08/19/1700 (1.09). - The beginning of the Northern War 1700-1721. for Russia's access to the Baltic Sea

North War

North War (1700-1721) was fought mainly between Russia and Sweden as the main opponents. By 1700 Sweden was the dominant power in the Baltic Sea and one of the leading European powers. She subdued the entire coast of the Gulf of Finland, the modern Baltic, part of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, each of the countries of the Northern Alliance had its own reasons for the war with Sweden, although some changed positions over time. They took part in the war at different stages: on the side of Russia - England, Hanover, Holland, Prussia, Rzeczpospolita; on the side of Sweden - England and Hanover.

For Russia, gaining access to the Baltic Sea during this period of time was the most important foreign policy and economic task in accordance with the policy of rapprochement with Europe. In 1617 Russia was forced to cede the territory from Ivangorod to Lake Ladoga to Sweden, and thus completely lost the Baltic coast. During the war of 1656-1658. part of the territory in the Baltics was returned. Nienschanz, Noteburg and Dinaburg were taken, Riga was besieged. However, the renewal of the war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth forced Russia to sign the Kardis Peace Treaty and return all these lands to Sweden.

The war began with the Allied invasion of Sweden and a series of Swedish victories over the Saxons and Danes. After the conclusion with the Turks, Peter I also entered the war and laid siege to Narva. But . Then the Swedes won several victories over the Poles: Warsaw was taken in 1701, victories at Torun and Krakow followed in 1702, and at Danzig and Poznan in 1703.

Meanwhile, there were no large-scale military actions on the Russian front. This gave Russia the opportunity to recuperate after the defeat at Narva. Already in 1702, the Russians again went on the offensive, having won back in 1702-1703. the entire course of the Neva, guarded by two fortresses: at the source of the river - the Shlisselburg (Oreshek) fortress, and at the mouth - the Nyenskans fortress, later dismantled for the construction of St. Petersburg. Finally, . The assault on the fortress clearly demonstrated the increased skill and equipment of the Russian army.

On August 19, 1704, the Narva Treaty was concluded between Russia and representatives of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on an alliance against Sweden; Russia, together with Saxony, successfully launched military operations on Polish territory. At the end of 1705, the main Russian forces stopped for the winter in Grodno. But on February 13, 1706, the Swedes inflicted a crushing defeat on the Saxon army at the Battle of Fraustadt. The Russian army was forced to withdraw in the direction of Kiev.

The Swedes did not follow the retreating Russian troops, but invaded the territory of Saxony itself. The Poles, on the other hand, secretly broke off their alliance with Russia and pledged to pay an indemnity for the maintenance of the Swedish army. Nevertheless, not daring to declare betrayal in the presence of the Russian army under the command of Menshikov, the Polish king Augustus II was forced with his troops to participate in the battle of Kalisz on October 18, 1706. The battle ended with the complete victory of the Russian army and the capture of the Swedish commander. This battle was the largest with the participation of the Russian army since the beginning of the war. But despite this victory, Russia was left alone in the war with Sweden.

At the beginning of 1708, the Swedes moved in the direction of. On July 3, Karl won a victory in the Battle of Golovchin over the Russian troops under the command of General Repnin. This battle was the last major success of the Swedish army.
Further advancement of the Swedes slowed down. Through the efforts of Peter I, the Swedes had to move through the devastated area, experiencing an acute shortage of provisions. Therefore, by the fall of 1708, Charles XII was forced to turn south in the direction of Ukraine.

On September 28, 1708, in a battle near the village of Lesnoy, Russian troops defeated the Swedish corps of Levengaupt, which was moving from Riga to join Charles's main army. It was not just a victory over elite Swedish forces - for the first time, a victory was won over a superior enemy force. Tsar Peter called her the mother of the Poltava victory. Pyotr Alekseevich personally commanded one of the two columns of the "flying" corps of the Russian army. The total losses of the Swedes amounted to 8,500 killed and wounded, 45 officers and 700 soldiers were captured. The trophies of the Russian army were 17 guns, 44 banners and about 3 thousand carts with provisions and ammunition.

