Oblężenie i zdobycie warownej twierdzy połockiej przez Najjaśniejszego Króla Polski Stefana – wykorzystanie kartografii podczas planowania taktycznego
The Siege and Capture of the Polatsk Fortress by the His Majesty Stephen, the King of Poland – the Use of Cartography in Tactical Planning

Summary/Abstract: 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.

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