(November 1699).
Peter's allies soon began military operations against the Swedes. But success
they were not accompanied. Augustus II, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, sent
an army led by Fleming to Riga. But, having received one and a half from its inhabitants
million thalers, lifted the siege and withdrew his regiments from the city. Deal with Denmark
the situation was even worse: the young Swedish king, a bully and a grunt, landed on
its territory with a corps of fifteen thousand, and Copenhagen found itself under
year) his country left the Northern Alliance. Peter remained with Augustus II,
a weak, treacherous ally, prone to betrayal.
But Peter does not give up in weakness here either. Continues to conduct business
fight with Charles XII for access to the Baltic.
Prepare everything you need to fight the first-class Swedish army
it wasn't that easy. According to the plan developed by Peter and his advisers,
the Russian army was to head to Narva and Noteburg (ancient Russian
Oreshek) - Swedish fortresses on the Narova and Neva rivers. With intelligence
Preobrazhensky officer Vasily Korchmin was sent to target both fortresses,
who, having received an engineering education abroad, mastered science
fortification. On March 2, 1700, Peter writes to F.A. Golovin, what do you need?
send Korchmin first to Narva, supposedly to buy Swedish guns for
Russian needs, and then to Noteburg:
“Also, if it is possible for him to find business there, he should also visit Oreshok.
if you can’t get into it, although near it. And the place is badly needed: a duct from
Lake Ladoga (look on the maps). And the kid seems smart and a secret
that Korchmin is a scientist."
The training of recruits proceeded quickly. A new one was born before our eyes
army. Experts gave her the highest rating. Heine, the Danish ambassador, even
admired the training of the soldiers:
The new shelves are wonderful. They are equally good at training and at parade.
He called Russian artillery “exemplary”, infantry - “selected”,
"highly disciplined". Peter, obviously, had heard similar reviews more than once and
was satisfied. He eagerly awaited news from Constantinople about the results
negotiations with Turkey in order to quickly move troops against the Swedes, to join
to allies:
I am a person whose word you can rely on. I won't resort to
verbosity; but my allies will see in practice how I fulfill my obligations and
I'll do it Furthermore that I have to.
receives the long-awaited news - an agreement with Turkey has been concluded. Untying your hands
in the south, the next day Russia declares war on Sweden "for many Swedish
(Swedish - in B.) untruths", including - for grave insult,
inflicted in 1697 by the Swedes during the stay of the “great embassy” in
Riga "to the very person of the Tsar's Majesty", although officially, formally Russian
the tsar was absent from the embassy; There was, however, a certain police officer Pyotr Mikhailov,
but - who then in Riga knew about this? Yes, even if they had guessed, then Peter
vigilantly monitored the observance of his incognito, did not tolerate its violations,
especially at the beginning of the mission.
Such a motivation is a tribute to old Moscow diplomacy with its grievances over
regarding real and imaginary insults to the Moscow autocrat,
"ruin" his honor and thereby Russia's. Diplomats of other countries in those days
They were also picky about such things.
On August 22, the Russian army set out on a campaign. Northern
the war has begun. The caustic Klyuchevsky sneers at Peter in connection with
the results of the southern enterprise: the king “found himself in an awkward position” - the fleet,
built with such pains and expense, “was left to rot in the Azov
harbors"; it was not possible to gain a foothold in Crimea; the canal between the Volga and Don, which
They started digging on Peter’s orders and abandoned it; everything else related to the "eastern
issue" (security from Crimean raids, expectations of Balkan Christians),
also put aside; Peter turned sharply from south to north; "new
European conditions threw it, like a toy ball, from the mouth of the Don to
Narova and Neva, where he had nothing prepared; he himself, so much
preparing to become Black Sea sailors, with all his Pereyaslav,
White Sea, Dutch and English navigational knowledge is forced
had to wage a land war for many years in order to break through to a new, alien
The historian has greatly exaggerated his colors. He doesn't show any sympathy either.
feverish measures and throwings of the king, does not fully appreciate their significance.
But still there is a lot of truth in his reasoning. Peter himself pretty soon
sobered up from his hopes of that spring-summer time of 1700, when he almost
youthfully eager to fight, dreaming of quick and bright victories. As it turned out,
Narva is not Azov or Kazykermen. But at that time he didn’t know any of this.
and, full of plans, hurried to full breasts breathe in the salty air
Baltic...
The start of the war with Sweden was unsuccessful not only for the allies
Russia, but also for herself. On November 19, 1700, Peter's army
cobbled together from old streltsy regiments and noble militia, as well as from
still poorly trained recruits, was defeated by the army of Charles XII,
considered at that time one of the best in Europe. Only Guardsmen and Lefortovoites
showed their best side, repelling many enemy attacks. But they
Naturally, some could not save the situation. Moreover, a sad role
Peter’s trust in foreign commanders played a role. It ended up being
the capitulated Russian army, having lost up to six thousand soldiers, left
west bank of the Narva River and crossed to its eastern side, leaving the Swedes
one hundred thirty-five guns.
The victory at Narva over the “barbarian” king was celebrated not only in
Sweden, but almost throughout Europe.
Russian representatives at European courts soon received
dispatches with messages about contempt and ridicule of local rulers and nobles
to the address of the Russian army, the Tsar himself. A.A. Matveev, for example, wrote from The Hague:
"The Swedish ambassador with great curses, while visiting ministers himself, did not
only blasphemes your troops, but also slandered your person, as if you,
frightened by the arrival of his king, two days (before the arrival of the Swedes near Narva and
battles. - V.B.) went to Moscow from the regiments."
The Swedish king, having defeated Denmark and Russia, took on Poland and Saxony,
had one ruler. He did not hide his feelings for him:
His behavior is so shameful and vile that it deserves vengeance from God and
the contempt of all right-thinking people.
The Swedish king began, according to Klyuchevsky, to help Peter, as
only he could, chasing Augustus II. And the king took advantage of the respite,
granted by Charles XII, in full. It's not his habit to grieve for
about failures. He immediately understood the root, the essence of what happened near Narva.
Later, in the “History of the Sveian War”, this was written very correctly:
“The Swedes received victory over our army, which is undeniable. But
it must be understood over which army it was committed, for only one old
there was the Lefortovo regiment (which was previously called Shepeleva); two regiments
the guards were only present in two attacks near Azov; field battles, and especially with
never seen by regular troops. Other shelves, except some
colonels, both officers and privates, most were recruits... Moreover, for
in late times there was a great famine due to the great shortages of food
It was impossible to bring. And, united say a word, the whole thing is like
it was infantile play, but art was below the surface. What a surprise this is
to the old, trained and practiced army (Swedish - V.B.) over such
unskilled to find Victoria?... But when is this misfortune (or, better said,
great happiness) received, then captivity drove laziness away both to hard work and
forced art day and night."
Such is the frank and self-critical, as they say now, the king’s judgment about
Narva disaster. Its size, by the way, was greatly exaggerated by
Peter, and his contemporaries, Russian and foreign, as well as current ones
historians.
Peter, straining his strength even more, does everything possible to continue
war, take revenge for defeat. IN. Klyuchevsky, who did not miss an opportunity
to offend the king, gives him his due: “Leaving his own people to act in the front
generals and admirals, Peter took over the less prominent technical part
war: he usually stayed behind his army, arranged its rear, recruited
recruits, drew up plans for military movements, built ships and military factories,
prepared ammunition, provisions and ammunition, stored everything, encouraged everyone,
urged, scolded, fought, hanged, galloped from one end of the state to
the other was something like a General Feldzeichmeister, a General Provision Master
and the ship's chief master."
I had to rely primarily on my own strength. Allies, according to
essentially, led to the disruption of the military plans of Peter, in whose friendship
Augustus II crucified at any rate. Hence the betrayal of de Croix and dozens
other foreign officers near Narva, and ending the siege of Riga, and
separate negotiations between the Saxons and the Swedes, and other intrigues. And the king, oh
guessed something, but did not know everything (for example, about secret letters
de Croix to Augustus II, who sent him to the Russian army, about considerations
the king himself and his adviser the rascal Patkul), continued to believe so
called ally. When, instead of the garrison of one fortress, suddenly
had to deal with a well-trained regular army - consequences
turned out to be very deplorable for him and joyful for the Swedes. No wonder they
the king was triumphant, it was not for nothing that he awarded the Russian commander-in-chief, so
shamefully ran over to his camp, one and a half thousand chervonets and imprisoned him
eat at the royal table.
And Peter and his assistants tidy up the shelves, battered by the
Narva, new ones are being formed. More than three hundred guns are being cast - new Ural ones
factories are operating at full capacity; Bells are removed from churches to
making guns. All this bears fruit. At the end of January 1701, the year
not long after the failure at Narva, Player, the imperial ambassador in Moscow,
informs his potentate that the Russian army has become three times stronger than
former. But the blinded Karl finally loses his sober understanding
situation. He considers Peter's army unworthy of the attention of the great
commander:
There's no fun fighting the Russians because they don't
They resist like others, but run.
But not everyone thought so. Even one of his closest aides, General
Stenbock anxiously watches his patron:
The king thinks of nothing else but the warrior; he's already bigger
does not listen to other people's advice; he looks like he's God
directly instills in him what he should do.
Many in Europe are looking at events related to,
through the eyes of Charles XII. The rulers of England, Holland, and France are vying with each other to
make the king their ally, admire victories, praise him
military genius. The Duke of Marlborough and
Eugene of Savoy, great commanders, English and Austrian. Remember
Gustav Adolf, great-grandfather of the Swedish king, victorious commander and
hater of Russia.
The leaders of Swedish and European diplomacy in general believed that
Russia, defeated and defeated, must almost fall to its knees before
victorious king. According to the same Matveev, who was sitting in the Netherlands,
"The gentlemen here are waiting for peace, because your (Peter's - V.B.) troops are the best
beaten... and it is impossible to train such soldiers soon." Peter has already learned something
about the morals of this diplomacy. The “Great Embassy” opened the eyes of the Tsar to many things,
then still an inexperienced and gullible diplomat. Experience gained in
diplomatic struggle with its naked calculations, deceit, intrigue and
to everyone else. Being a pragmatist, he learns some of these methods, but
often still allows naive gullibility and observes elementary
rules of decency, legal principles violated by others. So when did it start
war with Sweden, Peter allowed its diplomatic representatives to travel to
homeland. But Charles XII decided differently - on his orders they put him in prison
Russian ambassador Khilkov, employees and servants, as well as all Russian merchants.
This fact is noted by Henri Troyat in his book published in France in
Peter continues to build up his forces for the upcoming battles with the “Swede”. A
the king, his opponent, is traveling with an army west of the Russian borders, in
Poland. He crushes the Saxons near Riga. He is already thinking, after victories over more
strong enemies, about the campaign against the Russians, whom he considers much more
weaker than the Danes, Poles and Saxons. “August,” as aptly remarked
CM. Solovyov, - was a precious ally for Peter not by force of arms, but by
that he aroused such hatred and such distrust of the Swedish king; He
distracted this terrible enemy at that time from the Russian borders and gave time to the Tsar
encourage your troops and learn how to defeat the Swedes."
Karl was stuck in Poland - he could not fight on two fronts. Peter continues
strengthen the army, mobilize all the country's resources. He and Russia need
victory, at least a small one to begin with, so that the Russian people, the army in
features perked up, and Europe changed its opinion about the eastern
"barbarians". His diplomats wrote about this, in particular Golitsyn from Vienna in the fall
"We must try in every possible way to gain control over the enemy.
victory... Although we will conclude eternal peace, how will we atone for eternal shame?
