Battle of Poltava took place on June 27, 1709. This was a general battle between the troops of Sweden and Russia during (1700-1721), in which the Swedes suffered complete destruction and lost their power. The Russian army won a convincing victory; the advantage in the war was now on the side of Russia, which forced the leading European powers to reckon with itself.
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Previous Events
1700 It is unlikely that at that time anyone suspected that in a few years one of the events would take place on the territory of present-day Ukraine. the largest battles continental Europe. It was this year that the Battle of Narva ended, in which the Russians were defeated. Charles XII continues to rejoice after a triumphant victory.
History knows many dictators who fought for world domination: Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Mussolini, . The Swedish king, who came to power at the age of 15, is rightfully called one of the most influential people in world history. Charles XII was an extraordinary person: he was not afraid of practically anything, perhaps that is why, without hesitation, he entered into the fight with the strongest army of his time, led by.
After the victory at Narva, he decides subjugate Europe: win first Polish king Augustus II and the Saxon Elector, and then open access to Western European possessions.
Winning one victory after another, Charles XII didn't forget about one of the most powerful empires– Russian. Therefore, in 1705 the king makes a decision deploy your army against Peter and subjugate Moscow. After 3 years, he begins rapid training, and soon heads towards the Russian capital.
By the time the Swedes and their troops found themselves near Poltava, according to the most conservative estimates, they had lost almost 35 thousand soldiers in battle. Poltava seemed to the Swedish commander a fairly easy prey that could be captured in a matter of days. But he was wrong.
Russia and Sweden on the eve of the battle
History teaches us not to repeat past mistakes, but every time we see how, while staying in the power of one's own ambitions, commanders underestimate their enemy. This happened with Charles XII. Over the course of several months, from April to June, the Swedes made more than 20 attempts to storm the city walls, losing almost 6 thousand people, but did not achieve the desired result.
Important! Thanks to archival data and information from personal correspondence of participants Northern War historians were able to establish the approximate number of infantry and cavalry during the Battle of Poltava and calculate the balance of forces on both sides.
Interesting! The Swedish command underestimated the Russian artillery. Its main emphasis was on a powerful infantry attack in close formation.
The Russian army in those days was well prepared, had a wealth of experience in combat, and made maximum use of new weapons during the battle. Russian troops for the first time used field earthen fortifications, as well as horse artillery, which quickly moved across the field.
Peter I knew his people and their heroic spirit very well. Therefore, in order to raise the patriotic spirit, on the eve of the Battle of Poltava, the tsar independently went to the provinces and addressed the people. Hardly preserved exact description those events, but the records of historians of that time say that Peter called on the people to fight and defend Russia.
Let's briefly say the most important thing about the position of the Swedes. IN historical materials, preserving military memories, it is noted that Charles XII told his army that tomorrow they would feast in the conquered city, advised the people to prepare for the great booty that was due to them.
The battle for supremacy in Europe
Without waiting for the morning, Charles XII ordered his troops to prepare for battle. He anticipated the quick defeat of the Russian army in the Battle of Poltava and made plans to move towards Moscow. The Swedes lined up in 6 columns. However, something went wrong; the unrest among the soldiers died down only around 2 a.m. on June 27. Then they headed to the battlefield.
Little was known about Poltava: how many troops of Peter I were concentrated in the city, whether there were secret entrances to the city, from which side the Russians would strike. But this did not stop the Swedes; on the contrary, with every minute they gained more and more confidence.
Important! Near Poltava, the meeting of the troops of the two commanders was unexpected; Charles XII wanted to break into the city unnoticed and speed up its siege until the Russian military was ready for that. Peter I foresaw even this: he and the commanders of his troops sent the Russian army outside the city, preventing the enemy from advancing further and destroying him in unfamiliar territory.
Swedish tactics was unique for that time: they did not take prisoners, preferred to kill all living things in their path. Showing extreme cruelty, they wanted to subjugate everyone. There is evidence that foreigners visited residential buildings of Poltava residents and killed sleepy and unarmed residents.
After several hours of fighting, the Swedes rejoiced: Russian troops under the command of Peter I turned around and left the battlefield. It seemed that they were gradually running away, leaving behind the wounded. Charles XII was already congratulated on his victory, because the Battle of Poltava was coming to an end.
But after a moment the ranks of the Swedish army began to thin out. The Russians decided to strike again and were not mistaken. Swedes' losses amounted to about 1,000 people, and the commanders of some regiments were killed. The Russian Tsar struck again, sending 5 infantry battalions to the Swedes. It was possible to capture the Swedish general Schlippenbach. Soon the first soldiers from Charles XII's side could be seen capitulating.
End of the battle
The Swedish army was weakened. A short pause, it seemed to them, could restore strength. But the defeat of Charles XII was not far off. During the defense, Peter I loses sight of one of the battalions of his army and decides to bring reinforcements to the battlefield.
One part of the army was engaged in holding enemy troops, the other - active actions to push back the Swedish troops.
