The Northern War, which broke out in the 18th century between Russia and Sweden, became significant event for the Russian state. Why Peter 1 started the war with the Swedes and how it ended - more on this later.

Russian state under Peter 1

To understand the reasons Northern War, you need to know what Russia was like at the beginning of the conflict. The 18th century was a time of tremendous changes in economics, culture, politics and social relations. Peter the Great is known as a reformer king. He inherited a huge country with an underdeveloped economy and an outdated army. Russian state was far behind in development European countries. In addition, it was weakened by long wars with Ottoman Empire which were fought for dominance in the Black Sea.

When considering the question of why Peter 1 started the war with the Swedes, you need to understand that there were the most compelling reasons for this. The Northern War was fought for access to the Baltic coast, which was vital for Russia. Without trade relations with Western countries, it could not develop its economy. The only port at that time through which Russian goods were supplied to the West was Arkhangelsk. Sea route through was difficult, dangerous and irregular. In addition, Peter 1 understood the need for the urgent development of his fleet in the Baltic and Black Sea. Without this it was impossible to create a strong state.

That is why the war with the Swedes under Peter 1 was inevitable. Previous rulers of Russia saw the main enemy in the Ottoman Empire, which constantly launched attacks on Russian border territories. Only such a far-sighted politician as Peter the Great understood that it was now more important for the country to have the opportunity to trade with Europe through and the fight for the Black Sea coast could wait for now.

Charles XII

During this period, the northern country was ruled by the same young and extraordinary monarch as Peter 1. Charles XII was considered a military genius, and his army was considered invincible. Under him, the country was considered the strongest in the Baltic region. By the way, his name is Charles in Russia, and in Sweden the king was known as Charles XII.

He began to rule, like Peter, in at a young age. He was 15 years old when his father died and Charles inherited the throne. Possessing a hot temper, the king did not tolerate any advice and decided everything himself. At the age of 18 he made his first military expedition. Having announced at court that he was leaving for fun in one of his castles, in fact the young ruler with a small army set off by sea to Denmark. With a quick march, finding himself under the walls of Copenhagen, Charles forced Denmark to leave the alliance with Russia, Poland and Saxony. After this, the king spent almost 18 years outside his native country, participating in various military campaigns. Their goal was to make Sweden the strongest state in Northern Europe.

Peter 1 and the Swedes: causes of military conflict

Russia and Sweden were opponents long before the birth of the reformer Tsar. The Baltic coast, which had significant geopolitical significance, has always been of great interest to many countries. Poland, Sweden and Russia have been trying to increase their influence in the Baltic region for many centuries. Starting from the 12th century, the Swedes repeatedly attacked northern Russia, trying to capture Ladoga, the coast of the Gulf of Finland and Karelia. TO early XVIII century Baltic countries were completely subordinated to Sweden. Augustus II, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, Frederick IV, Ruler of Denmark and Peter the Great formed a coalition against Sweden. Their hopes of victory were based on the youth of Charles XII. In case of victory, Russia would receive long-awaited access to the Baltic coast and the opportunity to have a fleet. This was the main reason why Peter 1 started the war with the Swedes. As for the rest of the alliance against Sweden, they sought to weaken the northern enemy and strengthen their presence in the Baltic region.

Great: The Northern War with Sweden proved the military leadership talent of the Russian Tsar

An alliance between three countries (Russia, Denmark and Poland) was concluded in 1699. Augustus II was the first to speak out against Sweden. In 1700, the siege of Riga began. That same year, the Danish army launched an invasion of Holstein, which was an ally of Sweden. Then Charles XII made a bold march into Denmark and forced it out of the war. He then sent troops to Riga, and, not daring to enter into battle, withdrew his troops.

Russia was the last to enter the war with Sweden. Why did Peter 1 not start the war with the Swedes at the same time as his allies? The point is that Russian state at that time it was at war with the Ottoman Empire, and the country could not participate in two military conflicts at once.