Our sovereign certainly needs at least a small Victoria, whose name would be his
was still famous throughout Europe; Then peace can be concluded. Otherwise
Now our troops and military command are only laughed at. There's no way I can
see ministers, no matter how much I look after them: everyone runs away from me and doesn’t want
speak".
The Swedes are operating quite successfully in Poland. But not only there - they are trying to
sea to break through to Arkhangelsk in order to burn the only port connecting
Russia and Europe. There they repelled the attack of Swedish ships with considerable
damage. Peter hurries there to take urgent measures to strengthen the city, so
important for the state.
Simultaneously with worries in the north, we had to think about the south - to keep
the fleet is ready, build new ships near Voronezh in case of hostile
actions on the part of Turkey. But for now it was calm here.
We were constantly overwhelmed by worries about getting money, which was always not enough.
enough. Once he shared with Romodanovsky (according to other sources, it was
Prozorovsky):
There is no money in the treasury, there is nothing to give to the troops. There is no artillery, but this
needed soon. What to do? Maybe we should reduce the treasures in the monasteries
gold and silver and press money out of it?
This matter is ticklish. We must come up with something else.
The interlocutor took the king to a secret storage room in the Kremlin. There were heaps of
silver and gilded harness and utensils, small silver coins,
Dutch Joachimsthalers (in the Russian manner they were called Efimki). Shocked
The king heard the following story from the prince:
When your parent, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, different times
went on campaigns, then by proxy he gave me money and treasures
gave it to me for safekeeping. At the end your life calling me to you,
bequeathed that I should not give this to any of the heirs until then, unless
There will be an extreme need for money during a war.
One way or another, what happened that day in a secret Kremlin closet -
It is difficult to say, as well as to conclude, whether such a conversation took place at all. In
in any case, the “extreme need” for money really came.
Mint I did everything I could. Reduced, in particular, weight
silver coins, first minted hundreds of thousands, then millions of rubles.
“Profit-makers” appeared - officials who came up with new taxes. Soon
Russian regiments began to win their first victories. At the end of December 1701 in
Livonia, near the village of Erestfer near Dorpat, Sheremetev at the head
The 17,000-strong corps attacked Schlippenbach's 7,000-strong corps. Swedes
three thousand people were lost. Three hundred and fifty were captured by the Russians. IN
Moscow celebrated the victory with fireworks. All participants in the battle received awards,
right down to the soldiers; Sheremetev - the rank of field marshal and the Order of Andrei
First-Called. Peter triumphed:
We can finally beat the Swedes!
Sheremetev again smashes, this time near Hummelshof, Schlippenbach, which
loses five thousand killed, three hundred prisoners and all the artillery.
Since the autumn of the same year, Peter has personally led military operations in Ingria.
First, his regiments storm the Noteburg fortress at the source of the Neva from
the following year, Peter and Menshikov attacked two Swedish naval boats
ship and won the battle. The victory was entirely his merit, and he, like him
Menshikov's favorite, received the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
As a result of the victorious outcome of the military campaign of 1701-1703, all
the lands along the Neva, from its source to its mouth, ended up in the hands of the Russian victors. IN
This is a considerable merit of the tsar, although he does not at all emphasize his role, more
Moreover, he even hides it, obscures it, says “we”, “our troops”, etc.
Victory, in his opinion, is the result of the common efforts of the army, from soldiers to
field marshal.
In the annexed land, where Alexander Nevsky once smashed
lays a fortress at the mouth of the Neva, on the island of Lust-Eiland (Jolly Island)
The future new capital of Russia. wooden fortress,
built by soldiers, had six bastions. They placed it next to her
Peter's wooden house, which still stands there today, attracting crowds
tourists.
Peter appointed a governor to the newly built fortress - the same
Menshikov. Neither swamps nor bad climate bother him. Moreover, he
rejoices that he lives in such a paradise, as, without a shadow of doubt or humor, he writes
to its correspondents:
“It is true that we live here in paradise.”
“I can’t help but write to you from this paradise.”
“You should not doubt the behavior here, for it is evil to be in God’s paradise
can not".
"Paradise", with which Peter is truly in love, should become, in his opinion,
thoughts, the gateway to the Baltic, to Europe; those needed will come here from all sides
goods. But not only the role of a trading port is destined for St. Petersburg
founder, history. A year later, the tsar, in a letter to Menshikov, names a new
fortress and port "capital". For its protection from the sea, he orders in 1704
establish a sea fortress. It was Kronshlot (Kronstadt) on the island of Kotlin, in
thirty versts west of St. Petersburg. He often comes here and keeps an eye on
construction of fortifications.
Now the state has been brought to such an extent that the enemy is at sea
he doesn’t dare appear close. Otherwise we will smash the ships into pieces. Sleep in St. Petersburg
it will be calm.
The subject of his special care and concern is the construction of a fleet on
Baltic and for the Baltic. Without him, he is sure of it, it is impossible to protect,
keep what you have gained:
Every potentate who has one land army has one arm
It has; and whoever has a fleet has both hands.
At the Olonets shipyard in 1703, under the leadership of the Tsar, construction began
forty-three ships. Then, at the mouth of the Neva, he founded another shipyard -
the famous Admiralty, which later played such a big role in the development
Russian fleet. Its work begins in 1705, and in April of the following
The first ship is leaving the slipways.
On the banks of the Neva, the transformation of Russia into a maritime nation began in earnest.
power. It was here that Peter cut through that “window to Europe”, which has been talked about for a century since
Pushkin will write later. He built for both the present and the future.
There is a story about how he planted acorns in St. Petersburg. Someone from
nobles who were with him smiled ironically and thereby provoked an angry
tirade of the monarch:
Understand! You imagine: I won’t live to see the mature oak trees. Is it true! Notes -
fool! I leave an example for others to do the same, descendants over time
they will build ships from them. I don’t work for myself, it’s for the benefit of the state
Peter, like no one else, perhaps, knew how to look into the future:
If God prolongs life and health, St. Petersburg will be a different Amsterdam.
Peter rejoiced at any success, even the smallest at first. Same
his assistants tested. When in the autumn of 1703 he sailed to the mouth of the Neva
foreign ship with a cargo of salt and wine, Menshikov, St. Petersburg
the governor, blessed his entire team.
Peter's troops continue to prevail over the Swedes. Then Peter himself thunders
their detachment near St. Petersburg. Then Sheremetev storms Koporye and Yam, the ancient
Russian cities (1704). Then comes the turn of Dorpat - also ancient Russian
Yuryev, founded by Yaroslav the Wise in 1030. Finally, Peter took
revenge and near Narva. On August 9, 1704, he took Narva during
a short but fierce assault. During the battles, the Swedes lost thousands
soldier, a lot of equipment. Peter does not miss the opportunity to lead the captured Swedes through
streets of Moscow.
The capture of Narva, the ancient Russian Rugodiv, became a significant revenge for
defeat at the beginning of the war marked a milestone in its initial stage. Peter and
Russia quickly recovered from its first setback, thanks to vigorous efforts
won a number of victories and gained a foothold on the Baltic coast. It would be possible
to rest, but Peter, unstoppable and active, hurries from Narva to Dorpat,
shows the fortifications to the generals and ministers accompanying him, tells
about the progress of the assault. From there, through Pskov and Novgorod, he goes to the Olonets shipyard: how
Are ships being built there? Then - to St. Petersburg: how things are here in "paradise"
dealing with the construction of buildings? Again to Narva, where he gives a farewell audience
Ambassador of Turkey, for whom it is not without interest to see how powerful
the fortresses are stormed and captured by the Russians. Further, on the way to Moscow,
inspects the junction of the Tvertsa and Meta rivers in the Vyshny Volochok area,
determines: to dig the Vyshnevolotsk Canal here.
Victories in the Baltic states not only made the Russians believe in their strength and
opportunities on the battlefield, but also led to the liberation of a number of lands from the Swedes
along the eastern and southern coasts of the Gulf of Finland, intensified the restructuring
army and state apparatus, creation of a fleet in the Baltic. This was the beginning
a cause that promised to bring in the future, and quite close, considerable
successes - military, political, economic.
All these years, Peter and the diplomats sought to achieve mediation
Western states to make peace with Sweden. But there they saw
such attempts were signs of Russia’s weakness and did not want to help it in
negotiations with the Swedish king. Charles XII doesn't even want to hear about peace - not with
Augustus, and especially not with Peter.
Charles's army, despite easy victories, was exhausted in Poland, and in
strategically it was continuously losing. Russia not only acquired
successes in the Eastern Baltic, but also, most importantly, gained
it was still far away.
It was felt from everything that new battles with the army of the
"Swede" - King Charles. At the beginning of 1706, he almost blocked
the main Russian army, which was stationed in Grodno. Her commander in chief
Field Marshal from the Germans G.B. Ogilvy essentially sabotaged the orders at first
Peter about the withdrawal of the army to the east. And only the most energetic intervention of the king,
who sent Menshikov to Grodno, saved the army by preventing disastrous
the consequences of Ogilvy's inaction, bordering on treason.
He was also saddened by the news of yet another defeat of the Saxons by the Swedes.
(the first were thirty thousand, the second - eight!). August II, moreover, secretly
agreement with Karl. In fact, he capitulated - he ceded Poland to King S.
Leshchinsky, “concocted” by Karl (in his own words), broke up with
allies. Although, hiding his baseness and betrayal, shortly before
participated in Menshikov's army in the defeat of the Swedish army of Mardefeld
At the same time, Peter has to deal with many other matters. Besides
current concerns about raising money, supplying the army with everything necessary, he again
is faced with popular discontent - the flight of the worn-out "vile"
little people" from the heavy yoke to the outskirts, with unrest, open, sometimes powerful,
uprisings. Governors, profit-makers, detectives rise up to fight violence
(who caught runaways and serfs, etc.) residents of the Volga region (1704-1711),
Astrakhan (1705-1706), Don and dozens of neighboring counties of Southern Russia,
Volga region, etc. With usual cruelty and mercilessness, Peter suppresses
uprising, sends against them a large army and his best commanders, even
to Field Marshal B.P. Sheremetev.
At the same time, Peter is preparing to fight the main army of Charles XII. Co
with his associates he is developing a strategic
war plan in case of Charles's invasion.
Peter constantly takes care that his army is not taken by surprise
the enemy did not impose a battle in unfavorable conditions for her. This is what he's talking about
constantly repeats in decrees, letters, orders, and it was his thoughts that formed
the basis of the Zholkven strategic plan. It was a general course
a battle that had to be carefully prepared, fought when
There will be sure chances of winning. They made a decision:
"It is established that in Poland there should not be a battle with the enemy, rather, if
If such a misfortune happened, it would be difficult to have a retreat. And that's why it's supposed to
give battle at your borders when necessary needs require it
will. And in Poland, at crossings and in batches, also by laying down provisions and
to torment the enemy with fodder, which is why many Polish senators
agreed."
According to the plan, on the route of the Swedes to Russia through Belarus or
Ukraine will be met by fortified fortresses, defensive barriers, raids
light cavalry, local resistance (shelter, destruction
food supplies, etc.). Wearing down the enemy, weakening him should
end in a general battle, which will be fought on Russian territory in
the right moment, provided the necessary military forces are available.
