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Thread: Battle of Poltava.

  1. #1
    Formerly: SwedishFish Member KarlXII's Avatar
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    Default Battle of Poltava.

    Amazingly, on June 28th, it will be 300 years since the decisive Battle of Poltava. The Battle, occuring during the Great Northern War, ended Sweden's Baltic hegemony and led to the rise of Imperial Russia.

    The Swedish combined forces, under King Karl XII, consisted of 22,100 Swedes. 11,800 Cavalry, 9,300 Infantry, 1,000 Polish hussars, 3,000-7,000 Cossacks (Who were allied to the Swedes to gain an independant state) and 34 cannon. However, only 17,000 men and 4 cannons participated in the battle.

    The Russian forces, led by Tsar Peter I (The Great), consisted of about 60,000 men. 37,000 infantry, 23,700 cavalry, 102 cannons. 34,000 men actually participated in the battle.

    Before Poltava, Karl XII had won decisive victories against Denmark and Russia, particularly at Narva, which knocked both nations out of the war temporarily. However, even with the diplomatically advantageous position, Karl refused to make peace with his enemies, famously stating: "I have resolved never to start an unjust war but never to end a legitimate one except by defeating my enemies.

    Having dealt with Augustus II of Saxony-Poland, Karl XII decided to end the war once and for all with a strike to Moscow. Crossing the Vistula in December 30, the Swedish Force, 44,000 men, suffered from epidemics and winter.

    Having a loss of supplies, Karl decided to strike in the Ukraine instead. The Cossack commander, Ivan Mazepa, officially allied himself with Karl to gain autonomy after the war.

    The Swedes began a siege of the Poltava fortress, during which Karl was wounded. Peter, however, was ready, after training his army to more modern standards.

    Karl left command to Gustav Rehnskiöld and Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt.

    The battle began at 3:45 AM, June 28, with the Swedes advancing at a standard formation, pressing into the redoubts. However, the obscurity due to smoke from cannons and musket, added with the warming weather, caused this advantage to be nullified.

    Lewenhaupt ordered the Swedish infantry into an attack, only to have them regroup. A major blow was struck when a detachment of infantry, commanded by General Roos, was not informed of this and was isolated by a 4,000+ reinforcement of Russians. He subsequently surrendered when low on ammunition.

    While waiting on Roos, the Russians advanced from the fort and marched to the Swedish line. The Swedes marched as well, under fire from Russian cannons. The Swedish line only numbered around 4,000, while the Russians numbered at 20,000+. At 100 meters, the Russian infantry opened fire. At 30 meters, the Swedish line opened fire and charged (a standard tactic of the Karoliner Army, for more on their tactics, wiki "Caroleans").

    The Swedes were on the verge of breaking through, but the cavalry intended to exploit a push was disorganized and could not arrive in time. The huge Russian line showed it's weight, and started to encircle the Swedes in a Cannae style battle. The Swedish cavalry attempted to buy time for the infantry to retreat by charging headlong into the Russians.

    Seeing all of this from a stretcher, Karl ordered a general retreat at 11:00 AM. By noon, the battle was officialy over.

    Several thousand prisoners were tooken. Karl and Mazepa escaped with around 1,000+ men to Ottoman controlled Moldavia. There Karl would spend five years before returning to Sweden, only to die in battle in Norway.

    And so, 300 years later, Swedes, Russians, Ukrainians and historians celebrate this battle, Karl XII, Peter the Great, and this war in history.

    Here's to you, Poltava. 300 years old.
    HOW ABOUT 'DEM VIKINGS
    -Martok

  2. #2

    Default Re: Battle of Poltava.

    It could be argued that the Swedish army was already doomed before Poltava. The army was already depleted from Peter the Great's scorched earth tactics the winter before. Moral was low and the Swedish army by the time of the battle was half of what it was at the beginning invasion. In addition with their supply lines extended and supplies low it was only a matter of time before Charles would have been forced to withdraw.
    Last edited by Lord Winter; 06-08-2009 at 06:00.
    When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples
    -Stephen Crane

  3. #3
    Vindicative son of a gun Member Jolt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Battle of Poltava.

    At least you guys have Ibrahimovic.[/joke]

    Nice report of the battle.
    BLARGH!

  4. #4
    The Dam Dog Senior Member Sheogorath's Avatar
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    Default Re: Battle of Poltava.

    And yet, nobody in the US besides me and a few other crazy Russophiles has even HEARD of Poltava. It makes me sad. Even my parents, both college graduates, my dad with multiple degrees, had no clue what I was going on about.

    As to why the Swedes lost, it's been my personal understanding that while Charles was a brilliant tactician, he wasn't much of a strategist. He quickly lost sight of the goal of a quick defeat of Russia, which is essential, because getting into a slugging match with Russia was, and pretty much always has been, a rather bad idea. It seems Russia pretty much has the art of the 'war of attrition' down.

    And, of course, Peter was a stubborn asshole who really hated losing
    Tallyho lads, rape the houses and burn the women! Leave not a single potted plant alive! Full speed ahead and damn the cheesemongers!

  5. #5
    master of the wierd people Member Ibrahim's Avatar
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    Default Re: Battle of Poltava.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sheogorath View Post
    And yet, nobody in the US besides me and a few other crazy Russophiles has even HEARD of Poltava.
    I'm more a swedophile (at least for that timeperiod)
    I was once alive, but then a girl came and took out my ticker.

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