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In June and July 1580 active hostilities broke out along the entire confrontation line between Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The raids were made in the direction of Krichev (53° 43′ 10″ N , 31° 42′ 50″ E), Starodub, Roslavl (53° 56′ 57″ N , 32° 51′ 25″ E), Velizh, the uyezds of Bryansk, Smolensk, Sebezh and Lutsk. The Lithuanian troops besieged Usvyat, Velizh and Ozerishche. Livonia was also troubled: Govja (modern Gaujiena), Trekat and Smeltin were attacked (the latter was soon captured by the Lithuanian troops). From Livonia the king’s troops attacked the surroundings of Pskov and Yuriev.
On August 26 the siege of the first fortress in the Novgorodian Land — Velikiye Luki (56° 21′ 00″ N , 30° 31′ 00″ E) began. It looked exotic: in fear of heated shots (it is not clear, though, whether they could set something on fire in Polotsk or not), the townspeople covered the walls with fresh turf. The walls became «fluffy», as if overgrown with grass. However, it became clear at once that for the besiegers it was much easier to climb those walls than smooth logs, so securing themselves from one problem the citizens of Velikiye Luki ran into another.
Velikiye Luki. A memorial on the ramparts of the fortress
The modern fortress of Velikiye Luki stands on the site of the ancient Russian settlement and the 16th-century stronghold, but its ramparts were extensively rebuilt, when a bastion system was introduced under Peter the Great. Nevertheless, walking along the ramparts, one can get an idea of the scale of the 16th-century fortress and its configuration.
On 1 September 1580 the bombardment of Velikiye Luki began. Skilful artillerymen aimed at the embrasures, because firing at the turf-covered walls was pointless. They could hit the embrasures of two towers with cannonballs and even cause fires, but the fire expired when it reached the walls. On the second day a gunpowder bomb was exploded under the base of one of the towers. The tower stood, though the blast blew away all the turf. On the third day, Bathory’s infantry marched against the walls, but the assault was repulsed. On the fourth day the Hungarians and Poles tried to set fire to the tower left without turf. The flames spread slowly, but the smoke caused the defenders to escape from the tower. On the other hand, the smoke also prevented Bathory’s men from taking it.
Velikiye Luki was captured by a treacherous attack of the Hungarians when peace negotiation had been announced. While the king was being awaited at the fortress walls, the Hungarians stormed the town in the night of September 6. Stephen Bathory gave Velikiye Luki to his army to pillage.
Velikiye Luki. Ramparts and the inner courtyard of the fortress
After that, attacks were made against Toropets (56° 30′ 00″ N , 31° 38′ 00″ E ), which withstood the assault, Nevel (56° 01′ 00″ N , 29° 56′ 00″ E ), Ozerishche (55° 50′ N , (29° 59′ E ) and Zavolochye (56° 24′ 22″ N , 29° 27′ 12″ E ), which were captured, despite the fact that Ozerishche and Zavolochye were located on islands.
Ozerische. View of the island where the fortress was located
Zavolochye. View of the island where the fortress was located
The second campaign to Russia was as successful for Bathory as the first one.
Alexander Filyushkin