Peter again and again through his diplomats offers peace to Sweden. But her
the arrogant king rejects all proposals from the threshold and, in essence,
drives himself into a trap. Some of his contemporaries already started this
understand. Baron Heinrich Huysen, then Russian ambassador in Vienna, honestly, by the way
speaking, who served Russia, reported to Moscow in September 1707:
“The Swedes go to Russia reluctantly and they themselves say that they have almost completely lost the habit of
war after a long period of peace and luxurious living in Saxony. That's why
some predict victory for Peter if he enters into battle with Charles."
The French Ambassador Bazenval makes an even more definite conclusion:
"The campaign against Russia will be difficult and dangerous, because the Swedes
taught the Muscovites the art of war, and they became formidable
enemy. Moreover, it is impossible to crush such a vast
powerful country."
Karl, in response to a request for possible conditions peace with Russia ordered
convey to the French Ambassador in Stockholm:
"The king will make peace with Russia only when he comes to
Moscow, the Tsar will be dethroned, his state will be divided into
small principalities, convene the boyars, divide the kingdom into
voivodeship".
The Tsar expects decisive events in 1708:
I pray to God that this year he will grant a successful outcome to the matter
Pursued by a host of worries, Peter often cannot stand it, breaks down,
scolds his assistants. Thus, he was pleased to learn that the fortifications
The Kremlin and Kitai-Gorod are being renovated and new ones are being built. But it turns out
Moscow authorities did not expel from Moscow, as he once ordered,
Swedish resident Knipperkron, who oversaw the work in Moscow and
who considered this issue at the meeting were not even written down, the decision was not
recorded. I.A. Musin-Pushkin, responsible for repairs and construction
fortifications, received a cruel scolding from the tsar, and Prince Caesar Romodanovsky -
"Please announce to all ministers that they will do great things about which
consult, write down, and each minister would sign the adopted
deciding what is absolutely necessary; and without this there is no way to determine any matter,
for by this the foolishness of all will be revealed.”
Thinking about what was coming, Peter did not exclude the possibility of his death. On
In this case, he ordered that three thousand rubles be given in the event of his death
Ekaterina Vasilevskaya, his actual wife. Having given the orders, at night
in Dzentsioli, where the Russian army was stationed in winter quarters, led by
Menshikov.
Charles XII finally moved with his army (sixty-three thousand
soldier) to the east. Russian army (one hundred thousand people), performing Zholkvensky
plan, retreated. The Swedes suffered great hardships, finding neither bread nor
livestock, no fodder. Therefore, they walked slowly, with frequent and long stops.
The forces of the invading army were dwindling. But still thirty-five thousand went with the king
experienced, seasoned warriors. Levengaupt led sixteen thousand for her from Riga
soldiers and a huge convoy with supplies.
The Russian army covered the roads to Mogilev, Shklov, Kopys. On the right
on the flank stood Sheremetev with thirteen infantry regiments and Menshikov with
eleven dragoon regiments; in the center - Repnin with ten regiments of soldiers
and dragoons; on the left flank Golitsyn with ten dragoon regiments. All of them
were cut off from each other by swamps. On the twenty-fifth of June the Tsar leaves for
army. Sends letters to Sheremetev:
“I’ll be with you soon. And I ask, if possible, the main battle is not before me.”
Charles XII resumed his movement to the east, with the goal of capturing Moscow. He
still planned the overthrow of Peter, whom, in his opinion, should
replace Jacob Sobieski. North and north-west Russia, including Novgorod and
Pskov, will go to Sweden; Ukraine and Smolensk region - Leshchinsky, and in Kyiv
the last vassal "Grand Duke" Mazepa will sit; Russian southern lands
intended for the Turks, Crimeans and other supporters of Charles. In Russia,
Karl Leshchinsky said, all reforms will be canceled, the new one will be disbanded
army, the old order will reign; here he is adamant:
The power of Moscow, which rose so high thanks to the introductions
foreign military discipline must be destroyed.
The king dreamed that Russia would be turned back - it would be taken away
pieces, will be thrown back from the Baltic (Petersburg - wiped off the face of the earth!), and he himself
will be the supreme judge in everything that happens from the Elbe to the Amur.
Thus, the discussion was about the national existence of Russia as
state, his life or death. Until now, Peter, his generals and troops
acted successfully and prudently, although there were failures. But here
Repnin was attacked by Charles's army. The artillery opened fire first
enemy. Two hours later, the Swedish infantry went on the attack, having crossed
ford across the Babich River. Repnin's warriors resisted heroically, desperately,
but the superior forces of the enemy broke their stubbornness. Having received no help, Repnin
retreated, both flanks also retreated. On July 5th, all Russian troops crossed the Dnieper,
and three days later the Swedes entered Mogilev. Of the eight thousand Russians who fought
There are many soldiers left on the battlefield; the Swedes, who acted more successfully,
lost less. Repnin retreated, although he did not suffer defeat. Peter soon
learned that a number of Russian regiments retreated in disorder during the battle, their
the guns went to the Swedes. Others resisted the enemy, but fought
"Cossack, not soldier" custom. The king showed no leniency towards
to their military leaders - the enemy approached Russia with its main forces, and
negligence and inability could be very costly. He ordered to betray
military court of Repnin and Chambers - military generals, to whom they still
treated them with respect and took their opinions into account. Only the courage shown
Repnin during the battle, saved him from death - the general decided
military court demoted him to soldier (soon, in the battle of Lesnaya, he again
will show himself to be brave and regain his rank and position). Chambers was suspended
from office, but the rank of general was retained for him, an elderly man.
The battle of Golovchin was not a great success for the Swedes either
suffered heavy losses, But for the Russian army it was a useful lesson, and Peter
I extracted everything I could from it. He staged a show trial
generals. Then he compiled the “Rules of Battle” - they dealt with
interaction of different types of troops in battle, resilience and mutual assistance
“Whoever leaves his place or betrays each other and commits a dishonorable flight,
then he will be deprived of life and honesty."
Despite all his dissatisfaction, Peter was aware that
what happened near Golovchin is not such a strong defeat, moreover, it
showed the increased strength of the Russian army:
“I thank God very much: before the general battle we saw
the enemy well and that of this army one third of us withstood this
and walked away."
After this battle, the initiative completely passes to Russia. Karl
begins to hesitate, shows a certain caution. It stands in Mogilev
army of the king.
Unable to bear the wait, Karl finally left Mogilev. But I didn’t go
north, towards his general, and south, to Propoisk, then to
northeast, towards Smolensk. Peter closely monitors the king's actions,
unexpected and unpredictable, adapts the maneuvers of his troops to them.
The points of the Zholkvensky plan are being fulfilled - the Russian regiments are retreating, luring
enemy, exhaust him. Then they begin to destroy it piece by piece.
The king in August orders:
Look at the enemy's movements: and where to turn - to Smolensk
or to Ukraine - work to forestall it. The enemy moved away from Mogilev miles
with five, against whom we also advanced. And our avant-garde finds
three miles from the enemy. Where is their intention, God knows, but they are mostly guessing
to Ukraine.
Karl often did not inform even those closest to him about his intentions
assistants Nevertheless, the advance of the army, its general direction, Peter and
other military leaders guessed correctly. At a council of war held 6 more
July in Shklov, they provided possible options Swedish movement
The Russian army is still marching ahead of the Swedish army, destroying everything along the way.
"Provisions and fodder, as well as bread standing in the field and in threshing floors or in
granaries in the villages... to burn, not sparing even the buildings."
Everywhere he orders to destroy bridges and mills. Residents taking with them
cattle, moved into the forests. The measures, strict but necessary, brought success.
Peter was reported:
Ordinary soldiers approached the king, asking him to provide them with bread,
People are so swollen from hunger and illness that they can barely march.
Swedish soldiers, hungry and ragged, rummaged through the villages in search of
food, deserted. Near the king's army, Russian dragoon regiments and
irregular cavalry was annoying with continuous attacks and skirmishes;
Peter's order was in effect:
The main army is to tire out with burning and ruin.
On the thirtieth of August, a larger battle takes place near the village of Dobroye -
five regiments of "natural Swedes" suffered complete defeat from the attack on
them a Russian detachment led by Prince M.M. Golitsyn. The Swedes lost three
thousands of people killed, Russians - three hundred seventy-five people. After
Victory, the Russians withdrew, having completely completed their task. But Karl,
watching the progress of the battle, the unfavorable outcome for the Swedes did not hinder
portray the battle as your new victory. Peter was sincerely happy:
This dance was danced quite a lot in the eyes of the hot Carlus. That's how I started
serve, I have never heard such fire and decent action from our soldiers and have not
I saw (God willing, it will continue like this!). And the King of Sweden has never done anything like this in this war.
I haven’t seen it from anyone myself.
Karl, despite all his pompousness, was very upset. Still would -
the defeat was complete, only the swamps saved his army from the final
death. He is already beginning to think about the fate of the Russian campaign, to consult
with the generals. At the beginning of September, he invites them to his place and asks their opinion:
notes: in order for them, the generals, to give an answer, you need to know that
the king intends to do. Karl's answer probably couldn't help but stun him
assistants and advisors:
I have no intentions.
The king did not bother to develop a war plan, discuss it with
generals. It seemed to him that defeating Russia would be easier,
than to break Saxony. This time, after Good, he deigned to ask the opinion
their generals. At the council they decided: to go not to Moscow, but to Ukraine. Meaning
this sharp turn in the movement of the Swedish army was well explained by Matveev from
The Hague, where he managed to find out the Swedish “secret”:
"From the secret of the local Swedish minister, I was informed by friends that
Swede, consider the caution of the tsarist troops and the impossibility of reaching Smolensk,
also due to the lack of provisions and feed, he decided to go to
Ukraine, firstly, because this country is populous and abundant and there are no
does not have regular fortifications with strong garrisons; secondly, Swedish
hopes to gather many people among the free Cossack people who will carry it out
direct and safe roads to Moscow; thirdly, there may be a nearby
convenient transfer with the Crimean Khan to call him into an alliance with the Poles,
who side with Leshchinsky; fourthly, will finally have
the opportunity to send Cossacks to Moscow to outrage the people."
On the tenth of September, a regiment of Swedish cavalry led by the king himself
The village of Raevka suffered a new and severe defeat. She was killed under him
horse, and Karl was almost captured. All this happened before Peter's eyes,
took part in the battle. The king, after another confrontation, decided not to wait
Levenhaupt, who was hurrying to him from Riga: quickly went south - this step,
inexplicable and absurd, allowed the Russians to win another victory, but this
times much more impressive and serious, such that Peter would call her
"mother" of Poltava Victoria.
The Tsar, having received news of Karl's intentions and Levenhaupt's march, convened
advice. According to his decision, the main forces of the Russian army, led by
The Sheremetevs should go to Ukraine, “accompanying” Karl; and corvolant
(flying detachment) of eleven and a half thousand people with Peter at the head
should have struck Levenhaupt. The latter led an army of sixteen
thousands of soldiers and a convoy with provisions and fodder. September twenty-eighth morning
Peter overtook him near the village of Lesnoy. The appearance of Corvolant was for the Swedes
a complete surprise - dense forests stretched all around, impenetrable
swamps. The battle lasted several hours. The soldiers on both sides are so tired,
that they fell to the ground (the Swedes - at their convoy, the Russians - at the battle
positions) and “rested for quite some time”, and at a distance of half
cannon shot from each other. Then the battle resumed. Towards its end
the appearance of Bour's Russian cavalry decided the matter in favor of the attackers. Swedes
suffered complete defeat, only night and a blizzard saved the remnants of their army,
running in the dark. Levenhaupt left eight thousand dead on the battlefield
and all the convoys so necessary for Charles’s hungry army. The king found out about
brought to him six thousand seven hundred hungry and ragged soldiers - all that
remained of the "sixteen thousand army. At the first news the king did not sleep
all night, he walked sad and silent; now, after the story
defeated general, sent a report to Stockholm about a new Swedish victory
and continued the march to Ukraine. True, from now on he begins to doubt
his final victory, but carefully hides it.
