Battle of Narva
1700 · Narva (in present-day northeastern Estonia) · World · Modern
Under cover of a snowstorm the Swedes assaulted the Russian siege works; once the Russian line was cut, the Russians broke and fled, and large numbers of generals and guns were captured.
Belligerents
Kingdom of Sweden
- Commanders
- Charles XII of Sweden, Rehnskiöld
- Strength
- About 10,000
Tsardom of Russia
- Commanders
- Duke of Croÿ, (Peter I left the camp before the battle)
- Strength
- About 35,000 to 40,000
Background
In 1700 Denmark, Saxony-Poland and Russia formed an alliance and went to war with Sweden (the Great Northern War). The eighteen-year-old Charles XII of Sweden first forced Denmark out of the war, then crossed the sea to relieve Narva, which was under Russian siege.
Course of the battle
- Rushing to the rescueCharles XII led a small, exhausted force on a forced march along the Estonian coast to the outskirts of Narva.
- Attack in a snowstormWith the snowstorm blowing into the Russians' faces, the Swedes attacked in two columns and quickly broke through the overextended siege lines.
- Russian army collapsesThe Russian army was cut into several pieces; the pontoon bridge over the Narva River broke during the rout, and large numbers of soldiers drowned or surrendered.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1700 |
|---|---|
| Place | Narva (in present-day northeastern Estonia) |
| Result | Under cover of a snowstorm the Swedes assaulted the Russian siege works; once the Russian line was cut, the Russians broke and fled, and large numbers of generals and guns were captured. |
| Winner | Kingdom of Sweden |
| Casualties | Swedish casualties were about 2,000; the Russians lost about 6,000 to 10,000 killed and wounded, and large numbers of officers and men were captured and later sent back (accounts vary). |
| Territorial change | The Siege of Narva was lifted, but Charles XII then turned his army on Poland, giving Russia a breathing space. |
Impact
The great victory at Narva made Charles XII famous and convinced Peter the Great to rebuild his army on the Western European model, setting the stage for Poltava nine years later.
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