Three hundrcd ycars ago, Russia emerged as a major pos,er alier a clash o[ armics in thc Ukraine. Pcter thc Grcat's victon, Derek Wilson argucs, had repercussions that last to this dari

L€fr 'lhe Apoth€osis ofTs.r Peter I ol Ru$ia.the 6rert rh. Yi..or & Poluva. painted by an

THE BATTLE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

his \c,n nitrl\ I re Jl)0rtr.nnri1cr I)rl;c. on r(.cn,g rhcnrrs tn Ingl,rn.t. u ,ci\ ilisc(l cJ!lerr hrtx,f o\d thc l)csr ..,n ,)ll l,,rrrl( l;ullhr,,, hilh rr. r,rs:co.nl l tk dr{,il)cJ rh(.rr.om. Iighring nr,,chinc in tur)p. \Jr bur,, ,iin nr"r lhc Lk,.iinirn ol' t(n\n J. in ,,r1n\ .l \urrrfr bc,,re. h\ ,, rnoL. l[sh in rh( p.rD Hor ruril r]rer refu l'olti\i. I. rht hrsro,\ (tors ol $,,d:Lrc ir .rr6\rl. i hc!. miliri.,.,,n J,fn ,ir ih,, lhe ll.LLrlc ol l,o[.,\.r \.,s ,,rc ,il rli. not r.ul, a' rne ol thc out'r.Ddurs cr.rm hr. t.r tell(n\s rn Lll tr,'ild. hdor l,\ hijo! ruurn! I)oinr. oi trrodcnr hisror\ plcs ol l,raror. grcar gcno,,l\Lip or Lrit \rou.dr.1\ \liIr\ ol h]i (onrcnrlnn.tics rrd rr.rrr srill lnins \irh irs (on!- lllln Lrclics lh. \,(nns o$rd their $rc.* \h.rr(l hi\ nlpri5. anrl dtsru .'nLl .tuen(es l'.rc, rhe C.c.n \ \icrorl o\cr .6 mu!ir ft,1lnru!( $ to h(roism. D.,nrcl rsun,(d th.n $l! rpl,.iicnr r.i!nrph ,n .rn ('lr.!lct \li or luD. 27r1. l70e sisiallc.l Ihe end of Sscdcns lo.u re rd of domi trt gcnius h.l h. roo hril come to thc seuing ab.ut a tar reaching trogramnrc ndtio. ol lhc Biltlc .nd. ,nore signili rhrone $hjlc srill in his te.ns (.sed I71. olreirm that translormed his country by .antl\. the emergen.e ol ltussia as d Gustar us .\dolphus had forced Europcan opcning it up to \.stc.n i.tluences. He m:,lor Etriof.rn ton.r rnonlrchs to a..epl rhis ruler ola rcmote unde.srdid $el1 the imporraDce ol inre! Thc h\o protagon(ts $$c rcmrrk ble northern ldnd as ,n equal and bad estab- natjonll trade and the potcnlial s.calth to men, \ert rlike iD their energ\l deternri llshcd the basis ol an empjr. hi.h b! be gaincd lrom the erport ol flar, hemp. Dllidr .nd ruthlcsucss Charle! \ll 1697 embraccd Sweden. Finland. Lap pit.h, lurs, hides abd timbcr The prcb i.herited the curn ol S\eden in 1697 i,Dd. Ilreli,, lngi,. tsto.ja. L ro.ra, as lem s.s th.t Russir Nas !irtual\ land- rl lhe rge.l ]5. lle h,rried the irnpetu- $ell rs \\lesrern l'omerunia and rh. port locked. Apart lrom Archangel on the osirr ol!outh nith the clcar\ision and of \l'ismar in the (cstcrn Baltic ind the \\rhitc S.n, cbscd bv ice tbr mosr ol rhe Nthless dercrnrinrtbn ol . morc sci' bishorrics ol Bremen dnd \/crden. tacing )err, rhe rounrry had no access to tle s)n.d !(n)crat Hc |rd rccci\cd d slrict drc No{h Sc!. Ihc Baltic hdd, in etfect, \orld s shipping 1anes. I,eter needed a milirar! lr.ining !nd tr!s (lclcmired to become n S{cdish lake and Charless Ba[i. ourl.r. U',rh thc lid olmilitdrv dnd emuLrc drc lcxrs of his grc.r prcdccessor Da\\' sds lblc. \en' hry.l\r to cotrtrclthe naral crpcLts h;rcd in Holland, England, Gust.\ ll \r.s!.Ino\n in turope ds Gus- .ommcicirl relrtio.s of Poland. the Scotland and Prussia he creatcd and ta\ut.\dolphus (hc rcisncd ltunr l6l I k) no h Ccnnrn states a.d Ru$ia silh tbe equipped a ne$-styte arnr anrl built a 16321. This Prctcsunt hcro oltbe lhirt! Rus\ian n,r\ lrurr scratth. He ras ICJN \llr (la,lu l6+8) h,d 4tablished Peter I hccnhc soic ruler of Russia ur thc grcrtn.ss of Sseden. He nJs a mili 1696 rt the rge ol2-l ,nd lost no timc in