The victory at Lesnaya inspired confidence in the Russian army, and about this
Peter himself, who won this battle, says well:
This victory can be called our first, rather than a regular one.
this has never happened before with an army; besides being a much smaller number
in front of the enemy. And truly this is the fault of Russia’s successful succession,
here was the first soldier’s test and of course it encouraged people; and mother
Poltava battle, both by the encouragement of people and by time, because according to
at the age of nine months the baby produced happiness.
The news of the brilliant success made an impression in Russia and abroad.
abroad. Peter could be pleased - victory was won, and with a smaller number
soldier, over the seasoned army of the Swedes; Charles's main army was now
cut off from rear supply bases, in a strategic environment. In battle
under Lesnaya, Peter proved himself to be a brave innovator, an extraordinary commander -
organized a corvolant of infantry soldiers mounted on horses; place
chose not open field, but closed rough terrain; finally,
He built his army not in one line, as was then customary, but in two.
Shortly after Lesnaya, in October, the Swedes suffered another defeat:
Lübecker's thirteen-thousand-strong corps approached St. Petersburg from the side
Finland. Admiral Apraksin and his garrison defeated the Swedes, who lost up to
a third of its personnel, six thousand horses. After such an affront
the enemy never made any attempt to approach Peter's "paradise". IN
the honor of victory was knocked out by order of Peter; on one side there is a portrait
winner and inscription: “The Tsar’s Majesty Admiral F.M. Apraksin”; on
another - ships lined up in a line and words in a circle; "Keeping this,
not sleeping; better death, not infidelity. 1708".
While in Smolensk, where he was greeted upon arrival with cannon fire and
guns, in a halo of success and glory, Peter suffered a strong blow - he was informed about
treason of the Ukrainian Hetman Mazepa, who defected to Charles XII. Peter,
who trusted the hetman, was amazed and took urgent measures. In Baturin, bet
hetman, Menshikov is in a hurry with his army, and on the other side Mazepa is moving with
Swedish regiments. The haste is understandable; in the hetman's capital
Huge reserves of food, gunpowder, and supplies for artillery are stored.
Menshikov got ahead of the enemy, and everything that was possible was taken out of Baturin, the rest
They set it on fire and the fortress was destroyed.
For Mazepa this was a heavy blow, but not the only and not the main one. Behind
others followed. It started with the fact that they didn’t follow the traitor hetman
Ukrainian Cossacks, he did not bring a large Cossack army to Karl’s camp, like
promised and what the king hoped for, but a measly two or three thousand people. And even those don't
knew his true goals, expecting that they would go to Sheremetev’s army; when
everything became clear, they secretly began to leave the Swedish camp. Further, in Ukraine,
who learned from Peter's decrees that Mazepa wants to return his motherland
Polish lords, a people's war began against the Mazeppians and Swedes.
Meanwhile, in Europe after the Forest, fear of Sweden with its
an unbalanced ruler is replaced by fear of the power of a growing Russia
led by the energetic, brave and wise, as they now begin to believe,
sovereign. The change in the situation is reflected, among other things, in the fact that Peter,
which previously raised the question of Russia's entry into the Great Union, now removes
his. His ambassador to the Netherlands publicly stated this in the fall of 1708.
Matveev. And at the beginning of winter, he declares to his overlord that the Danish king
Frederick IV intends to negotiate with the Saxon Elector Augustus II
about the resumption of hostilities against Sweden. And the negotiations really
began, they were later joined by the Prussian king. Thereby intensified
Sweden's foreign policy isolation. Things were moving towards the revival of the Northern Union.
Such was the impact of what happened at Lesnaya.
And Karl’s situation became more and more deplorable (frost, hunger,
hostile attitude of Ukrainians, etc.). True, some kind of light flashed, a ray
hopes - Koshevoy Gordienko with his Zaporozhye Cossacks, too, following the example
Mazepa, opposed the Russians, began attacks on their military units. Peter
acts decisively and abruptly - in the spring of 1709 his army takes by storm and
completely ruins the Zaporozhye Sich. Gordienko's Cossacks go over to Karl, but
This is not a serious acquisition. This, in particular, is understood by Mazepa and
rushes about in search of a way out: then he suggests to Karl that he follow the example
Alexander the Great, campaign to the east, to Asia (that is, deep into Russia),
then unite with Bulavin (in the south of Russia, in the Don and Don region,
the popular uprising is spreading), then he sends his friends - colonels - to Peter
Apostol and Galagan - with a proposal to give him the Swedish king and his
senior military leaders.
Karl also rushes about - and not only in Ukraine, which is hostile to him, in search of food and
apartments, but also in the capitals of the allied powers, asks them for help if not
troops, then money, tries to establish relations with Turkey and Crimea, but those
They are waiting, they are afraid. In Ukraine, towns and fortresses encountered along the way
the Swedes defended themselves heroically and inflicted considerable damage on them. Ukrainian residents
and Russian military detachments deprived them not only of food, but also of rest and housing.
One day (it was in February 1709) the king and his army were in
Kolomak, within Sloboda Ukraine. Mazepa, riding next to him in
horses, flattered him, talked about the non-existent military successes of the Swedes. Then
from Asia. The Swedish candidate for Alexander the Great immediately ordered his
Secretary de Gillenkrok to find out about roads to Asia. He replied that to Asia,
I mean, it's still a long way off. Karl disagreed:
But Mazepa told me that the border is not far from here; we have to go there
go through to be able to say that we were also in Asia.
Your Majesty is deigning to joke, and, of course, you don’t think about such
things are serious.
I'm not joking at all. So go there immediately and inquire
Gillenkrok headed, but not towards Asia, but towards Mazepa. Did
he is reprimanded:
Your Excellency can see from here how dangerous it is to joke like that
way with our king. After all, this is the gentleman who loves fame most of all
in the world, and he is easily induced to go further than would be advisable.
The Swedish army continued to be attacked by Russian troops and Ukrainian
partisans. As before, there was a shortage of food and illness was prevalent. But
Winter ended, and with the beginning of spring, the hopes of the Swedes were revived.
On April 1, Charles and his army approached Poltava and decided to storm -
again Mazepa whispered to him that with its capture Ukraine would come under his high
hand. From Poltava there were roads to the south, to the Crimea. And with the khan and the sultan the king is like
once at this time he was negotiating joint actions against Russia. But
the three-month siege of the city did not bring success. Its garrison of four thousand
fearlessly repulsed all assaults.
Peter immediately understood the strategic importance that so stubbornly
Karl tried to take it. In a letter to Menshikov, who stood with the army
came to Oposhnya, where the Swedes were settled, and killed them. Karl hurried there, but
The Russians calmly and orderly retreated to the other side of the Vorskla. And on the night of
On the fourth of June, to Poltava, near which the entire Swedish army was stationed,
Peter arrived. Three days later, having assessed the situation on the spot, the balance of forces
(Russian troops also approached here), he informs Apraksin of his decision:
We have come together closely with our neighbors, with God’s help we will certainly do this
month the main thing is to deal with them.
The Swedish army found itself in a strategic environment near Poltava, was
greatly weakened by defeats, sieges, marches, and famine. The Russian army
on the contrary, she became much stronger and more combat-ready. On the twentieth of May she
crossed the Vorskla, and work immediately began on the construction
field fortifications in the position chosen by Peter for the future general
battles. As at Lesnaya, Russian troops stood in a closed area, it
the flanks rested on the forests, behind - the high bank of the river, through which
built bridges. In front of the front lay an open plain from which they could
the Swedes are advancing; Six redoubts were prepared there, where the riflemen settled.
On the twenty-fifth of June, Peter held a military council, which developed
disposition of the battle. Inspects the troops. Distributes generals among divisions,
the cavalry is subordinated to Menshikov, the artillery to Bruce. Field Marshal and
the generals, according to the "History of the Sveian War", asked for his royal
Majesty, so as not to join the battle, to which the sovereign deigned to say,
so that they don’t talk about it to him anymore. For Peter, personal participation in the battle was like
we see, it was implied by itself.
The next day he was informed that a non-commissioned officer from
Semenovsky regiment. The traitor probably informed the enemy about the weak points of the Russian
positions, in particular about one of the regiments, which consisted of unfired
recruits. Peter immediately ordered the uniforms to be taken off them and the soldiers dressed in them
Novgorod regiment, experienced and brave warriors. He circled again and again
regiments in position, took final measures, encouraged. Guards officers
regiments heard a call from him:
You know that their arrogant and perspicacious king knows his army
I have already painted apartments in Moscow; already granted his general Shparr
Governor of Moscow and our dear Fatherland determined to be divided into
small principalities and, introducing heretical faith into them, completely destroy them. Let's leave
Are such curses and contempt ours without revenge?
Lieutenant General Prince M.M. Golitsyn answered him on behalf of everyone,
citing the example of the battle of Lesnaya:
You saw our labor and fidelity, when after a whole day we stood in the fire,
the ranks did not interfere and did not give up an inch of space to the enemy; four times from
The guns started firing, and bags and pockets were filled with cartridges four times.
Today the troops are the same, and we, your servants, are the same. We hope to have a feat now, like
Karl, a few days before the battle, received information that Türkiye
is not going to start a war with Russia, and the troops of Krassau and Leshchinsky are not
can come to his aid, since the cavalry of Goltz, the Russian general
army, constantly haunts them. In addition, to the Russian Tsar, according to
message from the defector, irregular cavalry numbering about
general battle. A few days earlier, during a cavalry
reconnaissance came across Russian Cossacks near a fire. The king was wounded
bullet in the leg. The camp doctor cut out the bullet, but Karl could not walk.
army. In his speech to soldiers and officers, he called for the conquest of Russia,
taking possession of its wealth. The officers were invited to dinner in the tents of the Russian Tsar:
He prepared a lot of food for us. Go tomorrow where it leads you
Peter, unlike his opponent, in his speech to the soldiers spoke about something else - about
defense of the Fatherland, “the all-Russian people.”
Warriors! The hour has come that will decide the fate of the Fatherland! So, no
you must think that you are fighting for Peter, but for the state, Petra
entrusted, for your family, for the Fatherland... You should not be embarrassed by glory either
enemy, supposedly invincible, to which you yourself lie with your victories over
it has been proven time and time again. Keep the truth before your eyes in battle...
Petra know that his life is not precious to him, as long as Russia lives in
bliss and glory for your well-being.
The cavalry was met with a counterattack by Menshikov's cavalry. Somewhat squeezing out
Russians, the Swedes came under terrible artillery fire and retreated. Renschild,
commanded the army due to the wound of Charles, sent his cavalry to the left
flank bypassing the Russian right flank. But she was rejected by Menshikov and Bruce; on
on the battlefield, the superiority of Russian artillery was overwhelming.
By order of Peter, Menshikov withdrew his cavalry. The Swedes, taking the maneuver for
retreat, rushed after, but again came under fire from guns and rifles.
