Polish–Swedish War (1621–25)



Having signed the Treaty of Stolbovo ending their Ingrian War with Russia in 1617, the Swedes under king Gustav II Adolf (Gustavus Adolphus, hailed as saviour of Protestant Europe) expanded their gains in their previous war with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, in the disputed Livonia region, taking Dünamünde and Pernau in 1617. Then, when the truce from that war expired in November 1620, Gustav Adolf succeeded in taking the city of Riga after a few weeks of siege. The Commonwealth, occupied by a serious war with Ottoman Empire (battles of Cecora and Chocim) was unable to send significant forces to stop Gustav Adolf, and was forced to sign a truce favorable to Sweden. The Commonwealth was forced to cede Livonia north of the Dvina (Düna) river, and retained only a nominal control over Riga. A new truce in Mitau (Jelgava, Mitawa) was signed and lasted from November 1622 to March 1625.