# Battle of Khotyn (1673)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1673-battle-of-khotyn
Location: Khotyn
Categories: battle

Grand Hetman Jan Sobieski stormed the fortified Ottoman camp at Khotyn and destroyed its army. The victory made him the obvious candidate in the royal election that followed the death of King Michał. 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 (11 November 1673), the governing authority was John III Sobieski (King of Poland). Military commander who relieved Vienna from the Ottoman siege in 1683. Battle of Khotyn 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 Khotyn mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed.

Ruler at the time: [John III Sobieski](https://poland-history.com/rulers/john-iii-sobieski)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Battle of Khotyn (1673)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khotyn_(1673))
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Battle of Khotyn](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Battle+of+Khotyn)
- [Wikipedia — Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian_Commonwealth)