They escaped from him in the forest, but even here death awaited them from the Russian regiments.
Peter still kept the main forces in the camp; at about 8 o’clock in the morning he brought out
them from there. He pulled back six Sheremetev dragoon regiments from the front line and placed
them aside along with Skoropadsky’s Cossacks, ordered them to wait for instructions about
entering the battle. Sheremetev and Repnin convinced the tsar not to withdraw their units:
It is safer to have a battle with superior numbers than with equal ones.
Reason and art win more than multitudes.
Peter was, of course, right. He organized the army into battle formations: infantry in
in the center, between its regiments - artillery, on the flanks - cavalry. The Swedes hit
to the very center of the Russian formation, where the Novgorod regiment was stationed. His first
the battalion began to retreat, unable to withstand the powerful onslaught of the enemy. Peter at the head
The second battalion went on the attack and drove the Swedes back. At this time Russian
During the attack, the cavalry pushed back the Swedish cavalry.
Buckshot and fire from Russian guns caused huge losses to the Swedes:
“The first salvo, according to a contemporary, was fired by the Tsar’s Majesty like this
it is strong that in the enemy army from fallen bodies to the ground and guns from their hands
killed, a loud sound was made, which inspired supposedly huge buildings
collapsed."
The Russian regiments, at the tsar’s signal, began a general attack. The Swedes ran, they
Panic gripped the ranks. They did not listen to the calls of the king, who was raised to
hands, and he unsuccessfully shouted and convinced his defeated army.
The victory was complete. Peter, who had not known fatigue all these days, immediately
writes to Moscow, reports about “the extremely great and unexpected Victoria.” To him in
The tent brought captured generals and ministers of Sweden. The king asked:
Will I really not see my brother Karl today?
The king was found neither alive nor dead. The Swedish army was saved
fleeing to the west, to the Dnieper. Peter's cavalry pursued her, but soon
the tired horses stopped. In the evening of the same day, the king sent regiments in pursuit
guards and dragoons. And before that, in the middle of the day, he arranged in his tents
lunch for the winners. Captured generals and ministers were also invited. This case
very indicative - Peter, as a truly Russian man, was merciless with
enemy during the fight against him, but showed chivalry towards the defeated
generosity, Field Marshal Renschild was even praised for his courage. All
those present heard the remarkable speech of the Russian Tsar-commander:
Yesterday my brother King Charles asked you to come to my tents for dinner,
and you, according to the promise, arrived in my tents, and my brother Karl came to my tent with you
I didn’t complain, and I didn’t keep my password (words, promises - V.B.). I
I was highly expecting him and sincerely wished that he would dine in my tents. But when
His Majesty did not deign to welcome me to dinner, then I ask you in the tents
mine to dine.
At dinner, Peter offered his famous toast:
For the health of teachers, for the Swedes!
“Well, Your Majesty,” Piper immediately replied, “they thanked
your teachers!
While talking with the prisoners, Peter heard from the same Pieper and Renschild that
They had long convinced the king to make peace with Russia, and declared:
Peace to me above all victories, dear ones.
During the battle, the Swedes lost more than eight thousand killed, three thousand
prisoners, Russians - one thousand three hundred and forty-five killed. Into the hands of the winners
Perevolochny Karl, Mazepa and a small number of their companions crossed to
the western bank and fled towards Turkish possessions. Both of them at the end of July
rushed to Bendery, where soon the traitor Mazepa died - either his
death, or poisoning. The army abandoned by the king - more than
sixteen thousand soldiers, hungry and demoralized, led by Charles
left Levengaupt - surrendered to Menshikov’s nine-thousandth corps. That's why
On occasion, Peter orders his field marshal:
Please send to us, without delay, five hundred horses with carts, for
which to deliver the enemy's gun and ammunition to the convoy.
The army of Charles XII ceased to exist. Russia's positions immediately
have become noticeably stronger, and Peter understands this very well. He hurries his generals,
demands that they drive the Swedes out of the cities and fortresses of the Baltic states.
Informs Augustus II of his upcoming arrival with the army in Poland. WITH
Apraksin discusses the plan for the “fishery” near Vyborg, the capture of Revel (Tallinn).
Prince Caesar rejoices:
Now, without any doubt, Your Majesty’s desire, I will give you a residence
to have in St. Petersburg, the final decline of the enemy took place through this.
For the victory near Poltava, all its participants were awarded medals -
silver (soldiers) or gold (officers); all soldiers were given awards in
the amount of a month or one and a half months' salary. Ranks, orders, lands
received by generals and officers. Menshikov became field marshal, Golovkin -
Chancellor, Shafirov - Sub-Chancellor, Prince G. Dolgoruky - Privy Councilor.
Five months later, at the suggestion of Kurbatov, chief profiteer, by decree of Peter
wrote off arrears from peasants for all previous years, excluding the last two.
Finally, Peter submits a petition to Sheremetev asking him to be noted as well.
merits, by the way, are considerable:
both about my service, so that for it the rank of ryr would be awarded (cont. - V.B.)
admiral, or shaunbeinakht, and here in the army, the rank, not the rank of senior
Lieutenant General And about the first, how a decree will be sent to you from Moscow, then
b and to the admiral about my rank, a decree was sent from their majesty.
Behind the humorous form of address, behind the mentions of “sovereigns”, “their
Majesties" (Prince Caesar F.Yu. Romodanovsky and the head of the Zemstvo Order
del I.I. Buturlin) hides Peter’s idea of his service to the Fatherland,
their tireless labors on the battlefield. Romodanovsky informs him about the promotion
in ranks for "brave cavalry exploits and courageous in military affairs
art" - the tsar really showed during the Battle of Poltava
high skill as a commander, exposed to danger as a soldier: one
an enemy bullet hit the pommel of his saddle, another hit his hat. Tsar to Prince Caesar
answers with gratitude:
And although I have not yet earned it, I do, for the sake of your sole benevolence
this has been granted to me, for which I pray to God for strength, so that such mercy may be yours in the future.
deserve.
Soon Peter arrives in Kyiv and here he hears a sermon by the prefect of the Kyiv
Academy of Feofan Prokopovich, a brilliantly educated man (studied at
Kyiv, Lvov, Krakow, Rome), an excellent speaker and publicist. She
dedicated to Poltava Victoria, Peter, its organizer, commander:
You not only sent regiments to battle, but you yourself became disgusted with the adversary,
He himself rushed towards the first swords and copies.
Peter listened to the preacher with pleasure, and in his thoughts he probably
pictures of past battles passed by, especially the one that had just died down,
glorious and already become part of the history of the Fatherland.
The Poltava victory radically changed the course of the war and put a sharp edge
between what happened before it and subsequent events at the theater of war
actions. And Peter, like all Russian people, understood this very well. Like
happened at the time of the success of Russian weapons, a new and so brilliant
Victoria was celebrated magnificently and solemnly, with imagination, what was the great
the master is the king himself. According to his plan, the streets and squares of Moscow were
the victorious troops carried out more than twenty-two thousand captured Swedes (taken
near Lesnaya and Poltava) and countless trophies. Walked among the prisoners
the king's first minister, Count Pieper, and among the trophies they carried a stretcher, on
which Charles was present during the battle. On New Year 1710, Moscow residents
saw another, no less magnificent event - after a solemn prayer service in
Huge fireworks were lit in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin on the occasion of the same Poltava
Victoria.
In Europe, contempt for Russia was replaced by shock, respect,
mixed with fear of her power.
Peter is still ready to make peace, but, of course, on terms acceptable to everyone.
Russian conditions. However, Karl again rejects reasonable proposals.
The ruler who ruined the country and destroyed the army, found himself in a position
parasite in a foreign country (in Turkish Bendery), he behaves self-confidently, a little
or not as a winner. He sends recruitment orders one after another to Sweden.
soldiers to continue the war, although his people of one and a half million are already groaning
from exhaustion. But the king does not want to hear anything; requests and reports from
He simply does not take Stockholm into account, orders them not to him at all
send. And the Stockholm authorities blindly follow his orders, thank
Gentlemen for saving the king; as for what happened near Poltava, then
spread an absurd version: twenty thousand Swedes suffered there
defeat by two hundred thousand Russians!
True, Sweden retained some hope - it had a strong fleet
in the Baltic, its territory remained unaffected by the war, and the Swedish troops,
in addition to Sweden itself, were in the Baltic states and Finland, Pomerania and
Norway. In addition, there were reasons to expect military assistance from states
Western Europe, for example England, Holland, Austria on the one hand,
France - on the other. Their rulers, based on their interests, calculated
bring Sweden to your side. Now these plans have collapsed. I had to
urgently restructure foreign policy combinations. According to Robert Massey,
American historian, Poltava became a “formidable warning” for everything
peace, and "European politicians, who previously devoted little attention to the tsar's affairs
more attention than the Shah of Persia or the Mogul of India, learned from now on
carefully consider Russian interests. The new balance of power established by
in the morning by Sheremetev’s infantry, Menshikov’s cavalry and Bruce’s artillery,
led by their two-meter-tall ruler, will persist and develop in the XVIII,
XIX and XX centuries".
The direct result of Poltava is the revival of the Northern Union of Russia, Denmark,
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. But Peter's allies are again defeated by the Swedes. Russia
on the contrary, he wins new victories - Sheremetev in the Baltics, Menshikov - in
Poland: in 1710, Russian troops took Riga, Vyborg, Revel, Kexholm
(Korela) and other cities. The campaign against Vyborg was led by Peter himself. He also compiled
plan for his siege. In 1710 he brought to him two hundred and fifty transport ships
with soldiers, artillery, supplies. The hike took place in very difficult
conditions - the sea had not yet been freed from ice, the powerful fortress had a strong
garrison, artillery. To deceive the besieged, the king ordered the sailors
wear Swedish uniforms and raise Swedish flags on ships. He details
examined the fortress from sea and land, outlined a plan of action. Apraksin ordered:
How the gaps and so on will be ready according to my disposition, and from which
You must shoot for at least a week and storm.
the next day Peter entered the fortress at the head of the Preobrazhensky regiment. Three days
he studies fortifications. He celebrated the victory first here, then in
Petersburg, where the Tsar Colonel and his guards carried trophies through the streets -
Swedish banners.
Peter had every reason to express feelings of joy and satisfaction at
on the successful campaign of 1710:
"And Livonia and Estland are very far from the enemy
cleared, and, in one word, say that the enemy is on the left
side of this Eastern (Baltic - V.B.) sea, not exactly
cities, but has no land below the level."
Thus, Russian troops cleared the Eastern Baltic states of the Swedes.
On the occasion of this in St. Petersburg, cannons were fired for three days and bells were rung;
Illumination was arranged on the ships stationed in the Neva roadstead.
It seemed that nothing could stop Russia from its victorious march against
"Swede". But, as once not so long ago (in the summer of 1704), the king wisely
warned his first field marshal: "The luck of many people is always
led into destruction,” and so it is now, just some seven years after
this teaching, the same thing happened to him. Suddenly declared war
Russian Ottoman Porta. In 1711 P.A. Tolstoy, who was imprisoned for many years
Ambassador in Istanbul, notified his boss in the Ambassadorial Order:
"Don't be surprised that before, as the King of Sweden, I was in the great
strength, reported on the peacefulness of the Porte, but now that the Swedes are defeated, I doubt it!
The reason for my doubt is this: the Turks see that the Tsar's Majesty is now
the winner of the strong Swedish people and wants to soon arrange everything his way
desire in Poland, and then, no longer having any obstacles, can begin
war with them, the Turks. That's what they think and don't believe in it at all.
