Treaties of Örebro facts for kids
| Treaty of Peace, Union, and Friendship, between His Britannic Majesty and the Emperor of all the Russias Treaty of Peace, Union, and Friendship, between His Britannic Majesty and the King of Sweden |
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Memorial plate from 2012 about the Treaty of Örebro 1812
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| Type | Bilateral treaty |
| Signed | 18 July 1812 |
| Location | Örebro, Sweden |
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The Treaty of Örebro actually refers to two important peace agreements. They were signed on the same day, July 18, 1812, in the city of Örebro, Sweden. These treaties officially ended two small wars that had been happening. One was between Great Britain and Russia. The other was between Great Britain and Sweden.
Contents
Why These Treaties Were Important
These treaties were a big step towards changing the balance of power in Europe. They helped to unite countries against a common enemy. This enemy was Napoleon Bonaparte and his French Empire.
Ending the Wars
The treaties formally ended two conflicts.
- The Anglo-Russian War (1807–1812)
- The Anglo-Swedish War (1810–1812)
It's interesting to note that neither of these wars involved much actual fighting. They were more about political disagreements.
The Anglo-Russian War
This war started in 1807. It was mainly because Russia joined Napoleon's side. This happened after the Treaties of Tilsit. Russia agreed to stop trading with Great Britain. This hurt Britain's economy.
The Anglo-Swedish War
This war began in 1810. Sweden was forced to declare war on Britain. This was also due to pressure from Napoleon. Sweden had to join the "Continental System." This system was Napoleon's plan to block trade with Britain.
Who Negotiated the Treaties?
The main person who helped make these treaties happen was Edward Thornton. He was a British diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in talks with other countries. Thornton was the British minister-plenipotentiary in Sweden. This means he had full power to negotiate for Britain.
The Bigger Picture: Napoleonic Wars
The Treaties of Örebro were part of a much larger conflict. This was the Napoleonic Wars. These wars involved many European countries. They were fighting against Napoleon's control.
Changing Alliances
Before 1812, Russia and Sweden had been on Napoleon's side. But things were changing. Russia was getting tired of Napoleon's demands. Sweden also saw a chance to gain more power. They wanted to get back land they had lost.
Russia's Shift
Russia decided to break away from Napoleon. They wanted to restart trade with Britain. This was a huge decision. It meant Russia would likely face Napoleon's army.
Sweden's Strategy
Sweden's leader, Crown Prince Charles John, had a plan. He wanted to get Norway from Denmark. Denmark was an ally of Napoleon. To do this, Sweden needed Britain's help. They also needed Russia's support.
The Outcome of the Treaties
The signing of these treaties was a big win for Britain. It meant they had new allies against Napoleon.
- Great Britain and Russia became friends again.
- Great Britain and Sweden also became friends.
- This created a stronger group of countries. They were ready to fight Napoleon.
These treaties helped set the stage for major events. Soon after, Napoleon invaded Russia. This invasion was a huge disaster for him. The new alliances formed at Örebro played a part in his eventual defeat.
