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The Many Swedish Wars - 1700s

The Peace Treaties of Great Northern War, 1700 - 1721

The Peace Treaties - Introduction

Below is a summary of the Swedish peace treaties of the Great Northern War 1700 - 1721:

The Peace Treaty in Traventhal on August 18, 1700 – Denmark

In March 1700, Denmark launched an attack on Sweden’s allied Holstein-Gottorp. After a Swedish attack on Denmark in August 1700, a peace treaty was signed at the castle Traventhal, west of Lübeck, on August 18, 1700. The peace treaty was not really a peace between Denmark and Sweden but a peace between Holstein-Gottorp and Denmark. Sweden, Lüneburg, England and the Netherlands were there to guarantee the independence of Holstein-Gottorp. The peace terms was: • Denmark had to acknowledge the sovereignty of Holstein-Gottorp • Denmark had to pay 260,000 riksdaler to Holstein-Gottorp • Denmark was not to support any of the Swedish enemies • Holstein-Gottorp was acknowledged the right to keep troops. However they could not have more than 6,000 foreign soldiers in their service Denmark was also forced to leave the pact of aggression against Sweden. See detailed map.

The Peace Treaty in Warsaw on November 18, 1705 – with Poland

When Sweden had forced Poland to remove August of Saxony from the throne of Poland, the Swedish candidate Stanislav Leczinski was crowned new king of Poland on September 24, 1705. Thereby Sweden could accept a peace with Poland. The peace treaty was signed on November 18, 1705 in Warsaw. The peace terms was: • The terms of the peace treaty of 1660 in Oliva was confirmed • Neither Sweden nor Poland was to sign a peace with August of Saxony without the approval of the other nation. • Poland was to support Sweden in the war against Russia • Swedish troops was to remain in Poland to guarantee the security of King Stanislav • Neither of the two nations was to join an alliance the would be negative for the other nation

The Peace Treaty in Altranstädt on September 14, 1706 – with Saxony

After the peace with Poland, Sweden went for August of Saxony. During the summer of 1706 Karl XII decided to attack Saxony and force August to give up any plans of the Polish throne. This had effect and a peace treaty was signed with Saxony on September 14, 1706 at Altranstädt, just outside Leipzig. The peace terms was: • August of Saxony had to free Poland from their oath of allegiance to him • August was to keep his title as King of Poland as long as he lived • August had to acknowledge the Polish oath of allegiance to King Stanislav of Poland • August was not to join any alliance or support any nation that Sweden and Poland was in conflict with

The peace treaty in Stockholm on November 9, 1719 – with Hanover

During 715 Hanover declared war on Sweden. Hanover was after the Swedish provinces in the northwestern part of Germany, Bremen and Verden and they occupied the two provinces. In the peace talks, Hanover was supported by England. On November 9, 1719 a peace treaty was signed between Hanover and Sweden. Sweden had to give up both Bremen and Verden. As compensation Sweden received 1,000,000 riksdaler from Hanover.. See detailed map. The Peace Treaty in Stockholm on January 21, 1720 – with Prussia During 715 Prussia declared war on Sweden. Prussia was after Pommern (Vorpommern), a Swedish province in northern Germany. They also occupied Pommern. France and England mediated in the peace talks. At this point Sweden wanted an alliance with England and support of the English Navy. King George I of England was ready to accept this if Sweden was prepared to give up parts of Vorpommern which Sweden approved of. For political and military reasons, both England and France wanted Sweden to keep possessions in Germany and forced Prussia to accept the terms. On January 21, 1720 a peace treaty was signed between Sweden and Prussia in Stockholm. In the treaty, Sweden was to give up an area in southern Pommern, more exactly, the land south of river Peene and east of river Oder plus the islands Usedom and Wollin. Thereby Sweden also lost the cities; Stettin, Damm and Gollnow. As compensation Sweden received 1,000,000 riksdaler from Prussia. See detailed map plus map of Pommern.

The Peace Treaty in Stockholm on June 3, 1720 – with Denmark

After the Swedish defeat at Poltava in 1709 Denmark saw a chance to bet back at the Swedes and once again declared war on Sweden. The purpose was to regain the Skåne provinces in southern Sweden. This Danish dream ended with the Swedish victory at Hälsningborg on February 28, 1710 when the Danes were defeated. After the battle the Danes evacuated their forces in Skåne. On October 28, 1719 Sweden signed an armistice with Denmark for 6 months. France and England initiated and mediated the peace talks. The Danes demanded Stralsund in Swedish Pommern plus the island Rügen. However, the French refused to accept this demand. The peace treaty was signed on June 3, 1720 in Stockholm. The peace terms was: • Sweden had to give up the exemption from duty at Öresund, the sound between Sweden and Denmark. • Sweden also had to pay 600,000 riksdaler to Denmark. • Sweden had to stop the support to the Duke of Holstein • Denmark had to leave the Swedish provinces they had occupied during the war, places like Rügen, parts of Vorpommern, Stralsund, Wismar in Northern Germany and Marstrand. • Sweden was not the rebuild the fortifications in Wismar • Denmark had to stop their support to Russia The peace treaty was a disappointment to Denmark who had hoped to regain the Skåne provinces from Sweden. However, England was an allied of Sweden and forced Denmark to accept the terms.

The Peace Treaty in Nystad on August 30, 1721 – with Russia

The Swedish plan was to get peace with all their enemies except Russia. Then the idea was to get an alliance with England in order to get better terms in the peace negotiations with Russia. Also Russia was looking for peace, but since the Swedes was delaying the peace talks, Russia sent their galley fleet to Sweden to ravage the Swedish coast. This was done to set pressure on Sweden and get the Swedes back to peace talks. Also during the summer of 1720 the Russian galleys were ravaging the Swedish coast. During 1720 England sent a navy fleet to the disposal of the Swedes. This strengthening of the Swedish navy was to remain for the rest of the war. On August 30, 1721, a peace treaty was finally signed in Nystad between Sweden and Russia. The treaty ended the Great Northern War. The peace terms was: • Sweden had to give up all possessions in the Baltic; Ingermanland, Livland and Estonia including the islands Ösel and Dagö. • Sweden had to give up Viborg County and the southern part of Kexholm County, both in the southeastern part of Finland. • Russia had to return Finland to Sweden • As compensation for the provinces in southeast Finland, Sweden received 2,000,000 riksdaler from Russia. • The areas Sweden had to give up was guaranteed a religious freedom and was to keep all trading privileges • Sweden was allowed to annually export grain from Livland free of duty to a value of 50,000 rubles • Only the Russians was to mediate in the peace talks with Sweden See detailed map

Poland / Saxony

There were no formal peace treaties between Sweden and Poland / Saxony. However, on April 28, 1729 the war formally ended with Saxony when Sweden and Saxony signed a declaration of friendship. A similar declaration was signed with Poland on September 26, 1732.