Page 37 - Handout

War against Russia 1788-1790 The Swedish King Gustav III wanted to start a war with troops at Puumala in the province of Savolax (southeast Russia. His purpose was to strengthening his position Finland) on the Russian border. and gain domestic and international advantages. A war would take the tension away from the domestic affairs. Because each country tried to gain control of the Gulf of Aims with a war with Russia would be to regain land Finland, there were several naval battles between the lost in the wars with Russia 1700-1721 and 1741-1743 and Galley fleets of each country. The land forces were to stop Russian interference with Swedish internal dependent on supplies transported by the navy, so no affairs. According to the Swedish constitution, the King long marches into enemy country could be done. After did not have the legal power to start an aggressive war. the large Swedish defeat of the Russian Galley fleet in He needed the Parliament's (Riksdagen) approval to the naval battle at Svensksund June 9-10, 1790, Sweden launch an assault on Russia. Getting approval from the got in the coming peace talks better position. Parliament to start a war was out of the question, so the only option was to provoke the Russians to start a war. Peace Treaty was signed August 14, 1790 in Värälä, During the night of June 27, 1788 there was an exchange Finland where no land had to change ownership. of shots between a Swedish border patrol and Russian 1789 By ship pilots to the Sw. Navy's commander... ...outside Hangö, in south The Swedish Colonel Olof Finland with marking in Martin Fust was at the Swedish. Sw. on front “conveyed by warship Wladislaff (captured the ship pilots, of high from the Russians in 1788). He responsibility, as fast as commanded a Sw. naval p o s s i b l e . . . H i g h e s t squadron that was only in the priority.” Finnish waters Sep. 3-7, 1789. uu St. Michel Finland (Sweden) uu In 1789 the war is fought at the Finnish uu Åbo Helsingfors borderline and at sea along the Finnish uu uu coastal line. SWEDEN Stockholm Hangö udd RUSSIA uu The letter route Baltic Sea Sw. forces Duration: Jun. 27, 1788 - Aug. 14, 1790 Main area: Finland & Baltic Sea Sw. militaries: approx. 32000