The command of the infantry and cavalry of the Russian troops was concentrated in the hands of four famous generals: B.P. Sheremetyeva, A.I. Repina, A.D. Menshikov and R.Kh. Baura. Historians claim that the main reasons for the victory of the Russian army in the Battle of Poltava were purposeful and competent activities of the army leadership and commander Peter I. Thoughtful tactics, perfect knowledge military strategy and enormous experience in combat operations helped defeat the Swedish army of Charles XII in 1709.
The passive tactics of the Russians turned into active phase. The troops lined up to deliver the final blow to the enemy. Never before has there been such a bright night near Poltava. The thunder of artillery, the bright light emanating from fire weapons, the terrible roar of the people and the groans of the wounded - this is what the inhabitants of the city saw that night.
Around 9 am the Swedes decided attack the Russian army and deliver a decisive blow. Then, after finishing Poltava battle, the Russians met them with artillery fire and rushed to fight hand-to-hand. A few moments later, the enemy army noticed that they were losing their best soldiers, so they began to lose ground, and the Swedish defense line broke.
Charles XII and the Ottoman Empire
When Charles XII he understands that he is losing decides to escape. History will remember this act of the Swedish king as one of the most terrible and irresponsible. Having left his army, the king takes refuge with the Turks and is granted political asylum in Ottoman Empire, which has long been planning to begin hostilities with Russia.
On the battlefield continued last hours battles. The Russians captured the most prominent Swedish generals. This meant complete collapse enemy plans.
The Russian army was destined to win the Battle of Poltava. The Swedes' policy has long ceased to be offensive and has developed into a defensive one. The harder they fought, the more their losses increased.
Result of the battle
The meaning of the Battle of Poltava:
- marked the collapse of the empire of Charles XI;
- strengthened its position Russian Empire on the world stage;
- became the immediate reason for the start of military action against the Russians by the Ottoman Empire, which understood that the state was extremely weakened;
- liberated Poland from Swedish dependence;
- marked a turning point in the Northern War;
- became the reason for concluding a military alliance between Saxony and the Russian Empire.
You need to know this
History has preserved a lot of intrigue and unexpected turns. Some Interesting Facts she remembers to this day about the Battle of Poltava and the city itself:
- After the end of the battle on July 8, 1709, two regiments were formed from the Swedish military, which took part in the 1717 expedition.
- Less than 70% of prisoners of war returned to Sweden.
- Poltava is one of the most mystical cities in Ukraine. Happens here often unexplained events. Perhaps for this reason Gogol wrote his “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” here.
- Poltava was the center of Bohdan Khmelnytsky's activities. It was here that he rebelled against the Swedes.
- During the Second World War, the city was completely destroyed by the Germans. How quickly he fell, so quickly he rose from already dead a few years after the war.
Battle of Poltava - Calendar of important dates
Conclusion
History has many examples of battles and uprisings, disasters and wars, revivals and victories. The Battle of Poltava became significant event, and its participants are real heroes. After the victory, Russia became more powerful, stronger, became a world leader and did not give up its position over the next centuries.
Carl Gustav Rehnschild
Alexander Danilovich Menshikov
26,000 Swedes (about 11,000 cavalry and 15,000 infantry), 1,000 Wallachian hussars, 41 guns, about 2 thousand Cossacks
Total: about 37,000. 30 thousand Swedes, 6 thousand Cossacks, 1 thousand Vlachs.
Forces in battle:
8270 infantry, 7800 dragoons and reiters, 1000 hussars, 4 guns
Did not take part in the battle: Cossacks
about 37,000 infantry (87 battalions), 23,700 cavalry (27 regiments and 5 squadrons), 102 guns (according to other sources, 302 guns)
Total: about 60,000 (according to modern data, 80,000). of which 8 thousand were Skoropadsky Cossacks.
Forces in battle:
25,000 infantry, 9,000 dragoons, Cossacks and Kalmyks, another 3,000 Kalmyks came to the end of the battle
Poltava garrison:
4200 infantry, 2000 Cossacks, 28 guns
2874 prisoners during the battle and 15-17 thousand at Perevolochna
Battle of Poltava- the largest battle of the Northern War between Russian troops under the command of Peter I and the Swedish army of Charles XII. It took place on the morning of June 27 (July 8), 1709, 6 versts from the city of Poltava on Russian lands (Left Bank of the Dnieper). The decisive victory of the Russian army led to a turning point in the Northern War in Russia's favor and ended Sweden's dominance as one of the leading military powers in Europe.
Background
In October 1708, Peter I became aware of the betrayal and defection of Hetman Mazepa to the side of Charles XII, who negotiated with the king for quite a long time, promising him, if he arrived in Ukraine, up to 50 thousand Cossack troops, food and comfortable wintering. On October 28, 1708, Mazepa, at the head of a detachment of Cossacks, arrived at Charles’s headquarters. After this, Peter I amnestied and recalled from exile (accused of treason due to Mazepa’s slander) Ukrainian colonel Semyon Paliy ( real name Gurko); Thus, the tsar secured the support of the Cossacks.
