РУССКО-ЛИВОНСКОЕ ПОГРАНИЧЬЕ В СТРАТЕГИЧЕСКИХ ПЛАНАХ СТЕФАНА БАТОРИЯ
The borderline between Russia and Livonia in Stefan Bathory’s strategic plans

Summary/Abstract: The article examines the strategic plans aiming at defeating Russia and regaining Livonia that were put forward by the King Stefan Bathory and his advisers in the course of the war of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with Russia in the years 1578-1582. It was so called «Moscow War», which consisted of three attacks of Russia: first was in 1579, when Poland captured Polotsk, second Ї in 1580, when Stephan Bathory captured Luky the Great, and the third was in 1581–82, when he besieged a fortress Pskov. The concept of regaining Livonia by Poland without invading its territory was the starting point. The whole idea was meant to be carried out through the conquest of the land along the eastern borderline of this region, which would result in cutting it off from Russia and force the tzar’s troops, situated in the local castles, to capitulate. The realization of the mentioned idea caused the three military expeditions to Russia led by Bathory. The author not only assesses strategic and tactic assumptions of the plans, but he also lists the examples of alternative projects proposed at that time.

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