Beginning of the Swedish military intervention in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the end of 1701

The purpose of this article is to determine the impact that contacts between the Sapiehas and King Charles XII of Sweden had on the shaping of Swedish operational plans. The original plan for 1701, developed by the Swedish Supreme Command, provided for the warding off of Saxon army from Riga, the seizure of Courland, and the shift of war hostilities to the Russian lands. In the course of its successful implementation, King Charles XII changes it and, instead of offensive to Russia, begins to plan the transfer of hostilities to the Commonwealth. Probably, he is considering such a possibility after taking Bauska in August this year. However, he does not cross the border on the nearest section, but goes with the army to the west of Courland and places the army there near the Sapiehas’ estates located on the other side of the Courland-Lithuania border. In September, Swedish troops at the request of the Sapiehas cross the border and seize these estates, which provokes fights with Republicans. Then Charles XII personally participates in clashes with Republicans and, as a result, occupies the entire Duchy of Samogitia and Kaunas. Investigating the military situation in the northern part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the second half of 1701, the author concludes that it was the very cooperation with the Sapiehas, probably established in Bauska, that prompted the Swedish king to abandon his plans to attack Russia, to go with the army to the west of Courland, and move operations into the territory of the Commonwealth