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Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790)
Encyclopedia
The Russo-Swedish War of 1788–90, known as Gustav III's Russian war in Sweden
, Gustav III's War in Finland
and Catherine II's Swedish War in Russia
, was fought between Sweden
and Russia from June 1788 to August 1790.
for domestic political reasons, as he believed that a short war would leave the opposition with no recourse but to support him. Despite establishing himself an autocrat in a bloodless coup d'état that ended parliamentary rule in 1772, his political powers did not give him the right to start a war.
The Western powers — such as the United Kingdom
, the Dutch Republic
and Kingdom of Prussia
— were alarmed by a string of Russian victories in the Russo–Turkish War (1787–1792) and lobbied for the war in the north, which would have diverted the attention of Catherine II of Russia
from the Southern theatre. It was at their instigation that Gustav concluded an alliance with the Ottoman Empire
in summer of 1788.
In 1788, a head tailor of the Royal Swedish Opera
received an order to sew a number of Russian military uniforms that later were used in an exchange of gunfire at Puumala
, a Swedish outpost on the Russo-Swedish border, on June 27, 1788. The staged
attack, which caused an outrage in Stockholm
, was to convince the Riksdag of the Estates
and to provide Gustav with an excuse to declare a "defensive" war on Russia.
Before the grand opening of the Riksdag in 1789, King Gustav III had the Riksdag Music
commissioned. The Parliament then decided on the creation of a National Debt Office
to raise funds and finance the war, a move that gave rise to a wave of inflation of the Swedish Riksdaler.
The Swedes initially planned a naval assault on Saint Petersburg
. One Swedish army was to advance through Finland; a second army, accompanied by the Swedish coastal flotilla, was to advance along the Finnish coast into the Gulf of Finland
; while a third army sailed with the Swedish battlefleet in order to land at Oranienbaum
to advance on Saint Petersburg.
The Russian battlefleet
, under Samuel Greig
, met the Swedish fleet off Hogland Island in the Gulf of Finland on July 17, 1788, at the Battle of Hogland
. The battle was tactically indecisive, but prevented the Swedish landing. As the war was deeply unpopular in Sweden and the Finnish officers were mutinous, news of the failure at Hogland triggered a revolt among some of the noble army officers, known as the League of Anjala
.
The Swedish attack on Russia caused Denmark-Norway to declare war on Sweden
in August in accordance with its treaty obligations to Russia. A Norwegian army briefly invaded Sweden and won the Battle of Kvistrum Bridge, before peace was signed on July 9, 1789 following the diplomatic intervention of Great Britain
and Prussia
. Under their pressure, Denmark-Norway declared itself neutral to the conflict, bringing this Lingonberry War to an end.
At sea, the two evenly matched battlefleets met again at the Battle of Öland
on 25 July 1789, which was indecisive. A month later, on August 24, the Russian Vice-Admiral Nassau-Siegen decisively defeated the Swedish coastal flotilla at the First Battle of Svensksund
. The Russian Victory was short-lived, as Gustav Wachtmeister
led his Swedes to victory at the Battle of Valkeala
.
In 1790, King Gustav revived the plan for a landing close to Saint Petersburg, this time near Vyborg
. But the plan foundered in a disastrous attack on the Russian fleet at the Battle of Reval
on May 13. A further attack on the Russian fleet off Kronstadt at the beginning of June also failed, and the Swedish battlefleet and galley flotilla both retired to Vyborg Bay, where the combined Swedish fleets of some 400 vessels were blockaded by Vasily Chichagov's Baltic Fleet
for a month. On July 3, the Swedes forced their way out in the costly Battle of Vyborg Bay, losing 7 ships of the line and 3 frigates.
The Swedish battlefleet retired to Sveaborg for repairs while the Swedish galley flotilla made for a strong defensive position at Svensksund. An impetuous Russian attack on the Swedish galley flotilla on July 9 at the Second Battle of Svensksund
resulted in disaster for the Russians, who lost some 9,500 out of 18,500 men in dead or captured and about one-third of their flotilla. It was the greatest naval victory ever gained by Sweden and helped to pave the way for peace.
