COURSE OF EVENTS

The plan to attack Russia was to concentrate ground forces in Finland in order to draw the Russian army away from St. Petersburg and liberate the coast; in a general battle on the sea, defeat the Russian fleet and blockade Kronstadt; trip to St. Petersburg.

Taking advantage of the war with Turkey, on June 21, 1788, a detachment of Swedish troops crossed the Russian border. The Swedes, possessing a clear superiority of forces, put forward demands: to punish the Russian ambassador Count Razumovsky; cede Finland to Sweden; accept Swedish mediation to conclude peace with Turkey; disarm the Russian fleet in the Baltic Sea.

The Swedes won victories in the battles of Pardakoski and Kernikoski, near Valkiala (April 18–19, 1790). Russian losses: killed - 6 officers and 195 soldiers; 16 officers and 285 soldiers were wounded. Swedish losses: 41 killed and 173 wounded.

The Russian fleet in the Baltic Sea (49 ships and 25 frigates) was superior to the Swedish (23 battleships, 11 frigates, up to 140 rowing ships) in numbers, not in quality. Almost all ships suitable for combat were sent to the Russian-Turkish theater of operations. In the Battle of Hogland on July 6 (17), 1788, near the island of Gogland in the Gulf of Finland, the Russians defeated the enemy, after which the remnants of the Swedish fleet were forced to take refuge in Sveaborg. In the Battle of Öland on July 15 (26), 1789, near the island of Öland, 36 Swedish ships were defeated by the squadron of Admiral V. Ya. Chichagov.

In the First Battle of Rochensalm on August 13 (24), 1789, the Swedes were defeated, losing 39 ships (including the admiral's, captured). Russian losses - 2 ships. The strategic result of the naval battle of Revel on May 2 (13), 1790, on the roadstead of the port of Revel (Baltic Sea), was the collapse of the entire Swedish campaign plan - it was not possible to defeat the Russian forces piecemeal.

In the Battle of Krasnogorsk on May 23–24 (June 3–4), 1790, northwest of Krasnaya Gorka, the battle lasted two days without a clear superiority of the sides, but, having received news of the approach of the Russian Revel squadron, the Swedes retreated and took refuge in the Vyborg Bay. The Vyborg naval battle on June 22 (July 3), 1790 finally thwarted the Swedish plan to land troops and capture St. Petersburg.

The second Battle of Rochensalm took place on June 28 (July 9), 1790, which took place in the same place where the First brought success to the Swedes - 52 Russian ships were killed in this battle.

The Russian-Swedish War of 1788–1790 ended. the signing of the Verel Peace Treaty on August 3 (14), 1790 (Verel, now Värälä in Finland) on the condition of maintaining the pre-war borders. At the beginning of August 1788, Swedish troops left Russian territory.

BEGINNING OF THE WAR

At the beginning of July 1788, a 36,000-strong Swedish army led by the king himself crossed the Russian border into Finland. The Swedes besieged the small Russian fortress of Neyshlot. Gustav III sent an ultimatum to the commandant of the fortress, the one-armed Major Kuzmin, in which he demanded to immediately open the fortress gates and let the Swedes in. To this the major answered the king: “I am without a hand and cannot open the gate, let His Majesty do the work himself.” Let us add that the Neishlot garrison was only 230 people. However, throughout the war, the Swedes were never able to open the gates of Neyslot, they only tried to plunder the surrounding area. Catherine wrote to Potemkin in this regard:

“After two days of shooting at Neishlot, the Swedes went to plunder the Neishlot district. I ask you, what can be robbed there? XII. The latter may come true, since the ruin of Sweden has begun."

On July 22, 1788, the Swedish army approached the Friedrichsgam fortress and blocked it. The condition of the fortress was deplorable, the stone bastions were missing, and the earthen rampart had collapsed in a number of places. The artillery armament consisted of Swedish guns captured during the war of 1741–1743. The fortress garrison consisted of 2539 people. However, the Swedes stood for two days at Friedrichsgam and then retreated.

Shirokorad A.B. Northern wars of Russia. - M., 2001. Section VI. Russo-Swedish War 1788–1790 Chapter 2. Land War in Finland http://militera.lib.ru/h/shirokorad1/6_02.html

BATTLE AT PARDAKOSKI AND KERNIKOSKI

Reconnaissance reported that the enemy was strongly fortified at Pardakoski and Kernikoski, and his right flank was reliably covered from the front by the fast, non-freezing Kerni River. The lakes, despite the month of April, were completely covered with ice. […]

The first column, approaching the village of Pardakoski at dawn, boldly launched an attack on the enemy battery, but the enemy met the Russians with murderous fire, and then energetically launched an offensive against the flank and rear of the Russian column. Despite their stubborn resistance, the detachment of V.S. Baykova was forced to retreat to Solkis with heavy losses.

