Battles & Campaigns · 1808
Battle of Oravais
Oravais, Vörå, Ostrobothnia, Finland
What happened
A Russian army under Nikolay Kamensky attacked a Swedish army under Wilhelm Mauritz Klingspor and Carl Johan Adlercreutz. The Swedes held a fortified ridge. The Russians attacked again and again, with heavy gunfire on both sides. Adlercreutz's counter-attack briefly pushed the Russians back, but his men ran short of ammunition, and after about 17 hours of fighting the Swedes withdrew north.
Why it matters
It was the bloodiest battle of the Finnish War and the turning point. It was Sweden's last real chance to win the war.
What came next
The Swedish army fell back to Nykarleby. A year later Sweden gave Finland to Russia.
Did you know?
A 15-year-old officer, Wilhelm von Schwerin, covered the Swedish retreat with a single cannon.
Timeline
- 13 Sep 1808Battle of Jutas.
- 14 Sep 1808Battle of Oravais.
- 27 Oct 1808Last Swedish victory in Finland at Koljonvirta.
- 17 Sep 1809Treaty of Fredrikshamn.