Rolte ofthe main army Route of LowenhauPtl rrcoPs - Occupied by Ru$ia with the - date oI o..upation \i (ale FINLAND 4!r f / a r; (, (t t",'i,J .s&rr

t,

LITHUANIA A

i708-09. a,c

<,".b?

HUNGARY TURKEY

Il$.n 2009 Hrlron\ 'loDN drrcminrd to rlirllen!( str.(lislr Rldt Kins Ch.rles Xllof Sweden prlnred by lhe hr nc(d.d rhc r \uficrnrr\ \ll \.,\ !l)1 Swenish arr $ Michae Durenr Jnd r.r.dll)lc.d,q^ ,r/1,. Dihl.c.l7l4-17. Iht rccc.sron oi r mrrrr to thc strcii\h rhn,nc \crhcd ft' t)rc\cnr 1h. nl('.,1 opIo,r,ni1\ la, nsuins., chJllrn!c 111(r in.l l,i' .,1\ Pctcr pr rccJ nro ,r.rmrs [, oprnrng \r runu'. l-]l.ro, ,)l ho\(ilitic\ liglir Lh( no(lr\.srern 1iI Sr\,fr\ rn(l Ki.s,,1 ,'1 rodr\:\ liotsi.r on shi.h Sr l)rrr nrrq l',,l.rnd ln \orcnt n,rL sr.rnl' - L.rl l,rcn.r h,,nc ol corr' l)!r l;00 ( hJr r\ rerllon l)crs(c. thr tno c,rIrLrr. lir rIt)(xr.d ir,r \no\' ccrrurer. hr,lnr p,r"scd h.tr1, rnd lorlr st,,m b.l,,rc rhc bctreen thcm Slrcr l61i r [. L.cn r.r i' ol \,rrr Lto !nlcr S\.fish d,,rniniof .,n.1 hird rlt \.sl ol l, i\! Sl l)((oDe r r(!rnr nr.,rlcd br l:,tto rr.rll 1,frcrsburu,.,fd. ni,h l,ctrcen OLth.rL.r r.si(l!.rr,Lrk li\1.r rh.Lf 9.1)01) I r:tLeLrn rr crs l).r. \ s.(,, rl grid.r )Lc n\l,. o\.tr\h.lnx{.1 .tros. 1.of, .nr in.id(nr durnlr hls \i\ir ir .l.li.idin! ltuss,.,f 11,9; t(, It,!.r o. rh. ll.rllic !,i,sr II. lr,trl ,rrrierJ {pposedl ir..!nil() .,nd h,rd. lhc r.rr miqlrt f"r unr..A,Dlbh. bcrn t{ir'trl pcrrl'- h,rr cndd. rcm slrn br tlre Srtcli'h soruun t,) tr,.,1.. p,r,,ril\ rr l..Lsr..ll i,,rc\ on rl,. l;l1rli(,,r1,,L ol rl,c Lrrl,or, r)\ r)(iirr. P.l.r Ilc chosr t,, rfs.r tl,r'.rs .! .rtr,|, brr lt $ r "uld h.re hr.r .l lllcult L,) belic\! thir rh( supt,,,'((l l,.Lp|\ \ it, ., rtu.e )litr\ to 1,1.,,,,,,, tr,,,,. \.,'.,.\tl,i)q btr(hrrl.',rrld.rl orhrr LlIn .rn e\c!.. ln l{)99 l'].r(r l,,,n.eil a' .nn,rLlcrl ,r, r I elrr ch bt I' to li,rr. ,,d' .., r,x,,. lir *r r licd hitrr\(ll Nrl, \\.d.n \ ,)rh.r rn.. idc.rerru .LJcu(lc,t. hcu. ,l or:cnt.rl rIr t orur,r,rir! rlr! 1r'n]il,,ron,,1 n, cs l)cnmrrh Jrl s.,ronr .,rtl rhr li,l- L'r,r rhon, ll ,rJ i,) .sp.cr. lr srlxr\ \.,,1., I !