At the same time, the troops of General P.K. also went on the attack. Sukhtelen, but, approaching the Kerni River, they stopped in front of a dismantled bridge. After the retreat of Brigadier Baikov's column, the Swedes concentrated all their attention on Sukhtelen, and his attack was also repulsed with great damage.

The battle clearly followed an unsuccessful scenario for the Russians, and soon all our troops began to retreat to Savitaipol. “However, the Russians were not defeated in this battle, as they say, completely: they retreated in such an order that the enemy did not dare to pursue them.”

Russian losses that day were significant: about two hundred killed and more than three hundred wounded, two guns were lost. The damage suffered by the enemy is difficult to determine, but, according to the Russian commanders, it was approximately equal to ours - although Swedish sources indicated only 41 killed and 173 wounded.

Nechaev S.Yu. Barclay de Tolly. M., 2011. http://bookmate.com/r#d=euZ9ra0T

The commander of the Russian rowing fleet, Admiral Prince von Nassau-Siegen, divided his forces: the majority, under the command of himself, was to launch an attack from the east and consisted of 78 ships with 260 heavy guns, including 5 frigates and 22 galleys, 48 ​​half-galleys and gunboats, etc.; he entrusted the command of another squadron of sailing ships to Admiral Cruz; it consisted mainly of heavy ships, numbering 29 with 380 heavy guns: 10 frigates and xebecs, 11 half-galleys, 6 brigs and 2 bombardment ships. With this squadron, Cruz was supposed to attack the Swedes from the southwest and cut off their retreat; already on August 23 he passed by Kirkommasari.

On August 24, after 9 o'clock in the morning, Cruz, with a westerly wind, approached within cannon shot of the Swedish line, but general fire was opened only an hour later; 380 Russians stood against 250 heavy Swedish guns. The shooting continued until 4 pm; by this time, Major General Balle, to whom command had passed instead of Cruz, had to retreat under concentrated enemy fire, and lost two ships; The Swedes continued the pursuit until 8 pm.

Meanwhile, Prince von Nassau approached from the east, but only after noon began to clear the fairway of obstacles; at the northern tip of Kutsale Island he landed 400 men with cannons. Ehrensvärd sent two large ships there for reinforcement, but by 7 pm the Russians managed to pass the bottleneck and attack the main Swedish forces. The Swedes by that time had fired almost all of their shells and soon had to retreat before the overwhelming superiority of the enemy, who began hot pursuit at 9 o’clock in the evening and continued it until 2 o’clock in the morning, all the way to the Svartholm fortress, which lies 20 nautical miles to the west.

The Swedes lost 7 ships; of these, 5 were captured, 1 drowned, 1 flew into the air; in addition, 16 transports were burned. Losses in people were expressed in the figures of 46 officers and 1300 lower ranks; among them were 500 sick people who remained on the islands. Losses of sailing ships amounted to 35%, losses of rowing ships - only 3%.

The Russians lost only 3 ships; personnel losses were 53 officers and 960 men; according to some reports, Russian losses were more than twice as significant; in any case, their losses in the battle were much greater.

Shtenzel A. History of wars at sea. In 2 volumes. M., 2002. Volume 2. Chapter XII. Swedish-Russian War 1788–1790 http://militera.lib.ru/h/stenzel/2_12.html

TREATY OF VEREL PEACE OF 1790

The Verel Peace Treaty of 1790 between Russia and Sweden, signed on August 3 (14) in Verel (Finland), summed up the results of the Russian-Swedish war of 1788–1790. According to the agreement, peaceful relations and previously existing borders were restored between both states. Both sides renounced territorial claims against each other and confirmed the provisions of the Nystadt Peace Treaty of 1721. The Swedes were allowed to annually buy duty-free grain in the ports of the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea in the amount of 50 thousand rubles. Sweden's attempts to weaken Russia's role and influence in the Baltic in the context of its waging a serious war with Turkey ended in complete failure. The Treaty of Verel strengthened international situation Russia, contributed to the disruption of the plan for the formation of an anti-Russian coalition by England and Prussia, confirmed the terms of the Abo Peace Treaty of 1743. The urgent conclusion of the Verel Peace was a complete surprise for England and Prussia, allies of Sweden.

Northern War (1700-1721)

If you say that war is the cause of evil, then peace will be their cure.

Quintilian

The Northern War between Russia and Sweden lasted 21 long years from 1700 to 1721. Its results were very positive for our country, because as a result of the war, Peter managed to “cut a window to Europe.” Russia has achieved its main goal - to gain a foothold in the Baltic Sea. However, the course of the war was very ambiguous and the country had a hard time, but the result was worth all the suffering.

