Battle of Narva (1700)

Battle of Narva

"Battle of Narva 1700" by Daniel Stawert

Date	19 November 1700 (O.S.) 20 November 1700 (Swedish calendar) 30 November 1700 (N.S.)
Location	Narva, Swedish Empire (present-day Estonia)
Result	Decisive Swedish victory

Belligerents

Commanders and leaders

Strength

Narva garrison:
1,800 men,
297 artillery pieces
Relief force:
10,500 men,
37 cannons

37,000 men,
195 artillery pieces

Casualties and losses

667 killed,
1,247 wounded

more than 9,000 killed,
20,000 captured

Notes

^[a] About 12,300 men of which 1,800 were stationed in Narva with 297 artillery pieces and 10,537 (5,889 infantry, 4,314 cavalry, 37 cannons with 334 crew) assaulting the Russians.
^[b] Up to 37,000 men of which 4,000 were deployed at the siege-works with 125 artillery pieces and 33,000 (23,652 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, 70 cannons with 321 crew) facing the Swedes.
^[c] Reports of 31 officers and 636 privates dead, 66 officers and 1,181 privates wounded. Another report claims almost 900 dead Swedish troops
^[d] Almost the entire Russian force was either killed or captured during the battle (except for some 4,000 cavalry who managed to escape over the kamperholm bridge). 8,000 Russians were reported killed and another 1,000 drowned. Over 20,000 were captured and disarmed but later set free and allowed march to Russia (except for 700 men [134 officers] who were set prisoners). 23,000 out of initially 37,000 Russians managed to reach back to Russian land, estimating the Russian final casualties to about 14,000 either dead during the battle or the harsh march back to Russia. The Swedes also seized 171 standards and banners, 145 cannons, 28 mortars and four howitzers as well as 24,000 muskets.

The Battle of Narva (Russian: Битва на Нарве; Swedish: Slaget vid Narva) on 19 November 1700 (30 November, N.S.) was an early battle in the Great Northern War. A Swedish relief army under Charles XII of Sweden defeated a Russian siege force three to four times its size. Before, Charles XII had forced Denmark-Norway to sign the Treaty of Travendal. Narva was not followed by further advances of the Swedish army into Russia; instead, Charles XII turned southward to expel August the Strong from Livonia and Poland-Lithuania. Tsar Peter the Great of Russia took Narva in a second battle in 1704.

During the 17th century, Russia was less advanced technologically than the rest of Europe, a condition which extended to its armed forces. Despite this shortcoming, Peter the Great of Russia was keen to expand his territory by conquering parts of Sweden's Baltic provinces. Russia made a military alliance with Frederick IV, King of Denmark-Norway; and August the Strong, King of Poland-Lithuania and elector of Saxony, to wage war against Sweden. Whereupon all five countries attacked Sweden from several directions.