Majesty did not start a war with them when he was free from other wars."
The intrigues of European diplomats in Istanbul, Charles XII and his
advisers, Mazepa's money. Türkiye, which dreamed of returning Azov, to resume
relations with Russia.
This turn of events meant the prospect of a war on two fronts. But Petra
This, apparently, did not bother me, especially after Lesnaya and Poltava. Difficulties like
always, he is only spurred on. To Apraksin, the Azov governor, he sends
orders: to prepare the fleet for battles, plows and boats - for the Don
Cossacks, and to fight the Crimeans invite Kalmyks and Kuban Tatars.
He hurries Sheremetev - he from the Baltic states had to go south, to a new
theater of war. The field marshal is different, as usual,
slowness, and the king hurries him, expressing obvious impatience in his letters:
"Go with haste."
“So that you immediately send the regiments on a march to the designated places.”
"And it is very necessary to march, because if the infantry cannot keep up,
If the enemy attacks one cavalry, then not without Velikov’s fear.”
"Teach the dragoons with fire, both horse and foot, give peace to the broadswords, for with
the Turks must fight otherwise, and more with the infantry of the assertor with
slingshots."
On March 6th, the Tsar leaves for the active army. A few days before
state; according to the founder-tsar, the Senate was created for the duration of his
absence:
"Determined to be for the absence of our Governing Senate for
management".
Created as a temporary body, the Senate existed for more than two
centuries. The king left strict orders regarding duties,
limits of power of the new institution:
"Every one of them (senators, a list of nine people, he too
compiled. - V.V.) let him obey the decrees as we do ourselves, under cruel
punishment or death, depending on the fault."
Pyotr Alekseevich entrusted the Senate with supreme oversight of court cases And
spending funds, multiplying them, for, as he wrote, “money is
artery of war."
Then, on the day of departure, the king declared his legal wife
Catherine, a former pastor's maid, with whom, in contrast
from his first wife, he had the kindest relationship, and had children -
daughters Anna and Elizaveta. The marriage took place in the church back in February. He cares
future of wife and children. He confesses to Menshikov about the reasons for the marriage:
"I am forced to make this unknown journey, so that if the orphans
stay, it would be better if they could have their own life.”
The Russian and Turkish armies met on the Prut River in early July.
The terrible heat and thirst weakened Peter's soldiers - many went crazy,
committed suicide.
army. The vizier had one hundred thirty-five thousand (and together with the Tatars - one hundred
eighty thousand). The Janissaries began the attack. Their brutal onslaught was described
Poniatowski, acting as a military adviser to the vizier:
"The Janissaries... continued to advance without waiting for orders. Emitting wild
cries, calling out, according to their custom, to God with repeated “Alla”, “Alla”, they
rushed at the enemy with sabers in their hands and, of course, would have broken through the front in
this first powerful attack, if not for the slingshots that the enemy threw
In front of them. At the same time, strong fire almost at point-blank range not only cooled the ardor
Janissaries, but also led them into confusion and forced them into a hasty retreat.
Kegaya (that is, the assistant to the Grand Vizier) and the chief of the Janissaries were chopped with sabers
fugitives and tried to stop them and put them in order. The bravest
resumed their cries and attacked a second time. The second attack was different
strong as the first, and the Turks were again forced to retreat."
The enemy, who had lost up to seven thousand killed, was stunned by the resistance
Russians, whose losses were much smaller. Moreover, at the moment
retreat of the enemy, according to the compilers of the "History of the Sveian War", Peter could
to win “complete victory” if he could organize it properly
the pursuit. But he and his generals were afraid, and not without reason: the Russian
They didn’t even have time to dig in the convoy; the soldiers were exhausted by thirst, heat, and hunger.
The condition of the Turks was not the best, although Peter did not know about it. On
the next day the Janissaries refused to repeat the attacks, despite orders
vizier Sutton, the British ambassador, reported in this regard to his
to the authorities:
"Sane people, eyewitnesses of this battle, said that if
the Russians knew about the horror and numbness that gripped the Turks, and could
take advantage of this by continuing the artillery bombardment and
Having made a sortie, the Turks, of course, would have been defeated."
To Peter, the situation for himself and the army seemed hopeless. Tenth of July
The king writes a letter to the Senate:
"Lords of the Senate! I inform you that I, with all my army,
without our fault or error, but solely due to false
news, seven times the strongest Turkish force is so surrounded,
that all paths to cutting off supplies have been stopped and that I am without
God's special help I cannot foresee anything else except
complete defeat or that I will fall into Turkish captivity. If
this last thing happens, then you must honor me as your king
and the sovereign and not to do anything that I do, even if it’s according to
own command from us, was required until I myself
I will appear among you in my person. But if I die and you are faithful
If you receive news of my death, then choose among yourselves
the most worthy one to be my heir."
negotiation; if they do not agree, then burn the convoy and attack the enemy.
After some delays, negotiations began, and Peter rushes into
the other extreme: if earlier he clearly underestimated the enemy’s strength and
overestimated his own, now, on the contrary, he exaggerates the power of the Turks, he is ready to go
to make maximum concessions in order to wrest peace even at a very high cost.
The vizier, an inexperienced man in military affairs, was inclined towards peace in many ways.
reasons. First of all, the Turks were afraid of Russian soldiers, the regular army
Petra looked incomparably better than the crowd, even if it was huge, which
was the Turkish army. Not all Russians stood on the Prut
strength, and the enemy knew it - Renne’s actions at Brailov affected him
strong impression; and even on the Prut he did not examine his choked
attacks as a victory. Moreover, the Turks were afraid of some kind of military trick
Russians - did not believe that they seriously wanted peace, the conclusion of which,
By the way, the vizier received the sanction of the Sultan.
Peter, sending P.P. to negotiations. Shafirov, cunning and careful
diplomat, agreed to sacrifice everything in the south and north, just to get away from
shameful captivity and slavery.
But things did not reach extreme conditions. The vizier and the sultan were not inclined,
as it turned out, to advocate for the interests of Sweden. Regarding your requirements
also showed moderation, based on the current situation (they are in this
case, they took into account the power of Russia even to a greater extent than Peter).
On the twelfth of July, Shafirov and M.B. Sheremetev (general, son of a field marshal)
signed a peace treaty with the Grand Vizier Baltaci Mehmed Pasha. According to him
Türkiye received back Azov, Russia promised to destroy the Taganrog fortresses on
Sea of Azov and Kamenny Zaton on the Dnieper, do not keep troops in Poland, do not
interfere in her affairs, “take her hand away” from the Cossacks, that is, not support
them, have no connection with them.
Peace conditions cannot be called difficult and humiliating for Russia, although
she was losing what she had once won at great cost. But they persisted
army, artillery (the Turks were given only those guns that were available in Kamenny
Zaton), conquests in the Baltic states (they were not even discussed during
negotiations). Devlet-Girey's demands for the resumption of payment of tribute to Moscow
Crimea was left in vain.
Both sides were satisfied with the concluded peace. Karl was dissatisfied
XII, who dreamed of taking revenge over Russia with the help of Turkey.
The feeling of bitterness did not leave Peter for a long time after Prut. Upon arrival at
Warsaw in response to congratulations on the happy deliverance on the Prut
the king frankly admitted:
"My happiness is that I had to receive a hundred blows with sticks, and
I only got fifty."
Peter received an objective and memorable lesson on the Prut - loss of feeling
caution, prudence, prudence almost turned into
a disaster for him and the country. It was not for nothing that he experienced his failure, spent
I have sleepless nights thinking about the inglorious campaign.
But Peter is called by new and urgent matters. He's in charge
strengthening the army, building a fleet, fighting, drawing up
new civil laws. Administrative transformations continue:
clarification of the functions of the Senate and the establishment of provinces, construction of manufactories and
printing books, simplifying the font and improving the "paradise", building
ships and training of sailors and much more.
in Leipzig (1713) the brochure “Description of St. Petersburg and Kronstadt in 1710
and 1711", does not hide his surprise and admiration:
"He spends his day, avoiding all idleness, in constant
labor In the morning His Majesty gets up very early, and I have met him more than once in
the earliest time on the embankment going to Prince Menshikov, or to the admirals,
or to the Admiralty and the rope yard. He has lunch around noon, anyway
where and from whom, but most willingly from ministers-generals or envoys...
After lunch, having rested for an hour according to Russian custom, the Tsar again
gets to work and goes to rest late at night. Card game,
he doesn’t like hunting and the like, and his only amusement is
sharply different from all other monarchs, it swims on water. Water,
it seems that this is his real element, and he often rides a boat all day long
or a boat... This passion reaches the tsar to the point that he can’t walk around
The river cannot be held back by any weather: neither rain, nor snow, nor wind. One day,
when the Neva River had already stopped and only in front of the palace there was still a hole left
a circumference of no more than a hundred paces, and he rode back and forth along it on
tiny gig."
Even in winter, Peter continued his maneuvers on boats, putting them on skates
and the runners, saying:
We swim on the ice so that in winter we won’t forget the sea adventures!
In the same and next year, Peter pays a lot of attention to relations with
Turkey, which insists on strict implementation of the Prutsky conditions
agreement with Poland, where local residents Augustus was greatly annoyed by the Saxons
II. The Tsar managed to get his unreliable ally to withdraw his
marauding soldiers in Saxony (1716).
Meanwhile, during these years, Russian troops beat the Swedes in Pomerania, in the southern
the coast of the Baltic Sea. Peter is depressed by the inconsistency of actions
allies. Moreover, the Danish and Polish kings are once again leading the
his back is the treacherous separate negotiations with the Swedes for peace.
In his hearts, Peter declares that he will withdraw his troops from Pomerania. After
it’s cooling down - after all, but the war with Sweden must be brought to an end; What
do if you have such allies. Again he sends a letter to Copenhagen,
outlines the plan of military action to the king, assures him:
“I have no interest of my own in either place; but what
What I do here is what I do for Your Majesty.”
But still there are no guns from Denmark, the troops are marking time fruitlessly.
Peter is clear that Russia again needs to rely on its own strength, and he will soon
will do everything necessary for this. He hides irritation, dissatisfaction
allies. Menshikov, who told him near Stettin, undoubtedly
There are a lot of unflattering things about the Danes, he calms and cools:
How can one treat the Danish court with kindness, for, although the truth
If you start speaking without bias, they will take it for evil. True, their actions are terrible
something is wrong, but what can you do, but it’s unnecessary for the Swedes to irritate them, and especially
on the sea. If we had contentment at sea, then it would be a different matter; and when not
we have, - the need for them to flatter (to flatter the Danes. - V.V.), although that
disgusting to see, so as not to drive it away.
The Tsar, giving His Serene Highness lessons in diplomatic subtlety and
restraint, apparently hoped for the Danish fleet.
In 1713, Russian troops made successful campaigns in Finland,
which then belonged to Sweden, were taken by Helsingfors, Borgo, Abo and others.
Pomerania near Toningen surrendered to the allies eleven thousand Swedes of the general
Stenbock. But Sweden still had a very strong fleet - its last
hope,” according to Peter. Although through the efforts of himself and many of his assistants
from year to year, more and more new ships of the Baltic Fleet were built, the Tsar for the time being
The king informs Shafirov in Istanbul:
"Our fleet, thank God, is multiplying; we are now thirteen linear
We have ships from 50 guns and above, and we are still waiting for a sufficient number to join us.”