In October 1708, it became known about the betrayal of the Ukrainian hetman Mazepa, who was in correspondence with Charles XII and promised him 50 thousand Cossack troops, food and a comfortable winter. On October 28, 1708, Mazepa, at the head of a detachment of Cossacks, arrived at Karl's headquarters. However, from the many thousands of Ukrainian Cossacks, Mazepa managed to bring in only about 5 thousand people. But they too soon began to scatter, there were about two thousand left. In November 1708, the Cossacks at the All-Ukrainian Rada in the city of Glukhov elected a new hetman instead of the traitor - the Starodub colonel I.S. Skoropadsky.

Despite the fact that the Swedish army suffered greatly during the cold winter of 1708-1709, Charles XII longed for a general battle. It happened on June 27, 1709 near Poltava, which was besieged by the Swedes. (.)

After the victory at Poltava, Peter managed to restore the Northern Alliance with Saxony and Denmark. During the military campaign of 1710, the Russian army managed with little blood to take seven Baltic fortresses (Vyborg, Elbing, Dyunamunde, Pernov, Kexholm,). Russia completely occupied Estonia and Livonia. At the end of 1710, Peter received a message about the preparation of the Turkish army for war with Russia in support of Sweden. Therefore, at the beginning of 1711, Peter declared war on the Ottoman Empire and began the Prut campaign, which ended in complete failure. Peter narrowly escaped capture and defeat of his army. Russia had to cede the Azov to the Turks, destroy the fortifications in Taganrog and the ships on the Black Sea. However, the Turks did not enter the war on the side of Sweden.

In 1712-1713. the Russian fleet is growing rapidly in the Baltic, which began immediately after. Peter I not only actively builds, but also instructs his agents in London and Amsterdam (Saltykov and Prince Kurakin) to buy warships. In 1712 alone, 10 ships were purchased.

In 1713, Russia began the Finnish campaign, in which the Russian fleet first began to play an important role. On May 10, after shelling from the sea, Helsingfors surrendered (Helsinki). Then Breg was taken without a fight. On August 28, the landing under the command of Apraksin occupied the then capital of Finland - Abo. And on July 26-27, 1714, the Russian fleet won the first major victory at sea.

In May 1718, the Åland Congress was opened, designed to work out the terms of a peace treaty between Russia and Sweden. However, the Swedes dragged out the negotiations in every possible way. This was also facilitated by the position of other European powers: Denmark, which fears the conclusion of a separate peace between Sweden and Russia, and England, whose king George I was at the same time the ruler of Hanover.

On November 30, 1718, Charles XII was killed during the siege of Fredrikshald. His sister, Ulrika Eleanor, came to the Swedish throne. The position of England at the Swedish court was strengthened. But the demonstration of Russian power continued. In May 1719, the Russian fleet won a victory, and in July carried out a landing in the Stockholm area and raids in the suburbs of the Swedish capital. After that, in November, the frightened Sweden signed an alliance treaty with England and Hanover, ceding Bremen and Verden to the latter. An English squadron entered the Baltic Sea with the order to destroy the Russian fleet.

Nevertheless, in 1720 the Russian raid on the Swedish coast was repeated in the Mangden area, and on July 27, 1720 the victory over the Swedish fleet was won in. At this time, the weakened Swedes made peace with Denmark, which received small territories in Schleswig-Holstein, monetary indemnity and resumed the collection of duties from Swedish ships for the passage through the Strait of Sunda. In the same year, Sweden made peace with Prussia and finally ceded possession to her in Pomerania.

On May 8, 1721, new peace negotiations began between Russia and Sweden in Nystadt and was signed on August 30.

