The Battle for Polatava
The Battle of Poltava
The Swedes had come a long way. For nearly nine years, since the war broke out in 1700, had they marched hundreds of miles in heat and cold, rain and drought to make up with their country’s enemies. They had fought in Saxony, Poland and the Baltic states and their success had been great. In Narva, they had lifted the siege and defeated the Russian Tsar’s troops, in Kliszów they had won over the Saxons and Poles. In Fraustadt numerically strong Saxon and Russian troops had been completely crushed.
But they continued to march. Because even if the king of Poland, the saxon elector August, was forced into submission there still remained the main enemy. Along with August and Denmark’s Frederik IV had Tsar peter entered into a covenant attack against Sweden and while Charles XII was employed in Poland, the Russians had taken the opportunity to conquer the Swedish land in the Baltics. In Ingria, the Czar commissioned the construction of a long -awaited port, St. Petersburg. It was a difficult challenge for the Swedish king, who saw their inherited Baltic empire threatened.
Now, all that the Tsar had won was about to be taken back. The fame of the Swedish karolins victory had spread around Europe and made an impression on many - not least Charles XII himself. Like man others he was convinced that the Russians would not have much to bring to the day the armies met, man to man.
In June 1709 the Swedish army was located in Ukraine. Here, next to the small town of Poltava, would soon be a what its called - the most important battle of Swedish history. It would not only put an end to Charles XII’s Russian campaign, but for all the Swedish empire.
That the difficulties and sufferings on the way here was inhumanly large is understandable for everyone who redas the diaries and letters that the karolins left behind. Despair is rising out of the text that makes a big impression on the reader, yet three hundred years after the
The Swedes had come a long way. For nearly nine years, since the war broke out in 1700, had they marched hundreds of miles in heat and cold, rain and drought to make up with their country’s enemies. They had fought in Saxony, Poland and the Baltic states and their success had been great. In Narva, they had lifted the siege and defeated the Russian Tsar’s troops, in Kliszów they had won over the Saxons and Poles. In Fraustadt numerically strong Saxon and Russian troops had been completely crushed.
But they continued to march. Because even if the king of Poland, the saxon elector August, was forced into submission there still remained the main enemy. Along with August and Denmark’s Frederik IV had Tsar peter entered into a covenant attack against Sweden and while Charles XII was employed in Poland, the Russians had taken the opportunity to conquer the Swedish land in the Baltics. In Ingria, the Czar commissioned the construction of a long -awaited port, St. Petersburg. It was a difficult challenge for the Swedish king, who saw their inherited Baltic empire threatened.
Now, all that the Tsar had won was about to be taken back. The fame of the Swedish karolins victory had spread around Europe and made an impression on many - not least Charles XII himself. Like man others he was convinced that the Russians would not have much to bring to the day the armies met, man to man.
In June 1709 the Swedish army was located in Ukraine. Here, next to the small town of Poltava, would soon be a what its called - the most important battle of Swedish history. It would not only put an end to Charles XII’s Russian campaign, but for all the Swedish empire.
That the difficulties and sufferings on the way here was inhumanly large is understandable for everyone who redas the diaries and letters that the karolins left behind. Despair is rising out of the text that makes a big impression on the reader, yet three hundred years after the