Treaty of Thorn (1709)
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Thorn was concluded on 9 October 1709 between Augustus the Strong and Peter the Great in Thorn
(Toruń), during the Great Northern War
. The parties revived their alliance, which Charles XII of Sweden
had destroyed in the Treaty of Altranstädt (1706)
, and agreed on restoring the Polish crown to Augustus.
, Russian tsar
Peter the Great had gained the upper hand in the Great Northern War
. With the main Swedish army destroyed and Swedish king Charles XII]] exiled to the Ottoman Empire
, Augustus the Strong, whom Charles XII had dethroned as Polish king in the Treaty of Altranstädt (1706), was able to march into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and re-claim the Polish crown from the Swedish ally
Stanisław Leszczyński. The territory re-conquered by Augustus in 1709 included the Polish city of Thorn (Toruń), where he met with Peter the Great to hash out the terms for a common policy regarding northeastern Europe.
was to be partitioned upon its conquest from the Swedish Empire
, with Augustus gaining the southern part and Peter gaining the North (Estonia
).
In contrast to the first alliance at Preobrazheskoye
, the conditions of Thorn were largely dictated by Peter the Great, whose once close relations with Augustus the Strong had cooled down since the Altranstädt. Though Augustus was again promised conquered territory in Livonia, this provision did not become effective
.
After the conclusion of the treaty, Peter the Great resumed the re-creation of a wide anti-Swedish alliance. He travelled to nearby Marienwerder to meet with Frederick I of Prussia
, before he departed to the Russian camp near Riga
, where he arrived on 10 November. The Dano-Russian alliance which Charles XII had destroyed in Travendal (1700)
was revived in the subsequent Treaty of Copenhagen
by Peter's diplomats at the Danish court.
In early 1710, Augustus the Strong entered the Polish capital Warsaw
, forcing his adversary Stanisław Leszczyński to exile to Stralsund
in Swedish Pomerania
. After Augustus had further consolidated his position in Poland-Lithuania, he began campaigning on Swedish soil in 1711, when he invaded Pomerania and laid siege to Stralsund together with Danish and Russian forces in the first combined campaign of these allies in the Great Northern War. Peter the Great had meanwhile concluded his campaigns
in Swedish Livonia
.
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
(Toruń), 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 parties revived their alliance, which 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...
had destroyed in the Treaty of Altranstädt (1706)
Treaty of Altranstädt (1706)
The Treaty of Altranstädt was concluded between Charles XII of Sweden and Augustus the Strong of Saxony and Poland-Lithuania, on 13 October 1706, during the Great Northern War...
, and agreed on restoring the Polish crown to Augustus.
Background
With the decisive Swedish defeat in 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...
, 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 had gained the upper hand in 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...
. With the main Swedish army destroyed and Swedish king Charles XII]] exiled 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...
, Augustus the Strong, whom Charles XII had dethroned as Polish king in the Treaty of Altranstädt (1706), was able to march into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and re-claim the Polish crown from the Swedish ally
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....
Stanisław Leszczyński. The territory re-conquered by Augustus in 1709 included the Polish city of Thorn (Toruń), where he met with Peter the Great to hash out the terms for a common policy regarding northeastern Europe.
Terms and implementation
Peter supported Augustus' restoration as Polish king, after he had made sure that the highest offices in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were occupied by nobles supportive of himself. Augustus was obliged to persecute anti-Russian groups in Poland. In a secret article, it was agreed that Swedish LivoniaSwedish Livonia
- Swedish infantry and cavalry regiments:Infantry regiments:* Garnisonsregementet i Riga * Guvenörsregementet i Riga * Livländsk infanteribataljon I...
was to be partitioned upon its conquest from 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"...
, with Augustus gaining the southern part and Peter gaining the North (Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
).
In contrast to the first alliance at Preobrazheskoye
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...
, the conditions of Thorn were largely dictated by Peter the Great, whose once close relations with Augustus the Strong had cooled down since the Altranstädt. Though Augustus was again promised conquered territory in Livonia, this provision did not become effective
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...
.
After the conclusion of the treaty, Peter the Great resumed the re-creation of a wide anti-Swedish alliance. He travelled to nearby Marienwerder to meet with Frederick I of Prussia
Frederick I of Prussia
Frederick I , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia in personal union . The latter function he upgraded to royalty, becoming the first King in Prussia . From 1707 he was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
, before he departed to the Russian camp near Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, where he arrived on 10 November. The Dano-Russian alliance which Charles XII had destroyed in Travendal (1700)
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....
was revived in the subsequent Treaty of Copenhagen
Treaty of Copenhagen (1709)
On 22 October 1709, during the Great Northern War, the alliance between the Russian Empire and Denmark-Norway was renewed in the Treaty of Copenhagen. Charles XII of Sweden had destroyed the previous alliance in Travendal . For Russia, Vasily Lukich Dolgorukov signed the treaty in...
by Peter's diplomats at the Danish court.
In early 1710, Augustus the Strong entered the Polish capital Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, forcing his adversary Stanisław Leszczyński to exile to Stralsund
Stralsund
- Main sights :* The Brick Gothic historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.* The heart of the old town is the Old Market Square , with the Gothic Town Hall . Behind the town hall stands the imposing Nikolaikirche , built in 1270-1360...
in Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania was a Dominion under the Swedish Crown from 1630 to 1815, situated on what is now the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland. Following the Polish War and the Thirty Years' War, Sweden held extensive control over the lands on the southern Baltic coast, including Pomerania and parts...
. After Augustus had further consolidated his position in Poland-Lithuania, he began campaigning on Swedish soil in 1711, when he invaded Pomerania and laid siege to Stralsund together with Danish and Russian forces in the first combined campaign of these allies in the Great Northern War. Peter the Great had meanwhile concluded his campaigns
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...
in Swedish Livonia
Swedish Livonia
- Swedish infantry and cavalry regiments:Infantry regiments:* Garnisonsregementet i Riga * Guvenörsregementet i Riga * Livländsk infanteribataljon I...
.