Svensksund Naval Battles 1789-90

The Russo-Swedish War and the battles of Svensksund

The first and second naval battle of Svensksund were fought during the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–90. The purpose of the war was to regain the eastern territories that Sweden lost in the Great Northern War and the Russo–Swedish War of 1741–1743. The king also wanted to strengthen Sweden’s position as a major power. The border between the countries ran through Finland along the Kymijoki River. The cities of Hamina, Lappeenranta and Savonlinna lay east of the border. Svensksund, which later became the centre stage of the war, had been transferred from Sweden to Russia in the Treaty of Åbo in 1743.

The war that King Gustav III started was not a success for Sweden on land or sea. It suffered a heavy loss to the Russian Archipelago Fleet in the first naval battle of Svensksund on 24 August 1789. One year later, the Swedish Archipelago Fleet was forced to flee from Russian vessels into the Straits of Svensksund, and a second naval battle was fought there on 9 July 1790. The greatest battle in the history of the Baltic Sea ended in the victory of the Swedish Archipelago Fleet. In one day, the seabed of Svensksund became the grave of dozens of war vessels and thousands of soldiers.

The victory improved Sweden’s position in the war, and the king was able to offer a peace treaty to the Empress of Russia, Catherine II the Great. The treaty was signed in August 1790 with no changes in territory. The outcome of the war strengthened Sweden’s military position, but the aim of regaining lost territories was not realised.

As a result of the loss at Svensksund, Catherine the Great decided to strengthen the defences of the city of St Petersburg. The empress wanted to fortify the northwest border of the realm and gave the task to General Alexander Suvorov. Named after the General, the “Suvorov line” was a chain of fortifications that stretched across the entire border line. Some of the fortifications and ruins are still extant in Northeast Finland. Suvorov placed the starting point of the fortifications at the site of the Battle of Svensksund. A sea fort and naval base were built in the archipelago, and Kyminlinna Fortress was built along the Great Coastal Road to St Petersburg. The purpose of the double fortification was to counter the fortress of Suomenlinna (then Sveaborg) built by the Swedish outside Helsinki. Today, Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Svensksund lost its military significance in 1809 when the entire Finnish territory became part of Russia. The rundown fortress was finally destroyed by the Anglo-French fleet during the Crimean War in 1854. The modern city of Kotka was later founded at the location, and the ruins of the fortress can still be found in the city.

Credits:

Produced by:
Cursor Ltd., Access Southeast135 - Mobile Games for Tourism Marketing (ERDF Europan Regional Development Fund), Noora Kiili.

Production:
Mediatehdas Dakar Oy

Script:
The Museum of Kymenlaakso
Maritime Centre Vellamo

Videos:
Finland's National Board of Antiquities, Archaeological Field Services.
Kotka Divers
Subzone Ltd.

Drawings and maps:
Finland's National Board of Antiquities
The Museum of Kymenlaakso
Google

Photos:
Juha Metso

Paintings:
Johan Tietrich Schoultz: Slaget vid Svensksund 9 juli 1790 & Slaget vid Svensksund 10 juli 1790
Photo©Nationalmuseum, Stockholm

Speaker: Alan Sykes