\$.disL,i!!trl\,,!trI roli\- 1(^\ing \c.,r l,r dcrl,,rcd hr trnr to n,,'rrrhe h,. cuo rhr,,tho sr1r he t,nlrru* ilc 6 6 r.rr Ihus begrn r ern it took Peter ,)t,p,) r.nr ll( ic\ iIS rh,,r \.Ltn)1.,m r,( IlitlrL \, |.ldrrrrrali,r lli.L shio sr\ ro l$r litde time to Lc r,{l.l f,)lish o1} r r. hrrrr rh.rt tLrc hnl . ,Ll ll,]t, ( ,rl l]l*i,L until l;-l i rnd \ 1,,.h li!..,., r'.n .,f\ rinr(. h( .,rrtnut..,lirmirl.rl,l,,,lrt.,.L llr.r1,.*l \,rld .,, ,c r,) br realise that he r!,n!(l hi\ .,(1(frlo, r,) .L \l r!.,1h i,,.\hr't )1. {,t)p \ ol t!rls lnosn ,r' tfc (;rcrt \urL.tus l, rl,c c.rIr lx. l\r! r,,rr.nrt,L,,r.a rl, .on,r,l( rr had gravely " ,rrr!n.,)l i lr.l.rnd l-{)l \,,/.r /,,n1 r,. !.,(,i1tr. ,'l L, !,,u'lb(,.1 nx)1, l']er.r lir r lc .lclirtrl th,,L hls toL nLrrrri i,, th. It misjudged his hr t,ertrtl]\ '.n11.,, t)Lir ll rc 1{) ,!.rliic rl,rt l). the s,'ron' ,rntl t lrrl \!ir,,l !I r,11.\i.lotr \f(.il thr.i.u h, grl\rl\ nrisj (l{d young oPPonent dct,uc.l \r!rrr'lr. lio r \.i,rurad n, i,n, ! hN (1,ir,rr. l'rrcr h.rl h. rou rg opporent rht l,,,l,sh ,o,e ,r ,Lr,th.r .Nnl thou'.1,.\ol ntL.rcL ,' Charles 1 (',rrles \ll r,r1, rJh I tr\o!r ol hl\,^\ | p!|t)( r f,( 1 !s oi inh,^fli,,l) ( r.r, iif L,,rlcr irr\ ( )ciqtd J' .hrrsnL,Li. rnilrrr,\ lr.{ler Lrtrq l.,rr nr..nr\ h 1.. \.,. (lnpl.,\ i,," I"r L.rl ,,rnh' tl,. r Ihr rrt "l rrr rir.l r bor r rr.ricltrn. 11. i,^d rh. r.rnr- I s trrit .,n( l.ten,rl.rt0,, i, {lilli (nr lhr tsrt e,rnccnttLll h. rll,,Lt',,n t),rgninS lilr l(r lrs,^\r s,r],c.rn<] sprrt r.n. ( h.L lc.lurl-r lrr9ri,1.rndrltr lri\ |ritrr.,,\,)i)i.r1i\.. .,..rs\ r,i 1h. ,r1N\r his (nri,.,risn \lrl, his ran\ \ n\. \i.k,k\ Pcl.r .ctt rl rl,"'n li,L rlt Il.,lti. ln rh. 't,,rrq,'l l0i. l,( (('nrcn,p,,r.u\ ol,'cnti,lcseribctl the [,ng h.r1. *rmnrc(] r p in h \ s.rnsrLni,\ d.t),,\rd ,r(rfs d.,.Ll,l( l. ..,r!.,in't rltr' I ns rs bring nrrr icd ro his r ir\ ril \ r.LLl .i(.(l(l ,)l \\r,,.Lln. .,r L. nn)r th rhc nrrrrt)hor $.,'. in rlri'.,r...ot ol thc \d,1. lh! ,trenh,,r\ ,n rhl. rrcrblorr. lhc Srrd,sh s,rrlrc,s r. c ll,L \r,don hrs g,lnd strat.g\ jusr nlcn it $!s Ekman. Jnd r$.rt his promiscl ieinti,ce.renrs. enr..ins,ts lin.l xnd undoubredl\ su.- Itere he Lcccned 1996ating.ess Fo,n Below Tsar Pe@r I meets an embasy lrom rhe ..s\luiphJse Russii nas o. rhc ropes Ho/ Rohan Emperor Leopold la! lhe LdrcnLrupr Thc gcneral had erperi- One rell-rimcd puncir ro!l.i linirh r! Saes ol l'loscow in I 698. cn..d diliculties.ommandcerlng hoises

