Battle of Poltava (1709). When was the Battle of Poltava Swedish infantry in the Battle of Poltava
The Battle of Poltava took place on June 27, 1709 and, in short, became one of the most important battles of the Northern War.
The Northern War developed in such a way that Sweden, led by the young king-commander Charles XII, won one victory after another. As a result, by mid-1708, all of Russia’s allies were actually withdrawn from the war: both the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Saxony. It became obvious that the outcome of the war would be determined in a head-to-head battle between Sweden and Russia.
On September 28, 1708, a battle took place near the village of Lesnoy, during which the Swedes were defeated. It would seem that this is an ordinary event for war. In fact, as a result of this victory, the Swedish army was left virtually without provisions and supplies, because the convoy was destroyed and the roads for sending a new one were blocked. Help for the Swedes came from outside Hetman Mazepa, who, together with the Zaporozhye Cossacks, swore allegiance to Charles XII.
After the Battle of Lesnaya, the army of Charles XII was left without supplies
The war dragged on, and Sweden wanted to quickly end this story. It was decided to fight in the spring of 1709. The Swedes approached Poltava and began its siege at the end of March. A small garrison successfully held back enemy attacks, waiting for Peter I with his army. The Russian Tsar sought help from the Crimean Khan and the Turkish Sultan, but they refused. Then Peter, having gathered a single Russian army, which was joined by part of the Zaporozhye Cossacks led by Skoropadsky, went to the besieged fortress.
The Crimean Khan and the Turkish Sultan refused to help Peter I
By the time the Battle of Poltava began, Charles XII fielded 37 thousand people against 60 thousand (and according to some sources, even 80 thousand) people from Russia. The number of guns that Peter’s army had at its disposal was many times greater than the Swedish arsenal.
Charles II wanted to attack suddenly, so the order to awaken the army was given at 23:00 on June 26. But due to disunity and delays, the preparations lasted for 3 hours. The plans of the Swedish ruler were thwarted.
The Russian army was twice as large as the Swedish army
The first test on the way of the army of Charles XII was the redoubts built by the Russians. They exhausted the Swedes even before the battle began, and at that time the main forces of the Russian army remained fresh.
Scheme of the Battle of Poltava
The Swedish offensive began at 9 am. As a result of artillery shelling, as well as volleys of small arms fire, the Swedes suffered huge losses from the first minutes. The offensive formation was completely destroyed. At the same time, the Swedes still failed to create an attack line that would be longer than the Russian line. If the maximum values of the formation of the Swedish army reached 1.5 kilometers, then the Russian detachments stretched up to 2 kilometers. Having a numerical superiority and smaller gaps between units. As a result, after the shelling, which created gaps of more than 100 meters among the Swedes, panic and flight began. It happened at 11 o'clock. In 2 hours, Peter's army won a complete victory.
Peter called the Battle of Poltava the beginning of salvation and prosperity
The total losses of the Russian army were 1,345 killed and 3,290 wounded. The Swedish side lost 9 thousand people killed. Thousands of people were captured.
The Poltava victory was a triumph for the Russian army. Peter I was proud of the main battle of his life. “An unheard-of Victoria in the world,” “Russian resurrection,” “the beginning of our salvation and well-being”—that’s what he called her.
After Poltava, the bloodless army of Charles XII was unable to advance or conduct any active military operations. This marked a turning point in the Northern War in favor of Russia.
At the end of February 1709 CharlesXII Having learned about the departure of Peter I from the army to Voronezh, he redoubled his efforts to force the Russians into battle, but it was all in vain. As a last resort, he undertook the siege of Poltava, where at the end of 1708 Peter sent the 4th battalion of the garrison, under the command of Colonel Kellin, and where, according to the assurance of the Zaporozhye ataman Gordeenko and Mazepa, there were significant stores and huge sums of money. Having personally examined the Poltava fortifications, Charles XII at the end of April 1709 moved to this city from the village of Budishcha, where his main apartment was then located, Colonel Shparre with 9 infantry regiments, 1 artillery and the entire army convoy. On the Russian side, General Renne was sent against him with a 7,000 cavalry detachment, which stood directly opposite the city, on the left bank of the Vorskla. He built two bridges and covered them with retrenchments, but his actions to maintain contact with Poltava were unsuccessful, and Renne returned to the army.
The city of Poltava was located on the heights of the right bank of the Vorskla, almost a mile from the river itself, from which it was separated by a very swampy valley. It was surrounded on all sides by a chain earthen rampart, and inside it a retrenchment with palisades was made by the garrison. Gordeenko advised the Swedes to capture Poltava through an accidental attack; but they failed to take advantage of his offer, and on the night of April 30 to May 1, 1709, taking advantage of the cover of bushes and a rather deep ravine, they opened the first trenches, at a distance of 250 fathoms from the city. The conduct of the siege was entrusted to Quartermaster General Gyllenkrok. According to his plan, it was supposed to conduct an attack, first of all, on the suburb, from the side where there was a high wooden tower, and then attack the Russian suburb. This was based on news received that in the suburbs of Poltava there were many wells, while in the city itself there was only one. Gillenkrok decided to lay three parallels at the same time, connected to each other by aproshas. Zaporozhye Cossacks were assigned for the work, and a detachment of Swedish infantry provided cover for them. Due to the inexperience of the Cossacks, the work proceeded slowly and unsuccessfully, so that by morning the troops could only occupy the first two parallels, while the third, barely begun, was not yet completed. The next night the Swedes managed to complete the broken routes leading to the third parallel. Gillenkrok suggested that the king attack Poltava at dawn, but Charles XII did not agree to his proposal, but ordered him to go through the ditch with grapnels and lay a mine under the rampart. This enterprise failed because the Russians, having fired a countermine, discovered the enemy's intentions.
Having no siege weapons, with only a small number of small-caliber field weapons, the Swedes could not hope for success, but, despite this, their actions became more decisive from hour to hour, and Poltava was in imminent danger. Colonel Kellin, who was in Poltava with 4 thousand regular troops and 2.5 thousand townspeople, sought all means for defense. He ordered a fence made of barrels to be made on the rampart and in the suburbs and repeatedly sent word with empty bombs to the Russian troops stationed near Poltava that the Swedes were getting closer and closer to the city and that the garrison was in a dangerous position, suffering a shortage of combat and partly life supplies. As a result, the Russians launched demonstrations against the enemy. Menshikov crossed to the left side of the Vorskla, and General Beling, following its right bank, attacked Colonel Shparre. The Swedes were repulsed, but Charles XII, who arrived in time with cavalry regiments, stopped the Russians and forced them to retreat. Despite this, Menshikov continued his movement along the left bank of the Vorskla and positioned himself opposite Poltava at the villages of Krutoy Bereg, Savka and Iskrevka, in two fortified camps separated from each other by the Kolomak stream, which flows in a swampy and wooded valley. Through it, 4 fascine roads with posts were made, which served as communications for both camps. Wanting to reinforce the city garrison, Menshikov took advantage of the Swedes’ oversight and on May 15 brought 2 battalions into Poltava, under the command of brigadier Alexei Golovin. Encouraged by this, Kellin began to act more decisively, and the Swedes had a lot of difficulty repelling his attacks.