From the many thousands of Ukrainian Cossacks (registered Cossacks numbered 30 thousand, Zaporozhye Cossacks - 10-12 thousand), Mazepa managed to bring only about 10 thousand people, about 3 thousand registered Cossacks and about 7 thousand Cossacks. But they soon began to flee from the camp of the Swedish army. King Charles XII did not dare to use such unreliable allies, of whom there were about 2 thousand, in battle, and therefore left them in the baggage train.
Charles XII, having received information about the imminent approach of a large Kalmyk detachment to the Russians, decided to attack Peter’s army before the Kalmyks completely disrupted his communications (an alleged defector from the Germans was sent to the Swedes. He said that not today, but tomorrow he would come to Tsar Peter’s aid a detachment of Kalmyk cavalry numbering 18 thousand sabers). Wounded during a reconnaissance on June 17, the king transferred command to Field Marshal K. G. Renschild, who received 20 thousand soldiers at his disposal. About 10 thousand people, including Mazepa’s Cossacks, remained in the camp near Poltava.
On the eve of the battle, Peter I toured all the regiments. His short patriotic appeals to soldiers and officers formed the basis of the famous order, which demanded that soldiers fight not for Peter, but for “Russia and Russian piety...”
Charles XII also tried to raise the spirit of his army. Inspiring the soldiers, Karl announced that tomorrow they would dine in the Russian convoy, where great booty awaited them.
Progress of the battle
Swedish attack on the redoubts
According to Englund, the greatest losses were suffered by two battalions of the Uppland Regiment, which were surrounded and completely destroyed (out of 700 people, 14 remained alive).
Losses of the parties
Church at the site of the battle
In the battle, the Swedes lost over 11 thousand soldiers. Russian losses amounted to 1,345 killed and 3,290 wounded.
Results
As a result of the Battle of Poltava, the army of King Charles XII was so drained of blood that it could no longer conduct active offensive actions. Menshikov, having received reinforcements of 3,000 Kalmyk cavalry in the evening, pursued the enemy to Perevolochna on the banks of the Dnieper, where about 16,000 Swedes were captured.
During the Battle of Poltava, Peter used tactics that are still mentioned in military schools. Shortly before the battle, Peter dressed the experienced soldiers in the uniform of the young ones. Karl, knowing that the form of experienced fighters is different from the form of young ones, led his army against the young fighters and fell into a trap.
Cards
Memory of an event
Museum-reserve "Field of the Poltava Battle"
- At the site of the battle at the beginning of the 20th century, the museum-reserve “Field of the Poltava Battle” (now the National Museum-Reserve) was founded. A museum was built on its territory, monuments to Peter I, Russian and Swedish soldiers were erected, on the site of the camp of Peter I, etc.
- In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava (which took place on the day of St. Sampson the Host) in 1735, the sculptural group “Samson Tearing the Lion’s Jaw,” designed by Carlo Rastrelli, was installed in Peterhof. The lion was associated with Sweden, whose coat of arms contains this heraldic beast.
- In honor of the Battle of Poltava, the Sampsonievsky Cathedral in St. Petersburg and the Sampsonievsky Church in Poltava were built.
- To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, a medal “In memory of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava” was established.
- Monument at the resting place of Peter I after the battle
- Monument to Colonel Kelin and the valiant defenders of Poltava.
On coins
In honor of the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, the Bank of Russia issued the following on June 1 commemorative coins made of silver (only reverses are shown):
In fiction
- In the novel “Poltava Peremoga” by Oleg Kudrin (shortlist for the “Nonconformism-2010” award, “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”, Moscow), the event was “replayed” in the genre of alternative history.
In music
- The Swedish heavy power metal band Sabaton dedicated their song “Poltava” from the album Carolus Rex to the Battle of Poltava. The song was recorded in two versions: in English and Swedish.
Images
Documentary film
Art films
In philately
Notes
- A. A. Vasiliev. About the composition of the Russian and Swedish armies in the Battle of Poltava. Military-historical magazine. 1989. No. 7.]
- see Krotov P. A. The Battle of Poltava: on the 300th anniversary. St. Petersburg: Historical illustration, 2009. 416 p.
- All the wars of world history, according to the Harper's Encyclopedia military history R. Dupuis and T. Dupuis with comments by N. Volkovsky and D. Volkovsky. St. Petersburg, 2004, book 3, p. 499
- The Day of Military Glory of Russia - the Day of Victory over the Swedes in the Battle of Poltava is celebrated not on the 8th, but on the 10th of July. The date of the battle fell on the day of remembrance of St. Sampson the Stranger, which is rightfully considered heavenly patron Battle of Poltava; in memory of which the Sampsonievskaya Church near Poltava and the Sampsonievsky Cathedral in St. Petersburg were built. And the day of remembrance of Sampson the Stranger Orthodox Church honors annually not on the 8th, but on the 10th of July.
