Editing Livonia (section)

=== Kingdom of Livonia (1570–1578) ===
{{main|Kingdom of Livonia}}
[[File:LIVONIAE NOVA DESCRIPTIO 1573-1578.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Livonia, as shown in the map of 1573 of [[Theatrum orbis terrarum]].]]

The armies of [[Ivan IV of Russia|Ivan the Terrible]] were initially successful, taking [[Polotsk]] (1563) and [[Parnawa]] (1575) and overrunning much of Grand Duchy of Lithuania up to some {{convert|250|km|mi|abbr=on}} proximity of [[Vilnius]]. Eventually, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Kingdom of Poland formed the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in 1569 under the [[Union of Lublin]]. [[Eric XIV of Sweden]] did not like this, and the [[Northern Seven Years' War]] between the [[Free City of Lübeck]], Denmark, Poland, and Sweden broke out. While only losing land and trade, [[Frederick II of Denmark]] and [[Magnus von Lyffland]] of the [[Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek|Œsel-Wiek]] did not fare well. But, in 1569, Erik XIV became [[insane]] and his brother [[John III of Sweden]] took his place. After all parties had been financially drained, Frederick II let his ally, King [[Sigismund II Augustus|Zygmunt II August]], know that he was ready for peace. On 15 December 1570, the [[Treaty of Stettin (1570)|Treaty of Stettin]] was concluded.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

In the next phase of the conflict, in 1577, Ivan IV took advantage of the Commonwealth's internal strife (called the war against [[Gdańsk]] in Polish historiography), and during the reign of [[Stefan Batory]] in Poland, invaded Livonia, quickly taking almost the entire territory, with the exception of [[Riga]] and [[Reval]]. In 1578, [[Magnus of Livonia]] recognized the [[sovereignty]] of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (not ratified by the [[Sejm]] of Poland-Lithuania, nor recognized by Denmark). The Kingdom of Livonia was beaten back by Muscovy on all fronts. In 1578, Magnus of Livonia retired to The [[Bishopric of Courland]], and his brother all but gave up the land in Livonia.{{cn|date=November 2024}}