Battle of the Lantern. Canonada near Wisloujście

In July 1628, at the mouth of the Vistula River, under the walls of the Fortress of Wislauście, one of the most important clashes of the Polish-Swedish naval war took place. The Battle of Lantern ended in heavy losses of the royal fleet, but the fortress itself remained unattainable, maintaining control over the entrance to the Gdańsk port.

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This important episode from the history of Polish presence at sea was reminded by colleagues from the Mariners' Group, who once again published an interesting text worth noting also on the Shipyard Portal. This is not only the story of two lost ships, but also the story of the importance of the Vislaustia, Gdansk And fighting for control over the Southern Baltic.

Canonada over Vistula

At night from 5 to 6 July 1628 The Swedes opened fire on Polish ships from pre-prepared artillery stations located on the Vistula River. Canonada quickly brought heavy losses. The missiles and their fires struck the ships of the royal fleet, which had just a year earlier won the Battle of Olive.

Two Polish ships were sunk under the fire of the Swedish artillery: pinka Yellow Lion and galleon Saint George, acting as an admiral ship. The latter settled on the ground, after which the fire embraced its hull and eventually led to ship sinking. The crews of the remaining units managed to retreat up the Vistula River. This event became one of the most eloquent symbols of the July clash at Wisłoujście.

The Royal Fleet Commander is down.

The casualties were not limited to ships. As a result of the fire, Admiral Herman Witte, called Fentross, as well as Captains Jerome Teschke and Jan Kizero, was defeated. This was a severe blow to the command of the royal fleet, which lost both ships and experienced officers in a short time.

The other units managed to retreat upriver. Most important, however, was that the fortress of Wisłoujście itself was not captured. Maintaining this point meant maintaining control over the strategic entry into the Gdańsk port.

Wisłoujście as the sea gate of the Republic of Poland

Fortress Wisłoujście for centuries remained one of the key defensive points of Gdańsk. Its location allowed to control the movement of ships in the Vistula and to cover access to a port that had economic and political significance for the Republic.

The Battle of Lantern shows that the fight for the escape of Vistula was more than a local episode of the Polish-Swedish War. She was part of the competition for southern Baltic control, for maritime trade and o safety one of the most important ports in this part of Europe.

Witness of the old Baltic struggle

To this day, the fortress Wisłoujcie belongs to the most valuable fortification monuments in Poland. Its walls, connecting elements of Gothic, Renaissance and modern bastion fortifications, are a unique testimony to the military history of Gdańsk and the Polish coast.

This place still reminds that the history of the Polish fleet does not start with modern warships. Its important chapter is also the clashes at Wisłoujście, Oliwa and in the area Gdańsk portwhere for centuries the interests of the Republic at sea have weighed.

Source: Marinery Group