26 ltl\x(H 2009 HrsroN roDs '.:t

.wl s.rqons rr r.rs unlil!l\ r(, strrr,tir AloE A 1709 colour€d engcviiS of Ihe Bo.d. remp.r.nur.\ .rnrl Lsrrl nuch L,ngcr ofPo,ldvd b, one olth. N,.olar La.m.sn hmily rlr.,n h\forh.r rir rn.l l.Ln,,n( l,(in lligl unril rhr.rd ol lul\ ,her the prinr.S b/ Pierre-D€ns f1r!n. !.u1. \. ( )I cs \i{ r,tr\ r)rcscnl((1\irh r.lil h r rl,c r,,11lncnr. rc.onrpxnied b\ rn ll.uir.hoi(. lii\ nrcn \r,( Led ln't) ,n,1hrcJl ,'l t,ligur. eountless prrplc rhr l,nn rnrful,.rnil ncrkrrerl hr .cdcnr rhe lun,b(rnrli nrpl)l\ rtunr ol rho!\mJ\ (l,.d. l.n rh,trrsrnJ (;e,nanr Ilcd Iirr r,l l,* . ShorlLl hr s,r rt our .,t \log!ld. ols.rg,,n. rr. nnr struggllnsthr,)U!h a ,clus. r(i llrirlin Ih! Ii.,hi. $lr stili \.ri( l,r Lijr..h,L!t,t ind thcn rorc i,ttO $.r I ilL,urnl!n rrrriln Il! nrnl-5!ptcnr Ir.zen in IlN. \enctirns hchckl thc !cur. rinLo q!.trtcrs or (Lrrod r luL ber lcachui \losiler. lonq since .$rdrishi,,s \liccrr.lc (,1 thrir hg,rn cor ther cltirr hon, his lroot,. h\ mo\rn! rlesucrl hr Ch.rrless Lnr\ Ir si\ crcd br r shccr olrce ( h.rtlcss r,ldiex (h! r to thr L Lrr,fc rl,rr. rlrc\ roul(l crpo'rd ,rnrJ oltcrtL r trm|tnrs r.rg.t r) rcrc rrluccl to Ir i.g (ringed rrritrst li,,d \ul,plies .rs \.ll rs \l,L/c )t)x s s.l- thc llus rns P!l.r .(l ., l(tr.r ,)l l_1.t00 \.,lls or in \h.,llo( rr.n!l)cs s.u8((l(,u1 (,',,,e JdditloD r,, rl,. rnn\: lr \r\,,r) to iDrrrcct)l thc \r'l)fh trlitr , r L \nJtr ,)l rhe i,on.iirh. sr'i\irr!. ollen in \.,i,r. ur!(Dr enrr(Jt) lrD rhc (6..rcl lcatler on rhr 1)n(p.r 1lr.llrtl. rie(d rlldJ\. ro nJ\L .r'l lr\rbirc. \ Luthttuf t)J:ror rl,.,r nr i.lc un l, \ nrind L,;rLrnhrupr rnd lrs v,l rrrh th. 5s.diih rn \ r,b onc ol those ( (Li.rs {,t tire ll \r,! hcr \.(L l!r(r. a for the first irut ul, ,L lrc,.c \ho lcli r \l\id,c!otrl rpprllinu \lJ^'ppJ \* Jn\ious to ,e'irrrnce bur rhrir tosi link trp \itll the s$cLle\ time Peter rron rr' rnto,rblt helirc hls trc.r"on rrs Lnilrr eor rr ol Ll.rrLnt* \\cer1,.,,,tJ'r,1r.oLtlrs l.hr11 began to .liseo\cr.d. ( harlts 1l,c gcn.irlrnd l(* LhrD ,rc\.r l,r!cr llrr 'IilrI L)n] nr ( rLc IJteluldcLi\ion out{eneral his hrll h,' rru e.erptd. Iour]r' tL:,ncl rii i(r hc1,r. ir I!.tr,ns hii pk{rtrs \.,q ,..,rh.,1 rhe cn)un.l l,rrur' t.lT \o\. for rhr llrt treat adversary ! ! ,,n' to br lpturcd hr l,o/rn 1,1r,, rh. ,o,)l\ r,) rhc gri! ! lifr!. Pcrcr bc{rn lo out I'cttis clarcd trn1,s. \o i.!l(l \+ s0r,. nrcn \rll,,{rt ,rrneful Lis r([crsaN: llc inrmcdiJrr]\ ( h.rIr. drprirrtl,n h]s tnrxlsrpplie. l,rrl.. ,,rhc,. r,rl,,,ur hrntl' ,,rl ,,r1,. ol liD.r.r.. 