Skirmish at Bender
Encyclopedia
The Skirmish at Bender was devised to remove Charles XII of Sweden
from the Ottoman Empire
after his military defeats in Russia. It took place on February 1, 1713 on Ottoman
territory, in what is now the town of Bender, Moldova
.
on 27 June 1709 and the surrender
of most of the Swedish army at Perevolochna
three days later, Charles XII of Sweden
fled together with a few hundred Swedish soldiers and a large number of cossack
s to the Ottoman Empire
, where they spent a total of five years.
The events of the Skirmish at Bender officially began on 31 January 1713 with the firing of Turkish artillery on the Swedish camp. On February 1, the Ottoman forces attacked the camp.
Together with some 40 soldiers, Charles XII held a stand against many hundred Turks. The life guard
Axel Erik Roos
in particular distinguished himself during the skirmish and accounts tell that he saved the king's life three times during the day. The king himself killed at least one Ottoman soldier with his sword in hand to hand combat when he and Roos came under attack by 3 Ottomans. During parts of the fighting Charles was also actively sniping with a carbine against the assaulting enemy from a window in his sleeping quarters, positioned in the building where the Swedes had taken up their defense. The fighting lasted for over 7 hours and the Ottomans eventually used both artillery and fire arrows when the initial assaults were beaten back and the later method proved to be effective. The fire arrows caught the building's roof on fire and forced the defenders to abandon it, the fighting then came to an abrupt end when the king tripped on his own spur
s while exiting the burning house. He was assaulted by scores of Ottoman soldiers who managed to capture him and the remaining fighters.
After some time as a prisoner, Charles XII and his soldiers were released when news about the Swedish victory in the battle of Gadebusch
reached the Ottomans. Charles then started to plan his trip back to Sweden.
, kalabalik, with the meaning "confusion" or "great disorder".
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
from the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
after his military defeats in Russia. It took place on February 1, 1713 on Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
territory, in what is now the town of Bender, Moldova
Bender, Moldova
Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992...
.
History
After the Swedish defeat at the battle of PoltavaBattle 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...
on 27 June 1709 and the surrender
Surrender at Perevolochna
The surrender at Perevolochna was the capitulation of almost the entire Swedish army on June 30, 1709 / July 1, 1709 / July 11, 1709...
of most of the Swedish army at Perevolochna
Perevolochna
Perevolochna was a settlement in Kobeljaky Raion of Poltava Oblast of Ukraine close to Svitlohirske. It was situated at the bank of the Dnepr, where a ford enabled people to cross the river...
three days later, Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
fled together with a few hundred Swedish soldiers and a large number of cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
s to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, where they spent a total of five years.
The events of the Skirmish at Bender officially began on 31 January 1713 with the firing of Turkish artillery on the Swedish camp. On February 1, the Ottoman forces attacked the camp.
Together with some 40 soldiers, Charles XII held a stand against many hundred Turks. The life guard
Life Guards (Swedish Army)
The Life Guards is a combined cavalry/infantry regiment of the Swedish Army, with responsibility for training. The infantry battalion trains ordinary infantry soldiers in both the mechanized and rifle roles, as well as training clerical soldiers. The Guards Battalion consists of three companies,...
Axel Erik Roos
Axel Erik Roos
Axel Erik Roos, born in 1684 in Årnäs in Västergötland, died December 14, 1765 in Lövåsen, Gestad, Dalsland was a baron, lieutenant general in the Swedish army of Charles XII of Sweden, and governor of Dalsland.-Career:...
in particular distinguished himself during the skirmish and accounts tell that he saved the king's life three times during the day. The king himself killed at least one Ottoman soldier with his sword in hand to hand combat when he and Roos came under attack by 3 Ottomans. During parts of the fighting Charles was also actively sniping with a carbine against the assaulting enemy from a window in his sleeping quarters, positioned in the building where the Swedes had taken up their defense. The fighting lasted for over 7 hours and the Ottomans eventually used both artillery and fire arrows when the initial assaults were beaten back and the later method proved to be effective. The fire arrows caught the building's roof on fire and forced the defenders to abandon it, the fighting then came to an abrupt end when the king tripped on his own spur
Spur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...
s while exiting the burning house. He was assaulted by scores of Ottoman soldiers who managed to capture him and the remaining fighters.
After some time as a prisoner, Charles XII and his soldiers were released when news about the Swedish victory in the battle of Gadebusch
Battle of Gadebusch
The Battle of Gadebusch was Sweden's final great victory in the Great Northern War. It was fought by the Swedes to prevent the loss of the city of Stralsund to Danish and Saxon forces.- Prelude :...
reached the Ottomans. Charles then started to plan his trip back to Sweden.
Etymology
In Turkish the word for "crowd" or "tumult" is kalabalık, which after the incident has become a Swedish loanwordLoanword
A loanword is a word borrowed from a donor language and incorporated into a recipient language. By contrast, a calque or loan translation is a related concept where the meaning or idiom is borrowed rather than the lexical item itself. The word loanword is itself a calque of the German Lehnwort,...
, kalabalik, with the meaning "confusion" or "great disorder".