The very next day after the conclusion of a peace treaty with Turkey, Russia entered into a war with Sweden. Peter 1 began a campaign to Narva, the nearest Swedish fortress. The battle was lost, despite the fact that Charles XII's troops were far outnumbered by the poorly trained and insufficiently armed Russian army.

The defeat at Narva led to a rapid transformation of the Russian armed forces. In just a year, Peter the Great was able to completely transform the army, equipped with new weapons and artillery. Since 1701, Russia begins to win victories over the Swedes: Poltava at sea. In 1721, Sweden signed a peace treaty with Russia.

Results of the Northern War

After the conclusion of the Treaty of Nystadt, Russia firmly established itself in the Baltic region and Courland.

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 at the beginning of the 12th century, and since then, for almost seven hundred years, this fire either died out or flared up with new strength. 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 were confirmed in many historical monuments of 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 top state power, became the king's closest and most trusted confidant.

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 with his help to bring down on the Russian state the military power of not only his 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 the 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 cash. As often happens in history, the ringing 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 the main problem unresolved - 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 was still quite young in those years. 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 - 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 cavaliers 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 of the Northern War died down and Russia became one of the leading European countries, 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 a 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 a victorious 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. The victory also played an important role Russian fleet, won in 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 the result of a complex political confrontation, which developed 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 of partisan detachments formed by the Finns. With their unexpected and covert attacks they inflicted significant damage on 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 enmity, 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.

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 Türkiye 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 opposed 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. 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 guards regiments order to prepare for departure 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.

  Clashes between states began in the middle of the 12th century, when the First Swedish crusade. But then the Novgorodians survived. From then until early XIX centuries, Sweden and Russia have fought countless times. There are about two dozen major confrontations alone.

  Novgorod takes a hit

  The first Swedish crusade had a very specific goal - to recapture Ladoga from Novgorod. This confrontation lasted from 1142 to 1164 and the Novgorodians emerged victorious.
  A little over twenty years later, the combined Karelian-Novgorod troops managed to capture the capital of Sweden, Sigtuna. The Archbishop of Uppsala was killed and the city was sacked. Among the spoils of war were the famous bronze church gates, which later “settled” in Novgorod.
  Towards the middle of the 13th century, the Swedes declared the Second Crusade.

  In 1240, the famous battle between Earl Birger and Alexander Yaroslavich took place. The Novgorodians turned out to be stronger, and thanks to the victory the prince received the nickname Nevsky.

  But the Swedes did not even think about calming down. Beginning in 1283, they actively tried to gain a foothold on the banks of the Neva. But they did not dare to get involved in open confrontation. The Swedes used “petty foul” tactics, regularly attacking Novgorod merchants. But the Scandinavians failed to derive any concrete benefit from this.
  IN early XIV centuries, the struggle continued with varying success. Once even the Swedes managed to capture and burn Ladoga, but they were unable to consolidate or develop their success.

  Swedes against the Russian Empire

  The Scandinavians did not abandon their claims to the northern lands even after Novgorod became part of the Moscow principality. At the very end of the 15th century, under Ivan III, Russia itself attacked Sweden for the first time in a long time. Having secured the support of the Danish king, Russian troops set out to capture Vyborg.
  The war went on with varying degrees of success. Either the Russian governors managed to plunder enemy settlements, or the Swedes did the same. Only the Danish king, who took the Swedish throne, benefited from the confrontation.

  A truly large-scale and bloody war between the Russian kingdom and Sweden unfolded under Ivan the Terrible. The reason was traditional - border disputes. The Scandinavians were the first to attack and the Oreshek fortress came under attack. In retaliation, Russian troops laid siege to Vyborg. But both the first and second failed.

  Then the Swedes invaded the Izhora and Korelia lands, organizing a pogrom there. During the capture of Korela, the Scandinavians completely slaughtered all Russian residents (about two thousand). Then they exterminated another seven thousand in Gapsala and Narva.

