Truce of Vilna
Encyclopedia
Truce/Treaty of Vilna or Truce/Treaty of Niemieża was a treaty
signed at Niemieża (modern Nemėžis
) near Vilnius
(also known as Vilna) on 3 November 1656 between Tsardom of Russia
and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
, introducing a truce during the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
and an anti-Swedish
alliance in the contemporary Second Northern War
. In return for ceasing hostilities and fighting Sweden alongside with Poland-Lithuania, the treaty promised Alexis of Russia succession in Poland after John II Casimir Vasa's death. The cossacks under Bohdan Khmelnytsky
were excluded from the negotiations, and subsequently supported the Transylvanian invasion
on the Swedish side.
The negotiations began in Autumn of 1655, between Field Hetman of Lithuania
Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski
and Russian commander Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin
, and led to a quick ceasefire along the Polish-Russian front, allowing the Commonwealth to concentrate on the Swedish incursion. In the light of its successes, the Commonwealth's stance in the negotiations intensified, and it has rejected Russian territorial demands; however both Poland and Russia agreed to continue engaging Sweden. There were also negotiations about the Russian tsar or his descendant ascending to the Commonwealth's throne (see Polish-Lithuanian-Muscovite Commonwealth
). Russian forces marched on Swedish Livonia and besieged Riga
in the Russo-Swedish War of 1656-1658. The Russian ally, Zaporozhian Cossack hetman
Bohdan Khmelnytsky
was informed about the Russian plans; he was not against a temporary armistice with Poland as such; but he was afraid of an alliance between Muscovy and Poland aimed at crushing Cossack rebellion as a possible consequence of the treaty.
In 1658 the Russo-Polish war would resume, with another Russian invasion of the Commonwealth territories.
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
signed at Niemieża (modern Nemėžis
Nemežis
Nemėžis is a village in the Vilnius district municipality, Lithuania. It is located south-east of Vilnius along a railway.- History:It is believed that there was a castle in Nemėžis during the reign of Vytautas the Great...
) near Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
(also known as Vilna) on 3 November 1656 between Tsardom of Russia
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, introducing a truce during the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
The Russo-Polish War of 1654–1667, also called Thirteen Years' War, First Northern War, War for Ukraine was the last major conflict between Tsardom of Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Between 1655 and 1660, the Second Northern War was also fought in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth,...
and an anti-Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
alliance in the contemporary Second Northern War
Second Northern War
The Second Northern War was fought between Sweden and its adversaries the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , Russia , Brandenburg-Prussia , the Habsburg Monarchy and Denmark–Norway...
. In return for ceasing hostilities and fighting Sweden alongside with Poland-Lithuania, the treaty promised Alexis of Russia succession in Poland after John II Casimir Vasa's death. The cossacks under Bohdan Khmelnytsky
Bohdan Khmelnytsky
Bohdan Zynoviy Mykhailovych Khmelnytsky was a hetman of the Zaporozhian Cossack Hetmanate of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . He led an uprising against the Commonwealth and its magnates which resulted in the creation of a Cossack state...
were excluded from the negotiations, and subsequently supported the Transylvanian invasion
Treaty of Radnot
Treaty of Radnot was a treaty signed during the Second Northern War in Radnot in Transylvania on 6 December 1656. The treaty divided the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth between the signing parties.According to the treaty:...
on the Swedish side.
Developments
After a series of successes for the Russian forces, with an even more successful Swedish invasion of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian tsar decided that total defeat of the Commonwealth and Swedish victory leading to major strengthening of Sweden (a threat to Russia) would not be in the best interests of Russia.The negotiations began in Autumn of 1655, between Field Hetman of Lithuania
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski
Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski
Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski was a Polish-Lithuanian politician and military commander, a notable member of the szlachta.-Life:...
and Russian commander Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin
Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin
Afanasy Lavrentievich Ordin-Naschokin was one of the greatest Russian statesmen of the 17th century. His career is quite unprecedented in Russian history, as he was the first petty noble to attain the boyar title and highest offices of state owing not to family connections but due to his personal...
, and led to a quick ceasefire along the Polish-Russian front, allowing the Commonwealth to concentrate on the Swedish incursion. In the light of its successes, the Commonwealth's stance in the negotiations intensified, and it has rejected Russian territorial demands; however both Poland and Russia agreed to continue engaging Sweden. There were also negotiations about the Russian tsar or his descendant ascending to the Commonwealth's throne (see Polish-Lithuanian-Muscovite Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian-Muscovite Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian–Muscovite Commonwealth was a proposed state that would have been based on a personal union between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Tsardom of Russia...
). Russian forces marched on Swedish Livonia and besieged Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
in the Russo-Swedish War of 1656-1658. The Russian ally, Zaporozhian Cossack hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
Bohdan Khmelnytsky
Bohdan Khmelnytsky
Bohdan Zynoviy Mykhailovych Khmelnytsky was a hetman of the Zaporozhian Cossack Hetmanate of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . He led an uprising against the Commonwealth and its magnates which resulted in the creation of a Cossack state...
was informed about the Russian plans; he was not against a temporary armistice with Poland as such; but he was afraid of an alliance between Muscovy and Poland aimed at crushing Cossack rebellion as a possible consequence of the treaty.
In 1658 the Russo-Polish war would resume, with another Russian invasion of the Commonwealth territories.