Osprey Campaign 34 : Poltava 1709 : Russia Comes of Age

Poltava marked the demise of Sweden as a European great power and the rise of Russia. In 1707, the seemingly invincible Charles XII led his army deep into Russia. It was to prove his undoing - the long march eroded the fighting strength of the invaders; a vital supply convoy was lost; and the winter of 1708/9 was the worst in living memory. Although the great Northern War was to drag on for another twelve years after 1709 Sweden was isolated and on the strategic defensive. Within a year both Saxony-Poland and Denmark would rejoin the anti-Swedish cause, and the capture of Vyborg to the north of St. Petersburg and Riga to the south would ensure the safety of Tsar Peter's fledgling European capital - all results of the battle. Angus Konstam recounts the events leading up to Poltava and particularly looks at how this battle led to the destruction of the Swedish Army. As part of his investigation both armies and their commanders are examined carefully. Angus Konstam is particularly well qualified to do this: not only is he a fluent Russian speaker who visits the country regularly but also he has managed to gain access to primary source material previously unseen in the west: hard work which has made this account of Poltava stand out.

Contents

• The Origins of the Campaign
• The Opposing Commanders
• The Opposing Armies
• The Opposing Plans
• The Campaign
• The Battle
• Aftermath
• Chronology
• A Guide to Further Reading
• The Battlefield Today
• Wargaming the Poltava Campaign