Reasons for the war.
Russia's accession to the continental blockade of 1806-1814, the war between Russia and England that began in 1807, the need to establish control over the Gulf of Finland and Bothnia, ensuring the security of St. Petersburg. The Treaty of Tilsit concluded by Russia and France led to an open conflict between Russia and Sweden, since, according to the peace treaty, Russia undertook to close its harbors for English ships, inclining Sweden to do the same or forcing it to do so by force. Alexander I demanded from Sweden that its ports be closed to the British, but the Swedish king Gustav IV refused such an alliance with Russia against England and made an alliance with England.
Reason for war.
November 27, 1808 Gustav IV returned to Alexander I the Russian order on the grounds that Napoleon received the same. Sweden tried to buy time until the spring of 1808 and, while waiting for the help of the British, avoided actions that could be regarded in St. Petersburg as preparation for war.
Russia's goals: Russia did not seek to fight with Sweden and tried to persuade Sweden to an alliance with the help of diplomacy.
Command of the Russian army:
General of Infantry F. F. Buxgevden (1808)
infantry general B.F. Knorring (1808-1809)
M.B. Barclay de Tolly (1809)
Command of the Swedish army:
Field Marshal V.M. Klingspor (1808)
general K.Yu. Adlerkreutz (1808)
Lieutenant General G.K. von Döbeln (1808-1809)
War zone - Sweden, Finland
Main battles
1808
8.02. Crossing the border without declaring war and the entry of the Russian army under the command of General F.F. Buksgevden to Finland, followed by Sweden's declaration of war on Russia.
18.02. The capture of the city of Helsingfors by Russian troops under the command of D.P. Gorchakov.
20.02. The detention in Stockholm of the Russian envoy to Sweden D.M. Alopeus and his imprisonment.
6. 03. The capture of the Svartholm fortress by Russian troops.
16.03. Russia's declaration of war on Sweden.
20.03. Manifesto of Alexander I on the accession of Finland to Russia.
15.04. The battle of Russian troops under the command of Major General M. L. Bulatov near the city of Revolaksa.
16.04. Capture by Russian troops under the command of N.A. Tuchkov Saint-Michel (Saint-Mikkeli).
24.04. Capture of the fortress of Sveaborg.
3.06. The victory near Varkaus of the Russian troops under the command of Lieutenant General M.B. Barclay de Tolly.
7.06. The capture of the city of Kuopio by Russian troops under the command of M.B. Barclay de Tolly.
21.06. The victory of the Russian troops under the command of Lieutenant General E. I. Vlastov near Lindulax.
19.08. The victory of the Russian troops under the command of Ya.P. Kulneva near the village of Kukhalampi.
20.08. The victory of the Russian troops under the command of Ya.P. Kulnev in the battle of Kuortan.
21.08. The defeat of the Swedes at the village of Salmi.
2.09. The victory of the Russian troops under the command of General N. M. Kamensky at Orovais.
17.09. The conclusion of a truce. First half of October. Resumption of hostilities.
Defeats, Alexander I went to negotiations with Napoleon, as a result of which he was concluded Treaty of Tilsit. With this treaty, the war ended, in which Sweden, Prussia and Austria participated on the side of Russia against France. In Tilsit, Napoleon insisted that he was making peace and allied relations with Russia. And Alexander I then offered mediation to Gustav IV, the Swedish king, in making peace with France.
According to the Treaty of Tilsit, Russia entered the continental blockade of England. Denmark was also about to join the blockade, for which Great Britain attacked and captured the Danish navy in August $1807$. Russia had family ties with the Danish court, and they were also allies in the fight against Sweden, so Russia announced a break in diplomatic relations with England before returning Denmark fleet and damages.
Alexander I also insisted that the king of Sweden Gustav IV contributed in accordance with the $1780$ and $1800$ agreements. and helped close the Baltic to Western fleets. However, Sweden refused, began rapprochement with England.
Ready-made works on a similar topic
As a result, diplomatic ties were severed and the Anglo-Russian war began, but it was very sluggish.
Remark 1
Alexander I appealed to Gustav IV again, but he stood his ground and refused to close the Baltic Sea while the French were there. Gustav IV also set his sights on helping England in the war with Denmark, because. was going to take over Norway. In turn, Alexander I decided to occupy Finland in order to secure St. Petersburg.
Napoleon also wanted the ports of Sweden to be closed to England. He offered his help to Alexander I in conquering all of Sweden.
The course of the war
War was not declared, but in February 1808 Russian troops invaded Sweden and occupied Helsingfors. The occupation of the island of Gotland turned out to be especially successful, because. after that the Swedes surrendered Sveaborg. In the spring of $1808$, the Svartholm fortress, Cape Gangut, and the Aland Islands were also captured. And only in mid-March, after the order of the Swedish king to arrest all Russian embassy, Russia has officially declared war.
In Finland, the situation was unfortunate for the Russian troops due to the actions of the Finnish partisans. In general, after the declaration of war, the Russian army began to have troubles, for example, a powerful Swedish flotilla and rebellious local residents forced them to surrender the Aland Islands, Gotland capitulated in May.
The turning point in the war came in the autumn of $1808. The Finnish partisans with the onset of autumn reduced their activity, the Russian troops began the offensive without hindrance. Already in November, the Russian army occupied all of Finland.
In $1809$, it was planned to wage war only on the territory of Sweden. According to the plan of Alexander I, the Russian army was supposed to occupy Stockholm, as well as destroy the Swedish fleet.
In March $1809$ Bagration's corps captured the Aland Islands and moved on to Stockholm. The government of the kingdom requested peace talks. The offensive stopped, and a coup d'etat took place in Sweden, King Gustav IV Adolf was deprived of the crown, power was seized by his relative the Duke of Südermanland, who became Charles XIII.
Alexander I refused a truce, changed leadership in the Russian army. Charles XIII also decided to continue to fight. But the Swedes failed to succeed.
Results
Peace was concluded in September $1809$ in Friedrichsgame. The Swedes entered the continental blockade of Great Britain, and also gave Russia Finland and part of other lands, including the Aland Islands.
