List of wars involving Poland

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This is a chronological list of wars in which Poland or its predecessor states of took an active part, extending from the reign of Mieszko I (960–992) to the present. This list does not include peacekeeping operations (such as UNPROFOR, UNTAES or UNMOP), humanitarian missions or training missions supported by the Polish Armed Forces.

The list gives the name, the date, the Polish allies and enemies, and the result of these conflicts following this legend:

  Polish victory
  Polish defeat
  Another result
  Internal conflict
  Ongoing conflict

Piast Poland (960–1138)[edit]

During the Middle Ages, Poland sought to incorporate other fellow West Slavic peoples under the rule of the Polan dukes, such as Mieszko I, Boleslaw I Chrobry and their descendants, and then defend the lands conquered in the west from the Holy Roman Empire. In the east and south it struggled with Ruthenia, Bohemia and Tatar raiders. In the north-east, it encountered intermittent Lithuanian and Prussian raids.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
963–

967

Polish-Veletian War Duchy of Poland
Duchy of Bohemia (967)
Veleti
Wolinians (967)
Victory
988–

990

Polish-Bohemian War Duchy of Poland
Holy Roman Empire
Duchy of Bohemia Victory
1003–

1018

German-Polish War Duchy of Poland Holy Roman Empire

Duchy of Bohemia

Victory
1028–

1031

German-Polish War Kingdom of Poland

Kingdom of Hungary

Holy Roman Empire
Duchy of Bohemia

Kievan Rus'

Defeat
1093–

1100

Civil War in Poland[1] Władysław I Herman

Sieciech

Duchy of Bohemia

Zbigniew of Poland

Bolesław III Wrymouth

Internal conflict
1103–

1108

Civil War in Poland[2]: 248–284 [better source needed] Bolesław III Wrymouth

Kingdom of Hungary

Kievan Rus'

Zbigniew of Poland

Duchy of Bohemia

Internal conflict

Feudal fragmentation (1138–1320)[edit]

In 1138, after the death of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Poland was divided into districts ruled by local princes. This began a period of feudal fragmentation that lasted for more than 187 years during which Poland was severely weakened due to incessant internal conflicts, the turmoil in Poland was exploited by neighboring countries who systematically invaded and plundered the country. The feudal fragmentation ended in 1320 during the reign of Władyslaw I Lokietek.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1154–

1155

Henry of Sandomir's crusade to Palestine[3]: 59–60 [better source needed] Polish knights Saracen Victory
1182–

1183

War for Brest Casimir II the Just Kievan Rus' Victory
1234 Polish-Teutonic crusade on Old Prussians[4]: 182 [better source needed] Local dukes
Teutonic Knights
Old Prussians Victory
1241 First Mongol invasion of Poland Local dukes
Military orders
Mongol Empire Defeat
1259–

1260

Second Mongol invasion of Poland Bolesław V the Chaste Mongol Empire Defeat
1273–

1274

Civil War in Poland[5]: 226–228 [better source needed] Bolesław V the Chaste Vladislaus I of Opole Internal conflict
1277 Silesian Civil War[5]: 243–247 [better source needed] Henry V of Legnica

Bolesław II the Horned

Przemysł II

Henry III of Głogów

Internal conflict
1287–

1288

Third Mongol invasion of Poland Leszek II the Black Mongol Empire Victory
1288–

1290

War for Lesser Poland[6]: 696 [7]: 536 [better source needed] Władysław I the Elbow-high

Casimir II of Łęczyca

Bolesław II of Masovia

Konrad II of Masovia

Henry III of Głogów

Przemko of Ścinawa

Bolko I of Opole

Internal conflict

Reunited Kingdom of Poland (1320–1385)[edit]

In 1320, after the end of the feudal fragmentation, during the reign of Władyslaw I Łokietek and his son Casimir III the Great, Poland experienced a period of strong economic development, this period also increased migration to Poland especially of Germans and Jews. The period ended after the death of Casimir the Great and the assumption of the Polish throne by Louis I.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1326–

