The Livonian War was a long conflict fought over the territories of Livonia, which are now Estonia and Latvia. It began when Tsar Ivan IV of Russia invaded in 1558, hoping to gain access to the Baltic Sea. The weak Livonian Confederation, ruled by the Livonian Order, collapsed, and the neighbors Poland-Lithuania, Sweden and Denmark all intervened to claim parts of the region. The war saw many sieges and devastation, and later phases included the campaigns of the Polish king Stephen Báthory. In the end Russia failed to win a Baltic outlet, and Livonia was divided mainly between Poland-Lithuania and Sweden.
Before and after
- 23 January 15561556 Shaanxi earthquake
- 1557Founding of Macau
- 1557Discovery of platinum
- 24 September 1557Death of Jacques Cartier
- from 17 January 1558 to 26 May 1583Livonian War
- from 23 August 1558 to 26 August 1558Expedition of Mostaganem
- 21 September 1558Death of Charles V
- 1559Founding of University of Geneva
- from 1560 to 1621Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom
More in Wars, politics & history
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- from 1568 to 1918Russo-Turkish Wars
- from 1652 to 1784Anglo-Dutch Wars
- 1689Bill of Rights 1689
- 30 April 1707Acts of Union 1707
- 30 August 1721Treaty of Nystad
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.