'cnr., .. t" rhe LLr.rinr r0 rels..,r rn.ltrirh his un,\ *rollen Lr thc rddr l(..1 ' d.p,tr((l llussirn JUthorr\ r.LlrrflJrc th. rrrlnir rni,,1 rlrc nr.n lr{)in tnonii rfd rh. 1.,e...,r..rnrl n,xr'.,,tit'.,.,r1 \ir ,.r buloll!c. . \s.t r.\u[.li$ ol rl]( Llf,Lrnr. ronm|rdcc cr] 1, il.r\ in rD lnr l,le, rr.rl,rt,el'. L kr.,inun (,,rsrcls lolJos(d \lrl.pp.L Jrer.,,sr ol Kir\ .rr,,rnd RorrN. l'rlluli I{, rhc Sscdi\h cimp. lh. ridrol\r, rnrl I rr hr lla anLl tr,1,rd to n.rt thcre B\ rl,r (nd ol thc $inrcr rh( s(.(li.h $rs hcBinDing t,) r!ar.L!.!nst Chrrl.s unlil rh. fc\r .Jrrt)rign s.rn,r l]Ut no\ ,rnr h.rl l,ren redutrlrln,,^t br hrlt. l)rr ,,r lcrsl hr r,) !.l .onrlort blnrscll lf hc rA l.rccJ rlrh ,r rc ol thr rrrst rnr Ihc rlinlrl. .onditn,ns \ rtc, ol e,,r sc. c.rr\ hsust ritl) thc ncr. rl,.n lo$et- rcLln,rftem h!hrtrn hi\1{, Ih. l!'r J" br.l tin th llussi.,n !rm\ .,n.1 ir hrupt {as linrll\ on rhc nr^1. Ho$.\cr. trinrr, (,1 l;0.\ 1) prxiuecrl rt,,rd los rrx, sulli reJ lr,sst' Russians In April 1709 \inter hegan k) outnumbered the enemy nvo to loosc. ns grip on the Uk,nt. h one.'1hey had chosen the siie \!as oblious ro borh sides rhar for the baule. The Srvedes were the next campign season {ould weakened by the privaiions of be.ru.idl. Ch,rles! main hope the winter and were desperately ol rci.tur.cmenrs la! in licsh shorr of food. They we.e soins le\ies raised bv his puppet kins inro battle lvirhour then Stanisl.$ in Poldnd. Some olhis supreme connander Above all, officers urged him to $lthdrr$ the Russian army s,as ve4 dil- testwards to linL up rrrth the lerent from the one that had crpected ncN contingcnts but been deleated at ]laNa eight 'rcreat' \!.s not ! \'o.d in the and a hall years earlier Srcdish Lngs vocrbulary He Improved training and equip- dccided instedd to establish .on meni togcther uith experience nol ol thc main rold running in the lield had ransformed .astsards hom Kier to Kharkor', Peter's peasant levies into a thc best route lrcm Poland, so as oediblc lighrins machiDe. lo secure his $pph line. \Vith Charles ordcred a pre-darvn, lhis ih \ietr he brought his arm) all-out atlack. Hjs cavalry would up Io rhe small tonilied toNn of smash through tbe redoubts Polta\r siruated at th. point opening the way lor the infantrv s,h.rc rhe (hrrkov road.n,ssed to scale the Russians'u,ooden thc rirer \rorskla. h Nds on ! s,alls and engage them in hand- $ooded ridge ,nd garisoned bl to hand lishtjng. Long before 1.000 Russisns s.ell prorided lnst tight his foot soldiers were {iih artllle( For the siege tolt succcsslul AboE Pe@r the Gr€at (i672-1725) painted