The Tiversk campaign (Swedish: Tiverskkampanjen) refers to a war between Sweden and Novgorod in 1411, it was originally a Swedish attempt to destroy Tiversk but it would later develop into a larger conflict.

Tiversk campaign
Part of the Swedish–Novgorodian Wars

Ruins of Tiversk
Date1411
Location
Result Swedish victory
Territorial
changes
Tiversk is destroyed
Belligerents
History of Sweden (800–1521) Sweden Novgorod
Commanders and leaders
History of Sweden (800–1521) Tord Röriksson Bonde Simeon Olgerdovich
Paul 
Units involved
History of Sweden (800–1521) Viborg garrison Tiversk garrison
Strength
Unknown At least 30
Casualties and losses
Many killed and captured At least 1 killed

Background

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Since 1399, the eastern border of Sweden had remained relatively peaceful, there were possible border skirmishes that took place, but no larger confrontations had developed. The Swedish passive policy on the border with Novgorod can be explained by the many wars it had to fight on other fronts, and on the Novgorodian side how they had to concentrate on the Teutonic Order.[1]

Campaign

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In 1411, the Swedes attacked the Novgorodian fortress of Tiversk, this was likely identical to the modern day Tiurula and it acted as a border fortress for Novgorod. The Swedes captured and destroyed the fortress.[2][1][3][4][5] The Swedes were likely being led by the commander of Viborg, Tord Röriksson Bonde.[1]

The Novgorodians quickly responded to the Swedish attack, and only three days later after hearing of their attack, an army begins marching to raid Swedish areas.[1][5][6] Under the leadership of Simeon Olgerdovich, the Novgorodians attacked and "burned villages, cut down many Swedes and captured others". 30 participating Voivode are mentioned by name in the Novgorod Chronicle.[1][6]

On 26 March, the Novgorodians arrived outside of Viborg. However, the walls of the fortress were too strong for them and they satisfied themselves by razing the town and raiding the local lands around Viborg.[1][6][7] This attack would be the fourth time that Viborg was threatened in its history by an enemy force.[1] According to the Novgorod Chronicle, the Novgorodian revenge expedition only cost them one life, that being Paul of Nutna Street.[1][6] The Novgorodians would later retreat away from Viborg with many prisoners of war,[3][2] after the siege's failure.[7]

Aftermath

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The city of Uleå would later be subject to raids from Novgorod in 1415, and in 1431 the Novgorod chronicle names an expedition against the kajans in Northern Finland, but the Swedish–Novgorodian border would remain in a state of relative calm until 1444.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Sundberg, Ulf (1999). Medeltidens Svenska krig [Swedish wars in the Middle Ages] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Hjalmarson & Högberg. p. 243. ISBN 9189080262.
  2. ^ a b Harrison, Dick (2016-10-29). "Lång historia av gränskrig med Ryssland". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  3. ^ a b Harrison, Dick (2024-02-01). Fienden: Sverige och Ryssland från vikingatid till idag (in Swedish). Ordfront. ISBN 978-91-7945-181-3.
  4. ^ "Тиверская крепость". bezgoroda.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  5. ^ a b Hornborg, Eirik (1964). Finlands historia (in Swedish). Schildts.
  6. ^ a b c d Michell, Robert. "The Chronicle of Novgorod" (PDF). faculty.washington.edu.
  7. ^ a b "Tord Röriksson Bonde". sok.riksarkivet.se. Retrieved 2024-06-09.