The confrontation between Russia and Sweden began in the 18th century, when Peter the Great decided to get access to the Baltic Sea for his country. This was the reason for the outbreak of the Northern War, which lasted from 1700 to 1721, which Sweden lost. The results of this conflict have changed political map Europe. Firstly, Sweden has turned from a great and powerful maritime power dominating the Baltic Sea into a weak state. To regain positions, Sweden had to fight for decades. Secondly, the Russian Empire appeared in Europe with its capital in the city of St. Petersburg. New capital was built by Peter the Great on the Neva, near the Baltic. This facilitated control over the region and the sea. Thirdly, the war between the Russian Empire and Sweden continued for a long time. The peak of the struggle was the war known in historical literature and documents, like the Russian-Swedish war. It began in 1808 and ended in 1809.
The situation in Europe at the end of the XVIII century.
The revolutionary events that began in France in 1789 influenced the situation in Russia, Sweden, Germany, and England. The political and economic situation in many countries changed by leaps and bounds. In particular, the monarchy was overthrown in France, King Louis the Sixteenth was killed, a republic was proclaimed, which was quickly replaced by the rule of the Jacobins. The military took advantage of the political confusion and brought Napoleon Bonaparte to power, who created a new empire in France. Napoleon sought to conquer Europe, to subjugate not only its western regions, but also to extend his power to the Balkans, Russia, and Poland. The Russian emperor Alexander the First opposed the grandiose plans of the French emperor. He managed to stop Napoleon's army in Russia and undermine the French state. The empire created by Bonaparte began to fall apart.
So, to the main prerequisites for the Russo-Swedish war of the early 19th century. include the following factors:
- The loss of Sweden in the Northern War.
- Creation Russian Empire and the transition under her authority of important trade routes that were located in the Baltic Sea.
- The Great French Revolution, which was inevitable and which influenced the course European history in the XIX - XX centuries. Many consequences of the events in France in the late 1780s - 1790s. felt in Europe today.
- The coming to power of Napoleon, his conquests in Europe and the loss in Russia.
- The constant wars of the monarchs of Europe with the army of Napoleon, in order to protect the national borders of their states from French influence.
Campaigns of the Napoleonic army in the early 19th century. contributed to the unification of European states in an anti-French coalition. Bonaparte was opposed by Austria, England and Russia. Emperor Alexander the First was the last to think for a long time which side to prefer. This choice was associated with two important factors. Firstly, the influence on the Russian emperor of the so-called German party, whose members determined foreign policy ambitious Alexander I. Secondly, the ambitious plans of the new ruler of Russia, who constantly interfered in the internal affairs of the German principalities and lands. The Germans were everywhere in the empire - in important government posts, in the army, at court, the emperor was also married to a German princess. His mother was also from a noble german kind and had the title of princess. Alexander wanted to carry out constant campaigns of conquest, to win, to win battles, striving to wash away the stain of shame from the murder of his father with his achievements. Therefore, Alexander the First personally led all campaigns in Germany.
There were several coalitions against Napoleon, Sweden joined the third of them. Her king Gustav the Fourth was as ambitious as the Russian emperor. In addition, the Swedish monarch sought to get back the lands of Pomerania, taken in the 18th century. Only Gustav the Fourth did not calculate the power of his country and the military abilities of the army. The king was sure that Sweden was capable of cutting the map of Europe, changing borders and winning, as before, grandiose battles.
Relations between Russia and Sweden before the war
In January 1805, the two countries signed an agreement to create a new alliance, which is considered the third anti-Napoleonic coalition of European monarchies against revolutionary and recalcitrant France. In the same year, a campaign against Bonaparte was carried out, which ended in a serious defeat for the allied forces.
The battle took place in November 1805 near Austerlitz, the consequences of which were:
- Escape from the battlefield of the Austrian and Russian emperors.
- Huge losses among the Russian and Austrian armies.
- An attempt by Sweden to independently conduct a campaign in Pomerania, but the French quickly expelled them from there.
In such an environment, Prussia and Austria tried to save themselves, bypassing the terms of cooperation with Russia. In particular, Austria signed an agreement with France in Pressburg, which historians call separate. Prussia went to establish allied relations with Napoleon Bonaparte. So, in December 1805, Russia was left alone with France, which did everything so that Alexander the First went to the signing of a peace treaty. But the ruler of the Russian Empire was in no hurry to do this, as he defended the interests of the German dynasties and family ties.
Scientists believe that Alexander the First, in order to maintain dominance in the Baltic, control in Finland and over the Black Sea straits, the Caucasian republics, had to agree to peace with Bonaparte. Instead, he showed stubbornness and began to fight with him.
In 1806, new conditions emerged for the creation of a new coalition against Napoleon. England, Russia, Sweden, Prussia took part in it. The English monarch acted as the main financial sponsor of the coalition, the army and soldiers were provided mainly by Prussia and the Russian Empire. The union needed Sweden for balance in order to control Alexander the First. But the Swedish king was in no particular hurry to send his warriors to the European continent from the Scandinavian Peninsula.
The coalition lost again, and Bonaparte's troops captured Berlin, Warsaw, reached the Russian border, which ran along the Neman River. Alexander the First personally met with Napoleon, and signed the Treaty of Tilsit (1807). Among its conditions it is worth noting:
- Russia was not supposed to interfere in the internal affairs of Western European states, including Germany and Austria.
- Complete rupture of diplomatic relations and alliance with Austria.
- Russia's observance of strict neutrality.
At the same time, Russia got a chance to deal with Sweden, as well as Turkey. Napoleon during 1807-1808 did not allow Alexander the First to Austria, not allowing him to conclude "communicate".
After the Tilsist peace, the diplomatic and military games on the European continent did not end. Russia continued to actively interfere in all the affairs of Germany, Britain continued to attack all the ships, which they regarded as a threat to their state. So by chance the ships of Denmark were attacked, trying to avoid being drawn into the French wars and coalition alliances against Bonaparte.
In the summer of 1807, British troops landed on the territory of Denmark, and Copenhagen was bombed. The British seized the fleet, shipyards, naval arsenal, Prince Frederick refused to capitulate.
In response to England's attack on Denmark, Russia declared war on Britain over obligations and family ties. Thus began the Anglo-Russian war, which was accompanied by a blockade of trade ports, goods, and the withdrawal of diplomatic missions.
England was also blockaded by France, which did not appreciate the capture of the Danish fleet and the destruction of Copenhagen. Bonaparte demanded that Russia put pressure on Sweden and she closed the ports for all British ships. This was followed by an exchange of diplomatic letters between Napoleon and Alexander the First. The French emperor offered the Russian all of Sweden and Stockholm. This was a direct allusion to the need to start military operations against Sweden. In order to prevent the loss of this Scandinavian country, England signed an agreement with it. His goal was to maintain the position of British merchant ships and companies in Scandinavia and cut Russia off from Sweden. Among the terms of the Anglo-Swedish agreement, it is worth noting:
- Payment to the government of Sweden £1 million every month.
- War with Russia and its conduct as long as circumstances require.
- Sending British soldiers to Sweden to guard the western border of the country (important ports were located here).
- The transfer of the Swedish army to the east to fight with Russia.
In February 1808, there was no longer any possibility for both countries to avoid a military conflict. England wanted to get "dividends" as soon as possible, while Russia and Sweden wanted to resolve their longstanding disputes.
The course of hostilities in 1808-1809.
The war began in February 1808, when Russian troops invaded Sweden in the Finnish region. The surprise effect gave a serious advantage to Russia, which by mid-spring managed to capture half of Finland, Sveaborg, the islands of Gotland and Aland.
The Swedish army suffered huge losses both on land and at sea. In the port of Lisbon at the end of the summer of 1808, the Swedish fleet capitulated to the British, who received the ships for storage until the end of the war. Great assistance to Sweden was provided by England, which provided its troops and navy. Because of this, Russia's situation in Finland worsened. Further developments took place in this chronological order:
- August-September 1808 Russian troops won a number of victories in Finland. Alexander the First sought to clear the occupied territory from the Swedes and the British.
- September 1808 - a truce was signed, but the Russian emperor did not accept it, because he wanted the Swedes to leave Finland for good.
- The winter of 1809 is the winter campaign launched by the Russian Empire to isolate Sweden. The invasion took place through the Gulf of Bothnia (on ice) and along the coast of the bay. From the sea, the British could not help Sweden because weather conditions. The Russian army launched an offensive through the Gulf of Bothnia to the Aland Islands, which they managed to capture, knocking out the Swedes from there. As a result, a political crisis began in Sweden.
- After the winter campaign of 1809, a coup d'etat took place in the kingdom, during which Gustav the Fourth was overthrown. The government that was formed appointed a new regent, and called for a truce. Alexander the First did not want to sign the treaty until he got Finland.
- March 1809 - the army of General Shuvalov passed along the northern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, capturing Torneo and Kalix. Near the last locality the Swedes laid down their arms, and Shuvalov's troops again went on the offensive. The soldiers, under the skillful leadership of the general, won a victory, and near the city of Schelefteo, another Swedish army capitulated.
- Summer 1809 - the battle of Ratan, which is considered the last in the Russian-Swedish war. The Russians were advancing on Stockholm, trying to capture it in a short time. By that time, the ice in the bay had melted, and British ships rushed to the aid of the Swedes. Decisiveness and surprise were the main factors in the victory of Kamensky's troops, who gave the last battle to the Swedes at Ratan. They lost, losing one-third of the army.
Peace treaty of 1809 and its aftermath
Negotiations began in August and continued for several weeks with the signing of a peace agreement. The agreement was signed in the city of Friedrichsgam, now Khanin in Finland. On the part of Russia, the document was signed by Count N. Rumyantsev, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and D. Alopeus, who served as the Russian ambassador to Stockholm, and on the part of Sweden, Colonel A. Scheldebront and Baron K. Stedink, who was an infantry general.
The terms of the treaty were divided into three parts - military, territorial and economic. Among the military and territorial conditions of the Friedrichsham Peace, attention is drawn to such points as:
- Russia received the Alan Islands and Finland, which received the status of the Grand Duchy. It had the rights of autonomy within the Russian Empire.
- Sweden was forced to abandon the alliance with the British and take part in the Continental Blockade, aimed at weakening England and its trade in the ports of Sweden.
- Russia has withdrawn its troops from Sweden.
- There was a mutual exchange of hostages and prisoners of war.
- The border between the countries passed along the Munio and Torneo rivers, along the Munioniski-Enonteki-Kilpisjärvi line, which stretched to Norway.
- In the border waters, the islands were divided along the fairway line. To the east, the island territories belonged to Russia, and to the west - to Sweden.
The economic conditions were beneficial to both countries. Trade between the states continued, according to the previously signed agreement. Trade remained duty-free in Russian ports on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Finland. Other conditions in the field of economic cooperation were beneficial to the Russians. They could receive back the selected property, possessions, lands. In addition, they filed lawsuits to get their property back.
So, the situation in the economic and political spheres after the war changed the status of Finland. She became integral part The Russian Empire began to integrate into its economic and economic systems. The Swedes, Finns, Russians made profitable trade operations, returned their property, possessions, strengthened their positions in Finland.
Plans of the parties for the campaign of 1809
By the beginning of 1809 Sweden's position was hopeless. The Swedish army did not have the opportunity to recapture Finland. The English fleet was ready to support Sweden, but it was clear that the British could not do anything serious. They could attack and sink individual ships, capture merchant ships, plunder undefended settlements on the coast, but no more. Britain had no intention of sending troops to Sweden or Finland. Britain could not organize a strike on St. Petersburg, following the example of Copenhagen, it was dangerous to meddle there.
Nevertheless, the stubborn Swedish king Gustav IV Adolf, despite the dissatisfaction of the environment, which demanded the conclusion of peace, decided to continue the war. At the same time, the king still considered the main task to be the fight against Denmark. The most combat-ready Swedish troops were left in the south of the country - in Scania and on the border with Norway, although no particular threat from the Danes was foreseen in 1809. 5,000 soldiers were recruited to defend the Swedish capital. In the Torneo area, 7,000 people were concentrated. Grippenberg Corps.
6,000 regular troops and 4,000 militias were gathered in the Alands. The defense of the Åland Islands was led by General Debeln. Fearing that Russian troops would bypass the islands from the south, Debeln evacuated the entire population of the southern islands and burned and devastated all the remaining villages there. Döbeln gathered all his forces on the Great Åland, blocked all routes with axes, set up artillery batteries at the most important coastal points, and a redoubt on the westernmost island of Ecker.
Emperor Alexander was not pleased with Count Buxgevden and in early December 1808 Buxgevden's place was taken by Infantry General Knorring. In February 1809, the command of the corps was also replaced. The southern corps instead of Wittgenstein was headed by Bagration, the central corps instead of Golitsyn was headed by Barclay de Tolly, and the northern corps instead of Tuchkov was headed by Shuvalov.
