Presidential Library marks 315th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava. Little-known facts about Peter I and Charles XII presented

Peter the Great called the victory in the Battle of Poltava "The Great Victory", in which Russia for the first time showed and realized its strength that had been shackled for many centuries. On July 8, 315 years ago, the largest battle of the Northern War took place, 7 kilometers from the city of Poltava, between Russian troops led by Peter I and Swedish troops led by Charles XII.

In recognition of the victory achieved by the Russian army under Peter the Great's command over the Swedish forces at the Battle of Poltava, a Day of Military Glory for Russia has been instituted, which is observed on the 10th of July.

In the beginning of the 18th century, the Swedish army was considered the main military force in Europe. King Charles XII was spoiled with victories. He was known for his bravery, thirst for achievement, and perseverance. Russian Tsar Peter was also known for his perseverance and persistence, but at the same time he could oppose Charles' impetuosity with his caution, restraint, and strict consideration of each of his intentions and plans.

For Russia, the beginning of the Northern War, which lasted 21 years, was marked by a defeat in the Battle of Narva. Despite the setback, Peter did not lose hope: "I know," he said, "the Swedes can defeat us again, but eventually, we will find a way to defeat them!" These words proved to be prophetic.

Realizing that his troops were not yet prepared for a decisive battle with the Swedes, Peter adopted a special approach to military operations: he decided to "repair the fishing over the enemy," avoiding a general battle but instead acting against them in smaller engagements when opportunities presented themselves. In these skirmishes, Russian soldiers and officers gained combat experience; minor victories boosted the morale of the young army and made them question the invincibility of the Swedish forces. By avoiding a major confrontation, Peter preserved his army until the Battle of Poltava, where he ultimately achieved a victory and dispelled the discontent and despair in the Swedish ranks.

"Nothing could more annoyingly influence the decisive and energetic character of the Swedish king than such a cautious yet persistent course of action on the part of Peter," historian and teacher Ivan Pavlovsky wrote in his book The Battle of Poltava and Its Monuments (1895). Finally, after avoiding a general battle with Charles XII for nearly 9 years, Peter I decided to attack.

In April 1709, the city of Poltava was besieged by Swedish troops. In order to save the fortress, Peter I, the Russian emperor, decided to engage in battle with the Swedish king. He moved his army a five-hundred-mile distance away from Poltava to do so. Vladimir Shcheglov, a teacher at the Poltava Theological Seminary, said in his book The Field of the Battle of Poltava and its Historical Monuments that this was the most convenient time for Peter to settle accounts with the Swedes.

The Russian troops set up a fortified camp surrounded by a forest. Peter assumed command of the first division, as the Library's section On this day states, while the cavalry was entrusted to Alexander Menshikov and the command of artillery to James Bruce. Peter himself arrived near Poltava on June 4. He established communication with the besieged city across the river by throwing letters of support and encouragement in empty bombs. Encouraged by hope, the people of Poltava vowed not to surrender to the enemy under any circumstances, says Vladimir Shcheglov in his book.

On June 29th (old style), the day of Tsar Peter's angel, an attack by the Swedish army was planned. A Russian army defector arrived at the Russian camp on June 25th, reporting that the Swedes were planning to attack on June 27th. "God is with us," said the tsar calmly upon learning this news and began to make final preparations for the battle, the outcome of which would determine the future of Russia. "He viewed the upcoming battle as a 'very dangerous matter', a decisive and inevitable means to achieve his desired goal," writes historian Peter Andrianov in his book Peter I and Poltava (1909).

It was June 27, 1709, and at two o'clock in the morning, the Swedes approached the Russian camp. Inspired by their king's promise of a "feast in the tent of the Tsar of Moscow," they were determined to win glory. Charles XII urged them to "go where glory leads you." At the same time, the Russian regiments were in battle formation, listening to their tsar's famous order: "Warriors, the hour has come to decide the fate of our Fatherland. You are not fighting for Peter, but for our state, our family, our Orthodox faith, and our church."

After a fierce battle, the Swedes managed to capture only two redoubts. By nine o'clock in the morning, both armies were facing each other at a rifle shot distance. When the right flank of the Swedish infantry pushed back the Novgorod regiment's battalions, Peter I, taking the Preobrazhensky regiment's second battalion, rushed to face the Swedes himself. 

The story of the victorious finale of this largest battle is available in  Alexander Pogossky's book Narva and Poltava (1899). According to the book, the Swedes became involved and began to retreat. At this point, a cannonball hit Karl (on June 16, on his birthday), wounding him in the leg, and the king lost consciousness. When they picked him up and placed him on a pile of crossed pikes, he saw his regiments running in confusion and shouted in desperation: "Swedes! Swedes!" But the Swedes did not hear their king anymore and fled in disgrace.

The next day, Alexander Menshikov's troops overtook the retreating troops on the Dnieper. The remnants of the Swedish army surrendered, and Charles XII and Hetman Mazepa fled to the Ottoman Empire with a small group.

Alexander Brickner's book, The History of Peter the Great (1882), which is available in the Presidential Library's collection, contains a unique document - the text of a letter from Peter I to Catherine, written immediately after a battle. The letter states: "I hereby declare to you that the Almighty Lord has granted us an indescribable victory today. In a single word, the entire enemy army has been completely defeated, as you will soon hear from our messengers. And for your congratulations, please come yourself."

In the following years, Brickner writes that Peter and Catherine often celebrated the anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, known as "Russian Sunday" and "the beginning of their salvation".

According to Voltaire, as described in the book The History of the Russian Army. The Era of Peter the Great (1910), the Poltava victory is a unique battle in history, as it was not the result of destruction, but of happiness for mankind. This victory provided Peter with the space he needed to continue on his path of transformation.

Sergei Solovyov, a renowned historian, also assessed the significance of the Poltava victory in his Public Lectures (1903). He stated that with the thunderous sound of the battle, a new people was born in Europe, ready to participate in the common life of Europe.