Siege of Veprik

1709 siege of the Great Northern War
50°06′24″N 29°48′21″E / 50.10667°N 29.80583°E / 50.10667; 29.80583Result Swedish victoryBelligerents Swedish Empire Tsardom of RussiaCommanders and leaders Charles XII of Sweden
Berndt Otto Stackelberg Colonel FermorStrength 3,000 1,500Casualties and losses 400 killed
600 wounded 1,500 killed, wounded or captured
  • v
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Great Northern War
Denmark and Holstein-Gottorp (1700)
Swedish Baltic dominions
Courland and Western Lithuania
Poland and Saxony
Russia and Eastern Lithuania
Sweden proper (including Finland)
Moldavia
Swedish German dominions
Mecklenburg and Holstein-Gottorp
Norway
Naval battles
Treaties

The siege of Veprik took place on 3–18 January 1709[1] during the Swedish invasion of Russia in the Great Northern War.

After the unusually cold winter, many troops had died from both armies and Charles XII of Sweden decided to lay siege to the Russian city of Veprik to put pressure on Tsar Peter I of Russia. The town was defended by a garrison of about 1,500 men. After the Russian commander, the Scot Colonel Fermor refused to surrender, Charles XII started a bombardment of the town and later, on 17 January also an assault. After about two hours of intense fighting the Swedes pulled back, unable to capture the town. However, the Russians surrendered on the night of 18 January and the Swedes were allowed to march in. The result was a tactical success for the Swedish forces, but did not greatly alter the strategic situation. About 400 Swedes were killed and another 600 wounded. The whole Russian garrison was either killed, captured or wounded. After several days Charles XII burnt down the town.

References

  1. ^ a b 3–18 January 1709 according to the Gregorian calendar. Also 23 December 1708 to 7 January 1709 (Julian calendar) and 24 December 1708 to 8 January 1709 (Swedish calendar).
  • Bengt Liljegren (2000). Karl XII: En biografi. Lund: Historiska Media. pp. 167.
  • Peter From (2007). Katastrofen vid Poltava - Karl XII:s ryska fälttåg 1707-1709. Lund: Historiska Media. pp. 251.