The Russian Vice-Chancellor Bezborodko immediately agreed to negotiations, and the war was ended by the Treaty of Värälä
on August 14.
and in France
. The Swedish attack foiled the Russian plans of sending its navy into the Mediterranean to support its force fighting the Ottomans, as it was needed to protect the capital, Saint Petersburg. The war solved Gustav III's domestic problems only briefly, as he was assassinated
at the opera in Stockholm, in 1792.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Gustav III's War in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Catherine II's Swedish War in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, was fought between Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Russia from June 1788 to August 1790.
Background
The conflict was initiated by King Gustav III of SwedenGustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
for domestic political reasons, as he believed that a short war would leave the opposition with no recourse but to support him. Despite establishing himself an autocrat in a bloodless coup d'état that ended parliamentary rule in 1772, his political powers did not give him the right to start a war.
The Western powers — such as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
, the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
and Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
— were alarmed by a string of Russian victories in the Russo–Turkish War (1787–1792) and lobbied for the war in the north, which would have diverted the attention of Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
from the Southern theatre. It was at their instigation that Gustav concluded an alliance with the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in summer of 1788.
In 1788, a head tailor of the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
received an order to sew a number of Russian military uniforms that later were used in an exchange of gunfire at Puumala
Puumala
Puumala is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, a Swedish outpost on the Russo-Swedish border, on June 27, 1788. The staged
False flag
False flag operations are covert operations designed to deceive the public in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by other entities. The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors; that is flying the flag of a country other than one's own...
attack, which caused an outrage in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, was to convince the Riksdag of the Estates
Riksdag of the Estates
The Riksdag of the Estates , was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King...
and to provide Gustav with an excuse to declare a "defensive" war on Russia.
Before the grand opening of the Riksdag in 1789, King Gustav III had the Riksdag Music
Riksdagsmusiken
Riksdagsmusiken, or the Riksdag Music, is a suite of music composed by Joseph Martin Kraus, for the grand opening, in 1789, of the Riksdag of the Estates in Sweden. King Gustav III of Sweden wanted to convince the parliament to go along, especially fund, his ongoing war...
commissioned. The Parliament then decided on the creation of a National Debt Office
Swedish National Debt Office
The Swedish National Debt Office founded by the Riksdag of the Estates in 1789, is a Government agency in Sweden. The first task of the Debt office was to finance the War against Russia started by King Gustav III....
to raise funds and finance the war, a move that gave rise to a wave of inflation of the Swedish Riksdaler.
The war
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. One Swedish army was to advance through Finland; a second army, accompanied by the Swedish coastal flotilla, was to advance along the Finnish coast into the Gulf of Finland
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland and Estonia all the way to Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn...
; while a third army sailed with the Swedish battlefleet in order to land at Oranienbaum
Lomonosov, Russia
Lomonosov is a municipal town in Petrodvortsovy District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, west of St. Petersburg proper. Population:...
to advance on Saint Petersburg.
The Russian battlefleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
, under Samuel Greig
Samuel Greig
Samuel Greig, or Samuil Karlovich Greig , as he was known in Russia - Scottish-born Russian admiral who distinguished himself in the Battle of Chesma and the Battle of Hogland...
, met the Swedish fleet off Hogland Island in the Gulf of Finland on July 17, 1788, at the Battle of Hogland
Battle of Hogland
The naval Battle of Hogland took place on 17 July 1788 during the Russo-Swedish War .-Origins:On the outbreak of war with Russia in 1788, Sweden planned to attack the Russian capital St. Petersburg...
. The battle was tactically indecisive, but prevented the Swedish landing. As the war was deeply unpopular in Sweden and the Finnish officers were mutinous, news of the failure at Hogland triggered a revolt among some of the noble army officers, known as the League of Anjala
Anjala conspiracy
The Anjala conspiracy of 1788 was a scheme by disgruntled Swedish officers to end Gustav III's Russian War of 1788–90. Declaring Finland an independent state was part of the plot, although it is disputed what importance the conspirators connected to that aspect.- Rising anger against the king...
.
