The Lithuanian–Muscovite War of 1512–1522 (also known as the Ten Years' War) was a military conflict between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Ruthenia, which included Ukrainian and Belarusian lands, and the

Grand Principality of Moscow The Grand Principality of Moscow, or Muscovy, known as the Principality of Moscow until 1389, was a late medieval Russian monarchy. Its capital was the city of Moscow. Originally established as a minor principality in the 13th century, the gra ...

for Russian border lands.

Reasons

In the two previous wars, the Moscow state did not succeed in realizing the idea of regaining all the "Kievan inheritance" – the lands of

Principality of Smolensk The Principality of Smolensk (eventually Grand Principality of Smolensk) was a Ruthenian lordship from the 11th to the 16th century. Until 1127, when it passed to Rostislav Mstislavich, the principality was part of the land of Kiev. The princip ...

Principality of Polotsk The Principality of Polotsk (obsolete spelling: ''Polock''; ; ), also known as the Duchy of Polotsk or Polotskian Rus', was a medieval principality. The origin and date of the establishment of the state are uncertain. Chronicles of Kievan Rus' ...

and

Principality of Kiev The inner Principality of Kiev was a medieval principality centered on the city of Kiev. The principality was formed during the process of political fragmentation of the Kievan Rus' in the early 12th century. As a result of that process, the e ...

. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania did not accept the results of these wars - the loss of some of its eastern lands. At the end of 1512 a new war broke out between the two states. The reason for this was the Lithuanian-Crimean Tatar negotiations and the attack of the Crimean Tatars in May 1512 on the

Upper Oka Principalities In Russian historiography the term Upper Oka Principalities () traditionally applies to about a dozen tiny and ephemeral polities situated along the upper course of the Oka River at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. They were reigned b ...

War

The Moscow government accused the Lithuanians of inciting the

Crimean Khanate The Crimean Khanate, self-defined as the Throne of Crimea and Desht-i Kipchak, and in old European historiography and geography known as Little Tartary, was a Crimean Tatars, Crimean Tatar state existing from 1441 to 1783, the longest-lived of th ...

into Moscow's lands, and in November of that year organized a campaign of troops against

Polotsk Polotsk () or Polatsk () is a town in Vitebsk Region, Belarus. It is situated on the Dvina River and serves as the administrative center of Polotsk District. Polotsk is served by Polotsk Airport and Borovitsy air base. As of 2025, it has a pop ...

and

Smolensk Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest cities in Russia. It has been a regional capital for most of ...

. Soon the troops were withdrawn from Polotsk, they remained near Smolensk until March 1513, after which the siege was lifted. In June 1513, Moscow troops launched an offensive in four directions in order to capture Smolensk, Polotsk, Vitebsk and

Orsha Orsha (; , ; ) is a city in Vitebsk Region, Belarus. It is situated on the fork of the Dnieper, Dnieper River and Arshytsa River, and it serves as the administrative center of Orsha District. As of 2025, it has a population of 101,662. History ...

. The fighting continued until November and ended in vain for Moscow. At the end of May 1514, Moscow troops launched a third offensive on Smolensk. Despite the successful defense of the city, part of the local aristocracy and clergy moved to the side of Moscow, which led to the capitulation of Smolensk on July 31, 1514. Soon the Moscow regiments captured Mstislaw, Krychew and

Dubrowna Dubrowna or Dubrovno (; ; ) is a town in Vitebsk Region, northern Belarus. It is located on the Dnieper River and serves as the administrative centre of Dubrowna District. As of 2024, it has a population of 6,929. Etymology The toponym origina ...

. However, the Moscow side failed to develop success. On September 8, 1514, near Orsha, the Lithuanian army (30,000 men, under the command of Ukrainian nobleman

Konstanty Ostrogski Konstanty Iwanowicz Ostrogski ( – 10 August 1530) was a Ruthenian prince and magnate of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He later had the title of grand hetman of Lithuania from 11 September 1497 until his death in 1530. Career Ostrogski began ...