Successes are obvious, but this is not enough for the king:
“And we are not strong with large ships.”
And here Peter finally gets his way. In addition to construction
ships in Russian shipyards, buys them abroad. He trains officers himself and
sailors driving ships in Kronstadt. Organizes and leads flotillas in
trips to the Finnish shores. Constant efforts bear fruit. Twenty
On July 7, 1714, the Russian fleet defeated a large Swedish squadron near
cape It consisted of sixteen battleships, eight galleys and
five other ships. First to the frigate "Elephant" and nine smaller ones
The ships were attacked by the Russian vanguard, led by Schoutbeinakht Pyotr Mikhailov.
Despite the Swedes' advantage in guns (one hundred sixteen versus twenty
three Russians), Russian ships boldly launched an attack, which ended
by boarding. Peter later admired the courage of his sailors:
“It is truly impossible to describe the courage of our people, both the elementary and the rank and file,
Since the boarding was carried out so cruelly that from enemy guns
several soldiers were torn apart not by cannonballs, but by the spirit of gunpowder.”
The entire detachment, led by Vice Admiral Ehrenschild, was captured by
Russian. The remaining ships of the squadron, due to complete calm, were unable to render assistance to him.
This victory, this time at sea, and even in the Baltic, struck like a thunderbolt
Europe; Panic began in Stockholm - the royal court hastily left
captured Swedish ships. And happy people walked through the streets of the city
winners with trophies and prisoners, among whom was Ehrenschild.
In the Senate, Prince Caesar Romodanovsky greeted Peter:
"Hello, Vice Admiral!"
So Peter received a new rank and thereby an increase in salary, which he
He carefully picked it up, signing the form. New vice admiral with full
base compared the Battle of Gangut with the Poltava victory, Indeed
the glory of Russian weapons thundered not only on land, but also at sea, on that very
The Baltic, which Peter had long dreamed of.
One day Peter, in words addressed to Catherine, briefly and aptly defined
scope and essence of their responsibilities:
“We, thank God, are healthy, but it’s really hard to live, because I don’t know how to be left-handed
own, and in one right hand he is forced to hold a sword and a pen; and the helpers
how much, you know."
He inspires the same thing, but in different words, to his careless son:
"...This (military art. - V.V.) is one of the two necessary for
board, order and defense."
So - internal management(“routine”), what is the “pen” good for?
(drawing up decrees, regulations, instructions), and foreign policy, those
The most important thing is military affairs (“defense”), here a sword is already needed. Two hypostases;
sovereign-"legislator" and commander-diplomat, and in both Peter did very
Peter himself worked day and night, not knowing fatigue, as the ancients said
chroniclers, wiped his sweat for the Russian land and managed to raise all of Russia to
to obtain access to the Baltic, necessary for a growing state, in order to finally
defend the national independence of the country.
Peter's sword, the actions of which were based on the power of the Russian army and
fleet, led the country to brilliant victories on land and at sea. Russian
St. Andrew's flag established itself on the fields and waters of battles. He became
a symbol of internal transformations, success in the “routine” to which
Peter taught Russia.
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 this later.
Russian state under Peter 1
To understand the causes of the 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 European countries in development. In addition, it was weakened by long wars with the Ottoman Empire, which were fought for dominance in the Black Sea.
Considering the question of why Peter 1 started the war with the Swedes, you need to understand that for this there were the most good reasons. 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. 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 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, 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. By the beginning of the 18th century, the Baltic countries were completely subordinate 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 to withdraw from the war. Then he 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 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 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.
This battle became the decisive battle in the Northern War and one of the most striking victories of Russian weapons in history.
god of War
One of the main factors that ensured the victory of the Russian army over the enemy was artillery. Unlike the Swedish king Charles XII, Peter I did not neglect the services of the “god of war.” Against four Swedish guns brought to the field near Poltava, the Russians fielded 310 guns of various calibers. Within a few hours, four powerful artillery strikes were rained down on the advancing enemy. All of them led to serious losses on the part of the Swedes. As a result of one of them, a third of Charles’s army was captured: 6 thousand people at once.
Peter the commander
After the Poltava victory, Peter I was promoted to the rank of senior lieutenant general. This promotion is not a mere formality. For Peter, the battle of Poltava was one of major events in life and - with certain reservations - he could sacrifice his life if necessary. At one of the decisive moments of the battle, when the Swedes broke through the Russian ranks, he rode forward and, despite the aimed fire that the Swedish riflemen fired at him, galloped along the infantry line, inspiring the fighters by personal example. According to legend, he miraculously escaped death: three bullets almost reached their target. One pierced the hat, the second hit the saddle, and the third hit the pectoral cross.
“O Peter, know that life is not precious to him, as long as Russia lives in bliss and glory for your well-being,” these are the famous words he said before the start of the battle.
So that the enemy does not get scared...
The fighting spirit of the soldiers matched the mood of the commander. The regiments left in reserve seemed to be asking to go to the front line, wanting to take as active part as possible in such an important battle for the country. Peter was even forced to justify himself to them: “The enemy is standing near the forest and is already in great fear; if all the regiments are withdrawn, he will not give up the fight and will leave: for this reason, it is necessary to make a reduction from the other regiments, in order to attract the enemy to the battle through his derogation.” . The advantage of our troops over the enemy was indeed great not only in artillery: 22 thousand against 8 thousand infantry and 15 thousand against 8 thousand cavalry.
In order not to frighten the enemy, Russian strategists resorted to other tricks. For example, Peter ordered experienced soldiers to be dressed as recruits so that the deceived enemy would direct his forces at them.
Surrounding the enemy and surrendering
The decisive moment in the battle: the spread of rumors about the death of Charles. It quickly became clear that the rumor was exaggerated. The wounded king ordered himself to be raised like a banner, like an idol, on crossed spears. He shouted: "Swedes! Swedes!" But it was too late: the exemplary army succumbed to panic and fled.
Three days later, demoralized, she was overtaken by cavalry under the command of Menshikov. And although the Swedes now had a numerical superiority - 16 thousand against nine - they surrendered. One of them capitulated best armies Europe.
Sue the horse
However, some Swedes were able to find benefit in the crushing defeat. During the battle, the orderly of the Life Dragoon Karl Strokirch gave the horse to General Lagerkrun. After 22 years, the cavalryman decided that it was time to return the favor and went to court. The case was examined, the general was accused of horse theft and ordered to pay compensation of 710 dalers, which equals approximately 18 kilograms of silver.
Report about Victoria
Paradoxically, despite the fact that in the battle itself the Russian troops were doomed to victory in all respects, the report about it compiled by Peter caused a lot of noise in Europe. It was a sensation.
The Vedomosti newspaper published a letter from Peter to Tsarevich Alexei: “I announce to you a very great victory, which God deigned to bestow upon us through the indescribable courage of our soldiers, with the small blood of our troops.”
Memory of Victory
In memory of the victory and the soldiers who died for it, a temporary oak cross was erected at the battle site. Peter also planned to found a monastery here. The wooden cross was replaced with a granite one only a hundred years later. Even later - towards the end of the 19th century - the monument and chapel that today’s tourists see were built on the site of the mass grave. Instead of a monastery, in 1856 a temple was erected in the name of St. Sampson the Old Receiver, which was assigned to the Holy Cross convent. For the 300th anniversary of the battle, the chapel of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, standing on the mass grave, was restored, but it, like many historical monuments in Ukraine, is still in disrepair and is almost always closed to the public.
In the spring of 1708, Charles XII invaded Russia. With him were 24 thousand infantry and 20 thousand cavalry. These were selected warriors who knew their job very well. In Europe there were legends about them as invincible soldiers. The Swedish king initially intended to go to Moscow through Smolensk, but this direction was covered by a strong army led by Boris Sheremetev. Charles XII turned south and went to Ukraine. He was in secret correspondence with the Ukrainian hetman Ivan Mazepa. Many among the Cossack elders were dissatisfied with the position of Ukraine within Russia. They believed that the liberties of the elders and Little Russian gentry were curtailed. The hardships of the Northern War also took their toll. 20 thousand Cossacks fought in the “Livonian region”. Ukrainian hetman Ivan Mazepa dreamed of Ukraine, a vassal of Sweden. Mazepa promised Charles XII apartments for the army, food, fodder (horse feed), and military support for the 30,000-strong Zaporozhye army.
FROM A REPORT ABOUT THE BATTLE OF POLTAVA
“And so, by the grace of the Almighty, the perfect Victoria, of whom little has been heard or seen like this, with easy difficulty against a proud enemy through His Royal Majesty, a glorious weapon and a personal brave and wise victory was won. For His Majesty truly showed his courage, wise generosity and military skill, without fearing any fear to his royal person, to the highest degree, and, moreover, his hat was pierced by a bullet. Under his lordship Prince Menshikov, who also showed his courage, three horses were wounded. At the same time, it should be known that of our infantry only one line, in which there were ten thousand, was in battle with the enemy, and the other did not reach that; for the enemies, having been refuted from our first line, ran and were thus beaten<…>News was received from those sent to bury the dead from the battle that they were at the battle site and found and buried the Swedish dead bodies 8519 people, except those in pursuit through the forests in different places beaten."
“I ASK YOU TO COME TO MY TENT”
On the eve of the Battle of Poltava, King Charles XII, promising his officers and soldiers a quick victory, invited the Russian Tsar to a luxurious dinner in the tent. “He prepared many dishes; go where glory leads you.” Peter I actually organized a feast for the victors, where he invited captured Swedish generals. At the same time, not without irony, the Russian monarch said: “Yesterday my brother King Charles invited you to dine in my tent, but today he did not come and did not keep his word, although I really expected him. But when His Majesty did not deign to appear, then I ask you to come to my tent.”
ORDER FOR THE TRAITOR
After Poltava, Peter I sent the following order to Moscow: “Upon receiving this, immediately make a silver coin weighing ten pounds, and on it have Judas cut out, hanging himself on an aspen tree, and below are thirty pieces of silver lying with a bag with them, and on the back is this inscription: “ Cursed is the pernicious son Judas, who is choking for his love of money.” And for that coin, make a chain of two pounds, send it to us by express mail immediately.” This was the Order of Judas, made specifically for the traitor Hetman Mazepa.
Tests on the history of the Fatherland
VICTORY PARADE
The event turned out wonderful. The order of the parade can be judged from the engravings of P. Picard and A. Zubov.
The victorious sounds of twenty-four trumpeters and six timpani players who led the column flew from the Serpukhov Gate. The procession was opened by the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment on horseback, led by Prince M.M. Golitsyn. The Semyonovites rode with unfurled banners and drawn broadswords.
Next were the trophies taken at Lesnaya, followed by Russian soldiers again, now through the snow, dragging 295 banners and standards captured at Lesnaya, Poltava and Perevolochnaya. (by the way, at the Victory Parade on June 24, 1945, 200 fascist banners and standards were thrown at the foot of the V.I. Lenin mausoleum). Such dragging of enemy captured banners across land and water (if it was in a port) became a kind of traditional part of victorious events in the Peter the Great era. Next came the Swedish prisoners. On December 21, a parade was held around the Russian capital great amount prisoners of war - 22,085 Swedes, Finns, Germans and others taken during 9 years of war.
