Battle of Lemberg (1704)

The governor of Lemberg, Franciszek Gałecki, had earlier refused to pay a contribution sum demanded by the Swedes.[1] Charles XII of Sweden, likely angered by this, struck camp at Jarosław, on September 1, and marched towards Lemberg with 16 regiments.[2] He arrived there with his vanguard, on September 5,[Note 1] and immediately drove off a couple of thousand men under Janusz Antoni Wiśniowiecki and Stanisław Mateusz Rzewuski, after a brief fight.[1] The garrison, about 600 men strong (including about 200 Saxons),[3] then quickly scorched the suburbs and opened fire with their cannons.[4]

Charles, who wanted to storm the town immediately, proceeded with a reconnaissance from the High Castle, after which he ordered three dragoon regiments to make ready; heavy rain, however, forced him to postpone the attack until the next day. While the three dragoon regiments made preparations, the rest of the force encircled the town to block presumed relief forces from intervening. The following day, September 6, the attack was carried out. About 50 Swedes stormed a fortified monastery outside the town, while Charles with the rest of the force climbed the earthwork, where a wooden wall had to be cut through. This wall protected the large fortification walls, directly surrounding the town. As the Swedes attacked, they were shot at through the portholes of the wooden wall. The defenders were, however, effectively forced away by the use of grenades. As the Swedes broke through, the defenders panicked and ran towards the main gate accessing the town, with Charles hot on their heels. In the riot the Swedes managed to take control of the gate, then the town square, and soon the whole town, all in half an hour.[Note 2] The fortified monastery had also, during this time, been successfully captured.[4]

Between 30[5] and 40 Swedes had been killed or wounded during the fighting. The garrison had lost about 530 men captured and between 50 and 60 killed,[6] apart from a few armed citizens.[Note 3] Franciszek Gałecki, along with his captured men (with the exception of the Saxons), soon went over to the side of Stanisław Leszczyński and the Swedes, and were once again garrisoned in Lemberg.[3] Charles struck camp with his forces on September 23-24, and marched towards Warsaw which had been captured by Augustus II of Poland. He soon caught up with the Saxon forces, under Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, at the Battle of Punitz.[7]