Causes of the Northern War

The formal reason for the start of the Northern War was the strengthening of Sweden's position in the Baltic Sea. By 1699, a situation had developed in which almost the entire coastline of the sea was under Swedish control. This could not but cause concern to her neighbors. As a result, in 1699, the Northern Alliance was concluded between countries concerned about the strengthening of Sweden, which was directed against Swedish rule in the Baltic. The participants of the Union were: Russia, Denmark and Saxony (whose king was also the ruler of Poland).

Narva embarrassment

The Northern War for Russia began on August 19, 1700, but its beginning for the allies was simply nightmarish. Taking into account that Sweden was ruled by a child, Charles 12, who was barely 18 years old, it was expected that the Swedish army did not pose a threat and would be easily defeated. In fact, it turned out that Charles 12 was quite a strong commander. Realizing the absurdity of a war on 3 fronts, he decides to defeat his opponents one by one. Within a few days, he inflicted a crushing defeat on Denmark, which effectively withdrew from the war. After this it was Saxony's turn. August 2 at this time was besieging Riga, which belonged to Sweden. Charles II inflicted a terrible defeat on his enemy, forcing him to retreat.

Russia was essentially left in a one-on-one war with the enemy. Peter 1 decided to defeat the enemy on his territory, but in no way took into account that Charles 12 had become not only a talented, but also an experienced commander. Peter sends troops to Narva, a Swedish fortress. The total number of Russian troops is 32 thousand people and 145 artillery pieces. Charles 12 sent an additional 18 thousand soldiers to help his garrison. The battle turned out to be fleeting. The Swedes hit the joints between Russian units and broke through the defenses. Moreover, many foreigners, whom Peter valued so much, fled to the enemy’s side. Russian army. Modern historians call this defeat the “Narva embarrassment.”

As a result of the Battle of Narva, Russia lost 8 thousand people killed and all its artillery. It was a terrible outcome of the confrontation. At this moment, Charles 12 showed nobility, or made a miscalculation. He did not pursue the retreating Russians, believing that without artillery and with such losses, the war was over for Peter’s army. But he was wrong. The Russian Tsar announced a new recruitment into the army and began to quickly restore artillery. Church bells were even melted down for this purpose. Peter also began reorganizing the army, since he clearly saw that at the moment his soldiers could not fight on equal terms with the country’s opponents.

Battle of Poltava

In this material we will not dwell in detail on the course of the Battle of Poltava. because it's historical event described in detail in the corresponding article. It should only be noted that the Swedes were stuck in a war with Saxony and Poland for a long time. In 1708, the young Swedish king actually won this war, inflicting a defeat on Augustus 2, after which there was no doubt that the war was over for the latter.

These events sent Karl back to Russia, since it was necessary to finish off the last enemy. Here he met worthy resistance, which resulted in the Battle of Poltava. There, Charles 12 was literally defeated and fled to Turkey, hoping to persuade it to war with Russia. These events brought a turning point in the situation of the countries.

Prut campaign

After Poltava, the Northern Union was again relevant. After all, Peter inflicted a defeat that gave a chance for overall success. As a result of this, the Northern War continued with Russian troops capturing the cities of Riga, Revel, Korel, Pernov and Vyborg. Thus, Russia actually conquered the entire eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

Charles 12, who was in Turkey, began to even more actively persuade the Sultan to speak out against Russia, because he understood that a great danger loomed over his country. As a result, Turkey entered the war in 1711, which forced Peter's army to loosen its grip on the North, since the Northern War now forced him to fight on two fronts.

Peter personally decided to conduct Prut campaign to defeat the enemy. Not far from the Prut River, Peter's army (28 thousand people) was surrounded by the Turkish army (180 thousand people). The situation was simply catastrophic. The king himself was surrounded, as well as all his associates and Russian army in full force. Türkiye could have ended the northern war, but did not do so... This should not be considered as a miscalculation of the Sultan. In the troubled waters of political life, everyone fishes soybean fish. Defeating Russia meant strengthening Sweden, and strengthening it very strongly, making it the strongest power on the continent. For Turkey, it was more beneficial for Russia and Sweden to continue to fight, weakening each other.

Let's return to the events that brought the Prut campaign. Peter was so shocked by what was happening that, when sending his ambassador to negotiate peace, he told him to agree to any conditions except the loss of Petrograd. A huge ransom was also collected. As a result, the Sultan agreed to peace, under the terms of which Türkiye would get back Azov, Russia would destroy Black Sea Fleet and does not prevent the return of King Charles to Sweden 12. In response to this, Turkey completely released the Russian troops, in full equipment and with banners.