At first, the captured non-commissioned officers of the “Courland Corps” were taken on foot. After the victories at Lesnaya and Poltava, the Swedes were not considered a formidable enemy and, as a mockery, 19 sleighs of the “Samoyed King” of the half-crazy Frenchman Udder with the Nenets dressed in reindeer skins, drawn by reindeer and horses, were allowed behind them. Behind them were carried on horseback the stretchers of the Swedish king captured near Poltava. They were kept in the Armory for some time, until a fire in 1737 destroyed them...
After the Swedes came the grenadier company of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, again Swedish officers and trophies taken near Poltava. Then Levengaupta walked on foot along with Rehnskiöld and Chancellor K. Pieper.
Following the generals, Colonel Peter the Great himself of the Preobrazhensky Regiment rode on horseback in a uniform torn by fragments of Swedish cannonballs, in a saddle shot through by a Swedish bullet, and in a cocked hat pierced by it. He rode the same horse on which he led the second battalion of Novgorodians into the attack in difficult moments of the Battle of Poltava. Now Field Marshal General Alexander Menshikov was following the Tsar. The Preobrazhensky soldiers followed them and a huge convoy began.
Swedish regimental music was carried on 54 open carts, accompanied by 120 Swedish musicians. Among the trophies were silver kettledrums from the Swedish Life Regiment. By the “oral” command of Tsar Peter Alekseevich, as a sign of distinction in the Battle of Poltava and with the obvious traditional meaning of the commander’s kleynod of the leader, they were granted the field marshal general, His Serene Highness Prince A.D. Menshikov to the General or Life Squadron - the ancestor of the Horse Guards, becoming a precedent when the trophy turned into a military award. The prisoners were led through the city streets through all 8 triumphal gates, erected “to the shame and disgrace of the Swedes.”
Bells were ringing in all the churches, people were yelling, shouting curses, and in general, there was “such a roar and noise that people could hardly hear each other on the streets,” wrote Corporal Erik Larsson Smepust. However, all participants in the procession were treated to beer and vodka. The Swedish generals, as after the Battle of Poltava, were invited to a feast at Menshikov’s house. The Moscow Victory Parade, organized by Peter the Great, was one of the most magnificent during his reign. And it was held not only for the edification of one’s own and foreign contemporaries, but also for descendants. A tradition was born that must be preserved.
Started Peter I The struggle for Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea and strengthening on these borders was difficult and lengthy. The Northern War, in which Russia and Sweden were the main opponents, lasted for 21 years.
However, the decisive battle, which predetermined the outcome of the confrontation, took place on June 27 (July 8), 1709, six miles from the city of Poltava.
The Northern War began catastrophically for Russia - with a crushing defeat at Narva in 1700.
The defeat at Narva caused Russia not only material, but also political damage - the power of Peter I in Europe was no longer taken seriously, while the Swedish king Charles XII, the winner of the “Russian barbarians,” was treated with undisguised sympathy.
However, the discouraging start of the war did not break either the will or the political aspirations of Peter. Guided by the principle “for one beaten they give two unbeaten,” the Russian Tsar, avoiding pitched battle with the Swedes, again began to capture their fortresses on the shores of the Baltic.
Charles XII himself contributed to this. The Swedish king, endowed with undoubted military talents, was also endowed with excessive self-confidence. It was she who forced the Swedish king to consider Russia completely defeated and completely concentrate on the fight against the ally of Peter I, King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Augustus II.
The pursuit of the resourceful Augustus lasted for several years, which the Russian Tsar successfully used to reform and rearm the army, as well as to gradually conquer Ingria. In 1703, St. Petersburg was founded at the mouth of the Neva, after which the Russians continued their tactics of slowly “taking away Swedish lands.”
Charles XII decided, at the end of the war with Augustus II, to invade Russia, capturing and setting Moscow on fire, thereby ending the claims of Peter I.
The route of Charles XII during the Northern War. Photo: Public Domain
About the dangers of self-confidence
In 1706, Augustus II was finished, and Charles began preparing for the invasion of Russia.
True, the factor of surprise was not an ally of Charles XII - all his plans and intentions were clear to Peter I and his military leaders.
The Russian Tsar dragged his opponent into a war of attrition, and soon the Swedish army, which had invaded Russian possessions, began to experience problems with food and ammunition.
Charles XII seriously relied on the help of the Swedish king who had defected to the side Hetman of Little Russia Ivan Mazepa, who promised the Swedes 50 thousand Cossacks, food and comfortable wintering.
In practice, however, together with Mazepa, about 10 thousand Cossacks went over to the side of the Swedes. At the same time, Charles XII, not relying too much on their loyalty, did not use the Cossacks in the Battle of Poltava. It is curious that for exactly the same reason, fearing treason, Peter I also refused to use Cossack units near Poltava.
Military happiness began to change Charles XII. The three-month siege of Poltava, which the Swedes initially considered easy prey, ended in nothing.
Charles XII, having learned about the approach of Peter I with his army, intended to give his enemy a general battle, despite the weakened state of his own troops and the great advantage of the Russians in army numbers.
The Swedish generals, based on previous experience, believed that the Russians would behave passively in battle, which would give the Swedes the opportunity to overthrow the Russian army and put him to flight.
Unlike Charles XII, Peter I did not rely on luck and military happiness, but prepared for battle carefully, building defensive redoubts in the path of the enemy’s movement. In addition, the Russian Tsar managed to achieve an overwhelming advantage in artillery, which would become one of the decisive circumstances in the battle.
On the eve of the battle, the situation was extremely unfortunate for Charles XII. He did not receive reinforcements, he was not supported by the Ottoman Empire, whose entry into the war he was counting on.
In addition, the “easy prey” of Poltava never passed into the hands of the Swedes.
Denis Martin. " Battle of Poltava"(1726). Photo: Public Domain
Despite all this, Charles XII accepted the plan for a general battle. The essence of the Swedes' plan was a surprise infantry attack at dawn with a breakthrough into the Russian rear, which was supposed to throw the Russian army into confusion, after which the cavalry was supposed to complete the job.
Of the 37 thousand people in the army of Charles XII in the Battle of Poltava, he had 8,000 infantry, 7,800 cavalry and about a thousand irregular cavalry. Peter I had at his disposal an army of 60 thousand, of which 25 thousand infantry and up to 12 thousand cavalry took part in the Battle of Poltava. And all this, not counting the superiority of the Russians in guns, which they had, according to various sources, from 100 to 300, while the Swedes had no more than 40 guns, which, moreover, did not have ample ammunition.
Knowing all this, the self-confident Charles XII nevertheless decided to give a general battle.
Swedish collapse instead of Russian
The Swedes' plan for the battle began to fall apart at the very beginning, when the regiments, intending to take the Russians by surprise, stumbled upon redoubts at night, the construction of which they did not even suspect.
The stubborn battle ended with the planned retreat of the Russians to the main positions, but in the Swedish camp the impression was that the enemy had fled.
The illusion turned out to be so strong that those close to him had already begun to congratulate King Charles on his victory.
While the Swedes were preparing for the holiday, disaster was brewing. Carried away by the assault on the 3rd redoubt, the Swedish column General Roos broke away from the main forces and was defeated by the Russians. The same fate befell the cavalry detachment. General Schlippenbach. Volmar Schlippenbach himself became the first Swedish general to fall into Russian captivity on that day.
At nine o'clock in the morning the main battle of the main forces began. The Swedish infantry attacked the Russian formation, and a fierce hand-to-hand fight ensued. Critical moment for the Russian troops came when, on the left flank, the Swedes overthrew the 1st battalion of the Novgorod regiment with a bayonet attack, capturing over a dozen Russian guns.
The authority of the Swedish army was extremely high. The Swedish breakthrough threatened to bring confusion and panic into the ranks of the Russian army. However, here Tsar Peter himself intervened in the matter, at the head of the 2nd battalion of Novgorodians, stopping the enemy’s advance.
L. Caravaque. “Peter I in the Battle of Poltava” (1718). Photo: Public Domain
Meanwhile, the Russian infantry of the right flank under the command General Mikhail Golitsyn put the Swedish battalions opposing her to flight. The cavalry tried to come to the rescue, but was repulsed by Russian cavalrymen.
Here the superiority of Russian troops in numbers began to show. Having not achieved rapid success, the Swedish regiments were exhausted, gaps appeared between them, which led to their encirclement. In the center, the battalions of the Uppland Regiment were almost completely destroyed, where out of 700 soldiers, less than two dozen remained alive.
By 11 o'clock in the morning, the worst thing happened for Charles XII - his brave and invincible warriors fled in disarray.
Feast and surrender
The king himself had to flee, suffering losses among his inner circle.
The defeat of the Swedes was complete: the Russians received 137 standards and banners of the enemy alone; the generals and field marshals of the Swedish king and even the first minister of Charles XII were captured.
In the evening of the same day, Peter I celebrated the victory in his tent, where captured Swedish generals were also invited. The Russian Tsar drank to the loyalty and courage of the Swedes and to the health of his military teachers.
Personal standard of Charles XII, captured during the Battle of Poltava. Peter-Pavel's Fortress. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / A. Sdobnikov
Despite the celebration, Peter sent part of his troops in pursuit of the retreating ones. The end of the Swedish army came two days later near the town of Perevolochna. Russian troops drove the Swedes into the spit of the Vorskla and Dnieper rivers, blocking their escape routes.
Only Charles XII himself, Mazepa, a small number of close associates and a security detachment managed to cross the Dnieper and escape pursuit. This happened a few hours before the approach of Russian troops.
When the pursuers appeared, led by Menshikov, the broken Swedes capitulated. 16 thousand people were captured, including 3 generals, 11 colonels, 16 lieutenant colonels, 23 majors, 1 field commander, 12,575 non-commissioned officers and privates.
Swedes' losses directly in the Battle of Poltava amounted to 9,224 killed and 2,973 captured.
The losses of Russian troops amounted to 1,345 killed and 3,290 wounded.
Poor Karl, poor Sweden...
The defeat at Poltava turned out to be much more terrible for Charles XII than the defeat of Peter I at Narva. Poltava not only destroyed the military authority of the Swedish king, it dealt a decisive blow to the Swedish army, which never regained its former power.
The war with Russia lasted another 12 years, but it was, figuratively speaking, a delayed defeat. Russian troops gradually finished off the Swedes, occupying more and more territories, eventually leading to devastating landings that operated almost in the vicinity of Stockholm. The Swedes could no longer counteract this with anything other than a reluctance to admit defeat.
The fate of Charles XII himself turned out to be even more deplorable. Hiding in the possessions of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, the former idol of Europe spent several years in Bendery, having no real strength to continue the war and at the same time losing power in his homeland.
In 1713, the Sultan literally expelled the “sideman” from his possessions, and he with difficulty, almost secretly, made his way to the lands belonging to Sweden. True, he never returned to Stockholm - there Charles was no longer perceived as a king. The Swedish nobility was extremely irritated by the unsuccessful and ruinous war, which literally destroyed the country's influence in Europe.
In 1718, Charles XII, resigned to the obvious, tried to make peace with Russia, recognizing most of the conquests of Peter I in the Baltic. The parties, however, never came to an agreement.
In November of the same year, the King of Sweden, during his last campaign in Norway, which at that time was owned by Denmark, was killed by a stray bullet during the siege of the Fredriksten fortress.
There is a version, however, that Charles XII fell victim to the Swedish elite, who decided that they no longer needed such a loser monarch.
But even over Karl’s heirs the “shadow of Poltava” hovered. Three years after his death, in 1721, Sweden concluded the Peace of Nystadt with Russia on conditions much more difficult than those abandoned by Charles XII in 1718.