Battle of Wesenberg (1704)

This article is about the 1704 battle. For other uses, see Battle of Wesenberg.
Battle of Wesenberg
Part of the Great Northern War
Date15 June 1704 (O.S.)
16 June 1704 (Swedish calendar)
26 June 1704 (N.S.)
Location
Rakvere, Estonia
59°21′N 26°21′E / 59.35°N 26.35°E / 59.35; 26.35
Result

Russian victory

  • Fall of Wesenberg to the advancing Russian armies
  • Almost all of the Swedish defenders were annihilated
Belligerents
Sweden Swedish Empire Russia Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Sweden Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach Russia Carl Ewald von Rönne
Strength
1,400 men[1] 8,000 men[1]
Casualties and losses
400 killed,
600 captured[2]		 Unknown

The Battle of Wesenberg took place on 26 June 1704 close to Rakvere (Wesenberg) during the Great Northern War. The Swedish cavalry force of 1,400 men under the command of Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach retreated before Carl Ewald von Rönnes larger force. However, the Swedes were caught at Wesenberg and after a valiant defense[1] they had been close to annihilated with only 400 managing to escape towards Reval[2] the rest was either killed or captured. The Russian losses are unknown.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Adlerfeld G. The Military History of Charles XII, King of Sweden, Volume 1. p. 309
  2. ^ a b Gordon A. The History of Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia: To which is Prefixed a Short General History of the Country from the Rise of that Monarchy: and an Account of the Author's Life, Volume 1. Aberdeen. 1755. pp. 181–182