Finnish War
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The Finnish War was fought between Sweden and Russia from February 1808 to September 1809. As a result of the war, the eastern third of Sweden was established as the semi-autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland, according to the Finns in personal union with Imperial Russia. Another notable effect was the Swedish parliament's adoption of a new constitution and a new royal house, that of Bernadotte.
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Background
The Swedish king Gustav IV Adolf refused to join the Continental System as he hated Napoleon (he was convinced that Napoleon was the Antichrist) and had an unrealistic view of Sweden's ability to defend itself against Russia. In the treaty of Tilsit in 1807 Napoleon and the Russian czar Alexander I decided that Russia should force the stubborn Swedish king to join the Continental System. Among the Swedish officers existed widespread scepticism about the possibilities to fight the superior Russian troops.
The war
On February 21, 1808 Russian troops crossed the border. At the same time southern Sweden was threatened by an attack from Denmark which even further complicated the defense of Finland as reinforcements could not be sent. The plan of the Swedish army under Johan Adam Cronstedt was to retreat into Ostrobothnia leaving only the isolated fortesses Svartholm and Sveaborg behind. The fortresses surrendered as the officers thought that resistance was meaningless.
Under a new commander, Carl Johan Adlercreutz, the Swedish army counter-attacked and halted the Russian offensive at the Battle of Siikajoki. Although the Swedes had some success the outcome was clear. Fighting the wrong alliance at that time without desperately needed reinforcements was a fatal mistake. Adlercreutz fought a defensive battle at Oravais, but lost and was forced to retreat. The day before Georg Carl von Döbeln had won the legendary Battle of Jutas.
On November 19 the convention of Olkijoki was signed and Swedish army was forced to leave Finland.
Battles
- Battle of Siikajoki -- April 18, 1808
- Battle of Revolax -- April 27, 1808
- Battle of Lapua -- July 14, 1808
- Battle of Kauhajoki -- August 10, 1808
- Battle of Karstula -- August 21, 1808
- Battle of Jutas -- September 13, 1808
- Battle of Oravais -- September 14, 1808
- Battle of Virta bro -- October 27, 1808
- The Moonlight Raid -- November 10, 1808
- Battle of Hörnefors -- July 5 - July 6, 1809
- Battle of Sävar -- August 19, 1809
- Battle of Ratan -- August 20, 1809
Major commanders
- Adlercreutz, Carl Johan
- Cronstedt, Carl Olof
- Cronstedt, Johan Adam
- Duncker, Joachim Zachris
- Döbeln, Georg Carl von
- Montgomery, Gustaf Adolf
- Sandels, Johan August
- Wachtmeister, Gustaf, Count
- Bagration, Peter
- Barclay de Tolly, Michael Andreas
- von Buxhoevden, Friedrich Wilhelm
- Kamenski, Nikolai Mikhailovich
Aftermath
The Finnish war was finished with the treaty of Fredrikshamn on September 17, 1809. The Grand Duchy of Finland came to retain the Gustavian constitution of 1772 with only slight modifications until 1919. In Sweden, King Gustav IV who made the fatal mistakes leading to the loss of Finland was dethroned and the constitution was rewritten immediately thereafter.
See also
- Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790)
- War and Peace in Russia, 1796-1825
- Finnish Civil War
- Winter War - is sometimes called the Russo-Finnish War
- Lands of Sweden
- Johan Ludvig Runeberg
- Anglo-Russian War (1807-1812)es:Guerra Finlandesa