1332

Polish-Teutonic War Kingdom of Poland

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Kingdom of Hungary

Duchy of Płock

Teutonic Knights

Kingdom of Bohemia

Duchy of Masovia

Indecisive
1340–

1392

Galicia-Volhynia Wars Kingdom of Poland

Duchy of Masovia

Kingdom of Hungary

Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Crimean Khanate

Victory
1345–

1348

Polish-Czech War Kingdom of Poland

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Kingdom of Hungary

Kingdom of Bohemia Indecisive
1375–

1377

Hungarian-Ottoman War Kingdom of Poland

Kingdom of Hungary

 Ottoman Empire


Victory
1381–

1385

Greater Poland Civil War Grzymała Nałęcz Internal conflict

Jagiellon Poland (1385–1569)[edit]

For much of its early history as a Christian state, Poland had to contend with Pomeranians, Prussians, Lithuanians and other Baltic peoples in continuous border wars without clear results or end in sight. After the Teutonic Order conquered and assimilated the Prussians, it began incursions into both Polish and Lithuanian territories. This represented a far greater threat to both Poland and Lithuania, and the two countries united in a defensive alliance by the crowning of the Lithuanian Duke Jogaila as King of Poland (as Władysław II) which led to a major confrontation at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 and subsequent wars until 1525, when the Order became a vassal to the Polish Crown.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1387 Polish conquest of Moldavia Kingdom of Poland Principality of Moldavia Victory
1390–

1392

Lithuanian Civil War Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Kingdom of Poland
Samogitia
Teutonic Knights
Rus' principalities
Victory
1409–

1411

Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Teutonic Knights Victory
1414 Hunger War Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Teutonic Knights Victory
1415–

1419

Hungarian–Ottoman War Kingdom of Hungary

Kingdom of Poland

 Ottoman Empire Victory
1422 Golub War Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Principality of Moldavia
Teutonic Knights Victory
1431–

1435

Lithuanian Civil War Grand Duchy of Lithuania (pro-Roman Catholic)

Kingdom of Poland

Hussites

Grand Duchy of Lithuania (pro-Eastern Orthodox)

Teutonic Knights

Livonian Order

Golden Horde

Principality of Moldavia

Victory
1431–

1435

Polish-Teutonic War Hussites
Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Žygimantas Kęstutaitis)
Teutonic Knights
Grand Duchy of Lithuania(Švitrigaila)
Victory
1437-

1442

Hungarian–Ottoman War Kingdom of Hungary

Kingdom of Poland

 Ottoman Empire Victory
1443–

1444

Crusade of Varna Kingdom of Poland
Kingdom of Hungary
Serbian Despotate
 Ottoman Empire Defeat
1454–

1466

Thirteen Years' War Prussian Confederation
Kingdom of Poland
Teutonic Knights
Livonian Brothers of the Sword
Kingdom of Denmark
Victory
1475 Polish-Ottoman War  Moldavia

Kingdom of Poland

Kingdom of Hungary

 Ottoman Empire Victory
1478–

1479

War of the Priests Kingdom of Poland Nicolaus von Tüngen
Teutonic Knights
Victory
1485–

1503

Polish-Ottoman War Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
 Ottoman Empire
Principality of Moldavia
Crimean Khanate
Defeat
1500–

1503

Second Muscovite-Lithuanian War Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Moscow Defeat
1502–

1510

Polish-Moldavian War Kingdom of Poland Principality of Moldavia

 Ottoman Empire

Victory
1512–

1522

Muscovite-Lithuanian War Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Moscow Indecisive
1519–

1521

Polish-Teutonic War Kingdom of Poland Teutonic Knights Victory
1530–

1538

Polish-Moldavian War Kingdom of Poland Principality of Moldavia Victory
1534–

1537

Fifth Muscovite-Lithuanian War Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Moscow Indecisive
1537 Chicken War Kingdom of Poland Nobility Internal conflict
1558–

1583

Livonian War Livonian Confederation
Kingdom of Poland
Denmark–Norway
Swedish Empire
Tsardom of Russia
Kingdom of Livonia
Victory
1561–

1570

Northern Seven Years' War Kingdom of Poland
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Denmark Denmark–Norway
Free City of Lübeck
Grand Duchy of Moscow
Sweden Kingdom of Sweden
Indecisive

Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)[edit]

The 17th century saw fierce rivalry between the then major Eastern European powers – Sweden, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire. At its heyday, the Commonwealth comprised the territories of present-day Poland, and large parts of Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Russia, and represented a major European power. However, by the end of the 18th century a series of internal conflicts and wars with foreign enemies led to the dissolution of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the partitioning of most of its dependent territories among other European powers.

