The Swedish Empire's Last Gasp: The Great Northern War

In this episode, we explore the Great Northern War (1700-1721), the conflict that shattered Sweden's Baltic empire. We focus on the war's early years, highlighting Charles XII's audacious crossing of the Belts, the devastating plague that swept the Baltic, and the pivotal Battle of Narva. We follow the Swedish king's march south, the disastrous winter campaign in Ukraine, and the catastrophic defeat at Poltava in 1709. The episode traces the war's final decade, including the Siege of Stralsund and the death of Charles XII at Fredriksten. We close with the Treaty of Nystad, which ceded Livonia, Estonia, and Ingria to Russia, marking the end of Sweden's Great Power era. We reflect on how the war's legacy shaped Sweden's national identity and its long-term relationship with Russia.

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