Siege of Weissenstein

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Siege of Weissenstein
Part of the Polish–Swedish War (1600–11)
Paide (Weissenstein) castle ruins
Date 31 May – 30 September 1602 Location Weissenstein, present-day Estonia 58°53′23″N 25°34′20″E / 58.88972°N 25.57222°E / 58.88972; 25.57222 Result Polish-Lithuanian victory
Belligerents
Sweden	Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Commanders and leaders
	Jan Zamoyski Stanisław Żółkiewski
Strength
700	2,000

The siege of Weissenstein took place between 31 May and 30 September 1602, during the Polish–Swedish War (1600–11). Two weeks after the capture of Fellin, Grand Crown Hetman Jan Zamoyski led the Polish-Lithuanian army of 2,000 troops to besiege Weissenstein (now known as Paide in Estonia). Weissenstein, a major transportation hub in Estonia, was a site of strategic importance to both Poland and Sweden. Located among the marshes and built during the Teutonic period, the castle had strong artillery and was defended by 700 soldiers, local peasants, and townspeople. Weissenstein was a walled city with 30-meter towers at the corners and high bastions, and thus presented the attacking force with a significant barrier to success, even with siege works.