- Documentary evidence The details of Mazepa’s preliminary proposals to Karl have not been preserved. However, it is known that negotiations took quite a long time. As T. G. Tairov-Yakovlev reports in his book “Mazepa”, replete with clerical errors and inaccuracies, he revealed himself to his associates on September 17, 1707. In her book, Tairova-Yakovlevna cites Mazepa’s statement, recorded by his faithful follower, clerk Orlik: “I did not want and did not want Christian bloodshed, but I intended, having come to Baturin with the Swedish king, to write a letter of gratitude to the Tsar’s Majesty for his protection, describing everything in it. our grievances..." Thus, there were plans to bring Karl to Baturin. In addition, in a later signed agreement with Karl, Mazepa undertakes to give him, among other cities, Baturin (which has already been completely burned and is not suitable for these purposes) as a base for the duration of the war. Apparently, the agreement itself was prepared before the burning of Baturin.
- Sergey Kulichkin. Peter the First. Historical portrait of the commander.
- According to the research of P. A. Krotov, based on comparison archival documents, there were significantly more guns in the battle - 302 , see Krotov P. A. The Battle of Poltava: on the 300th anniversary. St. Petersburg, 2009
- All wars of world history, according to the Harper Encyclopedia of Military History by R. Dupuis and T. Dupuis with comments by N. Volkovsky and D. Volkovsky. St. Petersburg, 2004, book 3, pp. 499-500
- Vitaly Slinko. Battle of Poltava. Orthodox news agency "Russian Line"
- V. A. Artamonov The Battle of Poltava and Eastern Europe - , Magazine “Golden Lion” No. 213-214 - publication of Russian conservative thought
- Englund P. Poltava: A story about the death of one army. - M: New Book Review, 1995. - 288 with ISBN 5-86793-005-X
- According to P. Englund, out of 8,000 Swedish infantry, 2,000 died during the assault on the redoubts, and approximately 2,000 separated with Roos.
- Vladimir Lapin Poltava // "Star". - 2009. - V. 6.
Literature
- Krotov P. A. The Battle of Poltava: on the 300th anniversary. - St. Petersburg: Historical illustration, 2009. - 416 p.
- Krotov P. A. Peter I and Charles XII in the fields near Poltava ( comparative analysis military leadership) // Problems of war and peace in the era of New and Contemporary times (to the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Tilsit): Materials of the international scientific conference. St. Petersburg, December 2007 - St. Petersburg: Publishing House St. Petersburg State University, 2008. - pp. 48-57.
- Krotov P. A. The military leadership of Peter I and A. D. Menshikov in the Battle of Poltava (To the 300th anniversary of the Poltava victory) // Menshikov Readings - 2007 / Responsible. ed. P. A. Krotov. - St. Petersburg: Historical illustration, 2007. - P. 37-92.
- Moltusov V. A. Battle of Poltava: Lessons of military history. - M.: OR Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation; Kuchkovo field, 2009. - 512 p. ISBN 978-5-9950-0054-9
- Poltava: To the 300th anniversary Battle of Poltava. Digest of articles. - M.: Kuchkovo Pole, 2009. - 400 p. ISBN 978-5-9950-0055-6
- Pavlenko N. I., Artamonov V. A. June 27, 1709. - M.: Young Guard, 1989. - 272 p. - ( Memorable dates stories). - 100,000 copies. - ISBN 5-235-00325-X(region)
- Englund Peter. Poltava: A story about the death of one army = Englund P. Poltava. Berattelsen om en armés undergång. - Stockholm: Atlantis, 1989. - M.: New Book Review, 1995. - ISBN 5-86793-005-X
see also
- Mass grave of Russian soldiers killed in the Battle of Poltava
Links
One of significant events Russian history is the Battle of Poltava in 1709. Then, at the very beginning of the 18th century - just as during Patriotic War 1812, and during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) - the question was acute: is the Russian state destined to exist or not. The victory of the Russian army under the command of Peter the Great gave a clear positive answer.
Sweden in the 17th and 18th centuries
In the 17th century, Sweden was one of the strongest powers in Europe. Under its control were the Baltic states, Finland, and the coastal lands of Germany, Poland, Denmark and Russia. The districts of Kexholm (the city of Priozersk) and Ingermarland (the coast) captured from Russia Gulf of Finland and Neva) belonged to strategically important territories providing access to the Baltic Sea.
In 1660-1661, peace agreements were signed between Sweden and Poland, Denmark and Russia. They summed up the bloody battles between the states, but could not mean complete humility in front of what was lost: in 1700, an alliance of Russia, Denmark and Saxony took shape against the treacherous Sweden.
