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The Battle of Byczyna or Battle of Pitschen ((ドイツ語:Pitschen); (ポーランド語:Byczyna)) was the deciding battle of the 1587–1588 War of the Polish Succession, which erupted after two rival candidates were elected to the Polish throne. Both sides had rough parity in forces, with armies about 6,000 strong, divided roughly into half infantry and half cavalry. The battle was an overwhelming victory of the Polish-Swedish faction, led by the Swedish-born king-elect Sigismund III Vasa, over the army of his rival to the throne, Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria. Taking place near the Silesian town of Pitschen (modern Byczyna), then just a few kilometres outside the territory of Poland-Lithuania, on 24 January 1588, Sigismund's supporters were commanded by Chancellor and Great Crown Hetman Jan Zamoyski. Besides the commanders, notable participants included Stanisław Stadnicki on the Maximilian's side, and Stanisław Żółkiewski on Sigismund's. The army of the Polish-Austrian (or Habsburg) faction was largely annihilated, the Archduke was captured and his cause came to an abrupt end. He subsequently renounced his claim to the Polish throne. ==Background== In 1586, following the death of previous Polish king, Stefan Batory, the Swedish duke Sigismund III Vasa and Habsburg Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria took part in the election to the joint Polish–Lithuanian throne.〔〔 Each of the two candidates had supporters in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the two opposing sides gathered around pro-Sigismund Chancellor and Great Crown Hetman Jan Zamoyski and the Primate of Poland, Stanisław Karnkowski on one side and the pro-Maximilain Zborowski family on the other.〔〔 The rivalry between Zamoyski and the Zborowski family dated years past and tensions during the elections ran high.〔 Sigismund, supported by Zamoyski and the former king's wife, Anna Jagiellon, was elected King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on 19 August 1587 and recognized as such by the ''interrex'', the Primate Karnkowski.〔 The election was disputed, however, by Maximilian and opponents of Sigismund chose not to respect the election outcome, decreeing that Maximilian was the rightful monarch three days later on 22 August.〔〔 The Zborowski family called for the rokosz (legitimate right to rebel) and the election ended in chaos, with several killed and many wounded.〔 For both Zamoyski and the Zborowski family, losing was not an option, as they knew the losing side would likely pay a severe price, from confiscations and a loss of prestige to a possible death sentence for treason.〔 Neither Sigismund nor Maximilian were present in the Commonwealth at that time.〔 After receiving news of the election, both Sigismund and Maximilan made haste for Poland.〔 Sigismund arrived at Danzig (Gdańsk) on 28 September and, after approximately two weeks, he had departed to Kraków, where he arrived in 9 December and was crowned on 27 December.〔 Maximilian attempted to resolve the dispute by bringing a military force to Poland, thereby starting the War of the Polish Succession.〔 After a failed attempt to take Kraków in late 1587, successfully defended by Zamoyski, he retreated to gather more reinforcements but was pursued by the forces loyal to Sigismund.〔〔 Zamoyski at first wanted to avoid a large battle, as he hoped for more reinforcements and supplies, but, when it became apparent that Maximilian would be reinforced first, he decided to press an attack.〔 He also received the king's and royal permission to cross the borders and attack Maximilian in Silesia.〔 Zamoyski divided his army into several regiments that were able to march quickly, at approximately 24 kilometers a day.〔 He reformed his army after a week near Częstochowa.〔 In the meantime, on 22 January 1588, Maximilian crossed the border into his own territory, towards Byczyna (Pitschen).〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of Byczyna」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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