The Great Northern War completely changed the balance of power in the Baltic.
Russia has become a great power dominating eastern Europe. As a result of the war, Ingria, Karelia, Estland, Livonia (Livonia) and the southern part of Finland (up to Vyborg) were annexed. Russian influence was firmly established in Courland as well. The key task of the reign of Peter I was solved - providing access to the sea and establishing maritime trade with Europe. By the end of the war, Russia possessed a modern, first-class army and a powerful fleet in the Baltic.
Sweden lost its power and forever turned into a minor power. Not only the territories ceded to Russia were lost, but also all the possessions of Sweden on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea.

Abbreviated material from "Wikipedia"

The Northern War of 1700-1721, which stretched out for almost a quarter of a century, not only became the second longest in the entire history of the existence of the Russian state, but also changed vectors in the international arena. Russia not only gained access to the Baltic Sea and increased its territory, but also moved into the rank of superpowers, which from now on the whole world had to reckon with.

Foreign policy of Peter I, reasons for the war

Despite the fact that Tsar Peter was enthroned at the age of ten, he took full reins of government into his own hands only in 1689. By this time, as part of the Great Embassy, ​​the young tsar had already managed to visit outside Russia and feel the difference. In 1695-1696, the more experienced Tsar-reformer decided to measure his strength with the Ottoman Empire and started the Azov campaigns. Some goals were achieved, control over it was seized, the southern borders of the state were secured, but Peter did not manage to get a full-fledged access to the Black Sea.

Having reformed the army and created a more modern fleet, Peter I decided to return his own lands and gain access to the Baltic Sea, thereby making Russia a maritime power. Ingria and Karelia, which were torn away by Sweden in the Time of Troubles, did not give rest to the autocrat-reformer. There was one more circumstance - a very "cold welcome" in Riga for the Russian delegation headed by Peter. Thus, the Great Northern War of 1700-1721, the main events of which turned the course of world history, was for Russia not only a political decision, but also a matter of honor.

The beginning of the confrontation

In 1699, the Northern Alliance was concluded between the Commonwealth, Denmark, Saxony and the Russian Kingdom. The purpose of the unification was to weaken Sweden, one of the most influential powers at that time. Each of the countries pursued its own interests and had territorial claims against the Swedes. The Great Northern War of 1700-1721 is briefly divided into four main periods.

Period 1700-1706 - the first and not the most successful for Russia. In 1700, the first battle took place on Narva, in which Russian troops were defeated. Then the military initiative passed from hand to hand of opponents. In 1706, the Russians defeated the Swedish-Polish forces at Kalisz. Peter I tried with all his might to leave August II - the king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - as allies, but still split the coalition. Russia was left alone with the powerful flotilla and army of Charles XII.

The second stage of the Northern War

The Northern War of 1700-1721, the main events of which are associated with the confrontation exclusively between the Swedish-Russian troops and flotillas, passed to the next stage. 1707 -1709 can be described as the second stage of the Russian-Swedish war. It was he who became the turning point. Each of the belligerents was building up its power: increasing the size of the army and weapons. Charles XII hatched the idea of ​​seizing some Russian territories. As a result, he dreamed of completely dismembering Russia.

The Russian tsar, in turn, dreamed of the Baltics and the expansion of his territories. Nevertheless, the international situation favored the enemy. Great Britain did not provide assistance to Russia and in every possible way in the international arena provided political support to Sweden. Northern War 1700-1721 became exhausting for both sides, but none of the monarchs agreed to a moderate truce.

Having approached the borders of Russia, the Swedish troops occupied territory after territory, planning to move to Smolensk. In August 1708, the Swedes suffered several tactical defeats and decided to go to Ukraine, enlisting the support of the hetman. But the overwhelming majority of Ukrainian peasants and ordinary Cossacks perceived the Swedes as invaders, offering them widespread resistance. In June 1709 it happened which became a turning point in the war. Peter I and his commanders defeated the Swedes. Karl and Mazepa fled to Turkey, but refused to sign the surrender. Thus, the Great Northern War of 1700-1721, the main events of which unfolded on the territory of Russia, was actually lost by Sweden.

