Muscovite–Lithuanian War, Fourth (1512–22)
Years: 1512 - 1522
Despite the peace treaty between Moscow and Poland-Lithuania,, the relationship between two countries remain stense.
Sigismund I demands extradition of Michael Glinski for trial, while Vasili III demands better treatment of his widowed sister Helena.
Vasili also discovers that Sigismund is paying Crimean Khan Meñli I Giray to attack the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
At the same time, Albert of Prussia becomes the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights and is unwilling to acknowledge Poland's suzerainty as required by the Second Peace of Thorn (1466).
The tension eventually results in the Polish–Teutonic War (1519–21) and allies Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor with Vasili III.
In December 1512, Muscovy invades the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a goal to capture Smolensk, a major trading center.
Their first six- and four-week sieges in 1513 fail, but the city falls in July 1514.
Prince Vasily Nemoy Shuysky is left as viceregent in Smolensk.
This anges Glinski, who threatened to rejoin Sigismund I, but is imprisoned by the Russians.
Russia suffers a series of defeats in the field; first, in 1512, Grand Hetman of Lithuania, Konstanty Ostrogski, ravages Severia and defeats a six thousand-strong Russian force, and the Russians suffer a major defeat at the Battle of Orsha on September 8.
Despite their victory, the Polish–Lithuanian army is unable to move quickly enough to recapture Smolensk.
In 1518, Russian forces are beaten during the siege of Polotsk, when, according to the legend, the Lithuanian forces are inspired by the sight of their patron saint, Saint Casimir.
The Russians invade Lithuania again in 1519, raiding Orsha, Mogilev, Minsk, Vitebsk, and Polotsk.
By 1521, Sigismund has defeated the grand master and allied with the Kazan and Crimean Tatar hordes against Moscow.
In 1521, the Crimean khan Mehmed I Giray carries out a ruinous attack on the Moscow principality, resulting in a commitment from the grand prince to pay tribute.
The Lithuanian troops led by Dashkovich participate in it and try to take Ryazan.In 1522, a treaty is signed, calling for a five-year truce, no prisoner exchange, and Russia to retain control of Smolensk.
The truce will subsequently be extended to 1534.
