Livonian War

The Livonian War (1558–1583) was a conflict in the Baltic region primarily involving Russia, Sweden, Poland-Lithuania, and Denmark over control of Livonia (modern-day Estonia and Latvia). The war emerged as Russia sought access to the Baltic Sea and to expand eastward, challenging existing powers. Over the years, alliances shifted, and the war resulted in significant territorial changes, especially favoring Russia and Sweden. The conflict ended with the Treaty of Jam Zapolski, which left Russia with limited gains. The war significantly impacted regional power dynamics, leading to centuries of Baltic struggles for dominance.