The campaign plan for 1809 was drawn up tactically and strategically competently. The Russian army was increased to 48 thousand bayonets and sabers. The plan provided for the occupation of the Aland Islands by the troops of Bagration from Abo with subsequent access to the coast of Sweden, the offensive of the corps of Barclay de Tolly from Vasa through the Kvarken Strait to Umeå with the simultaneous advance of the corps of General P. A. Shuvalov from Uleaborg along the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia to Tornio and Umeå.
Knorring, considering this plan impracticable, delayed its implementation until mid-February. Alexander I, extremely dissatisfied with this, sent the Minister of War, Count Arakcheev, to Finland, who, arriving on February 20 in Abo, insisted on the speedy implementation of the highest will. The Russian army began to move.
The offensive of the Russian army
The offensive of Shuvalov's northern corps. On March 6 (18), 1809, General Shuvalov informed the commander of the northern group of the Swedish army, Grippenberg, about the termination of the truce. The Swedes concentrated their troops near the city of Kalix, 10 versts west of Torneo (Tornio) and decided to give battle.
On March 6, the Russians crossed the Kem River and moved west along the seashore. The Swedish avant-garde, which was located in the city of Torneo, did not accept the battle and retreated, leaving the sick soldiers behind. The offensive proceeded in difficult natural conditions: Russian soldiers in thirty-degree frost made marches of 30-35 miles. Approaching Kalix, Shuvalov offered the enemy to capitulate, but the Swedes refused. Then the main forces of the corps launched an offensive in the forehead, and the column of General Alekseev went around on the ice and cut off the retreat for the Swedish troops. The Swedes were forced to ask for a truce. Shuvalov did not agree to a truce and demanded complete surrender, giving a period of 4 hours. The Swedes were forced to capitulate. March 13, 1809 Grippenberg signed the act of surrender. His 7 thousand the corps laid down its arms and was disbanded to go home on parole no longer to fight in this war. The Finns went to Finland, the Swedes to Sweden. Trophies of the Russian army were 22 guns and 12 banners. All Swedish reserves up to the city of Umeå were supposed to go intact to the Russian army.
Thus, the northern corps of Shuvalov successfully completed its task. The Russian army interrupted the last connection between Finland and Sweden. Count Shuvalov stopped when he received news of a truce concluded in Aland.
General Pavel Andreevich Shuvalov
The offensive of the central corps of Barclay de Tolly. Barclay's corps was supposed to number 8 thousand soldiers, but most of the troops were delayed at the transition to Vasya. Barclay, fearing that the ice would soon begin to melt, ordered an offensive to be launched with the available forces. As a result, his detachment had only 3200 people with 6 guns (6 infantry battalions and 250 Cossacks). On March 6, an order was read to the troops, in which Barclay de Toli, without hiding the upcoming difficulties, expressed confidence that "for Russian soldiers, the impossible does not exist."
On the same day, the first battalion went forward to lay the path. For reconnaissance and the capture of advanced Swedish posts, Kiselev's flying detachment began to move - 40 musketeers of the Polotsk regiment on carts and 50 Cossacks. After a 13-hour transition, Kiselev's detachment approached the island of Grosgrund, where they captured the Swedish post. On March 7, all available forces of Barclay crossed to the island of Vals-Erar, and on March 8 they moved in two columns through Kvarken. In the right column, Colonel Filisov went with the Polotsk regiment and one hundred Cossacks to the island of Golme, in the left - Count Berg with the rest of the troops to the island of Gadden. Barclay was in the same column. Artillery with a battalion of life grenadiers followed separately behind the right column.
Like Shuvalov's troops, Barclay's fighters overcame great difficulties. The soldiers walked knee-deep in snow, constantly bypassing or climbing over blocks of ice. Frosty weather and a strong north wind made it impossible to rest. By evening, the troops reached the islands and settled down to rest. In the early morning the troops continued to move. Filisov's column entered into battle with three enemy companies, which settled on the island of Golm. The Swedes were bypassed and they retreated. Fearing for lagging artillery, Filisov continued to move only the next morning.
Meanwhile, the left column was moving towards the mouth of the Umeå River. After a hard eighteen-hour march, the column was 6 versts from Umeå. The soldiers were extremely exhausted. The troops had to spend the night again on the ice. The soldiers were lucky that they found two merchant ships frozen in the ice nearby. They were dismantled and kindled fires. At this time, the Cossack patrols reached the city of Umeå and started a shootout. Panic broke out in the city: "The Russians are coming!" The commandant of Umeå, Count Kronstedt, was prostrated: shooting in the city, on the ice, a sea of lights.
On the morning of March 10, when the vanguard of Barclay started a fight, and the entire column was already entering the mainland, a Swedish truce arrived and announced the upcoming truce. General Kronstedt handed over to the Russian troops Umea with all supplies and withdrew the troops 200 miles to the city of Gernezand. Thus, the offensive of Barclay's corps also ended in complete success. With the approach of Shuvalov's troops, the Russian army could continue the offensive further.
Having occupied Umea, Barclay de Tolly made all the orders to establish himself in the city and prepared to wait for the approach of Shuvalov's troops. On the evening of March 11, news of the armistice was received, along with an unexpected order to return the troops to Vasa. It was hard for Barclay to carry out this order, since the withdrawal was like a retreat. The main body moved back on March 15, and the rear guard on March 17. Despite the severe frost, the return trip was not so difficult, since the road was already paved. In addition, carts for the sick and wounded were taken from the Swedes, warm clothes and blankets, and various equipment were received from the warehouses.
Medal "For the passage to Sweden through Torneo"
The offensive of the southern corps of Bagration. Bagration's corps had to solve the main task, therefore it was the most powerful - 15.5 thousand infantry and 2 thousand cavalry, 20 guns. The hull had a good material support. The troops were well provided with warm clothes - sheepskin coats, warm caps and felt boots. Sleighs loaded with provisions, vodka and firewood moved behind the troops. At the end of February 1809, the corps of Bagration from the Abo region advanced to the starting point on the island of Kumling. The troops were joined by Minister of War Arakcheev, Commander-in-Chief Knorring and the Russian envoy to Sweden Alopeus, who had authority in case of diplomatic negotiations with Stockholm.