On May 10, the main Swedish forces arrived at Poltava: the infantry occupied the surrounding villages; The cavalry stood at some distance from the city, supporting themselves by foraging. Charles XII, wanting to stop relations between the Poltava garrison and Menshikov, ordered the construction of a redoubt at the height of the right bank of the river, opposite the bridge, near the Steep Bank, and began to actively prepare all measures for the capture of the city. Then Sheremetev, who commanded the Russian army in Peter’s absence, decided to unite with Menshikov. At the end of May 1709, he crossed Psyol and Vorskla and occupied a camp at Kruty Bereg, adjoining this village with his left flank. The main forces of his army stood in two lines with a front to the north, while the vanguard was located to the left of Iskrevka and Savka, parallel to the Kharkov road, and a front to the south. Thus, both parts of the Russian army were facing each other with their rears. The main apartment of the Russians was in the village of Krutoy Beregu. From the vanguard, a detachment was sent all the way to Vorskla, which began laying various fortifications: several redoubts were built near the river bank, and a closed trench was located at a height near the bridge. But all attempts by Sheremetev to provide assistance to Poltava were in vain. The Swedes laid a series of closed fortifications along the right bank of the river, near the bridge, and thus completely interrupted the communication of the Russians with the city, the situation of which was becoming more dangerous from day to day. On June 1, the Swedes began to bombard Poltava and, having managed to set fire to the wooden tower of the suburb, launched an attack, but were repulsed with damage.
Preparations for the Battle of Poltava
On June 4, Peter himself arrived at the Russian army. His presence inspired the troops. Having entered into communication with the garrison of Poltava, he assembled a military council, at which it was decided, in order to liberate the city, to cross directly against him through Vorskla and attack the Swedes together with the Cossacks Skoropadsky, going there on the right side of this river. The marshy banks of the Vorskla impeded the work, but, despite the unsuccessful execution of the tasks, Peter was still faithful to the plan he had adopted. To entertain the attention of the enemy, he ordered General Renna, with 3 regiments of infantry and several regiments of dragoons, to move up the river to Semenov Ford and Petrovka and, having crossed the Vorskla, fortify himself on its right bank; General Allard received orders to cross the river slightly below Poltava. On the 15th, Renne, having transported two infantry battalions along the Lykoshinsky Ford, occupied the old fortification on opposite heights; The Cossacks stretched out to guard the crossings along the entire right bank from Tishenkov Ford to Petrovka. On June 16, Renne built on the hills between the last village and Semenov Ford a line of separate fortifications, behind which his detachment was located. On the same date, Peter completed the fortifications on the marshy island of Vorskla against the left flank of the Swedish coastlines.
Karl paid particular attention to the movements of Allard and Renne. He himself went against the first, sending a general Renschilda to Semyonovka. Carrying out a personal reconnaissance, the Swedish king was shot in the leg, which forced him to postpone the attack on Allard. Renschild's actions were no more successful.
But Peter also saw the futility of his enterprises; At the newly assembled military council, he proposed to cross the Vorskla somewhat higher than Poltava and give a general battle, the success of which could already be relied upon with greater certainty. On June 10, 1709, the Russian army moved from the camp at Krutoy Bereg to Chernyakhov and settled down near the last village in the camp, which was partly surrounded by trenches. Then Peter learned from the prisoners about Karl’s illness, and therefore, on the 20th, he hastened to cross the bridge at Petrovka and the three fords mentioned above. The Russian army occupied the fortified camp prepared by General Renne.
Charles XII, wishing to take advantage of the removal of the Russian army, ordered, on the 21st, an assault on Poltava, but it was repulsed, as was another undertaken by the Swedes the next day with desperate courage. On June 25, Peter moved more forward, stopped before reaching Yakovets, three miles below Semenovka, and strengthened his position. The Swedes immediately stepped forward, as if challenging the Russians to battle, but seeing that they were not leaving their trenches, they decided to attack them themselves and give battle, setting the 27th for this.
On the night of June 26, the Russians finally dug in their camp and built 10 more redoubts ahead at the exit from the adjacent valley. These redoubts were located at a distance of a rifle shot from each other. The Russian position was turned with its rear to Vorskla, and with its front to a vast plain extending to the village of Budishchi; it was surrounded by forest and had exits only from the north and southwest. The disposition of the troops was as follows: 56 battalions occupied a fortified camp; 2 battalions of the Belgorod regiment, under the command of Brigadier Aigustov, were assigned to defend redoubts armed with cannons; behind them were 17 cavalry regiments, under the command of Renne and Baur; the remaining 6 cavalry regiments were sent to the right to maintain communication with Skoropadsky. The artillery, including 72 guns, was commanded by Bruce. The number of Russian troops ranged from 50 to 55 thousand.
On the morning of the 26th, Peter, accompanied by some of his generals, under the cover of a small detachment, surveyed the surrounding area. He saw that in order to liberate Poltava he had to take the fight, and therefore he only wanted to wait for the arrival of the expected reinforcements, joining with which he intended to attack the Swedes himself on the 29th. Having experienced his happiness at Lesnaya, the tsar decided to personally take over the main command of the army. In the order given to the troops, with a strong speech he convinced them of the importance of the upcoming battle.
For his part, the Swedish king did not want to allow the Russians to warn him of the attack. For this purpose, he sent back in advance, beyond Poltava, under the cover of 2 cavalry regiments, his convoy and artillery, which, due to a lack of shells, could not take part in the battle. Only 4 guns remained with the troops. Charles XII, in consultation with Field Marshal Renschild, personally drew up a plan for the battle of Poltava, which, however, was not communicated either to the troops or even to the closest persons who made up the main headquarters. In all likelihood, the king believed that the Russians would defend themselves in their fortified camp, and therefore had the intention, dividing his army into columns, to break through between the advanced redoubts, push back the Russian cavalry and then, in accordance with the circumstances, or rush quickly against the trenches, or, if the Russians leave the camp, rush against them. Around noon, on the 26th, Quartermaster General Gillenkrok was ordered to form four columns of infantry, while the cavalry was divided by Renschild into 6 columns. There were 6 battalions in each infantry column, 6 in 4 medium cavalry columns, and 7 squadrons in both flanks. 2 battalions and part of the cavalry were left near Poltava; separate detachments covered the convoy and maintained posts down the Vorskla: in New Senzhary, Beliki and Sokolkovo. The last measure taken to ensure a retreat, in case of failure, was useless, because the Swedes did not build a bridge across the Dnieper in advance; In addition, this measure weakened the already weak army, which could only field 30 battalions and 14 cavalry regiments (in total up to 24 thousand) for battle. Mazepa and the Cossacks were left to guard the siege work.
