Die Kaperflotte von Iwan IV. dem Schrecklichen im Lichte von Akten des Herzoglich Stettiner Archivs.

The Muscovite privateering fleet was founded by Ivan the Terrible in May 1570 with the help from the Danes, particularly prince Magnus. The Muscovite ships commanded by admiral Kersten-Rode were stationed in Bornholm. From this island the fifteen- ship Muscovite fleet launched their activities on Polish and Swedish communications lines in June 1570. They managed to seize several ships which were heading for Gdańsk. The activities of Muscovite ships roused Polish and Swedish privateers to counter- action. At the turn of June and July 1570 Danish squadron led by admiral Sylvester Franck came to Kersten-Rode’s fleet’s rescue. The appearance of regular Danish power on the waters of Bornholm brought about sending there, in the middle of July 1570, the Swedish main naval forces commanded by Klas Flemming. In result, Danish ships withdrew from Bornholm and the Muscovite fleet was shattered by the Swedes. In August 1570 Kersten-Rode gathered together the remaining ships and once again launched into patrolling the waters around Bornholm, hindering sailing, particularly of Gdańsk’s ships. Eventually, the fate of the Muscovite fleet was decided at the congress in Szczecin at the beginning of September 1570. Pressed by Poland and Sweden, Denmark withdrew its support to the Muscovite fleet. The way things went can be illustrated by the story of Muscovite pink Hase (“Hare”) which unexpectedly called at Pomeranian port Mrzeżyno (Deep). The ship was arrested, the Muscovite privateers interrogated and turned in to the Swedes. The loss of Danish support made Ivan the Terrible disband the remnants of the Muscovite fleet in November 1570.