by in position. But the cavalry took Loo loog it needed to bc oler 9ui.kly before the Lou s C avaque (1584-i7s.l). to prcpare. Onh, around 4am. when the mri. Russian !rm! aniled. Horerer. thc sun began sharply to outline the casrern bohbardment \hich began on \lr\' lsl Pereis t'ire! obje.rne \as ro bring his rid8c, $,ere scne.als Rehnskjotd and n ,s still in prosress on Junc I 5rh a espitc arh) iffoss the fier. ft dnerr the Li,{enhaupt ready rith their mounted the frct drdt the Russians \r'ere by rhcn so enemy he sent a rlctaclment olcavdlry to short ol dmmunition tlrdt they $ere tiring inllc a lcint rcross the Vorslla south ot Pcter, meanivhile, had used lhe hours ani missiles that came to hand. Charles Polta!a. Charl.s rode our from his clnrp ol darhness to sLren8then his posirioh. $ds eleD hit bt a dead cat hurled lrom r io see {hat the encnry was rp to. There He had sent men out in honr ol the Russi.D caDnon B) this time the eniir. ihcD occutcd one olthose chance minor camp to construct vet more redoubts. llussian dm\', sonre +0,000 strong, haa e\..ts thrt somerimcs de.ide rhe fate oi These were not iinished belore dayliSht lssembl.d on thc erstern 5ide ol the D.rtions. A rnusl,ctball strucli the king in but they did prescnr rhe artackers rvjth a \/orsklJ. nordr ol Poltllr. Ftum dris fosi- the lefi lbot and opened up r long gash lurthcr line ol obstacles. At the same tnnr Petcr srill hcsitant lbour t..ihg rhe nhi.h ihmediltel! b.gan ro hleed !ro- rihc the Tsdr had his c.tire army ready ftnnidxblc Ssedes in opcn battle. con- lusety, IIe relused to have it tended and dnd ar lheirposts q,ell before dawr. Hav- tented himselfwrth harasshgjabs at snall onlv rLen he sas on thc point ol top, ing lost the element of suryrise. Charles units of the cnenr\r He ha\ have hoped plinS lrch his horse \yrs hc.a ed h,ll- threq his lntunry asainsr rhe redoubts to just tha! ne\s arficd lrom PolaDd might conscious to the surgcons station. Ii sas clear a path lor thc cavalry Despire mur oblige rhc S\ledes to $irhdrasr King hne l7th, Cha,less 27th birrhdd\'i ir sas derous fire lrom 70 cannon posirioned Stanisl.nr .oncerned rbour his onn inse- delending rhe cente, some uere quickly cure position. hrd scnt mcssengers to t'or three dals, \'hile rhe S\e.lish king successlul. But others became bogged i.lonn Charles rhat he could nor sprre anv lav in a l'evea his generals. paraitsed by do$,. iD hand'to-hand fighting.'Ihe cen- roops toaid his rllr True io lbm. Chdrles their unnillingncss to rakc an! initi$i!e. tre ground becane a heaving melee bur deci

