Siege of Danzig (1577)

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Siege of Danzig


caption=
partof=Danzig rebellion
date=mid-1577 to December
place=Danzig (Gdańsk), Royal Prussia, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
result=inconclusive
combatant1=Royal Army
combatant2=Danzigers
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=~10,000
strength2=~3,000
casualties1=
casualties2=

The Siege of the city of Danzig (Gdańsk) in 1577 by king Stephen Báthory of Poland ended militarily inconclusive.

The conflict begun as the city of Danzig did not recognize the free election of Bathory to the Polish throne and instead supported Emperor Maximilian. This led to a short conflict, known as the Danzig rebellion. Siege of Danzig was the last part of that conflict.

After a siege of six months, the Danzig army of 5,000 mercenaries, among them a Scottish regiment ["The regiment of six companies numbering about 700 men was hired by Danzig in 1577-8 and won great fame in the city's rebellion against Poland." - Richard Brzezinski: Polish Armies 1569-1696 (2), Osprey Publishing [http://books.google.com/books?id=6KrUDhbGDVcC&pg=PA4&dq=battle+Danzig+1577&lr=&sig=D90HVm0cWQGMh5q0A1ADMUeVEkQ] ] was utterly defeated in a field battle on December 16, 1577. However, since Stephen's armies were unable to take the city itself, a compromise was reached: Stephen Báthory confirmed the city's special status and her Danzig law privileges granted by the earlier Polish kings. The siege was lifted in return for reparations and recognition of him as the sovereign. The city recognised him as ruler of Poland and paid a large sum of 200,000 złoty's.

See also

* History of Gdańsk (Danzig)

References