Greater Wrath
Encyclopedia
The Greater Wrath is a term used in Finnish history
for the Russian invasion
and subsequent military occupation
of Eastern Sweden, now Finland, from 1714 until the treaty of Nystad
1721, which ended the Great Northern War
, although sometimes the term is used to denote all of the Great Northern War.
In the war there were Finnish troops fighting in Poland and Russia but they were also deployed in large numbers in the defense of the Baltic
territories, where they slowly succumbed to Peter the Great
's attacks. After the disaster of Poltava
in 1709, the shattered continental army provided very little help. Russia captured Viborg
in 1710 and invaded the rest of Finland in 1713, defeating the Finnish army in the battles of Pälkäne
in 1713 and Storkyro (Isokyrö)
in February, 1714.
After the victory at Isokyrö, Mikhail Golitsyn became governor of Finland. Finns began waging partisan warfare
against the Russians. As retaliation, the Finnish peasants were forced to pay large contributions to the occupying Russians (as was the custom in that time). Plundering was widespread, especially in Ostrobothnia
and in communities near the major roads. Churches were looted, Isokyrö
was burned to the ground. A scorched earth zone several hundred kilometers wide was burned to hinder Swedish counteroffensives. About 5,000 Finns were killed and some 10,000 taken away as slaves, of whom only a few thousand would ever return. However according to newer research the amount of those killed is much larger. Thousands, especially officials, also fled to the (relative) safety of Sweden. The poorer peasants hid in the woods to avoid the ravages of the occupiers and their press-gangs
. Atrocities were at their worst between 1714–17 when the infamous Swedish Count Gustaf Otto Douglas
, who had defected to the Russian side during the war, was in charge of the occupation.
In addition to the predations of the Russian occupants, Finland was struck – as were most other Baltic countries at the time – by the plague. In Helsinki, 1,185 people died: nearly two thirds of the population.
Even the Swedish western side of the Gulf of Bothnia
was ravaged by the Russians. The city of Umeå
was burned to the ground by the Russians on September 18, 1714, and after struggling to rebuild was razed again in 1719, 1720, and 1721.
It took several decades for the Finnish population and economy to recover after the peace in 1721, at which point Finland was scourged again during the Lesser Wrath, although less devastating.
History of Finland
The land area that now makes up Finland was settled immediately after the Ice Age, beginning from around 8500 BCE. Most of the region was part of the Kingdom of Sweden from the 13th century to 1809, when it was ceded to the Russian Empire, becoming the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. The...
for the Russian invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
and subsequent military occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
of Eastern Sweden, now Finland, from 1714 until the treaty of Nystad
Treaty of Nystad
The Treaty of Nystad was the last peace treaty of the Great Northern War. It was concluded between the Tsardom of Russia and Swedish Empire on 30 August / 10 September 1721 in the then Swedish town of Nystad , after Sweden had settled with the other parties in Stockholm and Frederiksborg.During...
1721, which ended the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
, although sometimes the term is used to denote all of the Great Northern War.
In the war there were Finnish troops fighting in Poland and Russia but they were also deployed in large numbers in the defense of the Baltic
Baltic region
The terms Baltic region, Baltic Rim countries, and Baltic Rim refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.- Etymology :...
territories, where they slowly succumbed to Peter the Great
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
's attacks. After the disaster of Poltava
Battle of Poltava
The Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld in one of the battles of the Great Northern War. It is widely believed to have been the beginning of Sweden's decline as a Great Power; the...
in 1709, the shattered continental army provided very little help. Russia captured Viborg
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
in 1710 and invaded the rest of Finland in 1713, defeating the Finnish army in the battles of Pälkäne
Battle of Pälkäne
The Battle of Pälkäne, sometimes called the Battle at Kostianvirta or Battle on the Pialkiane River was fought between the Russian army under Admiral Fyodor Apraksin and the defending Finnish army of Sweden under General Carl Gustaf Armfeldt on October 17, 1713, as part of the Great Northern War...
in 1713 and Storkyro (Isokyrö)
Battle of Storkyro
The Battle of Storkyro was fought on February 19, 1714 / March 2, 1714 near the village of Napo in Storkyro parish , Ostrobothnia, Swedish Empire between a Swedish and a Russian army, as part of the Great Northern War....
in February, 1714.
After the victory at Isokyrö, Mikhail Golitsyn became governor of Finland. Finns began waging partisan warfare
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
against the Russians. As retaliation, the Finnish peasants were forced to pay large contributions to the occupying Russians (as was the custom in that time). Plundering was widespread, especially in Ostrobothnia
Ostrobothnia (historical province)
Ostrobothnia, and , is a historical province of Finland to the west and north in Finland. It borders on Karelia, Savonia, Tavastia and Satakunda in the south, and on Västerbotten in Sweden, and Laponia in the north...
and in communities near the major roads. Churches were looted, Isokyrö
Isokyrö
Isokyrö is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
was burned to the ground. A scorched earth zone several hundred kilometers wide was burned to hinder Swedish counteroffensives. About 5,000 Finns were killed and some 10,000 taken away as slaves, of whom only a few thousand would ever return. However according to newer research the amount of those killed is much larger. Thousands, especially officials, also fled to the (relative) safety of Sweden. The poorer peasants hid in the woods to avoid the ravages of the occupiers and their press-gangs
Impressment
Impressment, colloquially, "the Press", was the act of taking men into a navy by force and without notice. It was used by the Royal Navy, beginning in 1664 and during the 18th and early 19th centuries, in wartime, as a means of crewing warships, although legal sanction for the practice goes back to...
. Atrocities were at their worst between 1714–17 when the infamous Swedish Count Gustaf Otto Douglas
Gustaf Otto Douglas
Count Gustaf Otto Douglas was a Swedish mercenary, grandson of Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge. He was captured by Russians during the Battle of Poltava. He was eventually employed by the Russian army during the Great Northern War, and in 1717 was placed in charge of the occupation of Finland...
, who had defected to the Russian side during the war, was in charge of the occupation.
In addition to the predations of the Russian occupants, Finland was struck – as were most other Baltic countries at the time – by the plague. In Helsinki, 1,185 people died: nearly two thirds of the population.
Even the Swedish western side of the Gulf of Bothnia
Gulf of Bothnia
The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It is situated between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. In the south of the gulf lie the Åland Islands, between the Sea of Åland and the Archipelago Sea.-Name:...
was ravaged by the Russians. The city of Umeå
Umeå
- Transport :The road infrastructure in Umeå is well-developed, with two European highways passing through the city. About 4 km from the city centre is the Umeå City Airport...
was burned to the ground by the Russians on September 18, 1714, and after struggling to rebuild was razed again in 1719, 1720, and 1721.
It took several decades for the Finnish population and economy to recover after the peace in 1721, at which point Finland was scourged again during the Lesser Wrath, although less devastating.