Battle of Holowczyn

Battle of Holowczyn
Part of the Swedish invasion of Russia

Battle of Holowczyn 1708, by B. Adlerfeld
Date3 July 1708 (O.S.)
4 July 1708 (Swedish calendar)
14 July 1708 (N.S.)
Location
Holowczyn, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
(present-day Belarus)
54°03′46″N 29°56′05″E / 54.06278°N 29.93472°E / 54.06278; 29.93472
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Swedish Empire Swedish Empire Tsardom of Russia Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Charles XII
Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld		 Boris Sheremetev
Aleksandr Menshikov
Anikita Repnin
Strength
12,500[1] 28,000[2]
Casualties and losses
265 killed[3]
1,028 wounded[3]		 1,655–6,000[a]

The Battle of Holowczyn (also spelled Holofzin or Golovchin) was fought in July 1708 between the Russian army, and the Swedish army, led by Charles XII of Sweden, only 26 years of age at the time. Despite difficult natural obstacles and superior enemy artillery, the Swedes were able to achieve surprise and defeat the numerically superior Russian forces, who were separated from each other, had no overall command and could not coordinate their actions,[4] disallowing them an engagement in full force.[7][2] Reportedly, it was Charles' favourite victory.[8]

  1. ^ Liljegren, Bengt, Karl XII: en biografi. Lund: Historiska Media, 2000, p. 156
  2. ^ a b Н.А. Шефов. Битвы России. Военно-историческая библиотека. М., 2006, с. 135
  3. ^ a b Cooper, Leonard (1968). Many Roads to Moscow: Three Historic Invasions. London: Hamish Hamilton. p. 42.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Artamonov was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ :sv:Slaget vid Holowczyn § Följder
  6. ^ Peter From. Katastrofen vid Poltava. Lund, 2007. p. 162
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tarle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Ericson, Lars, ed. (2003). Svenska slagfält (in Swedish). Wahlström & Widstrand. p. 286. ISBN 91-46-21087-3.


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