Many historians argue that the allied countries wanted to take advantage of the accession to the throne of Sweden in 1697 of the 14-year-old heir Charles XII. But their hopes were not justified: despite his youth and inexperience in military affairs, the young Swedish king Charles XII proved himself a worthy follower of the affairs of his father and talented commander. He defeated the King of Denmark and Norway, Frederick VI, as a result of which Denmark left the military alliance. No less successful was military operation near Narva in 1700, when Russian troops were defeated. But here the Swedish king made a strategic mistake: he abandoned the pursuit of the Russians, getting involved in a war with the Polish-Saxon army of King Augustus II. It was long, but its results were disappointing for Peter the Great: Russia’s main allies fell.
Rice. 1. Portrait of the Swedish King Charles XII
Prerequisites
The Russian army retreated. However, the defeat did not stop Peter I; on the contrary, it contributed to the beginning of serious reforms in the state:
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- In 1700-1702 - a grandiose military reform: the army and the Baltic Fleet were created practically from scratch;
- In 1702-1703, Peter the Great captured the fortresses of Noteburg and Nyenschanz;
- In 1703, the city of St. Petersburg was founded at the mouth of the Neva;
- In 1704, the port city of Kronstadt was founded on the island of Kotlin and the adjacent small islands of the Gulf of Finland;
- In the summer of 1704, Russian troops recaptured Dorpat and Narva, which allowed Russia to finally gain a foothold on the coast of the Gulf of Finland.
The victories won by the Russian army proved that the Swedes had a worthy opponent. But Charles XII preferred not to notice this. Confident in his abilities, he went to meet new conquests - in Moscow.
Rice. 2. Peter the Great before the construction of St. Petersburg
When did the Battle of Poltava take place?
On July 8 (June 27), 1709, a general battle took place near Poltava. The battle lasted two hours and ended in a crushing defeat for the Swedish army led by Charles XII. Scientists rightly note that it was this battle that turned out to be a turning point and predetermined the victory of the Russians in the Northern War. The victory of the Russian army was not accidental. It was predetermined for a number of reasons:
- Participants of the battle with different spirits : on the one hand, the morally exhausted Swedish army, and on the other, the reformed Russian army. Most of the Swedish army fought for nine years, far from home and relatives. In addition, the grueling winter of 1708-1709 led to food and ammunition shortages for the Swedes;
- Numerical superiority of the Russian army : Charles XII approached Poltava with an army of about 31,000 people and 39 cannons. On the eve of the battle, Peter the Great had 49,000 soldiers and 130 cannons at his disposal;
- Differences in Strategy : for two years - 1707-1709, the Russian army was constantly retreating. The tasks of Peter the Great were to preserve the army and prevent the enemy from setting foot in Moscow. To do this, he chose a well-established victory strategy: avoid major battles, but to wear down the enemy with small ones;
- Differences in Tactics : the Swedes in open battle used a merciless attack using edged weapons, and the Russians used superiority in numbers and system earthworks- redoubts. At the last stage of the Battle of Poltava, the Russian army used enemy tactics and went on the attack: the battle escalated into a massacre.
- Wound of Charles XII : Swedish soldiers considered their king virtually invulnerable. Before the Battle of Poltava, he was seriously wounded in the leg, which shocked the army: many saw a mystical meaning in this and bad omen. The patriotic attitude of the Russian army was exactly the opposite: the war was taking place on Russian soil and the fate of the Fatherland depended on its outcome.
- The moment of surprise was missed : according to the plan, the Swedish infantry was supposed to attack Russian army at night. But this did not happen: the cavalry, led by Swedish generals, got lost in the surrounding area.
Rice. 3. Map of the Battle of Poltava
The dates of the beginning and end of the Northern War include 1700-1721. The Battle of Poltava is called the most important event of this period. Despite the fact that the war continued for another 12 long years, the clash near Poltava practically destroyed the Swedish army, forced Charles XII to flee to Turkey and predetermined the outcome of the Northern War: Russia expanded its territories, gaining a foothold in the Baltic.
In addition to the main participants in the Battle of Poltava - the Swedes and Russians, an important role was played by Ukrainian hetman Ivan Mazepa is a protege of the Russian Tsar, who was in secret correspondence with Charles XII and promised him food, fodder and military support for the Zaporozhye Cossacks in exchange for the independence of Ukraine. As a result, he was forced to flee to Turkey with the King of Sweden, where he ended his days in 1709.
This article briefly describes the most important historical event in the history of Russia at the beginning of the eighteenth century - the Battle of Poltava.
The turning point of the Northern War was the Battle of Poltava, when the elite Swedish troops were completely defeated, and King Charles XII fled shamefully.
In what year did the Battle of Poltava take place?
The battle took place on Sunday, July 8, 1709. This was the height of the Northern War, which lasted twenty-one years between the Kingdom of Sweden and a number of Northern European states.
The Swedish army at that time was considered one of the best in the world and had extensive experience of victories. In 1708, all their main opponents were defeated, and active fighting against Sweden were fought only by Russia. Thus, the outcome of the entire Northern War was to be decided in Russia.