During the 18th century, European powers (most frequently consisting of Russia, Sweden, Prussia and Saxony) fought several wars for the control of the territories of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. At the end of the 18th century, some Poles attempted to defend Poland from growing foreign influence in the country's internal affairs. These late attempts to preserve independence eventually failed, ultimately ending in Poland's partition and the final dissolution of the remains of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1577–

1582

Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Principality of Transylvania

Tsardom of Russia Victory
1587–

1588

War of the Polish Succession Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Austria Archduchy of Austria Victory
1598–

1599

War against Sigismund Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Sweden Swedish Empire Defeat
1600–

1611

Polish-Swedish War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Sweden Swedish Empire Victory
1605–

1618

Polish-Muscovite War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

False Dmitry I

False Dmitry II

Tsardom of Russia

Don Cossacks

Sweden Swedish Empire

Victory
1617–

1618

Polish-Swedish War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Sweden Swedish Empire Indecisive
1619 Lisowczyk's intervention in the Thirty Years' War[8][citation needed] Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Principality of Transylvania Victory
1620–

1621

Polish-Ottoman War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Zaporozhian Cossacks

 Ottoman Empire
Crimean Khanate
Wallachia Principality of Wallachia
Victory
1621–

1626

Polish-Swedish War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Sweden Swedish Empire Defeat
1626–

1629

Polish-Swedish War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

 Holy Roman Empire

Sweden Swedish Empire Defeat
1632–

1634

Smolensk War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Tsardom of Russia Victory
1633–

1634

Polish-Ottoman War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth  Ottoman Empire
Crimean Khanate
Wallachia Principality of Wallachia
Moldavia Principality of Moldavia

Budjak Horde

Victory
1648–

1655

Khmelnytsky Uprising Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Crimean Khanate

Zaporozhian Cossacks

Crimean Khanate

Indecisive
1654–

1667

Russo-Polish War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Crimean Khanate

Tsardom of Russia
Zaporozhian Cossacks
Defeat
1655–

1660

Second Northern War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Crimean Khanate

Sweden Swedish Empire

Zaporozhian Cossacks

Victory
1663–

1664

Austro-Turkish War League of the Rhine:

 Kingdom of France

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

 Holy Roman Empire

Savoy Piedmont-Savoy

 Kingdom of Hungary

Croatia Kingdom of Croatia

 Ottoman Empire

Crimean Khanate

 Moldavia

 Wallachia

Victory
1666–

1671

Polish-Cossack-Tatar War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Zaporozhian Cossacks

Crimean Khanate

 Ottoman Empire

Victory
1672–

1676

Polish-Ottoman War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth  Ottoman Empire
Zaporozhian Cossacks
Crimean Khanate

Lipka Tatars

Indecisive
1683–

1699

Polish-Ottoman War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Austria Archduchy of Austria

 Ottoman Empire Victory
1686–

1700

Russo-Turkish War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Austria Archduchy of Austria

Tsardom of Russia

 Ottoman Empire Victory
1700–

1721

Great Northern War Augustus II the Strong (1700–04, 1709–)
Tsardom of Russia
Denmark Denmark–Norway (1700, 1709–)
 Electorate of Saxony (1700–06, 1709–)
Augustus II the Strong (1700–04, 1709–)
Cossack Hetmanate (1700–08, 1709–1721)
Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Prussia (1715–)
Province of Hanover Electorate of Hanover (1715-)
others
Stanisław Leszczyński (1704–09)
Sweden Swedish Empire
 Ottoman Empire (1710–14)
Cossack Hetmanate (1708–09)
others
Indecisive
1733–

1735

War of the Polish Succession Stanisław Leszczyński
France Kingdom of France
Spain Kingdom of Spain
Duchy of Savoy
Augustus III of Poland
 Habsburg Monarchy
 Russian Empire
 Electorate of Saxony
Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Prussia
Internal conflict
1772 First partition of Poland Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth  Russian Empire Defeat
1792 Polish-Russian War Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth  Russian Empire
Targowica Confederation
Defeat
1792 Second partition of Poland Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth  Russian Empire

 Prussia

Defeat
1794 Kościuszko Uprising Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth  Russian Empire
 Prussia
Defeat
1795 Third partition of Poland Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth  Russian Empire Defeat

Napoleonic Wars (Duchy of Warsaw)[edit]

Poles unsuccessfully struggled to win back their independence throughout the 19th century. At first, they put their hopes in Napoleon. Later, they tried to ignite national uprisings every now and then – most of them bloodily repressed.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1798–

1802

War of the Second Coalition

 France

Polish Legions

 Spain

Denmark Denmark–Norway[9]

French client republics:

Second Coalition:

 Holy Roman Empire[12]

 Great Britain (until 1801)

 United Kingdom (from 1801)

 Russia (until 1799)

 Ottoman Empire

 Portugal

 Kingdom of Naples

Tuscany Grand Duchy of Tuscany

Sovereign Military Order of Malta Order of Saint John (1798)

Malta (1798–1800)

Kingdom of France French Royalists

Battles during War of the Second Coalition involving Poland Victory
1803–

1806

War of the Third Coalition France French Empire  Holy Roman Empire

 Russian Empire

 United Kingdom

 Kingdom of Naples

Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Kingdom of Sicily

 Sweden

Kingdom of France French royalists

Battles during the War of the Third Coalition involving Poland Victory
1806–

1807

War of the Fourth Coalition France French Empire  Prussia

 Russia

 United Kingdom

Saxony[13]

 Sweden

Sicily

Battles during the War of the Fourth Coalition involving Poland Victory
1808–

1814

Peninsular War France French Empire

Polish Legions

 Spain

 United Kingdom

 Portugal

Defeat
1809 War of the Fifth Coalition France French Empire Austria Austrian Empire

 United Kingdom

 Spain

Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Sicily

 Sardinia

Black Brunswickers

Victory
1809 Austro-Polish War Duchy of Warsaw

Kingdom of Saxony

France French Empire

Austria Austrian Empire Victory
1812 French invasion of Russia France French Empire  Russian Empire Defeat
1812–

1814

War of the Sixth Coalition  First French Empire Original Coalition

 Russian Empire

 Prussia

 Austrian Empire

United Kingdom United Kingdom

 Sweden

 Spain

 Portugal

 Two Sicilies

 Kingdom of Sardinia

After Battle of Leipzig

Defeat
1815 Fourth partition of Poland Duchy of Warsaw  Russian Empire

 Prussia

Defeat

Poland under partitions (1815–1918)[edit]

Poles unsuccessfully struggled to win back their independence throughout the 19th century. At first, they put their hopes in Napoleon. Later, they tried to ignite national uprisings every now and then – most of them bloodily repressed.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1830–

1831

November Uprising Kingdom of Poland  Russian Empire Defeat
1863–

1864

January Uprising Poles  Russian Empire Defeat
1905–

1907

Revolution of 1905 Polish revolutionaries [pl]

Russian revolutionaries

 Russian Empire

Poland Polish conservatives

Defeat
1914–

1918

World War I  Russian Empire
 British Empire
France French Third Republic
Poland Polish Armed Forces
Allies
 German Empire
 Austria-Hungary
Poland Polish Legions
Central Powers
Victory

Second Polish Republic (1918–1939)[edit]

In the turmoil of the First World War, Poles managed to regain independence and then to expand their territory in a series of local wars and uprisings; only to be occupied again during the next world war.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1918–

1919

Polish-Ukrainian War  Second Polish Republic
Romania Kingdom of Romania
Ukraine West Ukrainian People's Republic
 Ukrainian People's Republic
Victory
1918–

1919

Greater Poland Uprising Second Polish Republic Poles  Weimar Republic Victory
1919 Polish–Czechoslovak War  Second Polish Republic  Czechoslovakia Defeat
1919–

1921

Polish-Soviet War  Second Polish Republic Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Russian SFSR
 Ukrainian SSR
 Byelorussian SSR
Polrewkom
Victory
1919–

1920

Polish-Lithuanian War  Second Polish Republic  Lithuania Victory

Poland during World War II (1939–1945)[edit]