Third period of confrontation

From 1710-1718 the third stage of the confrontation between the countries began. Events of the Northern War 1700-1721 this period were no less intense. In 1710, the Northern Union resumed its existence. And Sweden, in turn, managed to drag Turkey into the war. In 1710, she declared war on Russia, thereby pulling off a large army over herself and preventing Peter from delivering a decisive blow to the Swedes.

For the most part, this stage can be called the period of diplomatic wars, since the main battles were fought on the sidelines. Great Britain tried in every possible way to weaken Russia and prevent her from invading Europe. Meanwhile, Russia was establishing political contact with France. In 1718, a peace agreement could have been signed, but the sudden death of Charles XII during the siege of a fortress in Norway led to the change of monarch and postponed the signing of the peace for some time. Thus, the Northern War of 1700-1721, briefly and conditionally divided into 4 stages, did not promise a victory for Sweden back in 1718, but the queen hoped for outside help.

The final stage of hostilities in the Northern War

The final stage of hostilities - 1718-1721. - historians have characterized it as a passive period. There were no active hostilities for three years. Britain's entry into the war on the side of Sweden gave the latter confidence in its possible victory. In order to prevent Russia from gaining a foothold in the Baltics, the world community was ready to drag out the military conflict. But the British troops did not provide real help to the supporters, and the Russian flotilla won a victory near the islands of Ezel and Grengam, and the Russian landing also conducted several successful campaigns. The result was the signing of the Nystadt Peace Treaty.

Results of the Northern War

The Great Northern War of 1700-1721, the main events of which led to the complete defeat of Sweden, became that “window to Europe” that not only brought Russia to a new international level, but also made it possible to compete on the world stage with developed European hegemons.

Tsarist Russia became an empire. Russia received recognition in the international arena. The annexation of the primordially Russian territories and access to the Baltic took place. The result was the founding of new cities, including St. Petersburg. The state's naval potential has significantly increased. Russia has become a participant in the international market.

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

Russian state under Peter 1

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

Considering the question of why Peter 1 started the war with the Swedes, one must 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 delivered to the West was Arkhangelsk. The 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 the Black Sea. Without this, it was impossible to create a strong state.

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

Charles XII

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

He began to rule, like Peter, at a young age. He was 15 years old when his father died, and Charles succeeded to the throne. Possessing a hot-tempered character, the king did not tolerate any advice and decided everything himself. At the age of 18 he made his first military expedition. Announcing at the court that he was leaving for fun in one of his castles, in fact, the young ruler with a small army went by sea to Denmark. With a quick march, finding himself under the walls of Copenhagen, Charles forced Denmark to withdraw from the alliance with Russia, Poland and Saxony. Almost 18 years after that, the king spent 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: the reasons for the military conflict

Russia and Sweden were adversaries long before the birth of the reformer tsar. The Baltic coast, which was of no small geopolitical importance, has always been of great interest to many countries. Poland, Sweden and Russia have been trying for many centuries to increase their influence in the Baltic region. Since the 12th century, the Swedes have repeatedly attacked northern Russia, trying to capture Ladoga, the coast of the Gulf of Finland and Karelia. By the beginning of the 18th century, the Baltic countries were completely subordinated to Sweden. August II, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, Frederick IV, Ruler of Denmark and Peter the Great formed a coalition against Sweden. Their hopes for victory were based on the youth of Charles XII. In case of victory, Russia received the 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 members 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 talent of the Russian Tsar

The union between the three countries (Russia, Denmark and Poland) was concluded in 1699. August II was the first to oppose Sweden. The siege of Riga began in 1700. In the same year, the Danish army launched an invasion of Holstein territory, which was an ally of Sweden. Then Charles XII made a bold march to Denmark and forced her to withdraw from the war. Then he sent troops to Riga, and not daring to join the battle, he withdrew his troops.