Battle of Poltava 1709. Plan
Progress of the Battle of Poltava
By the evening of the 26th, Swedish troops lined up parallel to the position occupied by the Russian cavalry behind 6 redoubts. The infantry stood in the middle, and the cavalry on the flanks. Charles XII, carried on a stretcher along the front of his soldiers, in brief words convinced them to show the same courage at Poltava with which they fought at Narva and Golovchin.
At 2 o'clock in the morning, on the 27th, at dawn, the Swedes, starting the Battle of Poltava, moved against the Russian position, into the gap between the forests that bordered the plain. In front were infantry columns, under the command of Posse, Stackelberg, Ross and Shparre. Behind them, somewhat behind, followed the cavalry, led on the right wing by Kreutz and Schlippenbach, on the left by Cruz and Hamilton. Approaching the line of redoubts, the Swedish infantry stopped and waited for the arrival of its cavalry, which immediately rushed at several Russian cavalry regiments that had ridden out to meet it. Behind her the center and right wing of the infantry moved forward. Having taken 2 unfinished redoubts, she passed through the gaps between them and the rest of the trenches, because the Russians, for fear of damaging their own cavalry, stopped shooting at the enemy. The Swedish cavalry, supported by this rapid onslaught, pushed back the Russians. Noticing this, Peter, at 4 o'clock in the morning, ordered General Baur (Bour), who took command instead of the wounded Renne, to retreat with the Russian cavalry to the camp and join his left flank to it. During this movement, the left wing of the Swedes, without waiting for Ross to join, who was busy attacking the Russian flank redoubts, moved forward. This circumstance had an extraordinary influence on the fate of the entire battle of Poltava.
Battle of Poltava. Painting by P. D. Martin, 1726
Having come under heavy fire from the Russian fortified camp, the left wing of the Swedes, instead of persistently continuing the movement they had started, stopped for a while and moved further to the left. Charles XII, who was with him on a stretcher, wishing to more accurately ensure the accession of Ross, sent part of the cavalry to his aid, after which several other cavalry regiments followed, without any command from their generals. Crowded in disorder and coming under heavy fire from the Russian batteries, this cavalry also stretched to the left, to the place where the Swedish infantry stood, which in turn retreated to the edge of the Budishchensky forest, where, hiding from the shots of the Russian batteries, it began to put its upset rows. Thus, the Swedes were unable to take advantage of their initial success and were now placed in a dangerous position. Between their right and left wings a considerable gap was formed, which divided their army into two separate parts.
This mistake did not escape the attention of Peter, who personally controlled the actions of his troops in the battle of Poltava. In the midst of the strongest fire, even before that, seeing the onslaught of the left wing of the Swedes and believing that they would attack the Russian camp, he withdrew part of his infantry from it and built it in several lines, on both sides of the trenches, in order to hit the Swedes in the flank . When their regiments were badly damaged by our shots and began to settle down near the forest, he ordered, at 6 o’clock in the morning, the rest of the infantry to also leave the camp and line up in two lines in front of him. To take advantage of Ross's distance, the Tsar ordered Prince Menshikov and General Renzel, with 5 battalions and 5 dragoon regiments, to attack the Swedes' right wing. The Swedish cavalry regiments that rode out to meet them were overthrown, and the general himself Schlippenbach, who led the cavalry of the right wing, was captured. Then Renzel’s infantry rushed against Ross’s troops, who had meanwhile occupied the Yalowitsky forest, on the left flank of our position, and the Russian dragoons moved to the right , threatening the Swedish line of retreat. This forced Ross to retreat to Poltava itself, where he occupied the siege trenches and, attacked from all sides by Renzel’s 5 battalions pursuing him, was forced, after a half-hour period given to him to think, to put down his weapon.
Having left Renzel to pursue Ross to Poltava, Prince Menshikov, commanding the left Russian wing, joined the rest of the cavalry to the main forces of the army, located in two lines in front of the camp. In the center of the first line there were 24 infantry battalions, on the left flank - 12, and on the right - 23 cavalry squadrons. The second line consisted of 18 battalions in the center, 12 on the left flank, and 23 squadrons on the right. The right wing was commanded by Baur, the center by Repnin, Golitsyn and Allard, and the left wing by Menshikov and Belling. General Ginter was left in the trenches with 6 infantry battalions and several thousand Cossacks to reinforce the battle lines, if necessary. Moreover, 3 battalions, under the command of Colonel Golovin, were sent to the Vozdvizhensky Monastery to open communications with Poltava. 29 field guns, under the command of Artillery General Bruce, and all the regimental guns were in the 1st line.
The Swedes, after the separation of Ross, were left with only 18 infantry battalions and 14 cavalry regiments, and therefore they were forced to build their infantry in one line, and their cavalry on the flanks in two lines. There was almost no artillery, as we saw.
In this order, at 9 o'clock in the morning, the Swedish regiments with desperate courage rushed towards the Russians, who had already managed to line up in battle formation and were personally led by Peter. Both troops participating in the battle of Poltava, inspired by their leaders, understood their great purpose. Courageous Peter was ahead of everyone and, saving the honor and glory of Russia, did not think about the danger that threatened him. His hat, saddle and dress were shot through. The wounded Charles, on a stretcher, was also among his troops; the cannonball killed two of his servants and they were forced to carry him on spears. The clash between both troops was terrible. The Swedes were repulsed and retreated back in disorder. Then Peter moved forward the regiments of his first line and, taking advantage of the superiority of his forces, surrounded the Swedes on both flanks, who were forced to flee and seek salvation in the forest. The Russians rushed after them, and only a small part of the Swedes, after a two-hour battle in the forest, escaped the sword and captivity.
Peter I. Portrait by P. Delaroche, 1838
Charles XII, under the cover of a small detachment, mounted a horse, barely reached the place beyond Poltava where his convoy and artillery stood, under the cover of part of the Swedish cavalry and Mazepa’s Cossacks. There he waited for the concentration of the scattered remnants of his army. First of all, the convoy and park moved along the right bank of the Vorskla to New Senzhary, Beliki and Sokolkovo, where the cavalry posts left by Karl were located. The king himself followed them and arrived on the 30th in Perevolochna.
