Storm of Kokenhusen

The Storm of Kokenhusen by the Russian Army under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was one of the first events of the Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658), a theater of the Second Northern War. On 14 August 1656 Russian troops stormed and captured the well-fortified town of Kokenhusen (Koknese) in Swedish Livonia (present-day Latvia)

Storm of Kokenhusen
Part of Second Northern War / Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658)
A drawing of Kokenhusen and its fortress about 30 years prior to the storming.
Date 14 August 1656 Location Kokenhusen 56°38′17″N 25°25′03″E Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Swedish Empire	Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie	Tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich
Strength
300[1]	2500[2]
Casualties and losses
300[1]	67 killed 430 wounded[3]

According to the Tsar, this town “was very strong, had a deep moat, like a small brother of the Kremlin's moat, and its fortress is like a son of Smolensk's fortress”. Tsar also gave city new name, "Tsarevich-Dmitriev" (Russian: Царевич-Дмитриев) in honor of his infant son, Tsarevich Dmitry Alexeyevich of Russia, who had died in 1649. This new name didn't last since in 1681 city was returned to Swedish Livonia. [4]

After capturing Kokenhusen, Russia gained control of the Daugava River and the way to Riga was opened.