The Battle of Nowy Dwór was fought during September 20 – September 30, 1655 between forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth commanded by

Jan Kazimierz Krasiński Jan Kazimierz Krasiński (1607–1669) was a Polish nobleman ( szlachcic) using the Ślepowron coat of arms. He was the fifth son of Stanisław Krasinski and Anna Michowska, brother of Gabriel and Ludwik. Jan Kazimierz was courtier on the r ...

on one side, and on the other Swedish Empire forces commanded by

Gustaf Otto Stenbock Count Gustaf Otto Stenbock (7 September 1614 – 24 September 1685) was a Swedish soldier and politician. He was son of Friherre Gustav Eriksson Stenbock (1575–1629) and Countess Beata Margareta Brahe (1583–1645), born in Torpa, Länghem par ...

. It ended in Swedish victory.

Background

On September 8, 1655, Swedish forces under King

Charles X Gustav Charles X Gustav, also Carl Gustav ( sv, Karl X Gustav; 8 November 1622 – 13 February 1660), was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. Afte ...

entered Warsaw, which had been abandoned by John II Casimir of Poland on August 18. At the same time, in the village of Mogilno near

Zakroczym Zakroczym (; yi, זאקראטשין ''Zakrotshin'') is a small town in the Masovian Voivodeship, Poland. It is located at around . The Vistula River flows through the town. Zakroczym has a long and rich history: in the Kingdom of Poland and the ...

, Mazovian

levée en masse ''Levée en masse'' ( or, in English, "mass levy") is a French term used for a policy of mass national conscription, often in the face of invasion. The concept originated during the French Revolutionary Wars, particularly for the period followi ...

gathered to fight the invaders. It was commanded by Voivode of Płock, Jan Kazimierz Krasinski. Swedish forces, including such units, as Jämtlands fältjägarregemente and Norrlands dragonregemente, sent from Warsaw to face the Poles, decided to cross the

Narew The Narew (; be, Нараў, translit=Naraŭ; or ; Sudovian: ''Naura''; Old German: ''Nare''; uk, Нарва, translit=Narva) is a 499-kilometre (310 mi) river primarily in north-eastern Poland, which is also a tributary of the river Vis ...

near Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki.

The battle

On September 21, the Swedes approached Nowy Dwor. Polish camp was located on a 30-meter hill, located at the confluence of the Vistula and

Bugonarew The Narew (; be, Нараў, translit=Naraŭ; or ; Sudovian: ''Naura''; Old German: ''Nare''; uk, Нарва, translit=Narva) is a 499-kilometre (310 mi) river primarily in north-eastern Poland, which is also a tributary of the river Vi ...

. Swedish troops quickly captured Nowy Dwor and began construction of a bridge. Their commandant,

was well aware of the fact that in previous battles, the Polish

szlachta The ''szlachta'' (Polish: endonym, Lithuanian: šlėkta) were the noble estate of the realm in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth who, as a class, had the dominating position in the ...

of the levée en masse had capitulated to the Swedes without fighting. Therefore, on September 28, Stenbock urged the Poles to capitulate, but their offer was rejected. An exchange of fire began, in which Swedish artillery had an advantage. Covered by the cannons, Swedish reiters crossed the Narew, finishing construction of the bridge, and digging trenches, which protected the river crossing. In the morning of September 30, Stenbock's army crossed the river and attacked Polish positions. The battle took place in the area where now the district of Modlin is located. Swedish fire forced the Masurians to withdraw north. Mobility of Polish units prevented them from complete destruction, as the Swedes were too slow to chase them. Polish losses amounted to some 300 killed. On the next day the Poles counterattacked, but without success. Swedish advance continued, and the invaders captured Pułtusk.

Aftermath

Swedish victory opened the road towards the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Livonia, while Swedish engineers noticed strategic importance of the location of the battle. In the following months, they constructed here a permanent fortified position, the so-called Bugskansen. This star-shaped military camp was main supply depot and concentration point of the Swedish-Brandenburgian army during the Battle of Warsaw. In the early 19th century, the Modlin Fortress was built in the location of the Bugskansen.

Sources

* Leszek Podhorodecki, Rapier i koncerz, Warszawa 1985, , str. 261-262 {{DEFAULTSORT:Battle of Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki Second Northern War Conflicts in 1655 1655 in Europe Nowy Dwor Nowy Dwor History of Masovian Voivodeship 1655 in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth