Russia under Peter the Great won a decisive victory at Poltava on 8 July 1709 (27 June in the Julian calendar then used in Russia), destroying the invading Swedish army of Charles XII deep in what is now Ukraine. The battle ended Sweden's run of victories in the Great Northern War.
The end of Swedish power
The defeat broke Sweden as a great power and marked the rise of Russia as the dominant state in northern Europe.1
Our article on the Battle of Poltava covers the battle and the campaign that led to it. › Battle of Poltava, 1709
Also on this day
1758: Battle of Carillon. Near Fort Carillon on Lake Champlain, Montcalm's French army faced a much larger British force under James Abercrombie in the French and Indian War.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the Battle of Poltava fought?
The Battle of Poltava was fought on 8 July 1709 (27 June in the Julian calendar, 28 June in the Swedish calendar) near the town of Poltava, in what is now central Ukraine.
Who won the Battle of Poltava?
Russia won, as the army of Tsar Peter the Great decisively defeated the Swedish forces of King Charles XII.
Why is the Battle of Poltava so important?
The Battle of Poltava in 1709 broke Sweden as a great power and marked the rise of Russia as the dominant state in northern Europe.
Notes
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