i>Figure 1.--The Great Northern War conducted by Peter the Great is one of the key struggles in European history. It marked the entry of Russia into the European state system and laid the ground work for The Tsarist Empire becoming a European colosus. Peter the Great got is windown on the West and new capital--Petrograd, he also began Russia control of the Baltics. Of special comcern was Narva in Estoniabecause of its closeness to Petrograd. Here Tsar Peter brings his marauding troops under control after taking Narva during an early phase of the War (1704). The painting was done by Nikolay Sauerweid in 1859.

The Great Northern War was the first war of the 18th century. It extended over two decades and was fought in different phases as battlefields and beligerants shifted. The phases of the War cnsisted of 1700-06, 1707-09, 1709-14, 1714-18, and 1718-21. The origins of the War began in the 1690s. At the time Sweden was the dominant power in northeastern Europe. A coaltion (Russia, Denmark, and Saxony-Poland) gradually formed to resist Sweden (1697-99). When Charles XII assumed the throne at only age 15, it seemed an opportunity to deal with Sweden which controlled a broad area of northeastern Europe. Charles V of Denmark had designs on Scania and other territories on the northern coast of the Baltic that was once Danish territory. Denmark also wanted to seize the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp which Sweden now controlled. Agustus II of Saxony-Poland wanted Livonia on the Baltic. Augustus was known as Augustus the Strong. He was the Elector Frederick Augustus of Saxony within the Holy Roman Empire. He was elected king of Poland (1697). Possession of Livonia (Latvia) would enable Augustus to significantly, Peter, reduced Swedish commercial influence in the Baltic. Augustus saw the potential of combining Saxony's productive know how with Polish raw materials, but Swedish commercial power impaired Augustus' plans. Russia's dynamic young Tsar, Peter, had more limited goals. He primarily wanted an outlet on the Baltic. And Sweden possession of Karelia/Ingria (southern Finland) and Estonia blocked Peter's westward advancement. The War began in Livonia where by J R von Patkul and other anti-Swedish noblemen ???.

Background

The Great Northern War was the first war of the 18th century. At the time Sweden was the dominant power in northeastern Europe. Poland was a declining power that had once dominated the region.

Sweden

Sweden through a series of wars with neighboring states hah come to dominate northern Europe and much of the Baltic. Sweden had extended in bordrs substantially. The kingsom included modern Finland, Estonia. and Latvia as well as other areas. Sweden controlled Ingermanland (rooghly the area of Russia around St. Petersburg). Sweeden also controlled areas of modern Germany (Pommern and Bremen-Verden. The kingdon's population was about 2.5 millions. A little over half or 1.5 million were ethnic Swedes. European populations were much smaller than modern populations, but even so this was a very small population for a state that had come to dominate larger neigboring states. Sweden had a powerful army. The Swedes had introduced an efficient system of conscription had been formed that would prove to be very efficient. Sweden was primarily aland power, but began to devote greater resources to the navyto compete with the Danish fleet. Charles Xi built a powerful naval base at Karlskrona in the 1670s.

Charles XII

Charles XII was born in 1682. His father Charles XI died when Charles his son as only 15 years old (1697). This left Sweden without an experienced monarch. This made Sweden appear vulnerable. Sweden with the assumption of Charles suffered a range of disasters. The most severe was a famine that devestated regions of the kingdom. Finland which was a province of Sweden experiebced a disaterous famine. About a third of the population reportedly died (1697-99).

Anti-Swedish Coalition

While the War broke out in the 1900s, the countrires of northeastern Europe began to move toward war in the 1690s. Countries threatened by Sweden (Russia, Denmark, and Saxony-Poland) organized a coaltion (1697-99). The coalition members had varying goals. All had lost territory to Sweden. Charles V of Denmark had designs on Scania and other territories on northern coast of the Baltic that was once Danish territory. Denmark also wanted to seize the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp which Sweden now controlled. Agustus II of Saxony-Poland wanted Livonia on the Baltic. Augustus was known as Augustus the Strong. He was the Elector Frederick Augustus of Saxony within the Holy Roman Empire. He was elected king of Poland (1697). Possession of Livonia would enable Augustus to significant reduce Swedish commercial influence in the Baltic. Augustus saw the potential of combining Saxony's productive know how with Polish raw materials, but Swedish commercial power impaired Augustus' plans. Russia's dynamic young Tsar had more limited goals. He primarily wanted an outlet on the Baltic. And Sweden possession of Karelia, Ingria and Estonia blocked Peter's westward advancement.

Battle Phases

It extended over two decades and was fought in different phases as battlefields and beligerants shifted. The phases of the War cnsisted of 1700-06, 1707-09, 1709-14, 1714-18, and 1718-21.

1700-06

Three foreign armies (Denmark, Russia and Poland-Saxony) struck at Sweden. They did not unite to form a powerful single force, but rather each seized territory they coveted. The Danish struck south to seize the duchy Holstein-Gottorp which was a Swedish ally. Charles was hunting bears and wolves when a messenger reached him. He assembled the war cabinet. As Sweden was preparing to attack Denmark, Charles leaned that a Russian army like Tzar Peter had entered the Swedish province of Ingermanland. A Saxon army failed in an attemp to seize Riga. Charles and Sweden found themselves at war with three powerful neighbors. .

Created: 11:10 PM 10/26/2006
Last updated: 5:35 AM 1/29/2016