Russia was the last to enter the war with Sweden. Why did Peter 1 start the war with the Swedes not at the same time as the allies? The fact is that the Russian state at that time 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 the war with Sweden. Peter 1 began his march to Narva, the nearest Swedish fortress. The battle was lost, despite the fact that the troops of Charles XII 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 gain 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 Nystadt Peace Treaty, Russia firmly established itself in the Baltic region and Courland.

Northern War (1700-1721)

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

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 positions in the Baltic Sea. By 1699, a situation had developed in which virtually the entire coastline of the sea was under Swedish control. This could not but cause concern for her neighbors. As a result, in 1699, the Northern Alliance was concluded between the countries concerned about the strengthening of Sweden, which was directed against the rule of Sweden in the Baltic. The members of the Union were: Russia, Denmark and Saxony (whose king was at the same time the ruler of Poland).

Narva confusion

The Great Northern War for Russia began on August 19, 1700, but the beginning of it for the Allies was simply horrible. Taking into account that Sweden was still ruled by the child Karl 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 a strong enough commander. Realizing the absurdity of a war on 3 fronts, he decides to defeat the opponents one by one. Within a few days, he inflicted a crushing defeat on Denmark, which effectively withdrew from the war. After that, it was the turn of Saxony. August 2 at this time besieged Riga, which belonged to Sweden. Charles II inflicted a terrible defeat on his opponent, forcing him to retreat.

Russia actually remained in the war one on one 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 18,000 soldiers to help his garrison. The battle was fleeting. The Swedes hit the joints between the Russian units and broke through the defenses. Moreover, many foreigners, whom Peter valued so much in the Russian army, fled to the side of the enemy. Modern historians call this defeat the "Narva confusion".

As a result of the Narva battle, Russia lost 8 thousand people killed and all the artillery. It was a nightmare result of the confrontation. At this moment, Karl 12 showed nobility, or made a mistake. He did not pursue the retreating Russians, believing that without artillery and with such losses, the war for Peter's army was over. But he was wrong. The Russian tsar announced a new recruitment into the army and began to rebuild the artillery at a hasty pace. For this, the bells of churches were even melted down. Also, Peter began to reorganize the army, because he clearly saw that at the current moment his soldiers could not fight on equal terms with the opponents of the country.

Battle of Poltava

In this material, we will not dwell in detail on the course of the Poltava battle. since this historical event is detailed in the corresponding article. It should only be noted that the Swedes were stuck for a long time in the war with Saxony and Poland. In 1708, the young Swedish king actually won this war, inflicting a defeat on August 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 Karl 12 was literally defeated and fled to Turkey, hoping to persuade her to go to war with Russia. These events have made a turning point in the situation of the countries.

Prut campaign

After Poltava, the Northern Union was again relevant. After all, Peter had inflicted a defeat, which gave a chance for overall success. As a result, the Northern War continued with the fact that Russian troops captured 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, even more actively began to persuade the Sultan to oppose Russia, since he understood that a great danger was hanging over his country. As a result, Turkey entered the war in 1711, which forced Peter's army to loosen its grip in the North, as the Northern War now forced him to fight on two fronts.

Peter personally decided to conduct a Prut campaign in order 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 disastrous. The tsar himself was surrounded, as well as all his entourage and the Russian army in full force. Turkey could have ended the Northern War, but did not do it ... This should not be regarded as a miscalculation of the Sultan. In the murky waters of political life, everyone catches soybeans. To smash Russia meant to strengthen Sweden, and to strengthen it very strongly, creating out of it the strongest power on the continent. For Turkey, it was more profitable for Russia and Sweden to continue to fight, weakening each other.

Let's return to the events brought by the Prut campaign. Peter was so shocked by what was happening that when sending his ambassador to negotiate for 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 a peace, according to the terms of which Turkey received Azov back, Russia destroys the Black Sea fleet and does not prevent King Charles 12 from returning to Sweden. In response, Turkey completely released the Russian troops, in full gear and with banners.

