The Smolensk War 1632-34: Poland's Forgotten Border Conflict

In 1632, as Poland reeled from the death of King Sigismund III Vasa, Moscow saw its chance. The resulting Smolensk War (1632-1634) was a brutal three-year campaign that tested the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's military reforms, its famous winged hussars, and the leadership of a new king. This episode follows the siege of Smolensk—a fortress city that had been a flashpoint between Poland and Russia for decades. We examine the role of hetman Krzysztof Radziwiłł, the innovative use of field fortifications and artillery, and the decisive relief that broke the Russian siege. We also uncover the controversial Treaty of Polanów, which cemented Polish control over Smolensk for another two decades but sowed the seeds of future conflict. Along the way, we touch on the forgotten voices of Lithuanian nobles, the cost of war on ordinary soldiers, and how this campaign fits into the broader 'Time of Troubles' era. For listeners who enjoyed our episodes on Kircholm and Klushino, this is the next chapter in the Commonwealth's military story—less celebrated but equally revealing of how Poland-Lithuania defended its eastern frontier. #SmolenskWar #PolishLithuanianCommonwealth #Rzeczpospolita #Smolensk #KrzysztofRadziwiłł #WładysławIV #Moscow #TimeOfTroubles #Siege #PolishHussars #TreatyOfPolanów #EasternEurope #17thCentury #MilitaryHistory #Hetman #TsardomOfRussia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo