Livonian War 1558-1583 years has become one of the most important campaigns during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.And all of the XVI century, perhaps.
Livonian War: briefly about the prerequisites
After the great Muscovite tsar was able to conquer Kazan and Astrakhan Khanate, Ivan IV turned his attention to the Baltic lands and the Baltic Sea.Taking these territories for the kingdom of Moscow would be challenging opportunities to trade in the Baltic.However, there is already an informed German merchants and the Livonian Order was extremely disadvantageous to the region to prevent new competitors.The resolution of these contradictions, and was to become the Livonian War.Brief mention should be made about the formal reason for it.They served as a failure to pay tribute to the Livonian Order, which the Bishopric of Dorpat was obliged to pay in favor of Moscow according to the agreement in 1554.Formally, this tribute has existed since the beginning of the XVI century.However, in practice about it for a long time no one remembered.Only with the aggravation of relations between the parties, Ivan the Terrible used this fact as an excuse for Russian invasion of the Baltic Sea.
Livonian War: briefly about the vicissitudes of the conflict
Russian troops began the invasion of Livonia in 1558.The first stage of the collision, which lasted until 1561, completed a crushing defeat of the Livonian Order.Army pogroms in Moscow king walked along the eastern and central Livonia.They were taken Dorpat and Riga.In 1559, the parties signed a truce for six months, which was to develop into a peace treaty on terms of vassalage of the Livonian Order from Russia.But the help of German knights rushed to the King of Poland and Sweden.King Sigismund II diplomatic maneuver managed to take the order under its own protectorate.In November 1561 the terms of the agreement Vilna Livonian Order ceased to exist.Its territory divided between Lithuania and Poland.Now Ivan the Terrible had to confront once three powerful rivals: Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish Kingdom and Swedish.With the latter, however, the Tsar of Muscovy managed quickly enough to make peace for a while.In the years 1562-63 begins the second large-scale campaign in the Baltic.Events Livonian War, at this stage, continued to develop well.However, in the mid-1560s to the limit of aggravated relations between Ivan the Terrible and the boyars chosen happy.The situation is further deteriorating due to the flight of one of the closest associates of the prince's Andrei Kurbsky to Lithuania and his desertion to the enemy (the reason that prompted the nobleman, was the growing despotism of the Moscow principality and infringement of the ancient liberties of nobility).After this event, Ivan the Terrible finally hardened, seeing around him solid traitors.In parallel with this place and the defeat at the front, which explains the Prince of internal enemies.In 1569, Lithuania and Poland united into a single state, which reinforces their power.In the late 1560's - early 70's Russian troops suffer a series of defeats and even lose a few castles.With the 1579 war for the Moscow principality takes in the more defensive.However, in 1579 the enemy was captured Polotsk, in the 1580th - Great Bow, in 1582, continuing a long siege of Pskov.It is evident that the signing of the peace and respite for the government after decades of military campaigns.
Livonian War: briefly about the consequences
war ended with the signing of extremely unfavorable for Moscow Plyusskogo and Yam Zapolskoho truce.The Baltic Sea has not been received.Instead, the prince was exhausted and ravaged country was in a very difficult position.The consequences of the Livonian War accelerated the internal crisis that led to the Great Troubles beginning of the XVI century.