As a result, the Northern War, the outcome of which after the Battle of Poltava seemed a foregone conclusion, received a new round. 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 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 at Gangut, was destroyed. It was a terrible defeat for the Swedes and a splendid triumph for the Russians. As a result of these events, Stockholm was almost completely evacuated, as everyone feared an invasion of Russia deep into Sweden. In fact, the victory at Gangut was the first major naval victory for Russia!

The next significant battle also took place on July 27, but already in 1720. It happened not far from Grengam Island. This naval battle also ended in an unconditional victory for the Russian fleet. It should be noted that British 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 for a long time alone. Naturally, England's support was not official and she did not enter the war, but she "kindly" presented her ships to Charles 12.

Nishtad peace

Russia's victories at sea and on land forced the Swedish government to go to 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 Nishtad. The Great Northern War after 21 years of hostilities was over. As a result, Russia received:

• the territory of Finland to Vyborg
• the territories of Estland, Livonia and Ingermanland

In fact, Peter 1 with this victory secured the right of his country to enter 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 were solved, which Russia faced since the time of Ivan 3. Below is a detailed map of the Northern War.

The Great Northern War allowed Peter to "cut a window to Europe," and the Nishtad peace 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.

Northern War (1700 - 1721) - a war of Russia and its allies against Sweden for domination of the Baltic Sea.

Back in the 16-17 centuries. Russia tried to seize access to the Baltic coast. Its main enemy in this struggle was Sweden, whose territory extended to Livonia, Finland and Estonia, as well as to the former Russian possessions - Izhora lands and Karelia.

In 1699, Peter I, August II, Elector of Saxony and King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and Frederick IV, King of Denmark, formed the Northern League; Russia intended to take Ingria and Karelia from the Swedes, Poland - Livonia and Estonia, Denmark claimed the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, allied to Sweden. The war began in the winter of 1700 with the invasion of Holstein-Gottorp by the Danes and the Polish-Saxon invasion of Livonia.

However, in July 1700, the Swedish king Charles XII, relying on the support of the Anglo-Dutch fleet, landed troops on the island of Zealand, bombarded Copenhagen and forced Fredrik IV to surrender.

On August 18 (August 28, old style), August 1700, the Peace of Travenda was signed: Denmark was forced to recognize the sovereignty of Holstein-Gottorp and withdraw from the Northern League.

After the conclusion of the Peace of Constantinople with the Ottoman Empire on July 13 (23), 1700, he declared war on Sweden and laid siege to Narva at the end of August, however, on November 19 (29), 1700, Charles XII inflicted a crushing defeat on the Russian army near Narva, despite its three-fold numerical superiority.

In the summer of 1701, Charles XII invaded Rzeczpospolita with the main forces and conquered Courland; in July 1702, the Swedes occupied Warsaw and defeated the Polish-Saxon army at Kliszow (near Krakow). Charles XII intervened in the internal political struggle in Poland and achieved in July 1704 the deposition of August II by the Polish Sejm and the election of his candidate Stanislav Leszczynski to the throne. August II did not recognize this decision and took refuge in Saxony. In 1705, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth concluded a military alliance with Sweden against Russia.

Taking advantage of the fact that Charles XII was "bogged down", as Peter I put it, in Poland, the Russians launched active offensive operations on the Baltic coast. At the end of 1701, Field Marshal Sheremetev defeated General Schlippenbach at Erestfer, and in July 1702 defeated him at Gummelshof and made a successful campaign in Livonia. In October 1702, Russian troops took Noteburg (Shlisselburg), and in April 1703, Nyenschantz at the mouth of the Neva, where Petersburg was founded in May; in the same year they captured Koporye and Yamburg, and in 1704 - Dorpat (Tartu) and Narva: thus, the "window to Europe" was cut through.