  The bloodshed was put to an end by Prince Khvorostinin, who managed to defeat the Scandinavians in battles in Votskaya Pyatina and near Oreshek.

  True, the peace treaty between the states was disadvantageous for Russia: it lost Yam, Ivangorod and Koporye.

  The Swedes tried to use the turmoil that began in Russia to their maximum advantage. And, as they say, they took Ladoga “on the sly.” Further - more. The Novgorodians themselves invited the Swedish king to rule over them, so they surrendered the city without a fight. When Mikhail Fedorovich ascended the Russian throne, the Scandinavians already owned Ingria and most of the Novgorod lands.
  With a rush, Russian troops failed to recapture Novgorod; the war came down, for the most part, to brawls on the borders. Because the commanders did not dare to go into open battle with the troops of Gustavus Adolphus. Soon the Swedes captured Gdov. But failure awaited them near Pskov. Only in 1617, the Stolbovo Treaty was concluded between the countries, according to which Russia called for Swedish rights to Ingermanland and Karelia.

  In the middle of the 17th century, hostilities continued. But neither side managed to achieve significant results.

  Wars under Peter the Great

  Under Peter the Great, the largest war in history took place between Russia and Sweden - the Northern War, which lasted from 1700 to 1721.
  Initially, the Scandinavians were opposed by an alliance of European states who wanted to snatch parts of the Baltic territories. The Northern Alliance, which emerged thanks to the initiative of the Elector of Saxony and the Polish King Augustus II, also included the Danes and Russia. But very quickly the alliance fell apart due to several Swedish victories.

  Until 1709, Russia fought alone against a formidable enemy. After the capture of Noteburg, Peter founded St. Petersburg in 1703. A year later, Russian troops were able to take Dorpat and Narva.

  Four years later, the Swedish king Charles XII went all-in and lost. First, his troops were defeated near Lesnaya. And then - in the decisive battle near Poltava.
  The new king of Sweden, Fredrik I, had no choice; he asked for peace. The defeat in the Northern War hit the Scandinavian state hard, knocking it out of the rank of great powers forever.

  Wars in the 18th and 19th centuries

  The Swedes wanted to regain their status as a great power. To do this, they absolutely had to defeat the Russian Empire.

  Under Elizaveta Petrovna, the Swedes declared war. It lasted only two years: from 1741 to 1743. The Scandinavian army was so weak that it could hardly even defend itself, let alone take any offensive actions.
  The result of the war was the loss by Sweden of the Kymenegor province with Neishlot, Vilmanstrand and Friedrichsgam. And the border between the states began to pass along the Kyumen River.
  Once again the Swedes tried their military luck under Catherine II, succumbing to the instigations of England. The Scandinavian king Gustav III hoped that he would not encounter serious resistance in Finland, since Russian troops were pulled south. But this war, which lasted from 1788 to 1790, did not produce any results. According to the Werel Peace Treaty, Russia and Sweden simply returned the occupied territories to each other.
  It fell to Emperor Alexander I to put an end to the centuries-old confrontation between Russia and Sweden. The war lasted only a year (from 1808 to 1809), but was very eventful.
  Alexander decided to put an end to his old enemy once and for all, so Russian troops set off to conquer Finland. The Swedes hoped to the last that bloodshed could be avoided, and the king did not believe in the presence of an enemy army on the border. But on February 9, Russian troops (armies commanded by Barclay, Bagration and Tuchkov) invaded the neighboring state without an official declaration of war.
  Due to the weakness of the monarch and the impending disaster in Sweden, a coup d'état took place “just in time.” Gustav IV Adolf was deposed, and power passed into the hands of his uncle, the Duke of Südermanland. He received the name Charles XIII.
  After these events, the Swedes perked up and decided to expel the enemy armies from Österbothnia. But all attempts were unsuccessful. At the same time, which is typical, the Swedes refused to agree to peace, giving the Åland Islands to Russia.

