Swedish-Novgorodian Wars
The
Republic of Novgorod and medieval
Sweden waged a number of wars for control of the
Gulf of Finland, an area vital for the lucrative
Hanseatic trade.
The
Novgorodians launched
pirate raids against mainland
Sweden as early as the
12th century. During one of such raids, as a legend has it, they brought to Novgorod the doors of the
Sigtuna cathedral as a prize. It is now part of the
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod.
|
Alexander Nevsky Fighting the Swedes |
In
1240, at the
Pope's instigation,
Birger Jarl undertook a "
Northern crusade" against Russians. Soon after his fleet entered the mouth of the
Neva River, the Swedes were roundly defeated in the famous
Battle of the Neva by a young prince,
Alexander of Novgorod, who would later be given the epithet "Nevsky" to memorialize this victory.
From
1283 onward, Swedish fleets would systematically venture into the
Lake Ladoga, looting Novgorod merchants. In order to counter such raids, the Novgorodians set out building strong fortresses in
Koporye,
Ladoga,
Tiversk, and
Korela.
In the early
14th century, military tensions escalated and the two powers were continually at war. In
1311, the Novgorodians devastated
Finland, which the Swedes regarded as their own possession. In response, a Swedish fleet embarked towards
Old Ladoga and set this trade emporium on fire.
Three years later, the
Karelians' discontent with Novgorod's rule broke out into the open, as they killed Russian governors and sought for help in Sweden. After several months of hostilities, Karelia submitted to Novgorod's authority again.
Peace treaties â€" such as the famous
Treaty of Nöteborg with the Swedes (August 12, 1323) or the
Treaty of Novgorod with the Norwegians (June 3, 1326) â€" provided but a temporary palliative. In
1318, the Novgorodians sacked
Turku (Ã…bo). Four years later, they besieged
Vyborg and founded
Oreshek, an important fortress dominating the entrance to the Ladoga Lake.
In
1348, king
Magnus Eriksson set out on a new "crusade" against Novgorod. He set Oreshek ablaze and converted the area to Roman Catholicism. In the next year, the Russians recovered lost ground and devastated the locality of
Vyborg.
Hostilities between the two powers were renewed in
1392 and
1411. Increasingly, trade interests in the
White Sea were at stake. The last conflict ensued in
1445, several decades before Novgorod was absorbed into
Muscovy.
