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Illustrated Description Of Russia

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Obelisk at Poltava in Commemoration of
the Defeat of Charles XII. of Sweden by Peter the Great


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Obelisk at Poltava

Obelisk at Poltava
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Charles XII. of Sweden, having besieged this town in 1709, Peter the Great marched to its relief; and in its vicinity, on the 27th of June of the same year, was fought the famous battle of Poltava. The Russians gained a complete victory. The Swedish army was entirely destroyed: it lost above nine thousand men left dead on the field of battle, and from two to three thousand made prisoners in the pursuit; while the residue, consisting of about fourteen thousand men, under General Lewenhaupt, after escaping from the battle, were compelled to lay down their arms and surrender on the 12th of July. Charles, with only a small escort, effected his retreat across the Boug, and took refuge in Turkey. This great victory established the power of Peter on a solid foundation, and secured not merely his empire, but the success of his vast projects and plans for the civilization and improvement of his people.

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Sears, Robert. An Illustrated Description of the Russian Empire. New York: Robert Sears, 1855