Battle of Bear's Ford
Part of Polish–Muscovite War (1605–18)
Camp of False Dmitry II at Tushino
Date June 1608 Location Moscow River between Moscow and Kolomna Result Victory for Tsar Vasily IV
Belligerents
False Dmitry II	Muscovite Tsardom
Commanders and leaders
Alexander Lisovsky	Ivan Kurakin

The battle of the Bear's Ford took place in June 1608, when a government army of Boyar Ivan Kurakin defeated Lithuanian Colonel Alexander Lisowsky, in service of False Dmitry II. ^[1]

Prelude

In March 1608, Lisowski separated from False Dmitry, defeated government troops at Zaraisk and captured Kolomna. With captured cannon and prisoners, Lisowski moved to join the main forces of False Dmitry in Tushino.

Battle

While crossing the Moskva River between Kolomna and Moscow, burdened with captives and a wagon train, Lisowczycy was suddenly attacked by an elite cavalry regiment loyal to Tsar Vasily IV. Accustomed to maneuvering battles, Lisowczycy suffered a serious defeat and lost all of the Kolomna spoils. ^[2]

Aftermath

After this defeat, Lisowczycy escaped back to Tushino. False Dmitry II lost important siege equipment and could not attack fortified Moscow, but continued blockade instead.

References