Magnus Stiernstråle
Encyclopedia
Magnus Stiernstråle was a Swedish military colonel
, and was most likely from Livonia
.
Stiernstråle became captain of the Hämeenlinna
infantry in 1648. When the Great Northern War
erupted in 1700, he was lieutenant colonel and commander of the Ivangorod Fortress
, which he had to give up on August 16, 1704. In 1710 he became a colonel in Vyborg
and Commandant of the Vyborg Fortress, which was fitted with a garrison of only 4 000. In March, it was attacked
by a numerically superior Russian force under General Fyodor Apraksin.
At first, the Russians, who had not brought any real siege artillery, had little success. Soon, however, when Czar Peter I himself arrived on May 10 with reinforcements and supplies, they gained the upper hand. From this time, they were besieged in a position more and more desperate, and in vain waited for rescue from the Finnish side. Since the city walls to a large extent been destroyed and the crew weakened by disease and suffering, Stiernstråle surrendered on June 13, 1710. Although he was the commander of the defense forces, and much of the bourgeoisie
were taken as prisoners to Russia, Stiernstråle was taken to Pinsgorod, from where he first after peace returned in 1721. He was promoted to Major General
in 1721, and in 1723 received command of the Savo
Regiment.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, and was most likely from Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
.
Stiernstråle became captain of the Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...
infantry in 1648. When the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
erupted in 1700, he was lieutenant colonel and commander of the Ivangorod Fortress
Ivangorod fortress
Ivangorod Fortress is a Russian medieval castle established by Ivan III in 1492 and since then grown into the town of Ivangorod....
, which he had to give up on August 16, 1704. In 1710 he became a colonel in Vyborg
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
and Commandant of the Vyborg Fortress, which was fitted with a garrison of only 4 000. In March, it was attacked
Siege of Vyborg (1710)
The Siege of Vyborg took place in the spring of 1710 during the Great Northern War , as a second attempt by the Russians to capture the fortress town of Vyborg after a failed attempt in 1706. After the outbreak of the war, Swedish forces had fortified themselves in the port of Vyborg...
by a numerically superior Russian force under General Fyodor Apraksin.
At first, the Russians, who had not brought any real siege artillery, had little success. Soon, however, when Czar Peter I himself arrived on May 10 with reinforcements and supplies, they gained the upper hand. From this time, they were besieged in a position more and more desperate, and in vain waited for rescue from the Finnish side. Since the city walls to a large extent been destroyed and the crew weakened by disease and suffering, Stiernstråle surrendered on June 13, 1710. Although he was the commander of the defense forces, and much of the bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
were taken as prisoners to Russia, Stiernstråle was taken to Pinsgorod, from where he first after peace returned in 1721. He was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1721, and in 1723 received command of the Savo
Savonia (historical province)
Savonia is a historical province in the east of Finland. It borders to Uusimaa, Tavastia, Ostrobothnia, and Karelia. Largest cities in Savo by population are Kuopio, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus.-Administration:...
Regiment.