On March 3 (15), Bagration's corps went on the offensive with 4 columns from the front from the east, and the 5th column bypassed the Aland Islands from the south. The left avant-garde column was commanded by Kulnev, the right - by Shepelev. The advanced posts of the Swedes left the small islands and went to the west. On the evening of March 3, the first four columns occupied Varde Island, located in front of Big Aland, and the fifth column passed through Sottunga to Bene Island, where it collided with the enemy's rearguard. The Cossacks attacked the Swedes, and Kulnev went around, this forced the enemy to retreat. The head of the Aland Swedish corps, facing the threat of complete defeat, and having received the news of the coup d'état in Stockholm, began to withdraw troops.
There really was a coup d'état in Stockholm. The war was unpopular among the guards and the aristocracy. In the winter of 1808-1809. opposition groups began to develop a plan to overthrow Gustavus Adolf and eliminate absolutism. Higher officers and officials participated in the conspiracy. They were led by Adjutant General Adlerkreutz, the commander of the Western Army, General Adlersparre, and an official of the judicial department Erta. Having promised the Danish commander, Prince Christian of Augustenburg, the title of heir to the Swedish throne, Adlersparre concluded an agreement with him on a temporary ceasefire and moved with part of the troops to Stockholm. On March 1 (13), he broke into the chambers of the king with the guards and took him into custody. Gustav's uncle, the Duke of Südermanland, named Charles XIII, who commanded the Swedish fleet during the Russo-Swedish War of 1788-1790, was chosen as the new king. However, by this time he had already fallen into dementia and had no real influence on politics. In fact, power was in the hands of the aristocracy.
The Swedish capital was in danger of falling. The Russian troops were left with only 5-6 transitions to it. Therefore, the new Swedish government turned to the Russians with a request for a truce. First, Colonel Lagerbrinn was sent to meet our army. But Bagration did not negotiate with him and sent him to the convoy to Arakcheev and Knorring. Bagration himself ordered the troops to continue the offensive. Two days later, the entire Aland archipelago was occupied without a fight. The cavalry of the avant-garde of Kulnev overtook the rear guard of the Swedish army. Isaev's Cossacks surrounded one column, repulsed two guns and captured 144 people. Then they overtook the second square and beat off two more guns. The Grodno hussars surrounded the battalion of the Südermanland Regiment (14 officers and 442 lower ranks, led by the commander) and, after a short skirmish, forced them to capitulate. As a result, Kulnev captured more prisoners than he had in the detachment, not counting a large number trophies. Russian troops captured more than 2 thousand prisoners, 32 guns, over 150 ships and vessels.
Hero of the Russo-Swedish War Yakov Petrovich Kulnev
On March 4 (16), Major General Debeln arrived in Bagration's corps with a request for a truce. He negotiated with Arakcheev and Knorring. Arakcheev at first did not agree to a truce, referring to the fact that the goal of Emperor Alexander was to sign peace in Stockholm. Then Arakcheev sent the terms of the truce to the Swedes: 1) Sweden was to forever cede Finland in the borders to the Kalix River, the Aland Islands, the maritime border between the two powers would have to pass through the Gulf of Bothnia; 2) Sweden will abandon the alliance with England and enter into an alliance with Russia; 3) Russia can support Sweden with troops if England lands troops against Sweden.
However, Arakcheev made a mistake by not finishing the job. Peace had to be dictated on the Swedish coast. There was very little left - the vanguard of the Russian troops, led by Major General Kulnev, reached the coast of Sweden on March 7 (19), captured Grisselgam, creating a direct threat to Stockholm. Kulnev so skillfully scattered his detachment that he seemed to the Swedes much stronger than he really was. The appearance of a small detachment of Kulnev caused great fear in Stockholm.
Arakcheev and Knorring, in order to show the sincerity of our aspirations for peace, ordered Bagration's troops to return to Abo. The detachment of Barclay de Tolly, who had already crossed the bay at Kvarken, was also recalled back. In fact, Debeln deliberately misled the Russian generals in order to play for time and save Stockholm.
Medal "For crossing to the Swedish coast"
Continuation of the war
At the beginning of April 1809, when the Russian troops left Swedish territory, and the melting of the ice made a new attack on Stockholm impossible, the Swedish government began to put forward unacceptable peace conditions to St. Petersburg. Alexander I on March 19 (31) canceled the truce. Knorring was replaced by Barclay de Tolly. Shuvalov's corps, which, under the terms of the armistice, withdrew to Northern Finland, received an order to re-enter the territory of Sweden.
April 18 (30) 5 thousand. Shuvalov's corps set out from Torneo. On April 26, Shuvalov approached Piteo with a forced march and, having learned about the concentration of enemy troops in Skellefteo, went there. Before reaching 10 versts, on May 2, under the command of General Alekseev, he sent 4 infantry regiments (Revelsky, Sevsky, Mogilev and 3rd Chasseurs) with artillery and a small number of Cossacks along the ice barely holding on to the coast (two days later - by May 5, the bay already freed from the ice) to the rear of the enemy. Himself with 4 regiments (Nizovsky, Azov, Kaluga and 20th Chasseurs) continued to move along the coast.
The decision was extremely risky, but justified itself. Furumak's detachment was taken by surprise, clamped in pincers and capitulated. About 700 people were taken prisoner, 22 guns and 4 banners became Russian trophies. At this time, Döbeln was appointed commander of the Swedish army in the North. Arriving at Umeå, he resorted to the same trick. Debeln asked Count Shuvalov to stop the bloodshed, which was pointless in view of the imminent conclusion of peace. Shuvalov stopped traffic and sent Debeln's letter to Barclay.
While the negotiations were going on, the Swedes hurriedly took away the transports with all the supplies and property. Finally, when on May 14 Shuvalov, without waiting for a response from the commander in chief, concluded a preliminary agreement with the Swedes on the transfer of Umeå to the Russians. Barclay de Tolly rejected the truce and ordered Shuvalov "to threaten the enemy with the most active war in Sweden itself." But this order was late, the Swedes took out supplies and entrenched themselves in new positions. Shuvalov, due to illness, had already surrendered the corps to General Alekseev. The latter advanced forward detachments to the southern borders of Vestrobothnia, occupying a number of points on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia.
Swedish commander Georg Carl von Döbeln
Alekseev's corps was in a dangerous position, as it was located 600 km from the main base in Uleaborg. The sea supply was interrupted, the coastal flank was threatened by the Swedish fleet. There was a shortage of food. The region was depleted by the war, and all food supplies were taken out by Debeln.
