Chocim 1621

The Battle of Chocim was one of the greatest military successes of Poland of the times of szlachta, which saved the state from the Ottoman aggression. The exhibition, which is dedicated to the battles taking place 400 years ago, presents historic arms illustrating the original Polish-Lithuanian and Turkish military. The exhibition can be visited from 9 October 2021 to 9 January 2022 in the Kubicki Stables.

The Battle of Chocim was one of the greatest military successes of Poland of the times of szlachta, which saved the state from the Ottoman aggression. The exhibition, which is dedicated to the battles taking place 400 years ago, presents historic arms illustrating the original Polish-Lithuanian and Turkish military. The exhibition can be visited from 9 October 2021 to 9 January 2022 in the Kubicki Stables.

The 400th anniversary of the Chocim War is an excellent opportunity to remind one of the greatest military successes of nobility-era Poland. In a fortified camp built around an old castle at Chocim on the Dniester River, joint Polish-Lithuanian-Cossack forces repelled the Turkish army counting over 100,000 men led by Sultan Osman II himself in September 1621. The Kingdom of Poland was at the height of its power, and its army – combining Eastern and Western traditions – was unrivalled in battle.

"Chocim 1621" – what will we see at the exhibition?

The exhibition displays items depicting the causes and consequences of the conflict and its main element is the historic weaponry illustrating the original Polish-Lithuanian and Turkish military. The artefacts come from leading museums in Poland, including the National Museums in Kraków and Poznań, the Wawel Royal Castle – State Art Collections, and the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw.

Among valuable relics of body armour and offensive weaponry from the period, especially noteworthy is an elaborately decorated, massive Turkish-Persian broadsword bearing features of the imperial style and coming from the collection of the Wawel Royal Castle.

On the other hand, the Polish Army Museum contributed with an extremely rare specimen of 16th-century behterets – mail and plate armour used in the armies of the Orient.

A fuse musket from the collection of the National Museum in Poznań – the only one of such early period (16th century) in Polish collections – is a perfect illustration of the elite Turkish infantry, the famous Janissaries.

It is also worth noting the elements of the winged cavalry equipment, in particular an early (16th–17th century) breastplate with faulds of the anima type from the collections of the National Museum in Kraków.

"Chocim 1621" – visiting times, admission

Visitors may see the exhibition in the newly renovated Kubicki Stables from Tuesday to Thursday from 10.00 to 16.00, from Friday to Saturday from 10.00 to 17.00, on Sunday from 10.00 to 16.00.

Admission with a ticket to the Museum of Hunting and Horsemanship – Royal Łazienki Museum Branch (PLN 16 – normal ticket, PLN 8 – reduced ticket, PLN 1 – children aged up to 7 years and youth up to 26 years of age; on Friday admission is free).

The exhibition is co-financed by the Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport.