Battles & Campaigns · 1808
Battle of Siikajoki
Siikajoki, near Oulu (Uleåborg), Finland
What happened
A Swedish force under Carl Johan Adlercreutz and Georg Carl von Döbeln fought Russian troops under Yakov Kulnev. Döbeln's men were crossing the Siikajoki River when the Russians caught up. They took a position on the south bank. When the Russian centre opened up, Adlercreutz ordered an attack that pushed the Russians back.
Why it matters
It was the first major attempt to stop the Russian advance in Finland. It came two days after the defeat at Pyhäjoki.
What came next
Nine days later the Swedes won again at Revolax and began to push south.
Did you know?
The poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg wrote about this battle in his famous 'Tales of Ensign Stål'.
Timeline
- 16 Apr 1808Battle of Pyhäjoki.
- 18 Apr 1808Battle of Siikajoki.
- 27 Apr 1808Swedish victory at Revolax.