As a result, the Northern War, the outcome of which seemed predetermined after the Battle of Poltava, took on a new twist. This made the war more difficult and took much longer to win.

Naval battles of the Northern War

Simultaneously with the land battles, the northern war was also fought at sea. Naval battles were also quite massive and bloody. An important battle of that war took place on July 27, 1714 at Cape Gangut. In this battle, the Swedish squadron was almost completely destroyed. The entire fleet of this country, which took part in the battle of Gangut, was destroyed. It was a terrible defeat for the Swedes and a magnificent triumph for the Russians. As a result of these events, Stockholm was almost completely evacuated, as everyone feared a Russian invasion deep into Sweden. In fact, the victory at Gangut was the first major naval victory Russia!

The next significant battle also took place on July 27, but already in 1720. This happened near the island of Grengam. This naval battle also ended in an unconditional victory for the Russian fleet. It should be noted that English ships were represented in the Swedish flotilla. This was due to the fact that England decided to support the Swedes, since it was clear that the latter could not hold out on its own for long. Naturally, England’s support was not official and it did not enter the war, but it “kindly” presented its ships to Charles 12.

Nystad Peace

Russia's victories at sea and on land forced the Swedish government to enter into peace negotiations, agreeing to virtually all the demands of the winner, since Sweden was on the verge of complete defeat. As a result, in 1721, an agreement was concluded between the countries - the Peace of Nystad. The Northern War was over after 21 years of fighting. As a result, Russia received:

• territory of Finland to Vyborg
• territories of Estonia, Livonia and Ingermanland

In fact, Peter 1 with this victory secured his country’s right to access the Baltic Sea. The long years of war paid off in full. Russia won an outstanding victory, as a result of which many political tasks of the state that had been facing Russia since the time of Ivan 3 were solved. Below is detailed map northern war.

The Northern War allowed Peter to “cut a window to Europe,” and the Treaty of Nystad officially secured this “window” for Russia. In fact, Russia confirmed its status as a great power, creating the preconditions for all European countries to actively listen to the opinion of Russia, which by that time had already become an Empire.

Russian-Swedish War 1741-1743(Swedish: hattarnas ryska krig) - a revanchist war that Sweden started in the hope of regaining the territories lost during the Northern War.

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  In December 1739, a Swedish-Turkish alliance was also concluded, but Turkey promised to provide assistance only in the event of an attack on Sweden by a third power.

  Declaration of war

  On July 28, 1741, the Russian ambassador in Stockholm was informed that Sweden was declaring war on Russia. The cause of the war in the manifesto was declared to be Russian interference in the internal affairs of the kingdom, the ban on the export of grain to Sweden and the murder of the Swedish diplomatic courier M. Sinclair.

  Swedish goals in the war

  According to the instructions drawn up for future peace negotiations, the Swedes intended to put forward as a condition of peace the return of all lands ceded to Russia under the Peace of Nystadt, as well as the transfer to Sweden of the territory between Ladoga and the White Sea. If third powers acted against Sweden, then it was ready to be satisfied with Karelia and Ingermanland together with St. Petersburg.

  Progress of the war

  1741

  Count Karl Emil Levenhaupt was appointed commander-in-chief of the Swedish army, who arrived in Finland and took command only on September 3, 1741. At that moment there were about 18 thousand regular troops in Finland. Near the border there were two corps of 3 and 5 thousand people. The first of them, commanded by Karl Heinrich Wrangel (English) Russian, was located near Wilmanstrand, another, under the command of Lieutenant General Henrik Magnus von Buddenbrook (English) Russian, - six miles from this city, the garrison of which did not exceed 1,100 people.

  On the Russian side, Field Marshal Pyotr Petrovich Lassi was appointed commander-in-chief. Having learned that the Swedish forces were small and, moreover, divided, he moved towards Vilmanstrand. Having approached it, the Russians stopped in the village of Armila on August 22, and in the evening Wrangel’s corps approached the city. The number of Swedes, including the Wilmanstrand garrison, ranged, according to various sources, from 3,500 to 5,200 people. The number of Russian troops reached 9,900 people.

  On August 23, Lassi moved against the enemy, who occupied an advantageous position under the cover of city guns. The Russians attacked the Swedish positions, but due to the stubborn resistance of the Swedes they were forced to retreat. Then Lassi threw his cavalry into the enemy's flank, after which the Swedes were knocked down from the heights and lost their cannons. After a three-hour battle, the Swedes were defeated.

