Battle of Malatitze
Part of the Swedish invasion of Russia
DateAugust 30, 1708 (O.S.)
August 31, 1708 (Swedish calendar)
September 10, 1708 (N.S.)
Location
Molyatichi, present-day Belarus
53°51′26″N 31°32′32″E / 53.8571°N 31.5422°E / 53.8571; 31.5422
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Swedish Empire Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Charles XII
Carl Gustaf Roos		 Russia Peter I
Russia Mikhail Golitsyn
Strength
6,000[1] 13,000[1]
Casualties and losses
200–300 killed
500–750 wounded[1][2]		 600[3]–700[4] killed
1,000[3]–2,000[4] wounded

The Battle of Molyatichi (Swedish: Malatitze), also known as the Battle of Dobroye, took place on August 31, 1708 at Molyatichi (present-day Belarus near the Russian border) during the Great Northern War. The Russian army of Peter the Great under the command of Mikhail Golitsyn successfully attacked the avantgarde of the Swedish Army of Charles XII under Carl Gustaf Roos. The fighting occurred in the swamp between the rivers Belaya Natopa and Chernaya Natopa. The Swedish force under Roos was surprised by the Russian attack in the morning fog and steadily withdrew towards the main Swedish army. The swampy landscape prevented the Russian cavalry to cut off the Swedish way of retreat. As Swedish reinforcements arrived, the Russians were put on the defensive. Since the attack of the main body of the Swedish army was not part of the Russian intentions at that moment, and to avoid a disastrous defeat, the Russians withdrew. According to the Russian description, this was done in order, while the Swedish one claims their retreat turned into a disorganized flight as the Swedes pursued. Many Russians were killed in the swamps.

The Russian attack-force consisted of 9,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry (including about 1,000 Cossacks and Kalmucks) under Mikhail Golitsyn and Gebhard von Pflug. Apart from the initial 4,000–5,000 men under Roos, at least two additional Swedish regiments arrived as reinforcements along with Charles XII, boosting their forces to up to 6,000 men. The Swedes lost 200–300 killed and 500–750 wounded.[1][2] The Russians admitted to a loss of 600 killed and 1,000 wounded,[3] or 700 killed and 2,000 wounded.[4][5] The Swedes estimated that over 900 killed Russians remained on the battlefield.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dorrell, Nicholas. The Dawn of the Tsarist Empire: Poltava & the Russian Campaigns of 1708—1709. Partizan Press (2009). pp. 92–97
  2. 1 2 Peter From, Katastrofen vid Poltava (2007), Lund, Historiska media. pp. 196.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rhodes, Henry. The Present State of Europe, Volume 19. Henry Rhodes, London (1708). pp. 389, 387
  4. 1 2 3 Massie, Robert K. Peter the Great: His Life and World. Random House Publishing Group (2012). p. 448
  5. ↑ Clodfelter, Micheal (2002). Warfare and Armed Conflict. McFarland. pp. 94, 97.


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