Great Northern War facts for kids

The Great Northern War was a big conflict that happened between 1700 and 1721. It was fought mainly between Sweden and a group of countries called a coalition. This group included Russia, Saxony, Poland, and Denmark-Norway. Later, in 1715, Prussia and Hannover also joined the fight against Sweden. The King of Hannover was also King George II of Great Britain. This war changed who was the most powerful country in northern Europe.

Sweden's Invasion of Russia

After the coalition attacked, Sweden decided to invade Russia in 1709. This turned out to be a very difficult move. The Russian army kept retreating, making the Swedish army chase them deeper into Russia.

A very cold winter then hit Europe, the coldest in a hundred years. Many Swedish soldiers died from the extreme cold. Eventually, the Swedish army caught up with the Russians. They fought a major battle called the Battle of Poltava.

Russia won the Battle of Poltava. However, most of the Swedish soldiers, including their king, Charles XII of Sweden, managed to escape. They went to the Ottoman Empire for safety.

King Charles XII and His Return

The Russian leader, Peter the Great, was not happy about King Charles XII escaping. So, he declared war on the Ottoman Empire. Russia lost this war and had to give the town of Azov back to the Ottomans.

King Charles XII left the Ottoman Empire in 1714. He traveled to Stralsund in Pomerania, which was owned by Sweden at the time. Stralsund was under siege by enemy forces. Charles managed to escape back to Sweden just before the city surrendered.

After returning home, King Charles XII invaded Norway. Norway was part of Denmark at that time. During this invasion, he was shot and killed. With their king gone, the Swedish soldiers left Norway and returned to Sweden. Many soldiers died on the way back.

Russia's Gains and the End of the War

While King Charles XII was away and then fighting in Norway, Russia was busy invading Sweden. Russia conquered important areas like Estonia, Livonia, and Ingria. By the time the remaining Swedish soldiers came back from Norway, Russia had completely taken over Finland.

Sweden still did not want to make peace. They did not want to give up so much land to Russia. Russia then used its new fleet of ships to attack and raid the Swedish coast. Even with these attacks, Sweden refused to surrender.

Eventually, the Russian and Swedish ships met in the Battle of Grengam. Both sides thought they had won this battle. Because of this, no peace treaty was signed right away. The Russians continued to use their boats to damage the Swedish coast. Finally, Sweden gave up in 1721.

Peace Treaties

Sweden had already made peace with Denmark in 1720. In 1721, Sweden signed the Treaty of Nystad with Russia. In this treaty, Sweden had to give land to other countries. Sweden gave Estonia, Livonia, and Ingria to Russia but was allowed to keep Finland.

Sweden also signed other treaties. The Treaty of Stockholm meant Sweden gave Swedish Pomerania to Prussia. In the Treaty of Frederiksborg, Sweden had to pay Denmark-Norway money for the damage caused during the war.

This war was very important. It allowed Russia to become the strongest power in Northeastern Europe. Before the war, Sweden had held that position.

Images for kids

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  Augustus II of Poland (left) and Frederick William I of Prussia (right)

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  The bombardment of Copenhagen, 1700

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  Battle of Riga, the first major battle of the Swedish invasion of Poland, 1701

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  Battle of Gangut (Hanko)

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  The final days of the siege of Vyborg, by Alexei Rostovtsev

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  Danish town of Altona burned down during Magnus Stenbock's campaign (1713). Russian forces retaliated by burning down the Swedish town of Wolgast in the same year.

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  The battle of Grengam. A 1721 etching by Alexey Zubov.

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  Timeline of each main participant in the war

See also

In Spanish: Gran guerra del Norte para niños