  After the drummer sent to demand the surrender of the city was shot, the Russians took Wilmanstrand by storm. 1,250 Swedish soldiers were captured, including Wrangel himself. The Russians lost Major General Ukskul, three headquarters and eleven chief officers and approximately 500 privates killed. The city was burned, its inhabitants were taken to Russia. Russian troops again retreated to Russian territory.

  In September-October, the Swedes concentrated an army of 22,800 people near Kvarnby, of which, due to illness, soon only 15-16 thousand remained in service. The Russians stationed near Vyborg had approximately the same number of people. In late autumn, both armies went into winter quarters. However, in November, Levenhaupt with 6 thousand infantry and 450 dragoons headed towards Vyborg, stopping at Sekkijervi. At the same time, several smaller corps attacked Russian Karelia from Vilmanstrand and Neishlot.

  Having learned about the movement of the Swedes, the Russian government on November 24 gave the order to the guards regiments to prepare for the march to Finland. This provoked a palace coup, as a result of which Tsarevna Elizabeth came to power. She ordered a cessation of hostilities and concluded a truce with Levengaupt.

  1742

  In February 1742, the Russian side broke the truce, and hostilities resumed in March. Elizaveta Petrovna published a manifesto in Finland, in which she called on its inhabitants not to take part in an unjust war and promised her help if they wanted to secede from Sweden and form an independent state.

  On June 13, Lassi crossed the border and at the end of the month approached Fredrikshamn (Friedrichsham). The Swedes hastily abandoned this fortress, but first set it on fire. Levenhaupt retreated beyond Kyumen, heading towards Helsingfors. In his army, morale fell sharply, and desertion increased. On July 30, Russian troops occupied Borgo without hindrance and began to pursue the Swedes in the direction of Helsingfors.

  On August 7, Prince Meshchersky’s detachment occupied Neishlot without resistance, and on August 26, the last fortified point in Finland, Tavastgus, surrendered.

  In August, Lassi overtook the Swedish army at Helsingfors, cutting off its further retreat to Abo. At the same time, the Russian fleet locked the Swedes from the sea. Levenhaupt and Buddenbrook, leaving the army, went to Stockholm, having been summoned to report to the Riksdag on their actions. The command of the army was entrusted to Major General J. L. Bousquet, who on August 24 concluded a capitulation with the Russians, according to which the Swedish army was to cross into Sweden, leaving all the artillery to the Russians.

  On August 26, the Russians entered Helsingfors. Soon Russian troops completely occupied all of Finland and Österbotten.

  Negotiations and peace

  Back in the spring of 1742, the former Swedish ambassador in St. Petersburg, E. M. von Nolken, arrived in Russia to begin peace negotiations, but the Russian government rejected the condition he put forward for mediation in the French negotiations, and Nolken returned to Sweden.

  For many centuries, military disputes between Russia and a very small state - Sweden - have not subsided. The land located in the northern and northwestern parts of our country has always been a bone of contention. The first Russian-Swedish war broke out in beginning of XII centuries, and since then, for almost seven hundred years, this fire either died out or flared up with renewed vigor. It is interesting to trace the development of relations between these powers.

  Centuries-old conflicts between two peoples

  The history of the Russian-Swedish confrontation is replete with bright and dramatic events. Here are the repeated attempts of the Swedes to seize the Gulf of Finland with the adjacent territories, and aggressive forays to the Ladoga shores, and the desire to penetrate deep into the country all the way to Veliky Novgorod. Our ancestors did not remain in debt and paid the uninvited guests with the same coin. Stories about raids carried out by one side or the other have been confirmed in many historical monuments those years.

  The campaign of the Novgorodians in 1187 against the ancient capital of the Swedes, the city of Sigtuna, and the brilliant victory won in 1240, and many other episodes where Russian weapons served as reliable protection against the encroachments of the “arrogant neighbor” went down in history. We will be transported to the end of the 16th century, during the reign of Boris Godunov, when another Russian-Swedish war broke out. By this time, an experienced courtier and intriguer, who came from the family of a poor landowner and in a short time reached the heights of state power, became the closest and most trusted person of the tsar.

  An attempt to revise the results of the Livonian Wars

  The Russian-Swedish War of 1590-1593 was the result of Boris Godunov’s unsuccessful attempts to diplomatically return the lands lost by Russia during the unsuccessful Livonian War. We were talking about Narva, Ivangorod, Yama and Koporye. But Sweden not only did not agree with his demands, but also tried - under the threat of military intervention - to impose a new treaty that was contrary to the interests of Russia. The Swedish king made his main bet on his son Sigismund, who shortly before became the Polish king.

