Battle of Vilnius (1655)

The Battle of Vilnius (1655), also known as the Battle of Wilno, took place between August 8 and August 10, 1655, during the Second Northern War (also known as the Deluge in Polish history). Forces of the Tsardom of Russia, commanded by Prince Alexei Nikitich Trubetskoy and Prince Yakov Cherkassky, besieged and captured the city of Vilnius (Wilno), the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Prior to the battle, Vilnius was a major political and cultural center. Its defenses were relatively weak, relying primarily on city walls and a small garrison. The Russian army, significantly larger, quickly overwhelmed the Lithuanian forces defending the city. The battle resulted in the complete capture of Vilnius by the Russians.

Following the capture, the city was subjected to widespread looting, destruction, and massacres of the civilian population. Numerous churches, monasteries, and cultural institutions were destroyed or plundered. The capture and sack of Vilnius marked a significant turning point in the Second Northern War, contributing to the rapid decline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and its eventual occupation by Swedish and Russian forces. The devastation of Vilnius also had long-lasting cultural and demographic consequences for the region.