The Swedish attack on Russia caused Denmark-Norway to declare war on Sweden
Theater War
The Theater War , alias Cowberry War , was a brief war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, starting on 24 September 1788, formally lasting until 9 July 1789...
in August in accordance with its treaty obligations to Russia. A Norwegian army briefly invaded Sweden and won the Battle of Kvistrum Bridge, before peace was signed on July 9, 1789 following the diplomatic intervention of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. Under their pressure, Denmark-Norway declared itself neutral to the conflict, bringing this Lingonberry War to an end.
At sea, the two evenly matched battlefleets met again at the Battle of Öland
Battle of Öland (1789)
The naval Battle of Öland took place on 26 July 1789 during the Russo-Swedish War .-Origins:Having assembled 21 ships of the line and eight large frigates under his flag, Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland decided to intercept the Russian fleet near the island of Öland.-Battle:The Swedish fleet came...
on 25 July 1789, which was indecisive. A month later, on August 24, the Russian Vice-Admiral Nassau-Siegen decisively defeated the Swedish coastal flotilla at the First Battle of Svensksund
Battle of Svensksund (1789)
The First Battle of Svensksund, also known as the First Battle of Rochensalm from the Russian version of the Finnish: Ruotsinsalmi, was a naval battle fought in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, outside the present day city of Kotka, on August 24, 1789 during the Russo-Swedish War .-Order of...
. The Russian Victory was short-lived, as Gustav Wachtmeister
Gustav Wachtmeister
Gustav Wachtmeister was a Swedish Army officer made famous at the Battle of Valkeala in Finland in 1789 against Russia where he was wounded by a musket shot to his arm, which had to be amputated...
led his Swedes to victory at the Battle of Valkeala
Battle of Valkeala
Battle of Valkeala took place in Gustav III's Russian War April 29, 1790 at Valkeala in Kymi in Southern Finland and ended with a Swedish victory.- Context :...
.
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...
. But the plan foundered in a disastrous attack on the Russian fleet at the Battle of Reval
Battle of Reval
The naval Battle of Reval or took place on 13 May 1790 during the Russo-Swedish War , off the port of Reval .-Origins:...
on May 13. A further attack on the Russian fleet off Kronstadt at the beginning of June also failed, and the Swedish battlefleet and galley flotilla both retired to Vyborg Bay, where the combined Swedish fleets of some 400 vessels were blockaded by Vasily Chichagov's Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
for a month. On July 3, the Swedes forced their way out in the costly Battle of Vyborg Bay, losing 7 ships of the line and 3 frigates.
The Swedish battlefleet retired to Sveaborg for repairs while the Swedish galley flotilla made for a strong defensive position at Svensksund. An impetuous Russian attack on the Swedish galley flotilla on July 9 at the Second Battle of Svensksund
Battle of Svensksund (1790)
The Battle of Svensksund was a naval battle fought in the Gulf of Finland outside the present day city of Kotka on 9 July 1790. The Swedish naval forces dealt the Russian fleet a devastating defeat that resulted in an end to the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–90...
resulted in disaster for the Russians, who lost some 9,500 out of 18,500 men in dead or captured and about one-third of their flotilla. It was the greatest naval victory ever gained by Sweden and helped to pave the way for peace.
The Russian Vice-Chancellor Bezborodko immediately agreed to negotiations, and the war was ended by the Treaty of Värälä
Treaty of Värälä
The Treaty of Värälä was a treaty signed in Värälä, Elimäki Municipality, Finland, between Russia and Sweden . It was signed on August 14, 1790 and concluded the Russo-Swedish War...
on August 14.
Aftermath
The Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790 was, overall, mostly insignificant for the parties involved. Catherine II regarded the war against her Swedish cousin as substantial distraction, as her land troops were tied up in the war against Turkey, and she was likewise concerned with revolutionary events unfolding in the Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
and in France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
. The Swedish attack foiled the Russian plans of sending its navy into the Mediterranean to support its force fighting the Ottomans, as it was needed to protect the capital, Saint Petersburg. The war solved Gustav III's domestic problems only briefly, as he was assassinated
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
at the opera in Stockholm, in 1792.