Treaty of Narva
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Narva was concluded on 19 August (O.S.
) / 30 August 1704 during the Great Northern War
. The faction of
the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
loyal to Augustus the Strong joined the anti-Swedish
alliance between the Saxon electorate
and the Tsardom of Russia
.
, Augustus the Strong was king of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania
and Elector of Saxony
. In 1699, he allied with the Russian tsar
Peter the Great in the Treaty of Preobrazhenskoye
and with Frederik IV of Denmark-Norway in the Treaty of Dresden
. These alliances provided the basis for a combined attack on the Swedish Empire
that followed in 1700. Yet, already in 1700 Denmark was forced to withdraw
and Russia suffered a decisive defeat
. In the following years, Charles XII of Sweden
pursued Augustus through Poland-Lithuania, imposing on him a series of defeats, while Russia was able to recover and advance in the Baltic provinces. The Lithuanian magnates abandoned Augustus in April 1702 and allied with Sweden.
In July 1704, Swedish advances and the resulting internal quarrels in Poland-Lithuania caused the dethronement of Augustus the Strong and election of Stanisław Leszczyński, the candidate promoted by the Charles XII of Sweden, as Polish king. Yet Augustus the Strong still enjoyed support in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in particular by the Sandomierz Confederation
and about 75% of the Polish army. In the name of the commonwealth, Augustus and his supporters declared war on Sweden, and joined the anti-Swedish coalition at Narva
.
. The treaty was signed by Peter the Great of Russia, Augustus the Strong, and Polish-Lithuanian magnates.
The alliance was both defensive and offensive. The treaty ruled that Poland and Russia were to continue the war and sign no treaties without mutual consent. Peter the Great was to grant August the Strong 200,000 rubels annual subsidies, maintain 12,000 troops, return Semen Paliy
's conquests in Ukraine
and Russian conquests in Livonia
.
. To pay the agreed on subsidies, a monetary tax was raised from the peasantry.
For Augustus, the treaty was favourable, as his position had deteriorated due to his numerous defeats by Swedish armies. Peter the Great, in pursuit of the treaty, ordered Ivan Mazepa
to expel Paliy (Paley) from the commonwealth's cossack
territories, which he eventually did - this had been Dzialinsky's irrefutable condition during the negotiations. However, Russian "helpful occupation" of Livonia would not result in the anticipated hand-over, but instead in integration into the Russian Empire
.
The faction of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
loyal to Stanisław Leszczyński, organized in the Warsaw Confederation
, instead concluded an alliance with the Swedish Empire in the Treaty of Warsaw
in November 1705.
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
) / 30 August 1704 during 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...
. The faction of
Sandomierz Confederation
The Sandomierz Confederation was a confederation formed on May 20, 1704 in defense of the King of Poland, August II the Strong. It was formed in reaction to the Warsaw Confederation. Its marshal was Stanisław Ernest Denhoff. The confederation lasted until 1717, when it was disbanded by the...
the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
loyal to Augustus the Strong joined the anti-Swedish
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721 . During this time, Sweden was one of the great European powers. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era"...
alliance between the Saxon electorate
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
and the Tsardom of Russia
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
.
Background
At the onset of the Great Northern WarGreat 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...
, Augustus the Strong was king of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
and Elector of Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
. In 1699, he allied with the Russian tsar
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
Peter the Great in the Treaty of Preobrazhenskoye
Treaty of Preobrazhenskoye
The Treaty of Preobrazhenskoye was negotiated by Johann Patkul and signed on November 22, 1699 in Preobrazhenskoye , a favoured residence of the tsar Peter the Great. It followed an informal meeting of Peter and Augustus at Rava in August 1698...
and with Frederik IV of Denmark-Norway in the Treaty of Dresden
Treaty of Dresden (1699)
The Treaty of Dresden was concluded on 14 September 1699, preparing the Great Northern War. Augustus the Strong allied with Frederik IV of Denmark-Norway against Charles XII of Sweden....
. These alliances provided the basis for a combined attack on the Swedish Empire
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721 . During this time, Sweden was one of the great European powers. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era"...
that followed in 1700. Yet, already in 1700 Denmark was forced to withdraw
Peace of Travendal
The Peace of Travendal was a peace treaty concluded during the Great Northern War on 8 or 18 August 1700 between the Swedish Empire, Denmark-Norway and Holstein-Gottorp in Traventhal....
and Russia suffered a decisive defeat
Battle of Narva (1700)
The Battle of Narva on 19 November 1700 was an early battle in the Great Northern War. A Swedish relief army under Charles XII of Sweden defeated a Russian siege force three times its size. Before, Charles XII had forced Denmark-Norway to sign the Treaty of Travendal...
