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{{Short description|Part of the Thirteen Years' War}}
{{About|the 1454 battle|the 1656 battle|Battle of Chojnice (1656)|the 1939 battle|Battle of Chojnice (1939)}}
{{unreferenced|date=September 2014}} {{Needs additional citations|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict {{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Chojnice |conflict = Battle of Chojnice
|image = Bitwapodchojnicami.jpg
|image=
|image_size = 300px
|caption=
|partof=the ] |partof = the ]
|date=September 18, 1454 |date = 18 September 1454
|place=Near ], ] |place = Near ], ], ] <small>(now in ], ])</small>
|result=Teutonic Victory |result = Teutonic Victory
|combatant1=] ]<br>] |combatant1 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Poland.svg|border=no}} ]<br/>{{Flagicon image|Flag of Prussia (1466-1772).svg}} ]
|combatant2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the State of the Teutonic Order.svg}} ]<br/>{{Flagicon image|POL województwo dolnośląskie flag.svg}} ]
|combatant2=] ]

|combatant1=] ]<br>]
|commander1=] ]<br>] ]<br>] ]† |commander1 = {{Flagicon image|Flaga Rzeczypospolitej Obojga Narodow ogolna.svg|border=no}} ]<br/>{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Poland.svg|border=no}} ]<br/>{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Poland.svg|border=no}} ]{{KIA}}
|commander2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the State of the Teutonic Order.svg}} ]<br/>{{Flagicon image|POL województwo dolnośląskie flag.svg}} ]{{KIA}}
|commander2=] ]
|strength1=16,000 cavalry, <br> over 3,000 infantry |strength1 = 16,000 cavalry, <br/> over 3,000 infantry
|strength2=9,000 cavalry <br> 6,000 infantry |strength2 = 9,000 cavalry <br/> 6,000 infantry
|casualties1=Over 3,000 killed <br> 300 captured |casualties1= Over 3,000 killed <br/> 300 captured
|casualties2=~100 killed |casualties2= ~100 killed
}} }}
{{Campaignbox Thirteen Years' War}} {{Campaignbox Thirteen Years' War}}
{{Campaignbox Polish-Teutonic Wars}} {{Campaignbox Polish–Teutonic Wars}}


The '''Battle of Chojnice''' ('''Battle of Konitz''') occurred on September 18, 1454 near the town of ], between ] and the ] during the ]. The battle was won by the Teutonic Knights. The '''Battle of Chojnice''' (or '''Battle of Konitz''') occurred on 18 September 1454 near the town of ], between ] and the ] during the ]. The battle was won by the Teutonic Knights.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Czaja |first=Roman |url=http://atlasmiast.umk.pl/pliki/chojnice/AHMP_Chojnice_intro.pdf |title=The Historical Atlas of Polish Towns: Chojnice |last2=Kozieł |first2=Zenon |publisher=Nicolaus Copernicus University Press |year=2013 |location=Toruń, Poland |page=16 }}</ref>


==Background== ==Background==
The Teutonic army had around 9,000 cavalry and 6,000 infantry under ]. The Polish army had 16,000 cavalry, a few thousand servants (who could and usually were used in battles), a few hundred infantry plus 500 mercenaries and burghers from ] and 2,000 mercenaries hired by the Prussian Confederacy, all under the command of King ], advised by ] ] and ]. The Teutonic army had around 9,000 cavalry and 6,000 infantry under ]. The Polish army had 16,000 cavalry, a few thousand servants (who could and usually were used in battles), a few hundred infantry, plus 500 mercenaries and burghers from ] and 2,000 mercenaries hired by the Prussian Confederacy, all under the command of King ], advised by ] ] and ].


The Polish commanders were counting on the battle being won by the Polish heavy cavalry, not caring much about either artillery or infantry. They had not thought that their opponents could change their traditional strategy, or that the Teutonic soldiers besieged in Chojnice could be anything more than spectators. Bernard von Zinnenberg, nonetheless, had planned a totally different kind of battle. The Polish commanders were counting on the battle being won by the Polish heavy cavalry, not caring much about either artillery or infantry. They had not thought that their opponents could change their traditional strategy, or that the Teutonic soldiers besieged in Chojnice could be anything more than spectators. Bernard von Zinnenberg, nonetheless, had planned a totally different kind of battle.


==The battle== ==Battle==
At the beginning everything went as expected, following the pattern of many other battles between the Poles and Teutonic Knights. The Polish cavalry charged, breaking the Teutonic lines, killing Prince Rudolf of Żagań and even capturing Bernard von Zinnenberg. The Teutonic cavalry tried to break through the Polish lines and escape to Chojnice; however, infantry grouped at the Teutonic ] broke with tradition and offered a very good defense against the mounted troops. At the beginning everything went as expected, following the pattern of many other battles between the Poles and Teutonic Knights. The Polish cavalry charged, breaking the Teutonic lines, killing Duke ] and even capturing Bernhard von Zinnenberg. The Teutonic cavalry tried to break through the Polish lines and escape to Chojnice; however, infantry grouped at the Teutonic ] broke with tradition and offered a very good defense against the mounted troops.