23 UrB(H 2009 Hrsroa ToD$ rclerse the m.iD rrny siill hcld in llic i. L\!o. The enem\ i.lrntr! xt Idst rcscnc but lrom his \nntrge point Petcr bcgrn to thur dorr thciL rms anrl llee could see the SNedes Ncre losi.8 ftcn Lh. li.ld \.r srillrhc dr\ $,s nor \on. lasi Time $,s oD his sidc. llc trluld S\.dish.!vrlrl tri.d ro luur the tnle ol bitde (ith ah rLu.kor Ih. Russixn l.li. Thr rcll disciplincd Sn.dish !rm\1 \\'iLl) .rlrn .lisciplin. I']ctcr's oflicers despjte its rapid\'tbiDDing Larlis, ras crllcd thc inlantn and lield irtillen into sricking heroi.dlly ro its txsk. The prob- r sguIc lfflJt!,r. Agrinst this humr. lem ras that lt sns too di\idcd t,) l)c rccl LLe rarcs oi Sscdrsh ho*cmcn eflective. Thc Srcdcs urgcntl\'nccdrd Io regroup. Charlcs sent mcssagcs l. B\ mnldr\ ir $rls rll olcr'lhe shreds Lijrenhrupt on the right and Nhjor ol Charlcrs ,ri \ rcn- huning sourlr GcDeral Roos commanding the ccntrc to rrrds. Th. Ling hiDscll only nirotrh breal oll theiL cnsascrncnts .nd J\oidcd crprurcrhis liLtd rrs smrshed r.assenblc in lhe opcn fielcl. It Nrs nor br a cannon ball and scrc,al ol his he,! alnrost selen o clock. lt n!)li tlvo m.r. .rs s.rc Lilled. His pcrsonal guarl rrs hours lbr I-asenhnutt to e\tricdte Lis dccrmrttcl Onlr rhrn sonrc ot the car batt.lioDS.nd mrrch them to the r.h rln gor Llm onro a horsc and escoLtd dezvous point Roos! nr.n .cvo mrdc ir. Above Per€r I s sarirked in ihis lSth.century hirr fur the ilcld ras hc rblc to escrpe Rusian woodcur known asthe cat df Kaan'. \\rat.hing lrom the c.mf \rr11, Pcto ur fu sccl rclL gc ln lirrllsh tcirnotr II.lcli them strug8ling to discDgagc rnd sent bthin.l ilnmst ;.000 dcrd !nd trounded frcsh troops agaiost thc Ssedes ln thc i,1g lrd thr S$.tlisl, rLmr frd rlrQdr xnd 1.760 t)rison.rs Russian losses hot engrgement thich follorcd allbut brcn d.\rsrrrcd. \'cr isrofishingh rhc nn,ounteJ r,, 1.100 dcrd rDd $ou!dcd. 100 of Rooss ncn scLc lilicLl or issue s!i stlll und..id..l. Ihr d.lirnt All tuq,c tris srunncd b) the ne\' Srcdcs shorcd to tht hsL r hrt r l,rg- lrom I'oklr I he s*tcsmen knrs thrt a ChaLIcs nor hr.l no optn,n buL Lo niti.cnr !nn\ rh.