Swedish-Russian War, 1495-1497



The Kalmar Union, which united the Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden under one king (residing in Copenhagen), since the Battle of Brunkeberg 1471 was, as far as Sweden was concerned, dissolved, while the Kings of Denmark continued to uphold their claim over Sweden.
In 1493, King Hans of Denmark-Norway (and claiming the Swedish crown) signed a treaty of alliance with Russia, directed against Sweden.
Russian forces, commanded by Prince Danilo Vasilevich Schchena in 1495 invaded Swedish Finland, but were defeated (October 12th) by the well-prepared garrison of Viborg, commanded by Knut Posse, which had been enforced by 500 German Landsknechts and by the militia of armed peasants, mobilized in the various districts of Finland. In 1496, a Swedish force commanded by Svante Sture conquered the Russian fortress of Ivangorod, located opposite Narva (the fortress only had been constructed in 1492). When a Russian force approached, the Swedes evacuated and destroyed the fortress. Peace was concluded in March 1497 in a treaty which foresaw a revision of the Swedish-Russian border in Sweden's favour; a large stretch of territory in northern Finland (no major settlements or fortresses) was gained.



EXTERNAL
FILES 		Chronology of Sweden 1400-1499, posted by Ken Polsson
Stora Ryska Kriget 1495-1497, from Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek, in Swedish
Ivangorod Fortress, by John Sloan
The history of the Ivangorod Fortress, from Museum Ivangorod Fortress
Hans og Ivan, from Dansk-russiske forbindelser gennem 500 år. (Danish-Russian Relations over 500 Years), in Danish
DOCUMENTS
REFERENCE



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on April 9th 2004, last revised on November 17th 2004

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