Battle of Helsinki (1713)

This article is about battle of the Great Northern War. For about battle of the Finnish Civil War, see Battle of Helsinki.
Battle of Helsinki (1713)
Part of the Great Northern War
Date8–11 May 1713
Location
Helsinki, Finland
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Swedish Empire Swedish Empire Tsardom of Russia Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Carl Gustaf Armfeldt Peter the Great
Fyodor Apraksin
Strength
1,800[1][2] 17,000[1]–18,700[3]
Casualties and losses
Minor[4] At least 70 killed or wounded[4]

The Battle of Helsinki (Russian: Битва на реке Хельсинки) was fought between the Russian army under Tsar Peter the Great and Admiral Fyodor Apraksin and the defending Finnish army of Sweden under General Carl Gustaf Armfeldt between 8 and 11 May 1713, as part of the Great Northern War. It resulted in a Russian victory, leading to the Swedes commanded by Armfelt burning the entire city of Helsinki when retreating.[1] Destroyed after the actual battle, the city changed hands twice more in the following months until it remained permanently in the hands of the Russians.

  1. ^ a b c "Suuri Pohjan sota ja Helsingin tuho" (in Finnish). City of Helsinki. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  2. ^ Hornborg 1953, p. 142.
  3. ^ Hornborg 1953, p. 143.
  4. ^ a b Hornborg 1953, p. 148.