The Great Northern War began in 1700 as a struggle for dominance in the Baltic region, primarily between Sweden and Russia. Sweden, having built a powerful Baltic empire in the 17th century, controlled key provinces, including Livonia (modern-day northern Latvia and southern Estonia). However, Peter the Great of Russia, determined to regain Russian access to the Baltic Sea, formed an alliance with Denmark, Saxony, and Poland-Lithuania to challenge Swedish supremacy.
The Rise and Decline of Swedish Power
During the 17th century, Sweden created a vast empire around the Gulf of Finland, encompassing Karelia, Ingria, Estonia, and Livonia. Swedish Livonia included Riga, the largest port city in the region. Sweden’s military prowess and administrative reforms allowed it to expand across Northern Europe, including victories in the Thirty Years' War and conquests of Danish and Norwegian territories. However, Sweden’s empire relied heavily on plunder and taxation of occupied territories to finance its campaigns. Over time, resources were drained, leaving Sweden vulnerable to prolonged warfare.
Russia, on the other hand, had been weakened during the Time of Troubles in the early 17th century. The Treaty of Stolbovo (1617) had deprived Russia of access to the Baltic. By the end of the century, Peter the Great sought to reverse those losses. He modernized Russia’s military and administration and in 1700, with Saxony and Denmark as allies, launched the Great Northern War against Sweden.
Key Events in Latvia
In the early stages of the war, Sweden managed to hold off its enemies, defeating Denmark and repelling Russian forces at the Battle of Narva (1700). However, Peter the Great rebuilt his army and launched new offensives. By 1709, after Sweden’s defeat at the Battle of Poltava, Russian forces gained the upper hand.
In 1710, Russian troops captured Riga, the most strategically significant city in Livonia. With the capitulation of Livonia, the entire region—including much of present-day Latvia—fell under Russian control. The devastation caused by the war was compounded by the Great Northern War plague outbreak, which killed up to 75% of the population in some areas of Livonia.
Aftermath
The war formally ended with the Treaty of Nystad (1721). Sweden relinquished its claims to Livonia, Estonia, and Ingria, solidifying Russian control over the Baltic region. In Latvia, Riga became part of the newly established Riga Governorate (1713), which was later reformed into the Governorate of Livonia (Vidzeme) in 1796. The German Baltic nobility retained significant autonomy under Russian rule, preserving their privileges, self-governing Landtags, Lutheran faith, and the use of German as the administrative language.
The Great Northern War marked the end of Swedish influence in Latvia and the beginning of Russian dominance, which would last for centuries. Although Russia now controlled Latvia, much of the local governance remained in the hands of the German elite. The war also disrupted trade and agriculture, and the plague outbreak left a lasting demographic impact on the region. Russian rule would eventually tighten, but for the time being, German nobility and Lutheran traditions persisted, shaping life in Latvia for generations.