) defeated the Moscow army (40,000 soldiers, under the command of Prince I. Chelyadnin). Soon Lithuania managed to return Mstislaw, Krychew and

. At the same time, Lithuanians together with Crimean Tatars carried out several attacks on the

Severia Severia (, ; ) or Siveria ( / , ''Siveria'' / ''Sivershchyna'') is a historical region in present-day southwest Russia, northern Ukraine, and eastern Belarus. The largest part lies in modern Russia, while the central part of the region is the c ...

region. However,

remained under the Moscow rule. At the beginning of 1515, the Lithuanians, together with the Crimean Tatars, repeated the attack on the Seversky lands. Later, Moscow regiments marched near

Roslavl Roslavl (, ) is a town and the administrative center of Roslavlsky District in Smolensk Oblast, Russia. It is a road and rail junction and a market town. Population: History Roslavl was founded as Rostislavl in the 1130s or 1140s. The name is ...

, Polotsk, Vitebsk, and Mstislavl, and Lithuanians operated near Velyki Luki. In September 1517, peace talks began in Moscow. However, they did not cease hostilities. In October, the Lithuanian army made an unsuccessful attempt to capture

Opochka Opochka () is a town and the administrative center of Opochetsky District in Pskov Oblast, Russia, located on the Velikaya River, south of Pskov, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: History It was founded in 1414. At the t ...

. In the summer of 1518, the Moscow leadership tried to resume large-scale hostilities against Lithuania. His troops attacked Polotsk, Vitebsk,

Slutsk Slutsk is a town in Minsk Region, in central Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Slutsk District, and is located on the Sluch (Belarus), Sluch River south of the capital Minsk. As of 2025, it has a population of 59,450. Geography ...

. However, the victory was for the Lithuanians. The following year, Moscow repeated the offensive with greater force. From

Pskov Pskov ( rus, Псков, a=Ru-Псков.oga, p=psˈkof; see also Names of Pskov in different languages, names in other languages) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city in northwestern Russia and the administrative center of Pskov O ...

, Smolensk, and

Starodub Starodub (, , ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, on the Babinets (river), Babinets River in the Dnieper basin, southwest of Bryansk. Population: 16,000 (1975). History Starodub has been known ...

, its regiments attacked Polotsk, Vitebsk, Orsha,

Mogilev Mogilev (; , ), also transliterated as Mahilyow (, ), is a city in eastern Belarus. It is located on the Dnieper, Dnieper River, about from the Belarus–Russia border, border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and from Bryansk Oblast. As of 2024, ...

Minsk Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administra ...

Kreva Kreva (, ; ; ; ) is an agrotown in Smarhon District, Grodno Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Krevas selsoviet. The first mention dates to the 13th century. The toponym is derived from the name of the Krivichs tribe. ...

Ashmyany Ashmyany or Oshmyany is a city in Grodno Region, Belarus. It is located from Vilnius in Lithuania, and serves as the administrative center of Ashmyany District. The river Ashmyanka passes through the city. As of 2025, it has a population of 16 ...

, and

Maladzyechna Maladzyechna, or Molodechno, is a town in Minsk Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative centre of Maladzyechna District (and formerly of Molodechno Region from 1944 to 1960). Maladzyechna is located northwest of Minsk. In 2006, it had ...

. In February 1520, Moscow troops repeated the attack on Polotsk and Vitebsk. During the year

Ostap Dashkevych Ostaphii "Ostap" Dashkevych ( Ukrainian: Остафій Дашкевич; born in Ovruch 1470 – died after 1535) is one of the earliest recorded leaders of an organized Cossack defense force. Dashkevych held a position of starosta in Cherkasy ...

took part in the Crimean campaign.

Result

On September 2, 1520, a truce was signed in Moscow for six months, and on December 25, 1522, a new truce was established for five years. According to him, Smolensk remained on the Moscow side. Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III Ivanovich refused to exchange prisoners.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lithuanian-Muscovite War (1512-1522) Conflicts in 1512 Conflicts in 1513 Conflicts in 1514 Conflicts in 1515 Conflicts in 1516 Conflicts in 1517 Conflicts in 1518 Conflicts in 1519 Conflicts in 1520 Conflicts in 1521 Conflicts in 1522 1512 in Europe 1513 in Europe 1514 in Europe 1515 in Europe 1516 in Europe 1517 in Europe 1518 in Europe 1519 in Europe 1520 in Europe 1521 in Europe 1522 in Europe Wars involving the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Wars involving the Grand Principality of Moscow Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars 16th century in Lithuania 16th century in the Grand Principality of Moscow 16th-century military history of Russia Wars involving Poland Polish–Russian wars