  Johan III planned to use it to bring down Russian state military power not only the native power, but also its allied Poland. It was impossible to avoid war in such a situation, and therefore Boris Godunov took the most energetic actions to repel aggression. It was necessary to hurry, since King Sigismund, who had recently ascended to the Polish throne, did not yet have sufficient authority in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but the situation could change. In the shortest possible time, Godunov formed an army of 35,000 people, led by Emperor Fyodor Ioannovich.

  Victories that returned previously lost lands

  Without waiting for help from the Poles, the Swedes attacked the Russian border garrisons. In response to this, the Russian army located in Novgorod moved in the direction of Yam and soon captured the city. Her further path lay to Ivangorod and Narva, where the main battles were to unfold. To support the army, siege weapons and ammunition were sent from Pskov. In parallel with this, a large detachment was sent to besiege Kaporye.

  As a result of artillery shelling of the fortresses of Narva and Ivangorod, the Swedes requested a truce and agreed to sign an agreement to end the war. However, negotiations dragged on and no agreement was reached. The fighting resumed, and this dispute lasted for another three years over lands that belonged to Russia, but were so coveted by the Swedish king. Sometimes, reading documents from those years, you are amazed at the stubbornness with which he constantly returned to this topic, so painful for him.

  The Russian-Swedish war of 1590-1593 ended with the signing of a treaty that went down in history as the Peace of Tyavzin. And it was then that the extraordinary diplomatic abilities of Boris Godunov manifested themselves. Having very sensibly assessed the situation and taking into account the internal political problems of Sweden, he managed to achieve the return of such cities as Ivangorod, Kaporye, Yam, Oreshek and Ladoga to Russia. In addition, several fortresses captured during the Livonian War were also recognized as Russian.

  

  Military actions in the coastal zone

  After the events described, the peace between the two states was broken several more times: in 1610 by the campaign of the Swedish field marshal Jacob Delagardie, who occupied the Karelian and Izhora lands and captured Novgorod, as well as by a three-year war that broke out in 1614 and ended with the signing of another peace treaty. We are now interested in the Russian-Swedish war of 1656-1658, one of the main goals of which was to gain access to the sea, since almost the entire coastal zone was captured by the Swedes over the previous centuries.

  Sweden during this period was unusually strong and was considered the dominant power in the Baltic. As a result of the aggression, she captured Warsaw, established her control over the Principality of Lithuania and threatened to invade Denmark. In addition, the Swedish state openly called on the Poles and Lithuanians to march on Russia. Parliament even allocated the necessary funds for this. As often happens in history, the sound of gold had the desired effect, and the future allies entered into an agreement, which, fortunately for Russia, turned out to be just a paper fiction and fell apart at the very beginning of the war.

  New military expeditions

  Realizing the inevitability of war, the Russians launched a preemptive strike. Having begun military operations in the summer of 1656, in October they drove the Swedes out of Poland and concluded a truce with it. This year, the main battles took place near Riga, where the Russians, led by the sovereign, tried to capture the city. For a number of reasons, this operation was not successful; Russia had to retreat.

  In the military campaign of the following year, a large military formation consisting of Novgorodians and residents of Pskov played a significant role. Their victory, won near Gdov over the corps of the famous Swedish field marshal Jacob Delagardie, significantly weakened the enemy. But its main significance was that, perceived in the Russian army as a triumph, it served to raise its morale.

  

  The Russian-Swedish war of 1656-1658 ended with the signing of a truce, beneficial and extremely necessary for Russia. It allowed her to intensify military operations against the Polish-Lithuanian troops, who, in violation of previously established agreements, switched to open aggression. However, literally three years later, having recovered from military losses and having concluded an alliance with Poland, the Swedes forced Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich to enter into an agreement with them that deprived Russia of many lands that had been conquered recently. The Russian-Swedish war of 1656-1658 left unresolved main problem- possession of the coast. Only Peter the Great was destined to open a “window to Europe”.

  The war about which so much has been written

  So much has been written and said about her that it is hardly possible to add anything new. This war has become the topic of many scientific works and inspired the creation of outstanding works of art. It lasted from 1700 to 1721 and ended with the birth of a new powerful European state - Russian Empire with the capital St. Petersburg. Let us recall only its main stages.

  Russia entered hostilities as part of the Northern Alliance, of which Saxony, Poland and the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway were also members. However, this alliance, created to confront Sweden, soon fell apart, and Russia, as has happened more than once in history, alone bore all the hardships of the war. Only nine years later the military coalition was restored, and the fight against the Swedes received a source of new human and material resources.

  According to historians, the eighteen-year-old king of Sweden, still very young in those years, was a good commander, but a bad politician, inclined to set impossible tasks for the country and army. His main opponent Peter I, on the contrary, in addition to his extraordinary talent as a commander, had organizational skills and was a highly gifted strategist. He always knew how to make a correct analysis of the current situation, and a number of victories were won thanks to the fact that the king took advantage of the mistakes of the overly arrogant Swedish king in a timely manner.