  The hostilities continued, and the Scandinavians decided to take the final, decisive blow. But this idea also failed, the Swedes had to sign a peace treaty. According to it, they ceded all of Finland, the Åland Islands and the eastern part of Vestro-Bothnia to the Russian Empire.

  At this point, the confrontation between states, which lasted almost seven centuries, was over. Russia emerged from it as the sole winner.

  The confrontation between Russia and Sweden began in the 18th century, when Peter the Great decided to gain access to the Baltic Sea for his country. This became the reason for the outbreak of the Northern War, which lasted from 1700 to 1721, which Sweden lost. The results of this conflict changed the political map of Europe. Firstly, Sweden, from a great and powerful maritime power dominating the Baltic Sea, has turned into a weak state. To regain its position, Sweden had to fight for decades. Secondly, the Russian Empire appeared in Europe with its capital in the city of St. Petersburg. New capital was built by Peter the Great on the Neva, next to the Baltic. This made it easier to control the region and the sea. Thirdly, the war between the Russian Empire and Sweden continued for a long time. The peak of the struggle was the war, known in historical literature and documents as the Russian-Swedish war. It began in 1808 and ended in 1809.

  The situation in Europe at the end of the 18th century.

  The revolutionary events that began in France in 1789 influenced the situation in Russia, Sweden, Germany, and England. Political and economic situation in many countries it changed by leaps and bounds. In particular, in France the monarchy was overthrown, King Louis the Sixteenth was killed, and a republic was proclaimed, which was quickly replaced by Jacobin rule. The military took advantage of the political confusion and brought Napoleon Bonaparte to power, who created a new empire in France. Napoleon sought to conquer Europe, to subjugate not only it western regions, but also to extend its power to the Balkans, Russia, Poland. He opposed the grandiose plans of the French emperor Russian Emperor Alexander the First. He managed to stop Napoleon's army in Russia and shake the foundations of the French state. The empire created by Bonaparte began to fall apart.

  So, to the main prerequisites for the Russian-Swedish war of the early 19th century. the following factors include:

  • Sweden's loss in the Northern War.
  • The creation of the Russian Empire and the transition under its authority of important trade routes that were located in the Baltic Sea.
  • Great French Revolution, which was inevitable and which influenced the course European history in the XIX – XX centuries. Many consequences of events in France in the late 1780s - 1790s. are still felt in Europe today.
  • Napoleon's rise to power, his conquests in Europe and his defeat in Russia.
  • Constant wars between the monarchs of Europe and Napoleon's army to protect the national borders of their states from French influence.

  Campaigns of the Napoleonic army at the beginning of the 19th century. contributed to the unification of European states into an anti-French coalition. Austria, England and Russia opposed Bonaparte. Emperor Alexander the First pondered for a long time which side to prefer. This choice was due to two important factors. Firstly, the influence on the Russian emperor of the so-called German party, whose members determined foreign policy ambitious Alexander the First. Secondly, the ambitious plans of the new ruler of Russia, who constantly interfered in the internal affairs of the German principalities and lands. Germans were everywhere in the empire - in important government positions, in the army, at court, and the emperor was married to a German princess. His mother was also from a noble family German family and had the title of princess. Alexander wanted to carry out constant campaigns of conquest, win, win battles, striving with his achievements to wash away the stain of shame from the murder of his father. Therefore, Alexander the First personally led all campaigns in Germany.

  There were several coalitions against Napoleon, Sweden joined the third of them. Its king, Gustav the Fourth, was as ambitious as the Russian emperor. In addition, the Swedish monarch sought to get back the lands of Pomerania, taken away in the 18th century. Only Gustav the Fourth did not calculate the power of his country and the military capabilities of the army. The king was confident that Sweden was capable of cutting out the map of Europe, changing borders and winning grandiose battles, as before.

  Relations between Russia and Sweden before the war

  In January 1805, the two countries signed a treaty to create a new alliance, considered the third anti-Napoleonic coalition of European monarchies against revolutionary and recalcitrant France. In the same year, a campaign was carried out against Bonaparte, which ended in a serious defeat for the allied forces.

