Battle of Erastfer

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Battle of Erastfer
Part of the Great Northern War
Mitrophan Grekov 06.jpg
The battle of Erastfer by Mitrophan Grekov (1914)
Date29 December 1701 (O.S.)
30 December 1701 (Swedish calendar)
9 January 1702 (N.S.)
Location
Erastfer, Swedish Livonia
(present-day Erastvere, Estonia)
57°58′N 26°47′E / 57.967°N 26.783°E / 57.967; 26.783Coordinates: 57°58′N 26°47′E / 57.967°N 26.783°E / 57.967; 26.783
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Swedish Empire Flag of Russia.svg Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach Boris Sheremetev
Strength
3,470 men,
6 artillery pieces[1]		 18,087 men,
20 or 30 artillery pieces[1]
Casualties and losses
700 killed,
350 captured[2]		 1,000 killed[3]
2,000 wounded[2]

The battle of Erastfer (also Battle of Errestfer, Battle of Erastvere) took place on 29 December 1701 (O.S.) / 30 December 1701 (Swedish calendar) / 9 January / 1702 (N.S.) near Erastfer in eastern Swedish Livonia (present-day Erastvere in Estonia) between a Russian force of around 13,000 regulars along with 6,000 irregulars led by general Boris Sheremetev[3] and a Swedish force of about 3,470 men (at least 1,000 men were absent from the ranks for various reasons on the day of the battle, resulting in an actual fighting force of about 2,200–2,470 men), under the command of Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach.[1] The Swedes were defeated, with a loss of 1,000 men killed and captured along with all their artillery pieces.[4] The Russians sustained about 1,000 killed[3] along with another 2,000 wounded (according to a Russian soldier who later admitted, after being captured by the Swedes, to 3,000 total losses).[4] It was the first significant Russian victory in the Great Northern War.[4] Before invading Ingria, Tsar Peter I secured Poland's continued participation in the war against Sweden by promising King Augustus II of Poland, 20,000 Russian troops, 100,000 pounds of gunpowder, and 100,000 rubles per year over three years.[5]: 688 

Prelude[]

After the defeat in Courland, Peter I decided in secret to prepare to counterattack and defeat the Swedes in a pitched battle. This opportunity arose in December 1701. Schlippenbach dispersed his forces to defend the border and establish headquarters in Erastfer. Peter sent General Sheremetev and his 18,000 men from Pskov to attack the Swedes by surprise. The Russians crossed Lake Peipus, which at the time was frozen, carrying infantry and 30 cannons in sledges.

Battle[]

News of the Russian advance moved rapidly from the outposts to the headquarters. With great efforts the Swedes managed to reunite the infantry regiments of Liewens, Skylte and Stackelberg, as well as the cavalry regiments of Abo and Estonia and the dragoons of Karelia.

The Swedes failed to form a single line of battle and the Russians were able to advance rapidly. Schlippenbach managed to form his infantry and temporarily contain the Russians, but was forced to retreat slowly. The cavalry was gathering behind the infantry, many of the riders were inexperienced recruits, and on seeing the infantry retreating they withdrew. Only Lewenhaupt and Horn managed to get their dragoons to cover the Swedish retreat. The Swedish infantry fought to their end, and before completely breaking, destroyed their banners so that they would not fall into the hands of the Russians.

Consequences[]

Peter I assessed winning this battle as very important from a moral point of view. His troops had fought the Swedes with awe and fear. With this victory, the Russian soldiers realized that they could defeat the Swedes. He had rewards distributed to the officers. He also appointed Sheremetev Field marshal and Knight of the Order of St. Andrew. In Moscow, the church bells rang as a message of victory to the residents, cannon shots were fired and a solemn thanksgiving service was held. Peter gave a big banquet with fireworks in the Moscow Kremlin. When the Swedish prisoners reached Moscow, Peter sat at the head of the prison train and moved with them to Moscow.

The defeat depressed the mood of the Livonians. With so few soldiers they could not overcome the Russian superiority. In addition, the Swedish troops' belief in their own superiority was dampened.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Northern Wars: Battle of Erastfehr: 30 December 1701 Archived 4 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Nordisk familjebok, Uggleupplagan. 7. (1907). p. 738.
  3. ^ a b c Peter the Great's Unknown War, Vjatšeslav Krassikov
  4. ^ a b c Otto Sjögren, W. A. V. Schlippenbachs lifländska här (Historisk tidskrift för år 1896). p. 307–309
  5. ^ Tucker, S.C., 2010, A Global Chronology of Conflict, Vol. Two, Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, LLC, ISBN 9781851096671
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