To bring the war to a victorious conclusion on January 28, 1708, Charles XII began eastern campaign from the battle of Grodno.
Throughout 1708, enemy forces slowly moved towards Moscow. Expeditionary Force numbered approximately 24,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry. IN original plans The aggressor was marching on Moscow through the territory of the modern Smolensk region.
At the same time, an additional threat to Russia from the north was posed by a Swedish group of 25,000 people, which could attack St. Petersburg at any moment. In addition, the threat was created by the vassal Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as well as Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire from the south.
To strengthen his position, in April 1709, Charles XII entered into a secret alliance with Hetman Mazepa and Koshev Ataman of the Zaporozhye Lower Army Kostya Gordienko. The agreement theoretically allowed Charles XII to solve the problem of food supplies and ammunition, as well as receive reinforcements of 30-40 thousand Cossacks.
The enemy forces were planned to be reinforced by a group of 16,000 people under the command of Levengaupt, moving from Riga with a huge convoy of approximately 7,000 carts. But Charles XII, instead of meeting this group halfway, went south.
On September 28, 1708, as a result of the defeat of Levengaupt’s group in the battle near the village of Lesnoy, logistical support was cut off and hopes for replenishment of food and ammunition were dashed.
Under these conditions, the Swedish king decided to make a roundabout maneuver to Moscow through the territory of modern Ukraine. On October 29, 1708, Mazepa openly went over to the side of Sweden, offering them the capital of the Hetmanate, Baturin, as a camp.
Mazepa was not supported by the Ukrainian people. According to historians, Mazepa came to the Swedes not as an ally, but as a fugitive in need of help. Real help from Mazepa turned out to be insignificant. Most of the Cossacks, having learned about Mazepa’s secret treaty, left him. The detachment that remained loyal to the hetman numbered no more than two thousand people.
November 2, 1708 Russian forces under the command of Menshikov they destroyed Baturin, depriving the invaders of hopes of receiving help.
Throughout the winter and spring of 1709, Charles XII, together with a small detachment of Mazepa’s supporters, was engaged in the devastation of various settlements in Slobozhanshchina. The maintenance of the group became more and more problematic, and its numbers fell due to diseases and sabotage actions of local partisan detachments. From the beginning of April 1709, the enemy military began the siege of Poltava.
Participants in the Battle of Poltava
On the eve of the battle, the number of occupying troops and the Cossacks supporting them was constantly decreasing.
The largest detachment that left Mazepa was Galagan's detachment, numbering approximately 1000 people, who captured 68 Swedish officers and soldiers. In addition, a large number of military personnel from Saxony deserted from the enemy ranks. There was also no unity among the Cossacks of the Zaporizhian Lower Army, who formally supported the invaders, as a result of which Gordienko was removed from power.
Repression by foreign military forces led to the burning of several Ukrainian towns, which further inflamed local population against them. During the siege of the city, the local garrison repulsed about 20 attacks and destroyed up to 6,000 enemy soldiers and officers.
The enemy forces on the eve of the battle numbered approximately 37,000 people, of whom:
- troops of Charles XII - 30,000, including 11,000 infantry and 15,000 cavalry;
- Wallachian hussars - 1000;
- Cossacks-Cossacks and Cossacks-Mazepa - up to 6 thousand;
- artillery – 41 units.
WITH Russian side on the eve of the battle, 67 thousand people were concentrated, of which:
- infantry - 37 thousand;
- cavalry - 23,700, of which the Zaporozhye Cossacks led by Skoropadsky - up to 8,000 people;
- garrison of the city of Poltava and armed militia - up to 4,200 people;
- artillery - more than 100 units.
The local population was resolutely opposed to foreigners and did their best to support the small Poltava garrison under the command of Commandant Kelin.
Various historical sources the forces of the parties on the eve of the battle are interpreted differently. We can say with confidence that the numerical advantage in terms of manpower and artillery was on the Russian side.
The Swedish expeditionary force was reduced throughout the Russian campaign of 1708-1709. Charles XII could only count on the skill of his military leaders and the vast military experience accumulated over the years. long years Northern War, as well as to the aid of the Cossacks who supported Mazepa.
The Swedes' plan was based on the use of surprise and confidence that Russian army poorly prepared, and also incapable of quick offensive and counter-offensive actions.
On Sunday, July 8, 1709, early in the morning, it was planned to carry out a surprise attack in the gap between the Russian redoubts in the area between the settlements of Yakovtsy and Malye Budyshchi. Then it was planned to introduce cavalry into the gap in the defense and defeat the Russian cavalry detachments.
After this, the Swedes planned to complete the assault on the Russian strong point a simultaneous frontal infantry attack and an enveloping cavalry maneuver from the north. Subsequently, the date of the Battle of Poltava would become fatal for the Swedes.