The history of Poland from 1939 to 1945 encompasses primarily the period from the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union to the end of World War II. Following the German–Soviet non-aggression pact, Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany on 1 September 1939 and by the Soviet Union on 17 September. The campaigns ended in early October with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing and annexing the whole of Poland. After the Axis attack on the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941, the entirety of Poland was occupied by Germany, which proceeded to advance its racial and genocidal policies across Poland.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1939–

1945

World War II  Second Polish Republic
Polish Underground State Polish Underground State
 Nazi Germany
 Soviet Union
Indecisive[a]

Communist Poland (1945–1989)[edit]

The second half of the 20th century was more peaceful, but still tense, as Poland was involved in the Cold War on the Soviet side.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1944–

1956

Fights against Cursed soldiers Polish Underground State Cursed Soldiers Poland Polish People's Republic

 Soviet Union

Internal conflict
1968 Invasion of Czechoslovakia Warsaw Pact:
 Soviet Union
Poland People's Republic of Poland
Hungary People's Republic of Hungary
Bulgaria People's Republic of Bulgaria
 East Germany
 Czechoslovakia Victory

Third Polish Republic (1989–present)[edit]

At the beginning of the 21st century Poland is involved in the War against terrorism on the NATO side.

Date Conflict Belligerents 1 Belligerents 2 Leaders Events Result
1990–

1991

Gulf War Coalition of the Gulf War:
Poland Poland
United States United States of America
France France
Iraq Iraq Victory
2001–

2021

War on Terror  United States of America
 United Kingdom
 Poland
others
 al-Qaeda
Taliban
others
Ongoing

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Nazi Germany was expelled from Poland, however the Soviet Union remained in control of Poland at the end of the war.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nadgoplańskie Towarzystwo Historyczne (2016). Bitwa nad Gopłem 1096 r. - przyczyny i skutki walki.
  2. ^ Długosz, Jan. Roczniki czyli kroniki sławnego królestwa Polskiego, vol 3&4 (PDF) (in Polish).
  3. ^ Długosz, Jan. Roczniki czyli kroniki sławnego królestwa Polskiego, vol 5&6 (PDF) (in Polish).
  4. ^ Kazimierz Lepszy, Słownik biograficzny historii powszechnej do XVII stulecia. Wiedza Powszechna Warszawa 1968
  5. ^ a b Długosz, Jan. Roczniki czyli kroniki sławnego królestwa Polskiego, vol 7&8 (PDF) (in Polish).
  6. ^ Rocznik Krzeszowski Większy, w: MPH, t. II
  7. ^ Kronika książąt polskich,w: MPH, t.II
  8. ^ Bánlaky, József. Az 1619. évi hadjárat. A magyar nemzet hadtörténelme (in Hungarian).
  9. ^ Officially neutral but Danish fleet was attacked by Britain at the Battle of Copenhagen.
  10. ^ Abolished following the restoration of the neutral Papal States in 1799.
  11. ^ Short lived state that replaced the Kingdom of Naples in 1799.
  12. ^ Nominally the Holy Roman Empire, of which the Austrian Netherlands and the Duchy of Milan were under direct Austrian rule. Also encompassed many other Italian states, as well as other Habsburg states such as the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
  13. ^ a b Joined the Confederation of the Rhine on 11 December 1806.

Further reading[edit]

  • Gąsowski, Tomasz (1999). Bitwy polskie: leksykon. Kraków: Społeczny Instytut Wydawniczy Znak. ISBN 83-7006-787-5.
  • Kozłowski, Eligiusz; Wrzosek, Mieczysław (1984). Historia oręża polskiego 1795–1939. Warszawa: Wiedza Powszechna. ISBN 83-214-0339-5.
  • Lawson, M. K. (2004). Cnut – England's Viking King (2nd ed.). Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2964-7.
  • Nowak, Tadeusz M.; Wimmer, Jan (1981). Historia oręża polskiego 963–1795. Warszawa: Wiedza Powszechna. ISBN 83-214-0133-3.
  • Reuter, Timothy (1995). The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 3, c.900–c.1024. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 891. ISBN 9780521364478. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  • Sikorski, Janusz (1972). Zarys historii wojskowości powszechnej do końca wieku XIX. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej. OCLC 20835374.
  • Winged Hussars, Radoslaw Sikora, Bartosz Musialowicz, BUM Magazine, 2016.

Further reading[edit]

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