# Battle of Oliwa (1627)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1627-battle-of-oliwa
Location: Oliwa
Categories: battle

The small fleet of the Commonwealth defeated a Swedish squadron off Gdańsk, capturing the Swedish flagship. It was the most famous victory of the Polish navy in the early modern era. 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 (28 November 1627), 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 Oliwa 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 Oliwa 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 Oliwa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Oliwa)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Battle of Oliwa](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Battle+of+Oliwa)
- [Wikipedia — Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian_Commonwealth)