  The battle took place in November 1805 near Austerlitz, the consequences of which were:

  • Escape from the battlefield of the Austrian and Russian emperors.
  • Huge losses among the Russian and Austrian armies.
  • Sweden attempted to independently conduct a campaign in Pomerania, but the French quickly drove them out of there.

  In such a situation, Prussia and Austria tried to save themselves on their own, bypassing the terms of cooperation with Russia. In particular, Austria signed an agreement with France in Pressburg, which historians call a separate agreement. Prussia went to establish allied relations with Napoleon Bonaparte. So, in December 1805, Russia was left alone with France, which did everything to ensure that Alexander the First agreed to sign a peace treaty. But the ruler of the Russian Empire was in no hurry to do this, since he defended the interests of German dynasties and family ties.

  Scientists believe that Alexander the First, in order to maintain dominance in the Baltic, control in Finland and over the Black Sea straits, the Caucasian republics, had to agree to peace with Bonaparte. Instead, he showed stubbornness and began to fight with him.

  In 1806, new conditions arose for the creation of a new coalition against Napoleon. England, Russia, Sweden, and Prussia took part in it. The English monarch acted as the main financial sponsor of the coalition; the army and soldiers were provided mainly by Prussia and the Russian Empire. The union needed Sweden for balance in order to control Alexander the First. But the Swedish king was in no particular hurry to send his warriors to the European continent from the Scandinavian Peninsula.

  The coalition lost again, and Bonaparte’s troops captured Berlin, Warsaw, and reached Russian border, which passed along the Neman River. Alexander the First personally met with Napoleon and signed the Treaty of Tilsit (1807). Among its conditions it is worth noting:

  • Russia should not have interfered in the internal affairs of states Western Europe, including Germany and Austria.
  • Complete break diplomatic relations and alliance with Austria.
  • Russia's observance of strict neutrality.

  At the same time, Russia got a chance to deal with Sweden, as well as Turkey. Napoleon during 1807-1808 did not allow Alexander the First to enter Austria, not allowing him to “communicate.”

  After the Peace of Tilsit, diplomatic and military games on the European continent did not end. Russia continued to actively interfere in all the affairs of Germany, Britain continued to attack all ships that were regarded as a threat to its state. Thus, the ships of Denmark were accidentally attacked, trying to avoid being drawn into the French wars and coalition alliances against Bonaparte.

  In the summer of 1807, British troops landed on Danish territory and Copenhagen was bombed. The British captured the fleet, shipyards, and naval arsenal; Prince Frederick refused to capitulate.

  In response to England's attack on Denmark, Russia declared war on Britain because of obligations and family ties. Thus began the Anglo-Russian war, which was accompanied by a blockade of trade ports, goods, and the withdrawal of diplomatic missions.

  England was also blockaded by France, which did not appreciate the capture of the Danish fleet and the destruction of Copenhagen. Bonaparte demanded that Russia put pressure on Sweden and that it close the ports to all British ships. This was followed by an exchange of diplomatic letters between Napoleon and Alexander the First. The French emperor offered the Russian all of Sweden and Stockholm. This was a direct hint at the need to begin military action against Sweden. To prevent this Scandinavian country from losing, England signed an agreement with it. His goal was to maintain the position of British merchant ships and companies in Scandinavia and cut off Russia from Sweden. Among the terms of the Anglo-Swedish agreement it is worth noting:

  • Paying the Swedish government £1 million every month.
  • The war with Russia and its conduct as long as circumstances require.
  • Sending British soldiers to Sweden to take control of the country's western border (important ports were located here).
  • The transfer of the Swedish army to the east to fight Russia.

  In February 1808, it was no longer possible for both countries to avoid military conflict. England wanted to quickly receive “dividends,” and Russia and Sweden wanted to resolve their long-standing disputes.

  The course of military operations in 1808-1809.

