Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XVII. Reign of Gustavus IV Adolphus, 1792–1809 - C. The Finnish War, 1808–1809
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The Finnish War 309
the Finnish army was too weak to do it alone. If aid
would only come from Sweden, but the summer passed
and no help came. The king had now other plans to
occupy him. He would, forsooth, first take Norway
from Denmark, which had been compelled by France
and Russia to declare war on Sweden. When the at-
tack on Norway had failed, he wasted valuable time
with plans to occupy Seeland, and not until that plan
had failed too, he turned his thoughts to Finland. But
the forces which attempted to land on that coast were
too few and were at once driven back. Then violent
autumn storms set in, scattering and destroying the
fleets attempting to land. Only a few thousand Swed-
ish troops succeeded in landing and uniting with the
Finnish army.
The Russians on the other hand received consider-
able re-enforcements and began a new offensive. The
Swedes and Finns did, indeed, again and again drive
back superior forces of the enemy, but soon a new re-
treat was begun with continuous fighting, now victor-
ies, now defeats. The war activities ended with "Ora-
vais’ bloody day, when victory itself became a defeat."
In this battle the Swedes composed at least two-thirds
of Adlercreutz’ army and fought with a gallantry
worthy of the days of Charles XII. But the Russians
were too powerful. Finland’s fate was sealed. It re-
mained only to bring the worn and bleeding remnants
of the army safely across to Swedish soil.
The Treaty of Fredrikshanin, September 17, 1809.
By this treaty Sweden ceded to Russia all of Finland,
the Aland Islands, and the Swedish Lapp District with
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