  

  Bitter lesson near Narva and Poltava triumph

  As you know, the Northern War began for Russia with the defeat near Narva in 1700, which was the reason for the opinion that the Russians were incapable of fighting, which spread in Europe. But Peter I, showing true talent statesman, managed to learn the proper lesson from the defeat and, having rebuilt and modernized the army in the shortest possible time, began a systematic and steady movement towards future victory.

  Within three years, several strategically important victories were won, and the Neva along its entire length was under Russian control. At its mouth, by order of Peter, a fortress was founded, which gave rise to the future capital of the state, St. Petersburg. A year later, in 1704, Narva was taken by storm - the same fortress that became a bitter lesson for the Russian troops at the beginning of the war.

  Since 1708, the war was completely transferred to Russia. The invasion of the troops of Charles XII begins, which was destined to end ingloriously far from St. Petersburg, among the flowering gardens of Poltava. A general battle took place here - the Battle of Poltava. It ended with the complete defeat of the enemy and his flight. Humiliated and having lost all fighting ardor, the Swedish king fled from the battlefield along with his army. Many participants in the Russian-Swedish war of those years became holders of the highest orders. The memory of them will forever remain in the history of Russia.

  

  Russian-Swedish War of 1741-1743

  Twenty years after the victorious salvoes died down Northern War and Russia became one of the leading European states, Sweden made an attempt to regain its former territories. On June 28, 1741, the Russian ambassador in Stockholm was informed of the start of the war. From documents stored in the archives of Sweden, it is known that in the event of victory, the Swedes intended to make peace, naturally, subject to the return of all the lands lost during the Northern War. Simply put, the goal of the military campaign was revenge.

  The Russian-Swedish war of 1741-1743 began with major battle in Sweden near the city of Vilmanstrand. The Russian troops were commanded by Field Marshal P.P. Lassi. As a result of his competent tactical actions, it was possible to completely neutralize enemy artillery and, after a series of flank attacks, overthrow the enemy. In this battle, 1,250 Swedish soldiers and officers were captured, including the commander of their corps. In the same year, several major battles took place with the enemy in the Vyborg area, after which a truce was concluded.

  

  The Tsarina's Manifesto and the signing of the Assurance Act

  The following year, the truce was violated by the Russian side, and hostilities resumed. The famous manifesto of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna dates back to this period, calling on the Finns to refuse to participate in the war with Russia and not to support Sweden. In addition, the manifesto promised assistance to everyone who wished to secede from Sweden and become a citizen of an independent state.

  In May of the same year, the troops of the Russian Field Marshal Lassi, having crossed the border, began victory march through enemy territory. It took only four months to capture the last fortified point - the Finnish city of Tavastgus. The whole next year fighting were carried out almost exclusively at sea. The Russian-Swedish war of 1741-1743 ended with the signing of the so-called “Act of Assurance”. In accordance with it, Sweden abandoned its revanchist plans and fully recognized the results of the Northern War, enshrined in 1721 by the Treaty of Neuslot.

  

  New attempt at revenge

  The next major armed confrontation between the two countries, which went down in history as the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790, was also one of Sweden’s attempts to regain the lands that it had lost during previous military campaigns. This time the aggression she launched was supported by Great Britain, Prussia and Holland. One of the reasons for their invasion was the reaction of King Gustav III to Russia’s readiness to become the guarantor of the Swedish constitution, which was so hated by the monarch.

  The next Russian-Swedish war began on June 21 with the invasion of the 38,000-strong Swedish army. However, Russian troops, led by Chief General V.P. Musin-Pushkin, not only stopped the enemy, but also forced him to leave the country. Anticipating his offensive, Gustav III sent a message to St. Petersburg with a number of completely unacceptable demands. But we must pay tribute to the Russian empress, who took a tough position and responded to the king’s claims by urgently sending the army to the border. In the future, military happiness was changeable. In particular, the enemy managed to win a victory in the area of ​​​​the city of Kernikoski.

  Victories of Russian sailors

  The fact is that in those years a dispute was being resolved with Turkey over control of the Black Sea, and most of the Russian fleet was far from Russia. The Swedish king decided to take advantage of this and made his main bet on the fleet. The Russian-Swedish war of those years went down in history primarily with a number of large naval battles.