Results and results of the Battle of Poltava
The first result of the Battle of Poltava was the liberation of Poltava, which in some way constituted the very goal of the battle. On June 28, 1709, Peter solemnly entered this city.
The losses of the Swedes in the battle of Poltava were significant: 9 thousand of them fell in the battle, 3 thousand were taken prisoner; 4 cannons, 137 banners and standards were the prey of the Russians. Field Marshal Renschild, generals Stackelberg, Hamilton, Schlpppenbach and Ross, colonels Prince Maximilian of Württemberg, Horn, Appelgren and Engstätt were captured. A similar fate befell Minister Pieper and two state secretaries. Among the dead were Colonels Thorstenson, Springen, Sigrot, Ulfenarre, Weidenhain, Rank and Buchwald.
The Russians lost 1,300 killed and 3,200 wounded. Among those killed were: Brigadier Tellenheim, 2 colonels, 4 headquarters and 59 chief officers. Among the wounded were Lieutenant General Renne, Brigadier Polyansky, 5 colonels, 11 headquarters and 94 chief officers.
After the battle of Poltava, Peter dined with his generals and staff officers; the captured generals were also invited to the table and received favorably. Field Marshal Renschild and the Prince of Württemberg were given swords. At the table, Peter praised the loyalty and courage of the Swedish troops and drank to the health of his teachers in military affairs. Some Swedish officers, by their consent, were transferred by the same ranks to the Russian service.
Peter did not limit himself to just winning the battle: on the same day he sent Prince Golitsyn with the guards and Baur with the dragoons to pursue the enemy. The next day, Menshikov was sent for the same purpose.
The further fate of the Swedish army under Perevolochne had a close connection with the result of the battle of Poltava and constituted, so to speak, its end.
No matter how great the material consequences of the Battle of Poltava were, even more immense was its moral influence on the very course of events: Peter’s conquests were secured, and his extensive plans - to improve the well-being of his people by developing trade, navigation and education - could be freely carried out.
Great was the joy of Peter and the entire Russian people. In memory of this victory, the Tsar decreed an annual celebration in all places in Russia. In honor of the Battle of Poltava, medals were struck for all officers and soldiers who participated in it. For this battle, Sheremetev received huge estates; Menshikov was made field marshal; Bruce, Allard and Renzel received the Order of St. Andrew; Renne and other generals were awarded ranks, orders and money. Medals and other awards were distributed to all officers and soldiers.
Battle of Poltava |
|
Near Poltava, Ukraine |
|
Decisive victory for the Russian army |
|
Opponents |
|
Commanders |
|
Carl Gustav Rehnschild |
Alexander Danilovich Menshikov |
Strengths of the parties |
General forces: |
General forces: |
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 Ukrainian 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 the main military power in Europe.
After the Battle of Narva in 1700, Charles XII invaded Europe and a long war broke out involving many states, in which the army of Charles XII was able to advance far to the south, winning victories.
After Peter I conquered part of Livonia from Charles XII and founded a new fortified city of St. Petersburg at the mouth of the Neva, Charles decided to attack central Russia and capture Moscow. During the campaign, he decided to lead his army to Little Russia, whose hetman, Mazepa, went over to Karl’s side, but was not supported by the bulk of the Cossacks. By the time Charles's army approached Poltava, he had lost up to a third of the army, his rear was attacked by Peter's light cavalry - Cossacks and Kalmyks, and was wounded just before the battle. The battle was lost by Charles, and he fled to the Ottoman Empire.
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. It was in this year that Peter I amnestied and recalled from exile (accused of treason based on Mazepa’s slander) the Ukrainian colonel Paliy Semyon (real name Gurko); Thus, the sovereign of Russia 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 up to 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 was afraid to use such unreliable allies, of which there were about 2 thousand, in battle, and therefore left them in the baggage train.
In the spring of 1709, Charles XII, being with his army on Russian territory, decided to resume the attack on Moscow through Kharkov and Belgorod. The strength of his army decreased significantly and amounted to 35 thousand people. In an effort to create favorable preconditions for the offensive, Karl decides to quickly capture Poltava, located on the right bank of the Vorskla.
On April 30, Swedish troops began the siege of Poltava. Under the leadership of Colonel A. S. Kelin, its garrison of 4.2 thousand soldiers (Tver and Ustyug soldier regiments and one battalion each from three more regiments - Perm, Apraksin and Fechtenheim), 2 thousand Cossacks of the Poltava Cossack Regiment (Colonel Ivan Levenets) and 2.6 thousand armed townspeople successfully repelled a number of assaults. From April to June, the Swedes launched 20 assaults on Poltava and lost more than 6 thousand people under its walls. At the end of May, the main forces of the Russian army, led by Peter, approached Poltava. They were located on the left bank of the Vorskla River opposite from Poltava. After Peter decided on a general battle at the military council on June 16, on the same day the advanced detachment of Russians crossed the Vorskla north of Poltava, near the village of Petrovka, ensuring the possibility of crossing the entire army.
On June 19, the main forces of the Russian troops marched to the crossing and crossed Vorskla the next day. Peter I camped his army near the village of Semyonovka. On June 25, the Russian army redeployed even further south, taking up a position 5 kilometers from Poltava, near the village of Yakovtsy. The total strength of the two armies was impressive: the Russian army consisted of 60 thousand soldiers and 102 artillery pieces. Charles XII had up to 37 thousand soldiers (including up to ten thousand Zaporozhye and Ukrainian Cossacks of Hetman Mazepa) and 41 guns (30 cannons, 2 howitzers, 8 mortars and 1 shotgun). A smaller number of troops took part directly in the Battle of Poltava. On the Swedish side there were about 8,000 infantry (18 battalions), 7,800 cavalry and about 1,000 irregular cavalry, and on the Russian side - about 25,000 infantry, some of whom, even being present on the field, did not take part in the battle. In addition, on the Russian side, cavalry units numbering 9,000 soldiers and Cossacks (including Ukrainians loyal to Peter) took part in the battle. On the Russian side, 73 artillery pieces were involved in the battle against 4 Swedish ones. The charges for the Swedish artillery were almost completely used up during the siege of Poltava.
On June 26, the Russians began to build a forward position. Ten redoubts were erected, which were occupied by two battalions of the Belgorod infantry regiment of Colonel Savva Aigustov under the command of Lieutenant Colonels Neklyudov and Nechaev. Behind the redoubts there were 17 cavalry regiments under the command of A.D. Menshikov.
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. 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 brief patriotic appeals to soldiers and officers formed the basis of the famous order that required the soldiers to fight not for Peter, but for "Russia and Russian piety ..."