\ s.r.. Th. l,lu. o.rd mrjor pl.rrcL had entered thcir samc It rctr.at. Ihis \Js rh. morn.nt PcLohxd rxrps mrrchcrlstrcli\ lrn,r orrh to rrs \rill !c\.{rl\errs bc}i,rc Srcrlcn rrs bccn $!iti.g for hc \ould gi\e thc bc clt dosn b\ ln !nr.rrirlins hril .l lbrc.d h idN,t d.lciL bur ils rmpir. $rJ ^-oN S$,edish Lins his op.n bxftlc but on hls crnnon brlls rnd 3rirr.shot Aln,ost cLunbling.,\s rhc Eur)l,exn n,xr s!s o$,D toms. Hc thrc\! dotrr thc canrp hifu.ulo!sh,rh. Sse.lish rigl,r \ irg r.JLtr\n, linsr rnd prin.cs scr.nrbled n, $,x11s.nd emersed \!ith 30,000 troops rcr.hcd rhc ]lussi!n lines. tls.(her! it sr.tb r.nlLor\ Onc mrn comrranded r lho rere still lrcsh Thc! formcd up m sr\ r dillir.nl slor\ Tr) 1h( l.h lhc loernosr posirion i. ihc negotirlio.s battlc lin.. inldnrt in Lh..rnrc, ."\rlN inlot,-r had hecn hrlLcrl1,i Llrc cicrrstrt- Isrr Pctcr ol'nussr..,\ni thxt is a posi- on the $ing!. Jrtillerv h the Lea, lirlng ing xniil.r\ bx rs.. Pcl( nor o,d.tudl In!r rlrrt I'clcis hcirs. shethcr ni\rlo! over their her.ls. 1t sJs no$ m,d nntrn counr.l.hdrse, splill,dg rhc Ss.(lislr ftusiderriil. hx|c e.ro\cd c\er cince.

L.ft Capiured Swedish sa ieys a ve at S. Peiere6uG! Peter and Pau iotess

D.r.kW kon k ihe ruthor ol Ppter ihe Cr€d. published rhi. month by Hutchnson.lt k part of a ser es €xp oring the meanngof'Europe'.

Peter Enelund, Ihe 3.th of Po,tdvd:'Dre snLh ofrhe A0sdn Empte (Gollancz, I 9t2)r David K rb, Ndahern E,rcPe ," rbe Eo y Modeth Pe ad:fhe Bohkworld 1492- 177, (Longman, 1990)iRobert FrosrIhe Nonhein Wo6 i5J8-, /21 (Lonqman, 2000):l.R Lewittei Ru$a.Poand and the Bah c, | 697- 1721, Histoncot lourndl2 (1968): Lindsa/ Hushes, R65id rn the AeE of Pet.r Lhe G/edt (Yale. lt98)iVolbire. Histary of Cho .5 xtt, KinE of sw.deh $he Foli6 so.iery. 1976)iVolbire, H,srory of .he R,ssidn Empne under Peter the 6redt

For lufther articles on th6 subject,vkit: ** M historyioday.comkussia x