The Siege and Capture of the Polatsk Fortress by the His Majesty Stephen, the King of Poland – the Use of Cartography in Tactical Planning

The siege of Polatsk is not the first example of the application of cartographic plans in siege operations conducted by the Crown or Lithuanian armies. We should mention the capture of Uła in 1568 or the battle at Latarnia in 1577. Undoubtedly, however, the situation in 1579 is a model material demonstrating the use of cartography for siege purposes at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. At first, before launching military camps, the high command meticulously analysed the fortifications. The pictorial, or landscape, manner was not in use any more – the whole establishment was ridden around once or twice. Thus gathered information was captured on paper and, during the first council of war, constituted the basis for developing the tactics of conquering the fortress. At such a meeting, the locations of military camps were chosen and the way and location of siege operations was decided. We should add that cartographic plans were corrected au courant.

The drawing made for the purposes of a print published in Rome in 1580 (Obsidio et expugnatio munitissimae arcis Polocensis per serenissimum Stephanum Poloniae regem) was probably a compilation of several works, not necessarily authored by one person. What is sure, the plan of the Polatsk fortress used at the council of war was made on August 11. Beyond any doubt, the scheme of the tactical formation arranged around Polatsk on August 29 was also created during the same meeting. Possibly, there was also a map showing the surroundings of Polatsk with marked military camps and sites of conducted siege works. Hence Stanisław Pachołowiecki’s print includes as many as four information layers: the location of military camps, the tactical formation arranged on August 29 around Polatsk (ordre de bataille), fortifications, and the plan of the undertaken siege operations.

The siege of Polatsk is not the first example of the application of cartographic plans in siege operations conducted by the Crown or Lithuanian armies. We should mention the capture of Uła in 1568 or the battle at Latarnia in 1577. Undoubtedly, however, the situation in 1579 is a model material demonstrating the use of cartography for siege purposes at the turn of the 16^th and 17^th centuries. At first, before launching military camps, the high command meticulously analysed the fortifications. The pictorial, or landscape, manner was not in use any more – the whole establishment was ridden around once or twice. Thus gathered information was captured on paper and, during the first council of war, constituted the basis for developing the tactics of conquering the fortress. At such a meeting, the locations of military camps were chosen and the way and location of siege operations was decided. We should add that cartographic plans were corrected au courant.

The drawing made for the purposes of a print published in Rome in 1580 (Obsidio et expugnatio munitissimae arcis Polocensis per serenissimum Stephanum Poloniae regem) was probably a compilation of several works, not necessarily authored by one person. What is sure, the plan of the Polatsk fortress used at the council of war was made on August 11. Beyond any doubt, the scheme of the tactical formation arranged around Polatsk on August 29 was also created during the same meeting. Possibly, there was also a map showing the surroundings of Polatsk with marked military camps and sites of conducted siege works. Hence Stanisław Pachołowiecki’s print includes as many as four information layers: the location of military camps, the tactical formation arranged on August 29 around Polatsk (ordre de bataille), fortifications, and the plan of the undertaken siege operations.