Then a sudden sally from Chojnice at the back of the Polish army caused panic. Bernard von Zinnenberg managed to release himself and organised the pursuit; hundreds of Poles, including Piotr from Szczekociny, were killed during the rout or drowned in nearby marshland. The Polish King fought on with great personal courage and his knights had to force him to leave the battlefield. Then a sudden sally from Chojnice at the back of the Polish army caused panic. Bernhard von Zinnenberg managed to release himself and organised the pursuit; hundreds of Poles, including Piotr of Szczekociny, were killed during the rout or drowned in nearby marshland. The Polish King fought on with great personal courage and his knights had to force him to leave the battlefield.


==Aftermath== ==Aftermath==
The Polish defeat was complete. 3,000 bodies were left on the battlefield, 300 knights were captured by the Teutonic Knights, including three main commanders: Mikolaj Szarlejski, Łukasz Górka, and Wojciech Kostka from Postupice. The Teutonic Knights lost only around 100 men. Bernard von Zinnenberg, was however, formally a Polish prisoner, since he gave a knight's word. The Polish defeat was complete. 3,000 bodies were left on the battlefield, 300 knights were captured by the Teutonic Knights, including three main commanders: Mikolaj Szarlejski, Łukasz Górka, and Vojtěch Kostka of Postupice. The Teutonic Knights lost only around 100 men. Bernhard von Zinnenberg, was however, formally a Polish prisoner, since he gave a knight's word.


==References==
The battle proved that discipline and improved tactics, combined with a talented commander could win against a larger, but more traditional army. The Poles paid the price for ignoring terrain, infantry and artillery.
{{Reflist}}


==Bibliography== ==Bibliography==
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Latest revision as of 00:53, 19 March 2024

Part of the Thirteen Years' War
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Battle of Chojnice
Part of the Thirteen Years' War
Date18 September 1454
LocationNear Chojnice, Gdańsk Pomerania, Teutonic State (now in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland)
Result Teutonic Victory
Belligerents
Polish Crown
Prussian Confederation		 Teutonic Order
Duchy of Żagań
Commanders and leaders
King Casimir IV
Jan Taszka Koniecpolski
Piotr of Szczekociny †		 Bernhard von Zinnenberg
Rudolf of Żagań †
Strength
16,000 cavalry,
over 3,000 infantry		 9,000 cavalry
6,000 infantry
Casualties and losses
Over 3,000 killed
300 captured		 ~100 killed
Thirteen Years' War
Polish–Teutonic Wars

The Battle of Chojnice (or Battle of Konitz) occurred on 18 September 1454 near the town of Chojnice, between Poland and the Teutonic Knights during the Thirteen Years' War. The battle was won by the Teutonic Knights.

Background

The Teutonic army had around 9,000 cavalry and 6,000 infantry under Bernhard von Zinnenberg. The Polish army had 16,000 cavalry, a few thousand servants (who could and usually were used in battles), a few hundred infantry, plus 500 mercenaries and burghers from Gdańsk and 2,000 mercenaries hired by the Prussian Confederacy, all under the command of King Casimir IV, advised by chancellor Jan Koniecpolski and Piotr of Szczekociny.

The Polish commanders were counting on the battle being won by the Polish heavy cavalry, not caring much about either artillery or infantry. They had not thought that their opponents could change their traditional strategy, or that the Teutonic soldiers besieged in Chojnice could be anything more than spectators. Bernard von Zinnenberg, nonetheless, had planned a totally different kind of battle.

Battle

At the beginning everything went as expected, following the pattern of many other battles between the Poles and Teutonic Knights. The Polish cavalry charged, breaking the Teutonic lines, killing Duke Rudolf of Sagan and even capturing Bernhard von Zinnenberg. The Teutonic cavalry tried to break through the Polish lines and escape to Chojnice; however, infantry grouped at the Teutonic Wagenburg broke with tradition and offered a very good defense against the mounted troops.

Then a sudden sally from Chojnice at the back of the Polish army caused panic. Bernhard von Zinnenberg managed to release himself and organised the pursuit; hundreds of Poles, including Piotr of Szczekociny, were killed during the rout or drowned in nearby marshland. The Polish King fought on with great personal courage and his knights had to force him to leave the battlefield.

Aftermath

The Polish defeat was complete. 3,000 bodies were left on the battlefield, 300 knights were captured by the Teutonic Knights, including three main commanders: Mikolaj Szarlejski, Łukasz Górka, and Vojtěch Kostka of Postupice. The Teutonic Knights lost only around 100 men. Bernhard von Zinnenberg, was however, formally a Polish prisoner, since he gave a knight's word.

References

  1. Czaja, Roman; Kozieł, Zenon (2013). The Historical Atlas of Polish Towns: Chojnice (PDF). Toruń, Poland: Nicolaus Copernicus University Press. p. 16.

Bibliography

  • Jacek Knopek, Bogdan Kuffel: Bitwa pod Chojnicami 18 IX 1454 r. w tradycji historycznej i regionalnej. Chojnice: Biblioteka Chojnicka, 2004.

53°42′00″N 17°34′00″E / 53.700000°N 17.566667°E / 53.700000; 17.566667

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