Tried to raise the spirit of his army and Charles XII. Inspiring the soldiers, Karl announced that tomorrow they would dine in the Russian wagon train, where a lot of booty awaited them.
Progress of the battle
Swedish attack on the redoubts
At two o'clock in the morning on June 27, Swedish infantry moved out from near Poltava in four columns, followed by six cavalry columns. By dawn, the Swedes entered the field in front of the Russian redoubts. Prince Menshikov, having lined up his dragoons in battle formation, moved towards the Swedes, wanting to meet them as early as possible and thereby gain time to prepare for the battle of the main forces.
When the Swedes saw the advancing Russian dragoons, their cavalry quickly galloped through the gaps between the columns of their infantry and quickly rushed at the Russian cavalry. By three o'clock in the morning a hot battle was already in full swing in front of the redoubts. At first, the Swedish cuirassiers pushed back the Russian cavalry, but, quickly recovering, the Russian cavalry pushed the Swedes back with repeated blows.
The Swedish cavalry retreated and the infantry went on the attack. The tasks of the infantry were as follows: one part of the infantry had to pass the redoubts without a fight towards the main camp of the Russian troops, while the other part, under the command of Ross, had to take the longitudinal redoubts in order to prevent the enemy from firing destructive fire on the Swedish infantry, which was advancing towards the fortified camp Russians. The Swedes took the first and second forward redoubts. Attacks on the third and other redoubts were repulsed.
The brutal stubborn battle lasted more than an hour; During this time, the main forces of the Russians managed to prepare for battle, and therefore Tsar Peter ordered the cavalry and defenders of the redoubts to retreat to the main position near the fortified camp. However, Menshikov did not obey the tsar’s order and, dreaming of finishing off the Swedes at the redoubts, continued the battle. Soon he was forced to retreat.
Field Marshal Renschild regrouped his troops, trying to bypass the Russian redoubts on the left. After capturing two redoubts, the Swedes were attacked by Menshikov's cavalry, but the Swedish cavalry forced them to retreat. According to Swedish historiography, Menshikov fled. However, the Swedish cavalry, obeying the general battle plan, did not develop their success.
During the mounted battle, six right-flank battalions of General Ross stormed the 8th redoubt, but were unable to take it, having lost up to half of their personnel during the attack. During the left flank maneuver of the Swedish troops, a gap formed between them and Ross's battalions and the latter were lost from sight. In an effort to find them, Renschild sent 2 more infantry battalions to search for them. However, Ross's troops were defeated by Russian cavalry.
Meanwhile, Field Marshal Renschild, seeing the retreat of the Russian cavalry and infantry, orders his infantry to break through the line of Russian fortifications. This order is immediately carried out.
Having broken through the redoubts, the main part of the Swedes came under heavy artillery and rifle fire from the Russian camp and retreated in disarray to the Budishchensky forest. At about six o'clock in the morning, Peter led the army out of the camp and built it in two lines, with infantry in the center, Menshikov's cavalry on the left flank, and General R. H. Bour's cavalry on the right flank. A reserve of nine infantry battalions was left in the camp. Renschild lined up the Swedes opposite the Russian army.
Decisive battle
At 9 o’clock in the morning, the remnants of the Swedish infantry, numbering about 4 thousand people, formed in one line, attacked the Russian infantry, lined up in two lines of about 8 thousand each. First, the opponents engaged in gunfire, then began hand-to-hand combat.
Encouraged by the presence of the king, the right wing of the Swedish infantry fiercely attacked the left flank of the Russian army. Under the onslaught of the Swedes, the first line of Russian troops began to retreat. According to Englund, the Kazan, Pskov, Siberian, Moscow, Butyrsky and Novgorod regiments (the leading battalions of these regiments) succumbed to enemy pressure, according to Englund. A dangerous gap in the battle formation formed in the front line of the Russian infantry: the Swedes “overthrew” the 1st battalion of the Novgorod regiment with a bayonet attack. Tsar Peter I noticed this in time, took the 2nd battalion of the Novogorod regiment and, at its head, rushed into a dangerous place.
The arrival of the king put an end to the successes of the Swedes and order on the left flank was restored. At first, the Swedes wavered in two or three places under the onslaught of the Russians.
The second line of Russian infantry joined the first, increasing pressure on the enemy, and the melting thin line of the Swedes no longer received any reinforcements. The flanks of the Russian army engulfed the Swedish battle formation. The Swedes were already tired of the intense battle.
Charles XII tried to inspire his soldiers and appeared in the place of the hottest battle. But the cannonball broke the king's stretcher, and he fell. The news of the death of the king swept through the ranks of the Swedish army with lightning speed. Panic began among the Swedes.
Having woken up from the fall, Charles XII orders himself to be placed on crossed peaks and raised high so that everyone can see him, but this measure did not help. Under the onslaught of Russian forces, the Swedes, who had lost formation, began a disorderly retreat, which by 11 o'clock turned into a real flight. The fainting king barely had time to be taken from the battlefield, put into a carriage and sent to Perevolochna.
According to Englund, the most tragic fate awaited two battalions of the Uppland Regiment, which were surrounded and completely destroyed (out of 700 people, only a few dozen remained alive).
Losses of the parties
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.
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 operations. He himself managed to escape with Mazepa and hid in the territory of the Ottoman Empire in Bendery. The military power of Sweden was undermined, and in the Northern War there was a turning point in favor of Russia. 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
The actions of Russian troops from the moment of the attempt to liberate Poltava from Vorskla until the end of the Battle of Poltava are shown.
Unfortunately, this most informative diagram cannot be placed here due to its dubious legal status - the original was published in the USSR with a total circulation of about 1,000,000 copies (!).
Memory of an event
- At the site of the battle, the Poltava Battlefield Museum-Reserve (now the National Museum-Reserve) was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. 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.
Monuments in Poltava:
- Monument of Glory
- 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 commemorative silver coins on June 1, 2009 (only reverses are shown):
In fiction
- A.S. Pushkin, “Poltava” - in the novel “Poltava Peremoga” by Oleg Kudrin (shortlist for the “Nonconformism-2010” award, “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”, Moscow) the event is considered, “replayed” in the genre of alternative history.
Images
Documentary film
- “The Battle of Poltava. 300 years later." — Russia, 2008
Art films
- Servant of Sovereigns (film)
- Prayer for Hetman Mazepa (film)
Panorama of the Battle of Poltava
State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Field of the Poltava Battle"
On June 27, 1709, the Battle of Poltava took place - the largest battle of the Northern War, which lasted 21 years. As a result of the Battle of Poltava, the Russian army of Peter I defeated the Swedish army under the leadership of Charles XII. The result of the battle of Poltava was the weakening of Sweden's influence in Europe and the strengthening of Russia's influence. The Battle of Poltava as a whole changed the course of history throughout Europe, and possibly the entire World.