The Swedes left in reserve 1 cavalry regiment, 4 dragoon units and 2 adelsfan units (noble cavalry) total number 2000 people. Three regiments, a life guard and a regimental reserve with a total strength of 1,330 military personnel remained under siege. The Swedes allocated 1 regiment of dragoons and two cavalry detachments, totaling about 1,800 people, to guard the river crossings.
Of the artillery available to the Swedes, 4 units were ready for the start of the battle. It is believed that the remaining artillery was either lost during the siege or lacked supplies of gunpowder and ammunition. According to the testimony of individual Swedish sources, their guns were practically not used purposefully in order to achieve the factor of surprise.
On the Russian side, about 25,000 infantry and 21,000 cavalry took part in the battle, including 1,200 Skoropadsky Cossacks. In addition, the Russian side was reinforced by 8,000 Kalmyk cavalrymen during the battle.
Peter I paid great attention to the presence of a sufficient amount of artillery, so the fire superiority of the Russian side was overwhelming. Various sources The number of artillery pieces that took part in the battle is indicated differently, but there were at least 102 of them.
Description of the Poltava battle
On the day before the battle, Peter the Great toured the troops gathered for battle and delivered a speech to them that became legendary. The essence of the speech was that the soldiers would fight for Russia and for its piety, and not for him personally.
Charles XII, speaking to his soldiers, inspired them with the promise of great booty and dinner in the Russian convoy.
On the night of July 8 (June 27, old style), enemy infantry secretly lined up in four columns. The cavalrymen created a battle formation of six columns. The troops were led by Field Marshal Renschild. The gathering was announced at 23.00 on July 7, and the nomination began at 02.00 on July 8. The beginning of preparations was detected by Russian intelligence, which made it possible to meet the enemy with dignity.
The Swedish forces began attacking the redoubts and the Russian cavalry behind them before dawn. Under the onslaught of the attackers, two incompletely completed redoubts were captured, all of whose defenders were killed. At the third redoubt the offensive was suspended and Menshikov's dragoons launched a counterattack.
Got started cavalry battle near the redoubts, which helped maintain the general line of defense. All attacks of the Swedish cavalry were repulsed. 14 banners and standards of the destroyed cavalry units were captured. After this, Charles XII sent infantrymen to help the cavalry.
Peter I gave the order to withdraw the cavalry to pre-prepared positions near the equipped camp, but Menshikov continued the battle, realizing that deploying cavalry units at the moment of the Swedes attack meant exposing them to great danger.
Because of this, Peter I transferred command to Baur, who began to deploy cavalry units. The enemy decided that the cavalry was fleeing and began to pursue it. But the commander of the Swedish troops, Renschild, returned the cavalry to cover the infantry, which by that time had reached the Russian fortified camp.
At this moment, there was an operational pause in the battle, associated with the Swedes waiting for the lagging infantry to be brought up and the cavalry to return. Part of their infantry was busy storming the third redoubt, which they could not take due to the lack of sufficient assault equipment.
Large numbers of Swedish infantry, including command staff, by that time it had already been destroyed. Because of this, their units, which stormed the third redoubt, began to retreat to the forest near Yakovtsy.
Peter I threw infantry and dragoons at the retreating Swedes, as a result of which part of the forces under the command of Ross were defeated. After this, the parties began to regroup their forces for the decisive battle.
The Russian side, unexpectedly for the Swedes, prepared for a counterattack. They prepared for battle and lined up under the command of General Levenhaupt. At the same time, two Swedish battalions were searching for Ross’s group, the defeat of which they did not yet know. Later, these two battalions will also join the battle.
The Swedes decided to overturn the Russian battle formation with a swift attack by the Carolines and Reiters. At 09.00 Swedish troops began their attack. They were met with fire from small arms and artillery, after which the battle turned into hand-to-hand combat. At the same time, Menshikov's cavalry struck the Swedes from the flank. At this time they began to break through the Russian left flank. Peter I personally took command of the 2nd battalion of the Novgorod regiment and restored the broken line of defense.
On the other flank, the Swedes did not even come into combat contact with the Russian defense line. They were attacked by experienced Russian Guards infantry regiments under the command of Golitsyn. The Swedish cavalry reserves were not brought into action in time and their left flank soon fled. What happened next was catastrophic for the Swedes.
As a result of Golitsyn's attack, the center of the Swedish order of battle, and their group began to be subject to flank attacks. The Swedes were surrounded and began a stampede.
During the battle, 137 banners and standards were captured, more than 9,000 military personnel were killed, and about 3,000 were captured. Russian losses totaled 1,345 killed and 3,290 wounded.
The pursuit of the retreating enemy was begun that same evening by the forces of Baur's dragoons and Golitsyn's life guards. On July 9, Menshikov joined the pursuit.
In the evening of the same day, Peter I organized a celebration to which captured Swedish generals were invited, to whom their swords were returned. During the event, Tsar Peter noted the loyalty and courage of the Swedes, who were teachers for him in military affairs.
Survivors Swedish forces led by the king began to regroup in the Pushkarevka area. The siege regiments from Poltava also returned here. By the evening of July 8, 1709, the Swedes headed south, to the crossing of the Dnieper.
