannon on the Arka Noego blew up but caused little damage. After a few days, the Polish ships returned to the Wisłoujście squad after running the Swedish blockage of Gdańsk Bay.
The Arka Nuevo was captured by the Swedish Navy, sometime in 1635 and her fate thereafter is unknown.
Battle of Oliva, November 28, 1627
Arka Noego was one of five war ships in the 2nd Polish Naval squadron that fought several larger Swedish man 'o war in the Battle of Oliva (Battle of Oliwa, Battle of Gdańsk Roadstead), on November 28, 1627. Ten Polish ships attacked a small Swedish fleet of six ships outside Gdańsk (Danzig) harbour, near the village of Oliva (Oliwa). The strong Swedish Navy maintained a blockade of the Baltic shore, especially Oliva harbor. Although the tiny Polish Navy of nine ships outnumbered the Swedish flotilla arrayed against them, only four ships were galleons outfitted for heavy combat. Furthermore, the Polish Navy was not battle hardened as was the experienced Swedish Navy which was a recognized European sea power.The ten ship Polish fleet was commanded by Admiral Arend Dickmann
Arend Dickmann
Arend Dickmann - Admiral in the Polish Navy. He was a Dutchman, born in Delft under the name Arend Dijckman. From 1608 he lived in Gdansk, being an owner of a merchant ship. In 1626 he entered in the service of the Polish king Sigismund III Vasa...
in the galleon Sankt George (Święy Jerzy) which was anchored at the Danzig roadstead. The Swedish squadron of six ships sailed from the Hel Peninsula. The less experienced Poles immediately took the attack to the Swedish squadron, an aggressive move that surprised the Swedes. The battle then split into two separate events. 1. The Polish flagship Sankt Georg (galleon, 400t, 31 guns), supported by the smaller Meerwieb (Panna Wodna -160t, 12 guns) attacked the Swedish flagship Tigern (Tiger, 320t, 22 guns), that was commanded by Admiral Niels Stiernskold. Entangled together, the Polish marines boarded and captured the Tigern. 2. The Vice Admiral's ship of the Polish Navy, the small galleon Meerman (Wodnik, 200t, 17 guns) attacked the larger Swedish Solen (Sun, 300t, 38 guns), whose captain blew up the ship, rather than let be captured. The remaining four Swedish ships fled and escaped pursuit. Both the Polish and Swedish Admirals were killed.
The Last Years of “Arka Noego”
The Polish–Swedish War of 1626-1629 ended with the truce of the Truce of AltmarkTruce of Altmark
The six-year Truce of Altmark was signed on 25 September 1629 at the Altmark , near Danzig by Sweden and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during Thirty Years' War, ending the Polish–Swedish War ....
( Stary Targ) that was signed on September 25, 1629. The Truce of Altmark favored the Swedes but it did return to the Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth territories such as the southeastern region of Latgale
Latgale
Latgale is one of the four historical and cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. It is the easternmost region north of the Daugava River...
that had been occupied since the 1625 invasion. The remainder of the Polish navy fleet was marked for transfer to Sweden. The ambitious Poland Lithuanian Confederacy King Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
(English)- Zygmunt III Waza (Polish) - (June 9, 1595 – May 20, 1648 (reign 1566-1632) and the Catholic League (German)
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
, remained active and belligerent, particularly as Zigmund III Vasa wanted to revive his hereditary claim to the Swedish throne because he was a descendant of the House of Vasa, and had briefly been King of Sweden. The Polish flotilla sailed to Wismar
Wismar
Wismar , is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. Its natural harbour, located in the Bay of Wismar is well-protected by a promontory. The...
, the famous Hanseatic League port, and took part in several skirmishes against the Danish and the Swedish Navies. In January 1632 , Wismar
Wismar
Wismar , is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. Its natural harbour, located in the Bay of Wismar is well-protected by a promontory. The...
was conquered by Sweden who remained in control of the city until 1903.
The Treaty of Stuhmsdorf or Sztumska Wieś, was signed on September 12, 1635 between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and King Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
(son of Zigmund III Vasa) and Sweden. Essentially, it was an extension of the Truce of Altmark. Sweden was willing to give up their conquests in Prussia if Władysław IV Vasa would renounce hiis claim to the Swedish crown, and Sweden could retain their conquests in Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
. The peace between Poland and Sweden was also supported by French Cardinal Richelieu Meanwhile, Zigmund III Vasa gathered a new army of about 21,000 soldiers and he sent Gdańsk (Danzig) merchant (Jerzy Ossoliński
Jerzy Ossolinski
Prince Jerzy Ossoliński was a Polish szlachcic, Crown Court Treasurer from 1632, voivode of Sandomierz from 1636, Reichsfürst since 1634, Crown Deputy Chancellor from 1639, Great Crown Chancellor from 1643, starost of Bydgoszcz , Lubomel , Puck and Bolim , magnate, politician and diplomat...
) to gather up Polish allies in non-occupied Prussia. With the help of Georg Hewel, he bought ten merchant ships to be converted into warships, and established the 'Sea Commission' (Komisja Morska) - led by Gerard Denhoff.
The Polish flotilla sailed to Wismar
Wismar
Wismar , is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. Its natural harbour, located in the Bay of Wismar is well-protected by a promontory. The...
, the famous Hanseatic League port, and took part in several skirmishes against the Danish and the Swedish Navies. In January 1632, Wismar was conquered by Sweden who remained in control of the city until 1903. “Arka Noego” was seized at that time and incorporated into the Swedish navy under the name “Vita Hunden”. The last mention of “Arka Noego” dates from 1636, when the vessel was sold into private hands and the subsequent fate of the ship is unknown. Denmark destroyed the remainder of the Polish fleet in 1637 without formally declaring war.
External Links
- WB-pink Noah's Ark::Sailing Ships, Poland(POL)(Arche Noah)
- Polish Ships in 1620/30s, nd. Excellent listing with profile data for each ship.
- Polish Sailing Navy, History and ship listings, 1455-1716.
- Historical Flags of our Ancestors – The Flags of the Poles 1
- Arka Noego as Noah's Ark, by ~KociGrzbiet, 2010-11. Conceptual, humorous illustration.