  Among them, especially noteworthy is the battle that took place in the Gulf of Finland, near the island of Gogland, as a result of which Russian sailors prevented the capture of Kronstadt and a possible invasion of St. Petersburg from the sea. Also important role played by the victory of the Russian fleet, won in a battle near the Baltic island of Öland. The squadron of Admiral V. Ya. Chigachev defeated thirty-six enemy ships. Further, one cannot help but recall Rochensalmskoye, Revelskoye, Krasnogorskoye, Vyborgskoye and a number of others naval battles, covering St. Andrew's flag with unfading glory.

  

  The final point was set on August 14, 1790. The Russian-Swedish war ended with the signing of a treaty under which both sides recognized the pre-war borders. Thus, the treacherous plans of Gustav III failed, and Russia wrote a new page in the book of glorious victories of the Catherine era.

  The last war between Russia and Sweden

  The Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809 ends the series of wars between the two states. It was a consequence of the complex political confrontation that arose in Europe after the end of the Russian-Prussian-French war in 1807. Napoleon tried in every possible way to stop the growth of Sweden's military potential. To this end, he provoked its conflict with Russia. Great Britain, interested in weakening Alexander I, also contributed to the outbreak of the conflict.

  This war was equally unpopular among both the Swedish and Russian publics. It was believed that the French emperor would receive the main benefit. Its beginning was very unsuccessful for Russia. One of the reasons for this was the actions partisan detachments, formed by the Finns. They caused significant damage with their unexpected and secretive attacks. Russian troops. In addition, a powerful Swedish squadron approached from the sea, forcing a large detachment under the command of Colonel Vuich to surrender.

  But soon the Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809 was marked by a radical turning point in the course of hostilities. Emperor Alexander I, having every reason to be dissatisfied with his commander-in-chief, Count Buxhoeveden, removed him from command, transferring full power to the infantry general Knorring. By signing this appointment, the emperor categorically ordered that the continuation of the war be transferred to enemy territory.

  Such a strict demand had an effect, and a plan was urgently developed, according to which an energetic advance through the lands of Sweden and the capture of Stockholm was envisaged. And although reality made its own adjustments to the command’s plans, and not everything was implemented, nevertheless, from that moment on, a significant advantage appeared in favor of Russia. The Swedish king was forced to ask for a temporary truce, which was soon signed.

  

  The end of the war and the annexation of Finland to Russia

  The Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809 ended with the complete defeat of the enemy in the territory belonging to what is now Finland. By this time, General Barclay de Tolly was at the head of the Russian troops. This outstanding military leader was distinguished not only by his ability to make accurate decisions in difficult combat situations, but also by his great personal courage.

  By that time, changes had also occurred in the Swedish government. A new king ascended the throne, a man ill suited to such a high rank. The Russian-Swedish War of 1809, which took place entirely on the territory of Finland and demonstrated a clear superiority of the Russians, ended with the signing of a peace treaty in the city of Friedrichsham. In accordance with it, Russia received all of Finland into its possession for eternity.

  

  The results of the Russian-Swedish war of those years gave rise to many subsequent events in the life of the peoples of Russia and Finland. Over the course of more than two centuries that have passed since those times, there have been periods of friendship and spiritual closeness in their relationship, there have been stages of hostility, and even military conflicts. And today, a wide field for activity is still open for diplomats of both countries, but the beginning of the entire joint Russian-Finnish history was the Russian-Swedish war that ended in 1809, the peace treaty and the subsequent entry of Finland into Russia.

  Sweden is the largest country Northern Europe. In the past, it dominated its region and at certain periods of its history could well be considered one of the great European powers. Among the kings of Sweden there were many great commanders - such as, for example, the “Lion of the North” Gustav II Adolf, a rival of Peter the Great Charles XII, as well as a former French marshal and founder of the current ruling Swedish royal dynasty Bernadotov Karl XIV Johan. Sweden's victorious wars, which the state waged for several centuries, allowed it to create a fairly extensive empire in the Baltic Sea basin. However, in addition to major interstate conflicts, Swedish military history also knows several internal ones - for example, at the end of the 16th century, Civil War between supporters of two monarchs: Sigismund III and Charles IX.

  An important event, which united Swedish and Russian history, became the Great Northern War, which lasted from 1700 to 1721. The fundamental reasons for this 20-year conflict lay in Russia's desire to gain strategic access to the Baltic Sea. The start of the war against Russia and its allies, which was quite successful for the Swedes, still could not provide this northern power with a final victory. The final results were disappointing for Sweden: defeat in this war began the gradual decline of the country as a great power. With a certain degree of convention, we can assume that the military history of Sweden ended in 1814, when the country fought its last war.
  However, even today the Scandinavian kingdom has a highly developed defense industry and, albeit small, a superbly equipped and trained army. A special section of the portal site contains author’s articles and editorial materials dedicated to the rich military history Sweden and the present day of its armed forces.