When the Riksdag, assembled in Stockholm, proclaimed the Duke of Südermanland King Charles XIII, the new government, wanting to restore the prestige of the kingdom, inclined to the proposal of General Count Wrede to continue the war and oust the Russians from Esterbotnia (central Finland). The Swedish command decided to take advantage of the inaction of the Russian sailing fleet, which defended almost the entire war in Kronstadt and, taking advantage of superiority at sea, to defeat Alekseev's corps.
Alekseev also understood that the situation was dangerous, he brought together individual parts of the corps and pulled the avant-garde located on the Era River closer to Umeå. In June, the Ume-Elv River flooded from the melted snows on the Lapland Mountains and damaged the bridge near Umeå between the vanguard and the main forces of Alekseev's detachment. Having learned about the damage to the bridge and believing it possible to break the vanguard before the arrival of reinforcements from Umeå, Sandels decided to attack it and began to prepare for the action. He had 3 thousand soldiers and support from the sea of 4 frigates and a rowing flotilla.
However, General Alekseev received news of the enemy's offensive and decided to counterattack the Swedes. He fixed the bridge and ordered General Kazachkovsky to attack the enemy with infantry regiments Sevsky, Kaluga, Nizovsky, 24th and 26th Chasseurs, half a squadron of Mitavian dragoons, fifty Cossacks and 4 guns. Sandels stood at Hörnefors, behind the river Görne, sending forward the small vanguard of Major Ernroth. On the evening of June 21, the advanced units of the Swedes were defeated.
Short of a few kilometers from Hörnefors, Kazachkovsky divided his detachment into two parts: with the Sevsky, Kaluga and 24th Jaeger regiments, he went the high road, and sent Lieutenant Colonel Karpenko with the 26th Chasseur regiment to the right, into the forest, bypassing the left flank of the Swedes . The Nizovsky regiment was left in reserve. The execution of this plan was favored by thick fog and the extreme carelessness of the Swedes, who did not expect an attack by Russian troops. The attack was unexpected for the Swedes; having knocked down the outposts, the Russians began to push the enemy, who had fallen into disarray and confusion. Sandels' attempt to arrange troops behind the bridge failed, and he began to withdraw them back, and to cover the retreat he appointed a battalion of the famous partisan Dunker, who completed the task, but died in this battle. In the following days, the fighting continued, but the Swedes repulsed the Russian attacks. Interestingly, after this success, Alexander removed Alekseev from command of the corps and appointed Kamensky instead.
Battle of Hörnefors.
Battle of the boat "Experience" with the English frigate near the island of Nargen on June 11, 1808. Drawing by L. Blinov
By the beginning of the war with Sweden Baltic Fleet were greatly weakened by sending the best ships to the Mediterranean. So, in 1804 Greig's squadron left, consisting of 2 battleships and 2 frigates. In 1805, the Senyavin squadron left, consisting of 5 battleships and 1 frigate. In 1806, Ignatov's squadron left, consisting of 5 ships, 1 frigate and other ships.
Moreover, all these expeditions ended badly for Russia. In August 1808 Senyavin's squadron (9 ships and 1 frigate) was captured by the British in Lisbon. In the English Channel, the British intercepted the frigate "Hurry" with a cargo of gold. Another frigate hid from the British Palermo and was surrendered to the Neapolitan king. The rest of the ships of the Russian Mediterranean fleet took refuge in the French ports (or belonged to France) - Toulon, Trieste and Venice. They were handed over for "storage" to the French and their crews returned to Russia.
Thus, practically without a fight, the Baltic Fleet was drained of blood. As the historian A. Shirokorad notes: “During this“ naval Austerlitz ”the Russian fleet lost more ships than in all the wars of the 18th and 19th centuries combined.”
By the beginning of 1808, the combat-ready ship fleet consisted of only 9 ships, 7 frigates and 25 small ships, which were based in Kronstadt and Revel. The rowing fleet included about 150 ships, including 20 galleys and 11 floating batteries. Most of the rowing fleet was located in St. Petersburg.
The Russians opened the 1808 campaign in early April. Rear Admiral Bodisko was ordered to land on the island of Gotland, which was supposed to be part of the French-Danish landing in South Sweden (it never took place). Bodisco chartered several merchant ships, landed troops on them and successfully captured the island. However, the Swedes sent a squadron and the support of local armed residents recaptured Gotland. Bodisco capitulated in the face of superior forces, but negotiated good terms. The Russian detachment, having handed over their weapons, but retaining the banners, returned to Russia.
In Sveaborg, occupied by the Russian army, a large Swedish rowing flotilla was captured. Two detachments were formed from it: Lieutenant Myakinin and Captain Selivanov. Both detachments passed by skerries to Abo and occupied the fairways leading to this city from the Aland and Bothnian skerries. Russian rowing vessels successfully withstood a number of collisions with the Swedes. On June 18, a Russian detachment (14 ships) was attacked by a Swedish rowing squadron in significantly superior forces (about 60 ships of various types). However, the firing of the Russian gunners was so successful that the Swedes retreated. The Swedes attacked again, but also unsuccessfully. Meanwhile, the Russian detachment received reinforcements from several ships.
On June 22, the Swedes went on the offensive again. However, the Swedish attack was repulsed. The gunners again distinguished themselves. We had 11 ships damaged, the Swedes - 20. On July 9, the Russian flotilla under the command of Heiden attacked the enemy in the area of the Jungfruzund Strait. The battle ended with the defeat of the Swedes. On July 20, our ships attacked the enemy and won a complete victory.
On August 7, the Russians and the Swedes again converged in the Jungfruzund Strait. The first day of the battle was limited to an artillery skirmish. On August 8, the battle continued. On this day, superior enemy forces (20 gunboats and 25 armed longboats with 600 landing troops) attacked 5 Russian ships that were away from the main forces. The case quickly turned into a boarding battle. Fighting off with grapeshot and rifle salvos, which turned into bloody hand-to-hand fights, a small Russian detachment bled in the fight against a numerous enemy. A particularly fierce battle was in full swing on the Storbiorn gem.
Gems were called sailing and rowing ships of the Swedish skerry fleet. Usually the ships had 2 masts and up to 10 pairs of oars, artillery weapons up to 30 - 32 guns. This made it possible to achieve the ability to conduct strong artillery fire from the side guns, walking under the oars.