Many famous writers, poets, artists and scientists dedicated their works and scientific works to the Battle of Poltava. The most famous works about the Battle of Poltava include the poem “Poltava” by A.S. Pushkin and the mosaic “Battle of Poltava” by M.V. Lomonosov. As a result of the battle near Poltava, the small town became known not only throughout the Russian Empire, but also throughout Europe as a city of Russian military glory.
In 1909, on the initiative of the teacher of the Poltava Cadet Corps I.F. Pavlovsky, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, a museum was opened on the field of the Poltava Battle. in 1981, the museum, together with a complex of monuments related to the Battle of Poltava, was transformed into the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Field of the Poltava Battle". The total area of the reserve is 771.5 hectares.
On the territory where the events of the Battle of Poltava took place, there are now eleven settlements: Zhuki, Ivonchentsy, Lesnye Polyany, Osmachki, Petrovka, Pushkarevka, Rybtsy, Semyonovka, Takhtaulovo, Yakovtsy, as well as the Khrestovozdvizhensky Monastery. In addition, in the protected zone of the reserve there are over 30 mounds, which date back to the period from 1 thousand BC. up to 1 thousand AD
In 1962, near the village of Yakovtsy (in the northeastern part of the Poltava Battlefield), an arboretum was founded - currently the Poltava City Park - a landmark of landscape art of national importance. The total area of the park is 124.5 hectares.
With the state support of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, on July 27, 2009 in Poltava, a large-scale celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava was held. By this significant date, the majority of the reserve's facilities were reconstructed.
Now the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Field of the Poltava Battle" is a large cultural and scientific-methodological center for the study of the history of Ukraine, Russia and Europe during the 17th-18th centuries and the only reserve in Ukraine that is part of IAMAM - an international organization of military history museums under the auspices UNESCO. The reserve is included in the world tourist route.
Today, the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Field of the Poltava Battle" is a significant cultural scientific and methodological center for the study of the history of Ukraine, Russia and Europe during the 17th-18th centuries.
The following main monuments are associated with the Battle of Poltava:
— Holy Cross Monastery (1650), in which the headquarters of Charles XII was located;
— Spasskaya Church (1705-1706);
— Monument to Glory (1778);
— Monument at the resting place of Peter I (1849);
— Sampsonievskaya Church (1852 - 1856);
— Mass grave of fallen Russian soldiers (1894);
— Monument to the defenders of the Poltava fortress and commandant A.S. Kelin (1909);
— Monument to the Swedes from the Swedes (1909);
— Monument to the Swedes from the Russians (1909);
— White gazebo (1909);
— Museum of the History of the Battle of Poltava (1909);
— Chapel on the site of a peasant camp (1910);
— Monument to Peter I in front of the house of the Museum of the History of the Battle of Poltava (1915);
— Ten granite obelisks on the site of redoubts (fortifications intended for all-round defense (1939);
— Monument at the site where the Russian army crossed the Vorskla River (1959);
— A memorial sign on the site of the command post of Peter I (1973);
— Monument to Ukrainian fallen Cossacks (1994);
— Rotunda of Reconciliation (2009).
Holy Cross Monastery
The monastery was founded in 1650 in honor of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord by natives of the Mgarsko-Lubensky Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery in memory of the first victories over the Poles near Poltava. During the Poltava period of the Northern War, during May - June 1709, the monastery was the residence of Charles XII.
Holy Cross Monastery in Poltava
Spasskaya Church
In 1705 - 1706, the wooden Spasskaya Church was built on the site of the Transfiguration Church that burned down in 1704 and is the only authentic landmark from the times of the Northern War and the Battle of Poltava. After the Battle of Poltava, a thanksgiving prayer service for the victory in the Battle of Poltava was held in the Spasskaya Church, which was attended by Peter I.
Monument to Glory
In 1778 in Poltava, on Mostovaya Street (later Oktyabrskaya), in honor of the victory in the Battle of Poltava, a column-shaped brick obelisk was built. The obelisk was crowned with a ball and two seated figures in ancient Roman togas.
The monument that exists today was opened on July 27, 1811. It is a cast iron column mounted on a granite pedestal, in the base of which 18 cast iron cannons are mounted. On top of the column is crowned a gilded eagle with outstretched wings and a wreath in its beak, facing the Poltava Battlefield.
The Monument of Glory is located at the intersection of the axes of eight radial streets and is the compositional center of the city of Poltava (and its historical symbol).
Monument at the resting place of Peter I
The monument at the resting place of Peter I was erected in 1849 on the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava on the site of the house of the Cossack Magdenko. Peter I stayed in this house to rest after the Battle of Poltava. There is an inscription on the monument: “Peter I rested here after his exploits on June 27, 1709.”
Monument at the resting place of Peter 1 in Poltava
Sampsonievskaya Church
After the Battle of Poltava, Peter I issued a decree on the construction of the Peter and Paul Monastery on the field of the Poltava Battle with a church in honor of Sampson the Host (the Battle of Poltava took place on June 27, the day of St. Sampson). Despite the tsar's decree and funding, Samson's Church was built only in 1856.
Monument at the mass grave of Russian soldiers
On June 28, 1709 (the day after the Battle of Poltava), by order of Peter I, the burial of the dead Russian soldiers took place. After the funeral service, the Tsar himself erected a cross over the mass grave with the inscription: “Pious warriors, crowned with blood for piety, years from the incarnation of God the Word 1709, June 27th.”
In its modern form, the mass grave of Russian soldiers who died during the Battle of Poltava was built in 1894. At the base of the mound, a stone crypt was built, in which the Church of Peter and Paul was built. It contains marble plaques with a list of regiments that took part in the Battle of Poltava, their flags and other historical relics.
Monument to the commandant of the Poltava fortress A.S. Kelin
On June 27, 1909, on the site of the Mazurovsky bastion of the Poltava Fortress and on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, a Monument to the defenders of the Poltava Fortress and its commandant A.S. was opened. Kelin. Emperor Nicholas II was present at the opening of the monument.
Monument to the commandant of the Poltava fortress Kelin in Poltava
Monument to the Swedes from compatriots
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava in 1909, Swedish compatriots erected a Monument to the Swedes from the Swedes. On both sides of the monument there are inscriptions in Swedish and Russian: “In memory of the Swedes who fell here in 1709.”
In 1909, the Monument to the Swedes from the Russians was built. On the facade of the monument there is a bronze plaque with inscriptions in Russian and Swedish: “Eternal memory to the brave Swedish soldiers who fell in the battle near Poltava on June 27, 1709.”
