Expedition to Vyborg
| Expedition to Vyborg | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Russo-Swedish War (1554-1557) | |||||||
Ivan Vasilyevich "releases his voivodes to the King of Sweden" Illustrated Chronicle of Ivan the Terrible | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Tsardom of Russia | Kingdom of Sweden | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Pyotr Schenyatev Dmitry Paletsky Ivan Sheremetyev (WIA) | Jakob Bagge | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 5,000 to 25,000 | Unknown, but less | ||||||
.svg){kind=link}
The Expedition to Vyborg was a major military campaign undertaken by the Russians in winter of 1556. The main goal of the expedition was to inflict as much material and human damage on Swedish forces as possible, which would compel Stockholm to request a truce.
A new Russo-Swedish war started over border disputes began in 1554. Already in early 1555, the Russians were defeated at the fortress of Kivinebb by local militias. A major Swedish expedition aimed at capturing Oreshek was also unsuccessful. By the end of 1555, Ivan the Terrible decided to end the military actions, and sent large forces on a punitive expedition to southern Finland. The Russian offensive proved successful. Significant trophies were captured and numerous prisoners were taken. After the success of this expedition, the Swedish King Gustav Vasa requested an armistice.