All the commanders were killed on the ship, and 80 of the lower ranks were killed and 100 people were injured. The Swedes were able to capture the ship. But at this time, the commander of the Russian detachment Novokshenov brought help. The Russians recaptured the lost ship and sank three Swedish gunboats and two longboats. As a result of this fierce battle, the Russian rowing flotilla drove the Swedes out of Jungfruzund and opened a free passage along the entire length of the skerries from Vyborg to Abo.
On August 18, a detachment of the Russian rowing flotilla of 24 ships under the command of Selivanov near the island of Sudsalo entered into battle with an enemy squadron of 45 gunboats and 6 galleys. The battle was stubborn and lasted 8 hours. Despite the superiority in forces, the fire of the Russian artillery was so successful that the Swedes could not win. The Russians lost 2 gunboats, people were rescued from them. Selivanov sent 17 gunboats to Abo for repairs, which were severely damaged and barely floated. The losses of the Swedes were greater: 8 gunboats sank, and 2 exploded.
Thus, the Russian rowing fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Myasoedov during the campaign of 1808 went to the Abo region, where he had a number of successful skirmishes with the Swedish fleet. Rowing ships in late autumn they guarded the skerries from the penetration of enemy landings.
The Swedish naval fleet, which went to sea in July, consisted of 11 battleships and 5 frigates, which reinforced 2 English ships. The English fleet (16 ships and 20 vessels), after the defeat of the Danish capital, entered the Baltic Sea. The British sent help to the Swedes and with the main forces blocked the Sound, the Belts, the Danes, Prussia, Pomerania and the port of Riga.
The Russian ship fleet, which left Kronstadt on July 14 under the command of Admiral P.I. Khanykov, consisted of 39 pennants (9 ships, 11 frigates, 4 corvettes and 15 small ships). Khanykov was instructed to destroy or capture Swedish ships, to prevent the Swedes from connecting with the British; support the army from the sea.
The Russian fleet reached Gangut, several ships went cruising and captured several Swedish transports and a brig. From Gangut Khanykov moved to Jungfruzund. Here he met the enemy fleet. The Russian admiral, not considering it possible to resist the enemy, evaded a decisive battle and, pursued by the Swedes, took the ships to the Baltic port.
At the same time, the 74-gun battleship"Vsevolod" under the command of Captain I rank D. V. Rudnev was damaged and was in tow. Six miles from the port, the tug burst, and the ship would have to anchor. Admiral Khanykov sent several boats to the port for further towing of the Vsevolod under the protection of armed longboats. At 16 o'clock the boats approached the ship and began towing. Two English ships, seeing the plight of the Russian ship, approached and, dispersing the boats with shotgun fire, attacked her. Captain Rudnev, having decided to defend himself "to the last extreme", put the Vsevolod aground. During this battle, several ships of the Khanykov squadron weighed anchor, but due to the weak wind they could not leave the port.
The English ships, taking advantage of the immobility of the enemy, shot down the Russian ship, causing huge destruction and heavy losses in people. Only after that did they manage to board the Russian ship and, after a boarding battle, capture it. Of the almost 700 people of the Vsevolod team, only 56 escaped, another 37 wounded sailors were captured. After several unsuccessful attempts to refloat the Russian ship, the British, fearing the appearance of Khanykov's ships, plundered the Vsevolod and set it on fire. On the morning of August 15, Vsevolod exploded.
Even earlier, a similar feat was accomplished by the 14-gun boat of the Russian fleet "Experience" under the command of Lieutenant Gavriil Nevelsky. Sent to monitor the enemy, on June 11, the boat met at Nargen with the British 50-gun frigate Salsette. Despite the inequality of forces (there were only 53 people on the boat), the Russian boat refused to capitulate. For four hours, the crew of the boat fought off the enemy and was forced to surrender only when the boat received severe damage to the mast and hull and began to sink, and most of the crew were killed and wounded. Having captured the ship, the British, out of respect for the brilliant courage of the Russian sailors, released Nevelsky and all his subordinates. Emperor Alexander I, having learned about this battle, ordered "that Nevelsky never be under the command on any ship, but always be the commander." Nevelsky was awarded 3,000 rubles, and the service was reduced for the team, and "people were appointed to court courts."
Thus, the naval fleet under the command of Admiral Khanykov failed to prevent the connection of the Swedish and English fleets and took refuge in the Baltic port, where it was blocked on August 19 (31) until September 17 (29), when at the request of the Swedes a truce was concluded.
In the campaign of 1809, the Russian naval fleet concentrated in Kronstadt and prepared to repel the attack of the British fleet, that is, it sat out behind the forts of the sea fortress. Even when british navy approached the island of Gogland (an island in the Gulf of Finland, 180 km west of St. Petersburg), landed troops, Russian ships remained in place. Kronstadt was actively preparing for defense, about 20 new batteries were built.
In 1809, England sent Admiral D. Moore's powerful fleet to the Baltic - 52 ships with 9,000 landing corps. In April, the British fleet passed through the Sound. In early summer, the British entered the Gulf of Finland. The British landed troops in one of the main strategic points of the bay - in Porkalaud. The British tried to interfere with Russian shipping in the Finnish skerries and sent armed longboats to the skerries.
There were several fights. So, on June 23, in Porkalaud, four English longboats fought with three Russian gunboats. Two British ships were damaged and sunk. On July 17, between the mainland and the islands of Sturi and Lilla Svarte, six Russian iol (small sailing and rowing ships) and two gunboats were attacked by twenty English boats and longboats. After a stubborn battle, two iols were able to break through to Sveaborg, and the British boarded the rest of the ships. The Russians lost 2 officers and 63 lower ranks killed, 106 people were captured (half of them were wounded). The British lost 2 officers and 17 lower ranks killed, 37 people were wounded. All the captured Russian ships were badly damaged, so the British burned them.
The British press trumpeted the great successes of the Royal Navy in the Baltic. However, the British raids were local in nature and did not have a serious tactical and of strategic importance. The fate of the war was decided on land, and there Sweden was beaten in all respects, in 1809 the war was already in Sweden itself. And England did not dare to land a larger contingent in Sweden in order to really support the ally.
End of the war
Taking advantage of the complete superiority of the Swedish fleet in the Gulf of Bothnia, the Swedish command still hoped to win and return part of the previously lost territories. The Swedes developed a plan for the destruction of the Russian northern corps under the command of Kamensky. The Sandels corps was reinforced by troops that were withdrawn from the Norwegian direction. At Ratan, two passages to the rear from Umeå, where the Russians were stationed, they planned to land the “coastal corps”, which had previously covered Stockholm. Thus, the Russian troops fell between two fires.