The Swedes tried to increase the time for withdrawal by sending General Meyerfeldt for negotiations, but soon their group was finally defeated in the area settlement Perevolochny. About 16,000 Swedes capitulated here.
The Swedish king and Mazepa escaped and found shelter in the Ottoman Empire near the city of Bendery.
In total, about 23,000 Swedes were captured during the battle. Some of them agreed to serve Russia. Two Swedish infantry regiments and one dragoon regiment were formed, which subsequently fought for Russia.
Map and diagram of the Battle of Poltava
Reasons for the victory of the Russian army in the Battle of Poltava
Russia won thanks to the significant development of the army and state achieved under Peter I, military leadership talent Russian military leaders.
The radical reforms he carried out brought the country out of the Byzantine system, in which Russia was considered a secondary backward country, into modern world. In this new way of life, Russia has emerged as a force to be reckoned with throughout the world. This is confirmed by the fact that in Western countries Peter I is called the Great.
Battle of Poltava - meaning, results and results
The most important result of the Battle of Poltava was a significant change in the strategic position in the Eastern European theater of military operations. The Swedish army, previously the dominant military force in the region, was defeated, the regional leadership of Stockholm ended, and Russia became one of the world leaders.
On the side of Russia in further war became Saxony and Denmark. As a result of the Northern War of 1700-1721, Sweden left the club greatest powers world, and Russia triumphantly entered the world stage. The victory at Poltava contributed to ensuring the security of sea ports in the Baltic. Further annexation of the Baltic and Eastern Finland territories would have been impossible without this victory.
Stories about the triumph of Russian weapons near Poltava have remained in popular rumor for hundreds of years. This is well illustrated popular expression“like a Swede near Poltava” to denote a failed event.
Victory Day near Poltava was sung by many writers, poets and musicians, including Pushkin, who wrote the poem “Poltava”. Many films were shot, including abroad.
This historical event will always remain in people's memory as an important milestone in the development of the Russian state.
At the end of the autumn of 1708, after a grueling journey that lasted more than three months, the Swedish troops needed serious rest. Charles XII decides to move towards Poltava. The Poltava garrison was small. It consisted of about 4,000 active military personnel and about 2,500 adult residents capable of defending the city. Therefore, the Swedes thought it would be an easy victory.
At the end of April, the Swedish army approached the city and began a siege. However, the calculations did not come true. For more than two months, the city’s defenders, under the command of Colonel Kelin, bravely repelled attacks. They gave us the opportunity to gain time. By the end of June, the Russian army approached the left bank of the Vorskla.
The Swedish king was seriously preparing for the battle with the Russians. They built powerful field fortifications. Peter I made a roundabout maneuver. He sent his troops up the river. A crossing was built outside the village of Chernyakhovo. This allowed us to find ourselves in the rear of the Swedish army. By decision of Peter I, a place near the village of Yakovtsy was chosen as the site of a future general battle. The most convenient path for the attack was between two dense forests, Budishchinsky and Yakovetsky. To organize a decent meeting, the Russians built eight redoubts with an interval of 300 meters between them. They became a serious obstacle to the Swedish troops. Belgorodsky was located under the cover of the redoubt infantry regiment. His task was to staunchly defend the redoubt, destroy and exhaust the Swedes.
Peter placed 17 of the best cavalry regiments behind the redoubts. These regiments consisted of dragoons under the command of Menshikov. The main forces, which included 56 battalions, were located in a camp that was heavily fortified on all sides. In front of him was the main artillery.
The Swedes did not expect that the Russian army would appear so unexpectedly in the rear. They had to urgently rebuild. To clarify enemy positions, the Russians sent reconnaissance. She encountered a Swedish detachment. This was the vanguard that always accompanied the king. As a result of the shootout, the king was wounded in the leg.
June 27 (July 8), 1709 early in the morning swedish army went on the offensive. At the cost of huge losses, the Swedes captured all the redoubts. 6 Swedish infantry battalions and 10 squadrons were cut off. The Russian artillery fire was so strong that the Swedes began to hastily retreat to their positions. Five infantry regiments, supported by five dragoons, completely destroyed this army group. They managed to capture the commander of this group, General Schlippenbach.
The main forces of the enemy troops directed their attack through the redoubts. They were counterattacked by Russian artillery. Peter built his main forces successively in two lines. The camp was covered by 9 reserve battalions. The decisive attack began at 9 am. Both advancing armies drew closer. The battle turned into deadly hand-to-hand combat. Separate battalion The Novgorod regiment was led by Tsar Peter himself. He personally led them into the attack. The offensive was so successful that the Swedes could not resist. The Russian cavalry outflanked the Swedes. She struck them in the rear. It was decisive moment the whole battle. Soon the entire army fled from the battlefield.
King Charles suffered the most serious defeat. The Russians managed to capture 15,000 people. 9234 people were killed.
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