In the period of September 26 to October 19, 1658, peace negotiations were taking place between representatives of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Russia. By then Russian troops had already been occupying the capital city of Lithuania, Vilnius, for three years. The Lithuanian side was represented by commissioners acting on behalf of the king: Paul Sapieha, Vilnius Palatine and the Grand Hetman of Lithuania, Vincent Gosiewski, Lithuanian field hetman and the Chief Treasurer of Lithuania. Both Lithuanian hetmans came to negotiations escorted by their troops. The military camp of V. Gosiewski was set up not far from Vilnius, in the Verkiai manor. P. Sapiega was stationing at the opposite side south of Vilnius, nearby Rudamina village. The Russian occupational forces headed by Yurii Dolgorukii garrisoned the city and castles of Vilnius. Having broken the negotiations, on 21 October 1658, the Russians unexpectedly attacked the camp of Gosiewski. The forces under the command of Gosiewski included 1500 cavalry. Gosiewski himself was take prisoner in the course of the battle. Some 200 officers and soldiers were killed or taken prisoner either in action or on their retreat from the camp. The failure of the Lithuanian part must be explained by the sudden attack by the Russian troops as well as to the fact that Gosiewski’s forces were made up only of cavalry who were unable to beat off the attacks of the Russian foot soldiers. The loss of manpower was a considerable failure, but the most acute misfortune was the captivity of V. Gosiewski who was an experienced soldier and able man of government. He was taken to Moscow. His once held civil authority now was temporarily vested in Christopher Pacas, Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Samuel Komorowski and the Žemaitijan captain George Glebavičius took over his military responsibilities. Very soon V. Gosiewski’s captivity became a political problem and his regaining of freedom became a matter of discusions and demands advanced by the dietines, the Sejm, and the King. By attacking in this way, Russia broke the armistice which was still valid from 1656 and, of course, peace negotiations themselves.

Numeriai:

2011 - T.57
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4

2010 - T.56
Nr.1-4

2009 - T.55
Nr.1-2, Nr.3-4

2008 - T.54
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4

2007 - T.53
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4

2006
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4

2005
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4

2004
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4

2003
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4

2002
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4

2001
Nr.1, Nr.2, Nr.3, Nr.4