Kamensky decided not to wait for the enemy attack and counterattack the Swedish army. On August 4, 1809, the northern corps left Umeå in three columns: the first - General Alekseev (six battalions), the second - Kamensky (eight battalions), the third - Sabaneev's reserve (four battalions). General Alekseev was to force the Ere River 15 versts above the mouth and attack the enemy's left flank. The main forces were transported along the coastal route and were supposed to push the enemy.
However, on August 5, from 100 transports near Ratan, they began to land 8,000. Corps of Count Wachtmeister. As a result, Kamensky's corps found itself in an extremely dangerous position. Ahead of the river Ere 7-thousand. corps of General Wrede, in the rear - landing corps of Wachtmeister. From the river Ere to Ratan only 5-6 day trips. You can move only in a narrow coastal strip, maneuvering is excluded by terrain conditions. The Swedish fleet dominates the sea.
Swedish General Johan August Sandels
Kamensky decided to attack the landing corps as the most powerful and dangerous threat. He ordered Sabaneev's reserve, which had just passed Umeå, to go back. The vanguard of the left column under the command of Erikson was to remain on the Era River and mislead the Swedes, and at night withdraw to Umeå and destroy the crossings. All other troops were to follow Sabaneev's former reserve, which now became the vanguard. These movements occupied the whole day of 5 August. The Swedes at that time managed to land the vanguard of Lagerbrink (seven battalions with a battery). They pushed back the small Russian units that were here. The Swedish troops did not move further and stopped at Sevara, waiting for instructions from the command. This stop disrupted the effect of the surprise landing of the Swedish troops in the rear of the Russian corps. Moreover, the area near Sevar was ill-suited for organizing a good defense.
On August 6, Russian troops were busy regrouping. Sabaneev supported Frolov's rear detachment. Alekseev's column soon approached. The rest of the troops lingered at Umeå, waiting for Erickson's rearguard. The Russian rearguard successfully misled the Swedes all day, and at night they left for Umeå. On the morning of August 7, Kamensky attacked with the forces of the Wachtmeister at Sevar. The stubborn battle lasted from early morning until 4 pm. The Swedes could not stand it and retreated back to Ratan.
Kamensky, despite the advance of the Wrede corps to Umeå, which reduced the distance between the two groups of the Swedes to 2-3 transitions, decided to attack Wachtmeister again. He pursued the retreating enemy with all his might. As a result, the Swedish detachment was evacuated by sea. Kamensky ran out of ammunition, so he decided to withdraw to Piteo on August 12 to replenish his ammunition. After the rest, on August 21, Kamensky's corps moved back to Umeå.
Meanwhile, on 3 (15) August, peace negotiations began again. A truce was concluded, according to which the Russian troops were withdrawn to Pitea, and the Swedes remained in Umea. The Swedish fleet was withdrawn from Kvarken and undertook not to act against the Åland Islands and the coast of Finland. Vessels of neutral states could navigate the entire Gulf of Bothnia.
Petersburg decided not to respond to the proposals of the Swedes in order to put pressure on them. Kamensky was ordered to prepare for a new offensive. The freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Bothnia was used to concentrate supplies in Piteau. A special reserve was put forward in Torneo in case it was necessary to support Kamensky's corps. The Russian chief commissioner in Friedrichsgam, Count Nikolai Rumyantsev, even demanded that Kamensky launch an offensive and offered to land troops near Stockholm.
Sweden was exhausted by the war, civil and military administration was upset. Despite the increased issuance of paper money, there was not enough money, taxes were increased, which became extremely burdensome for the population. The internal political crisis led to a coup d'état and the emergence of a constitution. The calculation of the help of England did not justify itself. The fighting on the Norwegian front also did not bring success to Sweden. At the same time, part of the Swedish elite hoped that with the help of Napoleon and Alexander, Sweden would be able to compensate for part of the losses. All this forced Stockholm to agree to such peace conditions that were beneficial to Petersburg.
Friedrichsham Peace
On September 5 (17), 1809, a peace treaty was signed in Friedrichsham. From the Russian side, it was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Nikolai Rumyantsev, and the Russian Ambassador to Stockholm, David Alopeus; from Sweden - general from infantry, former ambassador Sweden in St. Petersburg, Baron Kurt von Stedingk (Stedink) and Colonel Anders Fredrik Schöldebrandt.
Russian troops left the territory of Sweden in Västerbotten to Finland across the Torneo River, which became a border river. North of Västerbotten new frontier passed through the province of Lappland. All prisoners of war and hostages mutually returned no later than three months from the date the treaty entered into force. The former economic ties two powers. Arrests were mutually removed from the financial resources of the powers (assets), operations, debts and incomes interrupted or disrupted by the war were returned. The estates and property sequestered during the war were returned to their owners in both countries, etc.
All of Finland (including Aland) went to Russia up to the river. Russia was given part of Västerbotten up to the Torneo River and all of Finnish Lapland. The border in the sea ran along the middle of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Sea of Aland. The newly conquered region passed under a peace treaty "into the property and sovereign possession of the Russian Empire." The resettlement of the Swedish population from Finland to Sweden and vice versa was allowed. It must be said that this world was very upsetting for a part of the Russian metropolitan public, which was unhappy that Russia offended "poor Sweden" so much.
Sweden was to make peace with Napoleon and proceed with the continental blockade of Britain. British military and merchant ships could no longer enter Swedish ports. It was forbidden to fill them with water, food, fuel and other supplies.
Thus, the war with Sweden seriously strengthened the military-strategic position of Russia in the North and the Baltic. A task of great importance has been solved. An end has been put to the centuries-old confrontation between Russia and Sweden in Finland and the Baltic. And in favor of Russia. Therefore, the war corresponded national interest Russia. As Emperor Alexander rightly noted in 1810, Finland was to become "a strong pillow for St. Petersburg." Indeed, Finland was needed for the strong defense of the capital of the Russian Empire.
At the same time, Alexander, who made concessions to the national outskirts, created the Grand Duchy of Finland, included in it the Vyborg province, annexed to Russia under Peter the Great. This act had sad consequences for military security. Soviet Russia. Alexander preserved the laws and orders that existed there in Finland.
