Battle of Poltava in the Great Northern War

Battle of Poltava in the Great Northern War Battle of Poltava - Conflict: The Battle of Poltava was fought during the Great Northern War. Battle of Poltava - Date: Charles XII was defeated on July 8, 1709 (New Style). Armies Commanders: Sweden King Charles XIIField Marshal Carl Gustav RehnskiöldGeneral Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt24,000 men, 4 guns Russia Peter the Great42,500 men, 102 guns Battle of Poltava - Background: In 1708, King Charles XII of Sweden invaded Russia with the goal of bringing the Great Northern War to an end. Turned away at Smolensk, he moved into the Ukraine for the winter. As his troops endured the frigid weather, Charles sought allies for his cause. While he had previously received a commitment from Ivan Mazepas Hetman Cossacks, the only additional forces who were willing to join him were the Zaporozhian Cossacks of Otaman Kost Hordiienko. Charles position was further weakened by the need to leave an army corps in Poland to aid King Stanislaus I Leszczyñski.