Monument to the Swedes from the Russians in Poltava
In 1909, for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, a horseshoe-shaped rotunda with eight columns, the White Pavilion, was built on the site of the Podolsk bastion of the Poltava Fortress. During the Nazi occupation of Poltava, the gazebo was destroyed and restored in 1954.
White gazebo in Poltava
Museum of the History of the Battle of Poltava
The Museum of the History of the Battle of Poltava was opened on June 26, 1909 on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the battle. Initially, the museum was located in a building specially built for it inside the fence of the Church of St. Sampson. During the civil war in Ukraine (1917-1918), the Museum of the History of the Battle of Poltava was repeatedly looted. Among the stolen exhibits: weapons, paintings, silver and bronze items. In 1918, the remains of the museum's exposition were transferred for storage to the Central Proletarian Museum of the Poltava Region (now the Poltava Regional Museum of Local Lore).
In 1949, the Council of Ministers of the USSR decided to recreate the museum of the history of the Battle of Poltava. The building of the former home for the disabled of the Russian-Turkish war, built at the end of the 19th century, was chosen as the location for the new museum. On September 23, 1950, the grand opening of the museum took place on the field of the Poltava Battle.
Museum of the History of the Battle of Poltava in Poltava
In 1909, celebrations dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava took place in Poltava. On the edge of the Poltava Battlefield, a tent camp was set up for the peasants of the Poltava province, with whom Emperor Nicholas II met, on the initiative of Russian Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin. In 1910, it was decided to perpetuate this event by building a chapel.
Chapel on the site of a peasant camp in Poltava
In 1950, a bronze monument to Peter I (life-size) was erected in front of the house of the Museum of the Battle of Poltava. The sculpture was made in 1915 with funds raised by graduates of the Petrovsky Poltava Cadet Corps, where it was located until its disbandment in 1919.
Monument to Peter 1 in Poltava
Russian army redoubts
In 1909, on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, concrete obelisks were installed at the locations of defensive structures (redoubts), and in 1939, on the 230th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, they were replaced with granite obelisks.
Russian troops, on the path of the advance of the Swedish army (between the Yakovchansky and Malobudyshchansky forests), built a line of fortifications of 10 redoubts, which played an important role in the Battle of Poltava. The redoubts were quadrangular earthen fortifications surrounded by ramparts about 3 meters high and ditches about 2.5 meters deep. The length of each side of the redoubt was about 50 meters, and the distance between the fortifications was about 300 meters (which was approximately equal to the range of a rifle shot).
In 2009, for the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, the third redoubt of the defensive line was restored to full size.
Russian army redoubt in Poltava
Obelisk at the site where Russian troops crossed the river. Vorskla
In 1909, for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, a concrete monument was erected at the site where the Russian army crossed the Vorskla River on June 20, 1709 between the villages of Petrovka and Semenovka (currently Krotenkovo). In 1959, for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, the concrete obelisk was replaced with a granite monument.
Obelisk at the site of the crossing of Peter I's army through Vorskla in Poltava
Memorial sign on the site of Peter the Great's command post
In 1973, a memorial granite stone was installed with the inscription: “At this place there was a command post of the Russian army in the Battle of Poltava on June 27, 1709.”
Memorial sign on the site of the command post of Peter 1 in Poltava
Monument to Ukrainian fallen Cossacks
The monument to Ukrainian fallen Cossacks was opened in 1994.
Monument to the fallen Cossacks in Poltava
Rotunda honoring the memory of the fallen participants in the Battle of Poltava
The rotunda arch was built in 2009 for the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava. On the inner sides of the three pylons there are mosaic panels depicting the national flags of Ukraine, Russia and Sweden, under them on marble boards there are inscriptions in three languages: “Time heals wounds.”
Rotunda of Reconciliation in Poltava
Other monuments of the Poltava battle
Krinitsa Peter I
In the forest area, not far from the village, Forest Glades, there is a place that is considered a hydrological monument. According to legend, a few days before the decisive phase of the Northern War - the Battle of Poltava - there were units of the Russian army that were preparing to cross Vorskla. The soldiers dug a well, from which Tsar Peter I was the first to taste water. Now this well is widely known as the Krinitsa of Peter I. In 2009, on the 300th anniversary of the celebrations dedicated to the Battle of Poltava, a memorial sign was installed at the Krinitsa.
Krinitsa Petra 1 in Poltava
Memorial sign near Krinitsa Peter 1 in Poltava
Memorial plaque in honor of the reconstruction of the Poltava Battlefield
Commemorative plaque for the reconstruction of the Poltava Battlefield
The building of the first museum of the Battle of Poltava
In 1909 (on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the battle), a small building was built on the field of the Battle of Poltava, which housed the first museum of the Battle of Poltava. In 1917-1918 (during the civil war in Ukraine) the museum was looted, and the building was empty and destroyed.
In 2009 (on the eve of the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava), the museum building was restored. It was planned to organize a Russian church school there. But the plans were not destined to come true and the building is currently empty.
Obelisk in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava
In the regional center of New Sanzhary (30 km from Poltava) a monument was erected in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava. The armies of Peter I and Charles XII fought in Novi Sanzhary.
In 1909, by decision of the rural community, a monument was erected in Novi Sanzhary in honor, which disappeared during the Civil War (1917-1918). In 1965, while digging a pit in the center of the village, the obelisk was found. By resolution of the village council, the monument was located in a picturesque park on the central street of Novi Sanzhary.
Obelisk in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava in Novi Sanzhary
Iron Cross in memory of the Ukrainians who died in the Battle of Poltava
In 1993, a modest iron cross was erected on the Poltava Battle Field in memory of the Ukrainians who died in the Battle of Poltava. This cross became the first monument to the Ukrainian Cossacks who died in the Poltava battle.
The inscription on the sign of the cross reads: “To the Ukrainian Cossacks who died on this field for the fate of the Fatherland in 1709.”
Podolsk Tower
On a high hill above the Vorskla River, about 1000 years ago the defensive structures of the chronicle city of Ltava were built. In the 18th century, these structures held back the Swedish advance for three months (until the arrival of Peter I’s army). The fortress had 15 towers.
In 2009, on the eve of the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, the wooden Podolsk tower of the defensive bastion of the Poltava fortress was reconstructed. The tower is located on Ivanova Gora, which is the historical core of Poltava. The Podolsk Tower is the best viewing platform in the city of Poltava - it offers views of many tens of kilometers, including the Holy Cross Monastery.
Memorial plaque on the Podolsk Tower in Poltava
In 2013, the building of Sampsonievskaya Church was decorated with two mosaic coats of arms of the Russian Empire and a fresco depicting Peter 1, whose horse is trampling the Swedish flag. Due to the fact that the flag is similar in color composition to the Ukrainian one and in connection with further political events, the flag was repainted gray, and icons of the Most Pure Mother were placed in place of the coats of arms of the Russian Empire.
