Battle of Oravais
The Battle of Oravais (occasionally Orawais; Finnish: Oravaisten taistelu; Swedish: Slaget vid Oravais) from September 14 until September 15 was one of the decisive battles in the Finnish War, fought from 1808 to 1809 between Sweden and the Russian Empire as part of the wider Napoleonic Wars. Taking place in modern-day Vörå in western Finland, it is sometimes regarded as the turning point of the Finnish War: the last chance for Sweden to turn the war to her advantage. It was the bloodiest battle of the conflict, along with the Battle of Sävar, which some historians attribute to the exhaustion, resignation and desperation of the Swedish army: it was losing the war, and defeat led to its loss of Finland to Russia.
| Battle of Oravais | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Finnish War | |||||||
"The final Swedish charge" by Magnus Adlercreutz | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Sweden | Russian Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Wilhelm Mauritz Klingspor Carl Johan Adlercreutz | Nikolay Mikhailovich Kamensky | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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Swedish accounts: 3,500–5,500 Russian accounts: 7,000 |
Russian accounts: 6,000–7,000 (less than 5,000 engaged) Swedish accounts: 8,500 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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Swedish accounts: 740–1,200 Russian accounts: 1,000–1,500 |
Russian accounts: 895–1,100 | ||||||
In this battle Nikolay Kamensky, who was in charge of the Russians, displayed outstanding military qualities, showing himself a worthy disciple of Suvorov. Considering the uncertain situation before the battle, he deploys his forces in echelons; but, as soon as the main Swedish force at Oravais is determined, he endeavours to bring everyone onto the battlefield at a crucial moment.