# Battle of Kircholm (1605)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1605-battle-of-kircholm
Location: Kircholm
Categories: battle

Hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz's hussars routed a much larger Swedish army, a triumph of Polish cavalry. 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 (27 September 1605), the governing authority was Sigismund III Vasa (King of Poland). Also King of Sweden (1592–1599); moved the royal residence to Warsaw and pursued war with Sweden and Muscovy. Battle of Kircholm 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
Battle of Kircholm mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed.

Ruler at the time: [Sigismund III Vasa](https://poland-history.com/rulers/sigismund-iii-vasa)

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