In 1705, Peter I transferred military operations to the territory of the Commonwealth: Field Marshal Sheremetev captured Mitava and expelled the Swedes from Courland; Field Marshal Ogilvy entered Lithuania and occupied Grodno. However, at the beginning of 1706, Charles XII pushed back the Russian troops beyond the Niemen, captured most of Volhynia and in July invaded Saxony, forcing August II to humiliate the Altransted peace on September 13 (24): August II renounced the Polish crown, broke the alliance with Russia, surrendered to the Swedes Krakow and other fortresses. Peter I, left without allies, offered Charles XII peace on the terms of transferring the mouth of the Neva to Russia, but was refused.

The Battle of Poltava marked a decisive turning point in the war. The Northern League was reborn: Frederick IV violated the Travendael, August II - the Altranstedt treaty; the Danes invaded Holstein-Gottorp, the Saxons - Poland. Stanislav Leshchinsky took refuge in Pomerania. At the end of April 1709, the Swedish king laid siege to Poltava. In June, the main forces of the Russian army, led by Peter I, approached the city. In the Battle of Poltava on June 27 (July 8), Charles XII suffered a crushing defeat, losing more than 9 thousand killed and 3 thousand prisoners. June 30 (July 11) Menshikov forced the remnants of the Swedish army under the command of Levengaupt to capitulate on the Dnieper; Charles XII managed to escape to the Ottoman Empire.

In February 1710, the Danes attempted to land in Sweden, but failed. In June 1710, Peter I took Vyborg, in July Riga, in September - Revel (Tallinn), establishing full control over Estonia, Livonia and Western Karelia.

In the fall of 1710, Charles XII, with the support of France, convinced the Turkish Sultan Ahmet III to declare war on Russia.

On June 12 (23), 1711, Peter I was forced to conclude a difficult Prut peace with the Ottoman Empire, pledging to return Azov to her, tear down all the fortresses he built on the Sea of ​​Azov and break the alliance with Poland.

In 1712-1714, Russia's allies, with its support, won a number of victories in the European theater of operations. In 1713-1714, Russia occupied part of the territory of Finland, in August 1714 the Russian galley fleet defeated the Swedish fleet at Cape Gangut and moved to Abo. In July 1717, a landing was made on the island of Gotland, and on land the Russian army reached Luleå. In August 1717, Russia moved hostilities to the territory of Sweden, whose human and financial resources were depleted.

In 1718, Peter I began negotiations with Charles XII (Åland Congress), which, however, were interrupted after the death of the king during the siege of the Norwegian fortress Fredriksgald in December 1718. Karl's sister Ulrika-Eleanor, who ascended the throne, and the party that supported her began to seek agreements with Russia's western allies. In 1719, Sweden entered into an alliance with Hanover, having ceded Bremen and Verden to him, in 1720 - with Prussia, selling her Stettin and the mouth of the Oder, with Denmark, pledging to pay the duty for the passage of ships through the Sunda Strait and not to provide support to the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp, and also with England.

However, the Swedes failed to achieve a turning point in the war with Peter I. Russian landings periodically landed on the coast of Sweden. In 1719, the Swedish fleet was defeated off the island of Ezel (Saaremaa), and on July 27 (7 August) 1720 - off the island of Grengam; the attempt of the British squadron to intervene in the course of hostilities ended in failure. In 1721, a Russian detachment landed in the Stockholm area, which forced the British to leave the Baltic.

After five months of negotiations in the city of Nishtadt (Uusikaupunki) in Finland, on August 30 (September 10), 1721, a peace treaty was signed, according to which Sweden ceded the Baltic and southwestern Karelia to Russia, retaining Finland. As a result, Sweden lost its possessions on the eastern coast of the Baltic and a significant part of its possessions in Germany, retaining only a part of Pomerania and the island of Rügen.

As a result of the Northern War, Russia gained access to the Baltic Sea, having solved one of its main historical tasks, while Sweden