History of Russia: "Deulin Truce"

In 1618, on December 1 (11), after an unsuccessful outcome of the Poles' attempt to take Moscow, an agreement was concluded in the village of Deulino between Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This peace treaty established an unspoken period of 14.5 years. The agreement went down in history as the "Deulin Truce."

The War Begins

Officially, the beginning of the Russo-Polish war is considered to be the year 1609. The first years of the military company were extremely successful for the Polish-Lithuanian troops. In the period from 1609 to 1612 they conquered and established their power over a significant territory of the western part of Russia. This area was also the largest fortress of Smolensk at that time. The situation of Russia in those years was extremely unstable. After Vasily Shuisky was overthrown, a provisional government came to power, consisting of authoritative representatives of boyar families. On their behalf in August 1610, an agreement was signed on the construction of the Polish king Vladislav Vazy on the Russian throne and the introduction of the Polish garrison on the territory of Moscow. However, these plans were not destined to come true. In 1611-1612 in Moscow, a militia is formed, which is acting with sharply anti-Polish views. These forces succeed first to oust Polish-Lithuanian troops beyond the territory of the Moscow region, and later, in 1613-1614, and from a number of large cities of Russia.

Second attempt

In 1616 Vladislav Vaza unites with the Lithuanian hetman Jan Khodkevich and again makes an attempt to occupy the Russian throne. It should be said that at that time he belonged to the Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. The soldiers of the united army were lucky: they managed to free Smolensk besieged by Russian troops and advance deep into the country right up to Mozhaisk. Having received reinforcements from the Ukrainian Cossacks in 1618 under the leadership of Hetman Pyotr Sagaidachny, the army of Rech Pospolita reached Moscow. After the unsuccessful storming of the Russian capital, the Polish-Lithuanian army retreats to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Pyotr Sagaidachny with his people departs to the Kaluga region. Under the circumstances, Russia, which had just survived the troubled times and the war on two fronts, was forced to sign a peace treaty on obviously unfavorable terms.

The first stage of the contract

The place of the beginning of negotiations is the Presnia river. They took place in 1618, on October 21 (31). The first meeting did not bring any special results. The parties presented the maximum requirements to each other. Thus, the representatives of Vladislav Vaz insisted on recognizing him as the only legitimate Russian tsar and demanded the transfer to his leadership of Pskov, Novgorod and Tver. The Russians in turn insisted on the immediate return of all areas and the withdrawal of enemy troops from the territory of Russia. The second meeting that took place on October 23 (November 2) 1618 was more successful. The Russian side demanded a twenty-year truce, agreeing in return to give up Roslavl and Smolensk. The Polish side refused Vladislav Vazy's claims to the Russian throne, but at the same time demanded that the lands of Pskov be given away. Also, the representatives of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth insisted on the return of all the previously conquered Lithuanian regions and full reimbursement of the costs incurred during the war.

Second phase

After the transfer of the Polish-Lithuanian army to the area of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, negotiations continued there. At the same time, time was playing against both participants in the military conflict. The Polish-Lithuanian army experienced enormous difficulties with the supply of food, the coming colds were causing more and more trouble. Constant interruptions with funding fueled the general discontent of the mercenaries, among whom there were already thoughts of leaving the army's location. In this situation, the extortion and plundering of the local population by Polish-Lithuanian soldiers, especially the Cossacks were different. The protracted war had an extremely negative impact on the moods of Moscow residents, some of whom were for the Polish king. The people are tired of Troubles and wars. As a result of the negotiations, the main points of armistice were agreed upon. Disagreements arose on the list of cities transferred under the control of the Commonwealth. Also, the sides could not come to an agreement on the terms of the ceasefire and the title powers of Mikhail Romanov and Vladislav Vaz. On November 20 (30), 1618, representatives of the Russian embassy arrived under the walls of the monastery. The result of the three-day talks was the signing of the "Deulina armistice". The Russian side, under the pressure of the Polish-Lithuanian government, had to give up a number of its demands and make concessions.

General conditions

The "Deulina armistice" with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was established for a period of 14 years and 6 months, namely from December 25, 1619 to June 25, 1633. At the disposal of the Commonwealth moved: Smolensk, Roslavl, Dorogobuzh, Belaya, Serpeysk, Novgorod-Seversky, Trubchevsk, Chernigov, Monastyrsky, including the surrounding lands. Russia returned to the following cities: Vyazma, Kozelsk, Meshchovsk, Mosalsk in exchange for cities such as Starodub, Pochep, Nevel, Krasnoe, Sebezh, Popova Gora, including the surrounding lands. The "Deulina armistice" with Poland provided for the transfer of the cities mentioned therein with neighborhoods until 1619, on February 15 (25). Together with the cities and lands, residents and property located on it were transferred. Until the same date (1619, 15 (25) February), all Polish-Lithuanian and Ukrainian troops were to leave the territory of Russia. Also, the "Deulin Truce" provided for the exchange of prisoners of war. He was appointed to On February 15 (25), 1619. "The Deulin Truce" provided for the return to Russia only for merchants, nobles and clergy. Under the terms of the armistice agreement, the Russian tsar no longer held the titles of the Livonian, Smolensk and Chernigov rulers. The icon of St. Nicholas, captured in Mozhaisk by Polish-Lithuanian troops, was transferred to Russia. By the terms of the agreement, the boundary land surveying was scheduled for the summer of 1619. The "Deulin Truce" granted the right of free movement across the territory of the countries that signed it to Russian and Polish-Lithuanian merchants. Exceptions were the cities of Krakow, Vilno and Moscow. Vladislav Vaza defended the right to be called a Russian tsar in official documents of the Polish-Lithuanian state.

Historical meaning

The Deuline armistice of 1618 is the largest military and political success of the Commonwealth in the confrontation with Russia. The borders of the Polish-Lithuanian state moved far to the east. In the period from 1616 to 1622 the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth reached its historic maximum (990 thousand km²). "Deulina armistice" officially fixed the claim on the Russian throne from the Polish king and the Lithuanian prince. For Russia, the signing of an armistice agreement, at first glance, looked extremely unprofitable. However, it was thanks to the cessation of the war with the Polish-Lithuanian army that such a calmness, necessary after the Troubles, had come into the country. A few years later, gathering strength, Russia violated the terms of the armistice, starting the Smolensk war. The result of it was Vladislav's complete refusal to claim the throne. Finally, Russia was able to restore its territorial losses only during the Russian-Polish war of 1654-1667.