. In the following years, 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...
pursued Augustus through Poland-Lithuania, imposing on him a series of defeats, while Russia was able to recover and advance in the Baltic provinces. The Lithuanian magnates abandoned Augustus in April 1702 and allied with Sweden.
In July 1704, Swedish advances and the resulting internal quarrels in Poland-Lithuania caused the dethronement of Augustus the Strong and election of Stanisław Leszczyński, the candidate promoted by the Charles XII of Sweden, as Polish king. Yet Augustus the Strong still enjoyed support in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in particular by the Sandomierz Confederation
Sandomierz Confederation
The Sandomierz Confederation was a confederation formed on May 20, 1704 in defense of the King of Poland, August II the Strong. It was formed in reaction to the Warsaw Confederation. Its marshal was Stanisław Ernest Denhoff. The confederation lasted until 1717, when it was disbanded by the...
and about 75% of the Polish army. In the name of the commonwealth, Augustus and his supporters declared war on Sweden, and joined the anti-Swedish coalition at Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
.
Terms
The treaty was negotiated for Poland by Thomas Dzialynski (Dzialin), a commander of the Saxo-Polish forces participating in the preceding Russian siege and storm of NarvaBattle of Narva (1704)
The Battle of Narva was the second Russian siege of Swedish Narva during the Great Northern War, resulting in the capture of the town by Russia on 9 August 1704 and the subsequent massacre of all Swedish inhabitants....
. The treaty was signed by Peter the Great of Russia, Augustus the Strong, and Polish-Lithuanian magnates.
The alliance was both defensive and offensive. The treaty ruled that Poland and Russia were to continue the war and sign no treaties without mutual consent. Peter the Great was to grant August the Strong 200,000 rubels annual subsidies, maintain 12,000 troops, return Semen Paliy
Semen Paliy
Semen Paliy was a Ukrainian Cossack polkovnyk . Born in Chernihiv region, Paliy settled in Zaporizhia at a very young age and gained fame as a brave fighter and Zaporozhian Cossack....
's conquests in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Russian conquests in Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
.
Consequences
Peter the Great had thus ensured that the Polish-Lithuanian theater of the war would continue to bind Swedish forces. Most notably, enforcements for Charles XII's Russian campaign were cut off in the Battle of KoniecpolBattle of Koniecpol
The Battle of Koniecpol was an encounter in November 1708 during the Great Northern War. Near Koniecpol in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, pro-Swedish forces under Stanisław Leszczyński met with anti-Swedish forces of the Sandomierz Confederation, loyal to Augustus the Strong and allied with...
. To pay the agreed on subsidies, a monetary tax was raised from the peasantry.
For Augustus, the treaty was favourable, as his position had deteriorated due to his numerous defeats by Swedish armies. Peter the Great, in pursuit of the treaty, ordered Ivan Mazepa
Ivan Mazepa
Ivan Stepanovych Mazepa , Cossack Hetman of the Hetmanate in Left-bank Ukraine, from 1687–1708. He was famous as a patron of the arts, and also played an important role in the Battle of Poltava where after learning of Peter I's intent to relieve him as acting Hetman of Ukraine and replace him...
to expel Paliy (Paley) from the commonwealth's 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...
territories, which he eventually did - this had been Dzialinsky's irrefutable condition during the negotiations. However, Russian "helpful occupation" of Livonia would not result in the anticipated hand-over, but instead in integration into the Russian Empire
Capitulation of Estonia and Livonia
With the Capitulation of Estonia and Livonia in 1710 the Swedish dominions Estonia and Livonia were integrated into the Russian Empire following their conquest during the Great Northern War...
.
The faction of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
loyal to Stanisław Leszczyński, organized in the Warsaw Confederation
Warsaw Confederation (1704)
The Warsaw Confederation was a confederation against King of Poland August II the Strong. It was formed on February 16, 1704 in Warsaw. It dethroned August II and declared Stanisław Leszczyński king. In response, the supporters of August II formed the Sandomierz Confederation on May 20....
, instead concluded an alliance with the Swedish Empire in the Treaty of Warsaw
Treaty of Warsaw (1705)
The Treaty of Warsaw was concluded on 18 November / 28 November 1705 during the Great Northern War. It was a peace treaty and an alliance between the Swedish Empire and the faction of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth loyal to Stanisław Leszczyński....
in November 1705.