Surrender at Perevolochna
Encyclopedia
The surrender at Perevolochna was the capitulation of almost the entire Swedish army on June 30, 1709 (O.S.
) / July 1, 1709 (Swedish calendar
) / July 11, 1709 (N.S.
). It signified the annihilation of the once formidable Swedish army after the defeat at Battle of Poltava
, and paved the way for the eventual Russian victory in the Great Northern War
.
intended to lead the Swedish army over the Vorskla River
near the village of Byeliki, south of Poltava
, and into tatar
territory. On the morning after the battle, no orders were given after the departure from Novo Senshary, and the march continued along the right bank of Vorskla. A ford
existed across the river near Kishenka, but due to mistakes committed by several officers, the ford was overlooked and the force marched on to Perevolochna
five kilometers further away.
territory by General Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt
and the other senior officers. Among the reasons why the king wanted to cross there was his wish to quickly reach Poland
. According to Charles' own plan, Lewenhaupt would have followed across the Dniepr River with him, but the general requested to stay and command the army. Charles ordered Lewenhaupt to lead the army across Vorskla into tatar-controlled territory, and he promised to carry out this order.
On the morning of July 1, General Menshikov
approached from the north with a Russian force of less than 9,000 men, mostly cavalry
. Lewenhaupt did not want to fight the Russians; instead, after conferences and voting among the higher officers, the Swedish army capitulated.
. The Swedish continental army had ceased to exist, leaving the remaining defenses of the Swedish Empire
hopelessly outnumbered. Strategically, Russia now had taken offensive, while Sweden would be hard pressed to muster a new army to defend itself. General Lewenhaupt was imprisoned and died in Russian captivity in 1719. King Charles did nothing to have him released, but fled to Bendery in what was then Ottoman Empire
.
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
) / July 1, 1709 (Swedish calendar
Swedish calendar
The Swedish calendar was a calendar in use in Sweden and its possessions from 1 March 1700 until 30 February 1712; it was one day ahead of the Julian calendar and ten days behind the Gregorian calendar...
) / July 11, 1709 (N.S.
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
). It signified the annihilation of the once formidable Swedish army after the defeat at Battle of Poltava
Battle of Poltava
The Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld in one of the battles of the Great Northern War. It is widely believed to have been the beginning of Sweden's decline as a Great Power; the...
, and paved the way for the eventual Russian victory in 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...
.
Background
After the defeat at Poltava, Charles XIICharles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
intended to lead the Swedish army over the Vorskla River
Vorskla River
The Vorskla River , located in Russia and northeastern Ukraine, is a south-flowing tributary of the Dnieper River.An ancient fort, thought to be Gelonos, is on the Vorskla south of Okhtyrka. In 1399, the Battle of the Vorskla River was fought in the area...
near the village of Byeliki, south of Poltava
Poltava
Poltava is a city in located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Poltava Oblast , as well as the surrounding Poltava Raion of the oblast. Poltava's estimated population is 298,652 ....
, and into tatar
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
territory. On the morning after the battle, no orders were given after the departure from Novo Senshary, and the march continued along the right bank of Vorskla. A ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
existed across the river near Kishenka, but due to mistakes committed by several officers, the ford was overlooked and the force marched on to Perevolochna
Perevolochna
Perevolochna was a settlement in Kobeljaky Raion of Poltava Oblast of Ukraine close to Svitlohirske. It was situated at the bank of the Dnepr, where a ford enabled people to cross the river...
five kilometers further away.
The surrender
At Perevolochna, King Charles was given the chance to dash ahead with an escort of 1,500 men to OttomanOttoman 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...
territory by General Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt
Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt
Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt was a Swedish general.-Biography:Educated at Lund University, Rostock, Wittenberg and Uppsala, he originally pursued a career in the diplomatic arena, but found this occupation quite undesirable. He then became a soldier, served in the Austrian army against the Turks, and...
and the other senior officers. Among the reasons why the king wanted to cross there was his wish to quickly reach Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. According to Charles' own plan, Lewenhaupt would have followed across the Dniepr River with him, but the general requested to stay and command the army. Charles ordered Lewenhaupt to lead the army across Vorskla into tatar-controlled territory, and he promised to carry out this order.
On the morning of July 1, General Menshikov
Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov
Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov was a Russian statesman, whose official titles included Generalissimus, Prince of the Russian Empire and Duke of Izhora , Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Cosel. A highly appreciated associate and friend of Tsar Peter the Great, he was the de facto ruler of...
approached from the north with a Russian force of less than 9,000 men, mostly cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
. Lewenhaupt did not want to fight the Russians; instead, after conferences and voting among the higher officers, the Swedish army capitulated.
Effect on the war
The surrender was a contributing cause to the Russian victory in the Great Northern WarGreat 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...
. The Swedish continental army had ceased to exist, leaving the remaining defenses of the Swedish Empire
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721 . During this time, Sweden was one of the great European powers. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era"...
hopelessly outnumbered. Strategically, Russia now had taken offensive, while Sweden would be hard pressed to muster a new army to defend itself. General Lewenhaupt was imprisoned and died in Russian captivity in 1719. King Charles did nothing to have him released, but fled to Bendery in what was then 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...
.