Siege of Tsaryovo-Zaymishche

Tsaryovo-Zaymishche (Russian: Царёво-Займище, lit. tsar's water-meadow) is a village in Vyazemsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, situated on the old road from Smolensk to Moscow, west of Vyazma.

In the 17th century, the village was a place where travellers to Moscow were examined by Russian custom officials and police.

A local wooden fort was taken by the Polish army during the Time of Troubles in July 1610. The Battle of Tsaryovo-Zaymishche took place on June 23–24, 1610, during the Polish–Muscovite War (1605–18). Forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were commanded by Hetman of Poland, Stanislaw Zolkiewski, while Russians were led by Grigory Voluyev. The battle ended in decisive Polish victory.

On September 29, 1609, the Commonwealth army under Chancellor Lew Sapieha reached the heavily fortified Russian city of Smolensk. The Siege of Smolensk began on October 4. Meanwhile, Russian army of Tsar Vasili concentrated in the area of Moscow. In early May 1610, a Russian unit under Dmitry Shuisky was sent to aid the garrison of Smolensk. Near Mozhaysk, Szuisky concentrated some 15000 soldiers, together with 25000 poorly armed and untrained peasants. Furthermore, he was supported by 8000 well-equipped Swedish soldiers of Jacob De la Gardie.

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