History 29/02/20 LiveInternetКак Alexander I made Finland a part of Russia
After the conclusion of Russia in July 1807 the Treaty of Tilsit with Napoleon, England and all of its then allies became naturally the enemies of Russia. And since one of the English allies were Sweden, the Russian Emperor Alexander I decided to use the situation to finally be resolved in your favor long-standing geopolitical dispute with Sweden about membership of Finland. Prior to this, in the wars of the eighteenth century, Russia acquired the southern part of Finland with cities of Vyborg and Fridrichsgam (Hamina).
the Winter of 1807-1808 was secretly prepared by the Russian corps under the command of General Fyodor Buxhowden consisting of three divisions (one of which was commanded by General Pyotr Bagration) of the 26 thousand soldiers, after which he suddenly started military action against the Swedes. The troops of the latter, concentrated in Finland, mainly in the garrisons of the important points and consisting of about 19 thousand people, so a quick armed attack from Russia is not expected. Started last in the history of Russian-Swedish war.
on 9 February (all dates old style), 1808 Russian army without declaring war, crossed the border of Sweden. Already on 18 February was a busy Helsingfors, and in Sveaborg was besieged the main forces of the Swedes. Despite the strong fortifications and large stocks of provisions, Sveaborg surrendered on April 26. Swedish historians claim that the Russian managed to bribe their generals. By this time the war was already officially announced (March 16). In March, Russian troops going across the ice occupied the Aland Islands and Gotland island (belonging to Sweden). Then managed to consolidate power and put our units in the Central part of Finland a series of defeats, and in addition, with the help of the English fleet to reclaim Gotland and åland Islands.
the Russians had regrouped and increased the number of troops up to 34 thousand. Two task forces headed by generals Mikhail Barclay de Tolly and Nikolay Raevsky. A number of important clashes ended in favor of Russian troops. In September the theatre of war himself arrived, the Swedish king Gustav IV, who with the help of the English fleet landed troops in the district of Helsinki. The troops were defeated, and at the king’s request, the armistice was signed.
No truce
Alexander I, however, had not approved the truce and ordered to continue military action. For the winter, Russian forces captured the whole of Northern Finland, reaching torneo – point for modern Swedish-Finnish border.
In the campaign of 1809, the Russian Emperor, ordered to seize the enemy’s capital. On 1 March the Russian army in three columns marched across the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia. However, Stockholm was lucky to become one of the European capitals, which has not joined the Russian army. After 7 March, a detachment of General Kulnev reached the outskirts of Stockholm, there was a coup. The new king Karl XIII (his successor was announced to Napoleon’s Marshal Bernadotte, and then became an enemy of Napoleon) hastened to solicit a truce, which the commander in chief of the Russian General Knorring, in view of the imminent opening of the ice, agreed. But Alexander I again did not approve of the truce. And Knorring, exceeded his authority and not who has brought the action to end, replaced by Barclay de Tolly. The war continued throughout most of Sweden, however, had no hope to take Stockholm. Finally, on 5 September 1809 in Fredrikshamn peace was concluded.
under the terms of the peace Treaty in the eternal and undivided possession of Russia passed the whole of Finland from the river Tornio, as well as the Aland Islands.
the First difficulty
the Conquest of Finland from the first steps was marked by the difficulties caused by the hostility of Finns towards the Russian army. Slow and not always successful operations of the Russian army in the first phase of the war was the recognition of the Russian military historian A. A. Ternovskogo as it was necessary “Department is muca final number of troops to… protect the rear from the rebels almost without exception the Finnish population. Guerrilla war is so weakened the troops that in April before putting Sveaborg at the front was only 4,500 men”. The failure of a number of skirmishes in the spring have further strengthened the guerrilla movement of the Finns.
the Emperor Alexander I took political steps to calm the population. March 16, 1808, the day of the official Declaration of war and a week after mastering Russian forces chief while the city ABO (Turku), the Emperor announced to all foreign countries on nauchnom accession to Russia that portion of Finland “which hitherto was called the Swedish”. And on March 20 (1 April new style), 1808, he issued a Manifesto which read that from now on Finland is part of the Russian Empire with the value of the Grand Duchy of Finland and with the existing laws and Sejm.
In February, 1809, the Emperor ordered to gather in Borgo (Porvoo) ossetinskaya diet. On March 16, he opened it himself, saying the speech in which he promised to maintain the Constitution and the indigenous laws of Finland. Members of Parliament have sworn allegiance to the Russian Emperor and Grand Duke of Finland. In the adoption of laws on finances Alexander I gave the king’s word that all the taxes collected in Finland, will go for needs of the Principality.
Thus, while in Russia the Tsar, the Russian king was in Finland as a constitutional monarch.
in defining the boundaries of the Grand Duchy was annexed those parts of the Karelian isthmus and lake Ladoga area, which Russia conquered from Sweden in the wars of the eighteenth century, including Vyborg and Kexholm (Priozersk). Thus, the border of Finland lies 30 miles from the capital of the Russian Empire.
Yaroslav Butakov
Source:
© Russian Seven
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