# Siege of Pskov (1581)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1581-siege-of-pskov
Location: Pskov
Categories: battle

Stephen Báthory's army besieged the heavily fortified Russian city of Pskov from August 1581. Although the city did not fall, the prolonged siege exhausted Ivan the Terrible and forced him to negotiate. Within the broader Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth period: The Commonwealth of Both Nations elected its kings and prized noble liberty and religious tolerance. It won famous victories but was weakened by wars with Sweden, Russia, the Ottomans and the Cossacks, and by political paralysis. At this point in the timeline (1581), the governing authority was Stephen Báthory (King of Poland), together with Stephen Báthory (King of Poland). Prince of Transylvania who reformed the army, founded Vilnius University and defeated Muscovy in the Livonian War. Siege of Pskov mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Siege of Pskov mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed.

Ruler at the time: [Stephen Báthory](https://poland-history.com/rulers/stephen-bathory)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Siege of Pskov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Pskov)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Siege of Pskov](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Siege+of+Pskov)
- [Wikipedia — Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian_Commonwealth)