The Northern War (1700–1721)

Why the war began (1700)

Sweden controlled most of the Baltic coast. Russia had no good northern seaport and wanted one to trade with Europe. In 1699-1700 Peter joined Denmark-Norway and Saxony-Poland (the "Northern Alliance") against Sweden. Its king, Charles XII, was only 18, but he was a brilliant general. This was the Great Northern War.

Narva (1700): a hard lesson

In November 1700 Charles XII hit Russian troops at Narva in a snowstorm. The young Russian army was beaten and lost many guns. Charles then turned to fight Poland and Saxony, which gave Peter time. Peter rebuilt: he drafted recruits across the land, bought and made new cannons and trained officers.

St Petersburg and the first wins (1701–1708)

Russian armies took forts along the river Neva. In 1703 Peter founded St Petersburg on the Neva delta, with the Peter and Paul Fortress. It was a "window on Europe" and later the capital. In 1704 Russia took Narva and Dorpat.

Poltava (1709)

In 1708 Charles XII marched into Russia. Cold weather and Russian "scorched earth" tactics weakened his army. On 27 June 1709 (Old Style) the two armies met at Poltava in Ukraine. The Russian army, better supplied, won clearly. Charles fled to Ottoman lands. Sweden never again led the Baltic.

After Poltava: the sea and the Prut

In 1711 Peter marched against the Ottomans at the Prut, was surrounded and made peace, giving back Azov. At sea the new Baltic fleet won at Gangut (1714), Russia's first big naval victory, and at Grengam (1720).

Treaty of Nystad and the Empire (1721)

The Treaty of Nystad (September 1721) ended the war. Russia gained Livonia, Estonia, Ingria and part of Karelia, with a Baltic coast and ports such as Riga and Reval. Russia paid Sweden a sum of money and returned Finland.

In October 1721 the Senate asked Peter to take the title Emperor (Imperator), "Peter the Great" and "Father of the Fatherland". From then Russia was officially an Empire, a sign that it had become a European great power.

Try it

Make a see-saw. Use a ruler on a pencil. Put 4 coins on each side, then take 2 off one side and watch it tip. Match it to Narva (Russia loses weight), Poltava (Sweden loses weight) and Nystad. Predict first: in which year does the beam tip most to Russia? Then check with the slider in the 3D.

Key formulas and definitions

• 1700 Narva (loss) → 1703 St Petersburg → 1709 Poltava (win) → 1714 Gangut → 1720 Grengam → 1721 Nystad + Empire
• Length of the war: 1721 − 1700 = 21 years
• Gains at Nystad: Livonia, Estonia, Ingria, part of Karelia

Worked examples

Common mistakes

• Saying Russia won at Narva. It lost there in 1700.
• Mixing Poltava (1709, land) with Gangut (1714, sea).
• Thinking Russia fought Sweden alone. Denmark and Saxony-Poland were allies at the start.
• Thinking Peter was "tsar" in 1721 only. He kept being tsar but also took the title Emperor.