  The war began in February 1808, when Russian troops invaded Sweden in the area of ​​Finland. The effect of surprise gave a serious advantage to Russia, which by mid-spring managed to capture half of Finland, Sveaborg, the Gotland and Åland islands.

  The Swedish army suffered huge losses both on land and at sea. In the port of Lisbon at the end of the summer of 1808, the Swedish fleet capitulated to the British, who received the ships for storage until the end of the war. England provided serious assistance to Sweden, providing its troops and navy. Because of this, Russia's situation in Finland worsened. Further events took place in this chronological order:

  • In August - September 1808 Russian troops won a number of victories in Finland. Alexander the First sought to clear the occupied territory from the Swedes and the British.
  • September 1808 - a truce was signed, but the Russian emperor did not accept it, because he wanted the Swedes to leave Finland for good.
  • Winter of 1809 was a winter campaign launched by the Russian Empire to isolate Sweden. The invasion took place through the Gulf of Bothnia (on ice) and along the shore of the bay. The British could not help Sweden from the sea due to weather conditions. The Russian army launched an offensive through the Gulf of Bothnia to the Åland Islands, which they managed to capture, knocking out the Swedes from there. As a result, a political crisis began in Sweden.
  • After the winter campaign of 1809, a coup d'état took place in the kingdom, during which Gustav the Fourth was overthrown. The formed government appointed a new regent, and advocated a truce. Alexander the First did not want to sign the treaty until he received Finland.
  • March 1809 - General Shuvalov's army marched along the northern shore of the Gulf of Bothnia, capturing Torneo and Kalix. Near the last one settlement The Swedes laid down their arms, and Shuvalov's troops again went on the offensive. The soldiers, under the skillful leadership of the general, won a victory, and another Swedish army capitulated near the city of Shelefteå.
  • Summer of 1809 - the Battle of Ratan, which is considered the last in the Russian-Swedish war. The Russians were advancing on Stockholm, trying to capture it in short terms. By that time, the ice in the bay had melted, and British ships rushed to the aid of the Swedes. Decisiveness and surprise were the main factors in the victory of Kamensky’s troops, who gave last Stand to the Swedes at Ratan. They lost, losing one third of their army.

  Peace Treaty of 1809 and its consequences

  Negotiations began in August and continued for several weeks with the signing of a peace agreement. The agreement was signed in the city of Friedrichsham, now Hanin in Finland. On the Russian side, the document was signed by Count N. Rumyantsev, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and D. Alopeus, who served as the Russian Ambassador in Stockholm, and on the Swedish side by Colonel A. Scheldebront and Baron K. Stedinck, who was an infantry general.

  The terms of the agreement were divided into three parts - military, territorial and economic. Among the military and territorial conditions of the Friedrichsham Peace, attention is drawn to such points as:

  • Russia received the Alan Islands and Finland, which received the status of a Grand Duchy. It had autonomy rights within the Russian Empire.
  • Sweden was forced to abandon its alliance with the British and take part in the Continental Blockade, aimed at weakening England and its trade in the ports of Sweden.
  • Russia withdrew its troops from Swedish territory.
  • A mutual exchange of hostages and prisoners of war was carried out.
  • The border between the countries passed along the Munio and Torneo rivers, along the Munioniski-Enonteki-Kilpisjärvi line, which stretched to Norway.
  • In the border waters, the islands were divided along the fairway line. To the east the island territories belonged to Russia, and to the west to Sweden.

  Economic conditions were favorable to both countries. Trade between the states continued, in accordance with the previously signed agreement. Trade remained duty-free in Russian ports on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Finland. Other conditions in the field of economic cooperation were beneficial to the Russians. They could receive back the taken property, possessions, and lands. In addition, they filed lawsuits to get their property back.

  So, the situation in the economic and political spheres after the war changed the status of Finland. It became an integral part of the Russian Empire and began to integrate into its economic and economic systems. The Swedes, Finns, and Russians carried out profitable trade operations, regained their property and possessions, and strengthened their positions in Finland.