The Northern War Ukraine Russia Sweden

[The_James]

Also one of many Ukrainian liberation wars.

[The_James]

The northern war was a coalation of Russia, Saxony, Poland and Denmark to rid Sweden of being a great power and dominant on the Baltic sea.
Sweden quickly crushed Denmark, Saxony and Poland also capturing Plolands capital Warsaw as well as defeating the Russians at eg. Narva.
The Swedish King Karl XII wanted to crush Russia once and for all.
Therefor he invaded Ukraine and gained a valuable ally: Hetman Ivan Mazepa.
The Russian army was poorly organized and would stand no chance against the most well trained and most experienced army on continental Europe.
Czar Peter I understood that and was so desperate to modernize the Russian army that he got a job at a London dockyard and studied the western armies.
When he was (He had been in England several years befor the war and made his studies)finished modernizing his armies he wanted to rid his lands of the Swedish threat; so he mobilized an army of 40,000 men and set off for Ukraine.
When Mazepa and Karl XII heard of this they mobilized all their 25,000 Swedes and about 5,000 Cossacks they where outnumbered by 10,000 men and the Russians also had a nearby fortress outside the city of Poltava in NE Ukraine.
The battle finally broke out on the 27th of June 1709 outside Poltava, when the Swedes tried to fortify themselves.
Then the Russians attacked on a wide front, they also had four fortified hills where they placed most of their cannons.
The Swedish cavalry and artillery were stuck in a nearby swamp; this happened because the King had been shot in the foot so the two leading generals had to lead the battle, but unfortunately they could not cooperate with each other so the infantry ran out of gun powder and when the cavalry arrived it was too late, the joint Cossack and Swedish army had been defeated. Hetman Mazepa and King Karl XII had fled to Bender on the other side of the Ottaman border and built a sort of fortified town with the remaints of the army.
Later the Turks attacked them and Mazepa was killed while Karl XII fled back to Sweden.
The war continued until 1721, but the hope of a free Ukraine was lost for the Swedish army the only army which would help the Ukrainians was defeated.
Now donЄt think IЄm Swedish, for I am not I only live here but IЄm British - American.
I actually hate Sweden but itЄs history is fascinating and especially Ukrainian and British.

[Edited by The_James on 1st January 2003 at 00:39]

[Zbyszek]

Originally posted by The_James
The northern war was a coalation of Russia, Saxony, Poland and Denmark to rid Sweden of being a great power and dominant on the Baltic sea.
Sweden quickly crushed Denmark, Saxony and Poland also capturing Poland's capital Warsaw as well as defeating the Russians at eg. Narva.
...

My Polish two cents: Poland's contribution was a stupid decision of our Saxon King Augustus the Strong (indeed, he was physically extremely strong but he was a major political loser at the same time). This expensive war gave Rzeczpospolita only a lot of nonsense destruction and it was a virtual sign that our country ceased to be a big European player.
Our good Jagiellonian or even Swedish Kings would never commit such a political suicide.
When debauched Augustus was dying, he said: all my life was just one big sin. Oh God, be merciful for me.

[Boyko_Lowlander]

Other notable states: Prussia, Hanover. The Northern War between Muscovy-Russia and Sweden(1700-1721) was also called the Great Northern War. Ukraine.com forum should post a series of events, if not a few threads surrounding the Northern Wars of the 1600's which involved nations of Eastern & Northern Europe.

The battle of Narva is one of my favorite!

[The_James]

I agree. Sorry for delaying so long, but I have not had time to reply. I do think that they should post a series of threads about the Northern War. Thet did also effect Ukraine greatly.
The man who represented Ukraine, Mazepa, is now renowned as Ukraines greatest hero.

[The_James]

I think that they should start a thread about the battle of Poltava. That was the battle which brought upon the wars outcome. 25,000 Swedes 3,000-5,000 Cossacks and 40,000 Russians. Poltava, was I think, the most interesting battle of the war.