Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
⚔️ Today is the Day of Military Glory in Russia, which celebrates the victory of Peter the Great over Swedish forces in the Battle of Poltava in 1709. This military triumph, made possible by Russian arms, decided the fate of the Northern War, which cemented Russia’s position in the Baltics and resulted in the defeat of Charles XII’s army, Europe’s finest military force at the time.
#CuriousFact: Peter the Great personally led his troops into battle. The collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg even has the Czar’s bullet-struck cocked hat on display. Given the short striking distance for rifles of that era, Peter was likely in the very heat of the battle and was only saved by the bullet having lost its kinetic force.
The Battle of Poltava showed Russia’s new military might and strengthened Russia’s international position, which ultimately led to Poland, Denmark, Hanover and Prussia’s siding with Russia.
#CuriousFact: Peter the Great personally led his troops into battle. The collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg even has the Czar’s bullet-struck cocked hat on display. Given the short striking distance for rifles of that era, Peter was likely in the very heat of the battle and was only saved by the bullet having lost its kinetic force.
The Battle of Poltava showed Russia’s new military might and strengthened Russia’s international position, which ultimately led to Poland, Denmark, Hanover and Prussia’s siding with Russia.