Battle of Czarny Ostrów

Battle of Czarny Ostrów
Part of Second Northern War / The Deluge
Date July 20, 1657 Location Czarny Ostrow in Podolia, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Result Polish victory
Belligerents
Principality of Transylvania	Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Crimean Khanate
Commanders and leaders
George II Rakoczi	Stefan Czarniecki Jerzy Lubomirski Stanislaw Potocki
Strength
unknown	10,000
Casualties and losses
unknown	unknown

The Battle of Czarny Ostrów took place on July 20, 1657, during the period in Polish history known as the Deluge. Polish Crown army commanded by Hetmans Stefan Czarniecki, Jerzy Lubomirski and Stanisław Potocki, supported by Crimean Tatars, defeated a Transilvanian-Cossack-Moldavian-Wallachian army of George II Rakoczi.

In early 1657, following the Treaty of Radnot, southern Poland was invaded by Transilvanian army of George II Rakoczi. Since main Polish forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were engaged in fighting the Swedish Empire, only a division of Stanisław Potocki was sent southwards. Meanwhile, Rakoczi’s army headed towards Kraków, and its march was marked by widespread looting and destruction.

In May 1657, during a meeting in Sokal, Polish leaders decided to carry out a revenge attack on the Principality of Transylvania. In June of the same year, Swedish forces abandoned Rakoczi, and headed to Denmark, due to the outbreak of the Dano-Swedish War.

Meanwhile, Hetman Lubomirski with 4,000 soldiers concentrated his forces in Sambor, and, together with thousands of peasants, invaded Transilvania. Lubomirski stayed in Transilvania until July, when it returned, and joined forces with the division under Potocki. This took place near Stryj.

On July 11, Stefan Czarniecki defeated the Transilvanian-Cossack-Moldavian-Wallachian army of Rakoczi in the Battle of Magierów. On July 16, Czarniecki’s division joined the forces of Lubomirski and Potocki, and the hetmans decided to destroy Rakoczi. Meanwhile, Cossacks of Anton Zdanowicz abandoned the Transilvanians, and their situation became desperate. Under the circumstances, Rakoczi sent envoys to the Poles, asking for a peace treaty. Lubomirski and Potocki were willing to sign a treaty, while Czarniecki and his soldiers wanted to fight, hoping for rich booty.

On July 20, near the village of Czarny Ostrów in Podolia, Polish forces attacked the Transilvanian camp. Rakoczi then decided to abandon all wagons with booty, and retreated towards Miedzybóż, where negotiations began. Czarniecki tried to prevent this, but was overruled by other leaders, and on July 23, a treaty was signed by both sides. Rakoczi was obliged to break the alliance with the Swedish Empire, pull his garrisons out of occupied cities of Kraków and Brest, and pay 1.2 million Polish złotys to the Polish-Lithuanian Treasury. Furthermore, he was obliged to pay 1 million złotys to Polish hetmans, and 2 million to the Polish soldiers.

The treaty did not prevent Rakoczi’s army from total annihilation. Three days later the Transilvanians were attacked by Crimean Tatars, who at that time were allied with Poland. The Tatars disregarded the treaty, and on July 31, they entered Rakoczi’s camp, located in Trembowla. Some 11,000 soldiers were captured, including high-ranking officers, such as Janos Kemeny. Rakoczi himself managed to escape the trap, and returned to Transilvania with a handful of men.

Sources

• Miroslaw Nagielski, Warszawa 1656, Wydawnictwo Bellona, Warszawa 1990, ISBN 83-11-07786-X
• Leszek Podhorodecki, Rapier i koncerz, Warszawa 1985, ISBN 83-05-11452-X