Mosaic of Peter 1 in Poltava
“Battle of Poltava” (1726) / Drawing: i.ytimg.com
The Battle of Poltava is the largest general battle of the Northern War between Russian troops under the command of Peter I and the Swedish army of Charles XII. The battle took place on the morning of June 27 (July 8), 1709 (June 28 according to the Swedish calendar) 6 miles from the city of Poltava (Hetmanate). The defeat of the Swedish army led to a turning point in the Northern War in favor of Russia and to the end of Sweden's dominance in Europe.
July 10 is the Day of Military Glory of Russia - the Day of the victory of the Russian army under the command of Peter the Great over the Swedes in the Battle of Poltava.
Background
After the defeat of the Russian army at Narva in 1700, Charles XII resumed military operations against the Saxon Elector and the Polish King Augustus II, inflicting one defeat after another.
The return of Russian lands in Ingria, the founding by Russian Tsar Peter I of the new fortified city of St. Petersburg (1703) at the mouth of the Neva, and the successes of the Russians in Courland (1705) prompted Charles XII to decide, after the defeat of Augustus II, to return to action against Russia and capture Moscow. In 1706, Augustus II suffered a heavy defeat and lost the crown of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In June 1708, Charles XII began a campaign against Russia.
Peter I understood the inevitability of the Swedes' advance deep into Russia. After the Russian army escaped defeat at Grodno in 1706, shortly after the arrival of the Tsar on December 28, 1706, a military council was held in the Polish town of Zholkiev. To the question, “...should we give battles with the enemy in Poland, or at our borders,” it was decided not to give (if such a misfortune happens, it is difficult to carry out a retreat), “and for this purpose it is necessary to give a battle at our borders, when there is a necessary need; and in Poland, at crossings, and in parties, also by stripping provisions and fodder, to torment the enemy, to which many Polish senators agreed.”
The year 1708 passed in clashes between the Swedish and Russian armies on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (the battles of Golovchin, Dobro, Raevka and Lesnaya). The Swedes fully felt the “starvation” in provisions and fodder, which was greatly facilitated by the peasantry of White Rus', who hid bread, feed for horses, and killed foragers.
In the fall of 1708, Hetman I. S. Mazepa betrayed Peter and took the side of Charles, assuring him of the allied feelings of the population of Little Russia towards the Swedish crown. Due to illness and poor provision of food and ammunition, the Swedish army needed rest, so the Swedes from near Smolensk turned to the lands of Little Russia in order to rest there and continue the attack on Moscow from the south.
However, the winter turned out to be difficult for the Swedish army, despite the fact that the Russian army in the lands of Little Russia stopped the “scorched earth” tactics. The peasants of Little Russia, like the Belarusians, greeted foreigners with hatred. They ran into the forests, hid bread and feed for horses, and killed foragers. The Swedish army was starving.() By the time Charles’s army approached Poltava, it had lost up to a third of its strength and numbered 35 thousand people. In an effort to create favorable preconditions for the offensive, Karl decides to capture Poltava, which from a fortification point of view seemed “easy prey.”
Russian Military Glory Day - Victory Day of the Russian army under the command of Peter the Great over the Swedes in the Battle of Poltava (1709) celebrated on July 10 in accordance with the Federal Law of the Russian Federation of March 13, 1995 No. 32-FZ “On the days of military glory (victory days) of Russia.”
The Battle of Poltava itself - the decisive episode of the Great Northern War - took place (June 27) on July 8, 1709. The Russian army of Peter I and the Swedish army of Charles XII took part in it.
After Peter I conquered Livonia from Charles XII and founded the new fortified city of St. Petersburg, Charles decided to attack central Russia and capture Moscow. Unfavorable climatic conditions prevented Charles from doing this, who led his army to Moscow from the south, through Ukraine. By the time Karl's army approached Poltava, Karl was wounded, lost a third of his army, and his rear was attacked by Cossacks and Kalmyks.
(April 30) On May 11, 1709, Swedish troops invaded Russian territory and began the siege of Poltava. Its garrison of 4,200 soldiers and 2,600 armed citizens under the leadership of Colonel A.S. Kelina successfully repelled a number of assaults. At the end of May, the main forces of the Russian army, led by Peter, approached Poltava. They were located on the left bank of the Vorskla River opposite from Poltava. After (June 27) on July 8 at the military council Peter I decided on a general battle, on the same day the advanced detachment of the Russians crossed the Vorskla north of Poltava, near the village of Petrovka, ensuring the possibility of crossing the entire army.
Rotunda honoring the memory of the fallen participants of the Battle of Poltava in the Poltava Battle Field reserve / Photo: FotoYakov, Shutterstock
As a result of the Battle of Poltava, the army of King Charles XII ceased to exist. The king himself fled with Mazepa to the territory of the Ottoman Empire. The decisive Russian victory led to a turning point in the Northern War in Russia's favor and ended Sweden's dominance as the main military power in Europe.
In 1710, in St. Petersburg, in honor of the victory in this battle, the Sampsonian Church was built by order of Peter (since the battle took place on the day of St. Sampson the Host - his memory is honored on June 27, old style). On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the battle, the now famous sculptural group “Samson Tearing the Lion’s Jaw” was installed in Peterhof, where the lion symbolized Sweden, whose coat of arms contains this heraldic beast. On the very field of the Battle of Poltava in 1852, the Sampsonievskaya Church was founded.
Fragments of the diorama of the Battle of Poltava / Photo:pro100-mica.livejournal.com
The first major celebration of the victory in the Battle of Poltava was organized for its 200th anniversary in 1909: a medal “In memory of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava” was established, the museum-reserve “Field of the Poltava Battle” (now the National Museum-Reserve) was founded on the site of the battle. Several monuments have been erected. In Soviet times, the event was practically forgotten; only in 1981, in preparation for the 275th anniversary of the battle, Poltava Field was declared a state historical and cultural reserve. And since 1995, this date has been celebrated as the Day of Military Glory of Russia.
7 interesting facts about the Battle of Poltava
1. 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.
2. 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 the most important events in his 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 the 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, if only Russia lives in bliss and glory for your well-being,” these are the famous words he said before the start of the battle.
3. 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 you withdraw all the regiments, then you will not give up the fight and will leave: for this purpose, you must also make a reduction from the other regiments, so that through your derogation you will attract the enemy to the battle.” 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.
4. 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 the best armies in Europe capitulated.
5. 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.
6. 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.”
7. 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.
When writing the material, data from open Internet sources was used:
