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Attack on Tulemajärvi
	Part of the Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658)
Date	29 March 1657
Location	Tulemajärvi, Lake Ladoga
Result	Swedish victory
Territorial; changes	Tulemajärvi is razed
Belligerents
Swedish Empire	Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Gustav Evertsson Horn ; Erik Pistolhielm	Unknown
Units involved
Unknown	Unknown
Strength
300 cavalry	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Everyone killed

The attack on Tulemajärvi occurred in 1657 as part of the Russo-Swedish War of 1656–1658. A Swedish force of 300 cavalry, under Erik Pistolhielm, successfully attacked the town, killing all of its inhabitants and razing it.

Background

After the death of a certain Lejonhufvud, Charles X Gustav, upon receiving the news, appointed Gustav Evertsson Horn as governor-general of Finland,^[1]^[2] and Christer Horn to the same in Ingria and Kexholm county. Erik Kruse, who had led an earlier expedition to Olonets, was thanked in writing for his bravery and dexterity he had shown in the aformentioned expedition.^[2]

On the battlefield, there had been a relative peace, with the exception of some minor raids that the Russians had commited against Nöteborg.^[2]

After arriving in February, Horn harbored no moral scruples in terms of "terrorist warfare". After reconnaissance, he assembled a force in northern Kexholm county of some 300 cavalry to destroy the village of Tulemajärvi. Horn intended to ravage a large area in order to make a possible Russian attack on Savolax more difficult.^[3]

Attack

On 29 March, Horn advanced into Russia through northern Kexholm County. Taking advantage of the Orthodox Easter, the Swedish force under Erik Pistolhielm made a surprise attack on Tulemajärvi, killing all of its inhabitants, who had, unaware of the danger, had, as was their custom, given themselves up to eating and drinking.^[4] and razing the village, along with the inhabitants to were in their houses.^[5]^[3]^[6]

The Swedes also destroyed several Russian supply depots and ravaged the countryside as they marched through it.^[5]^[7] Along with this, a neighbouring village was also destroyed by the Swedes.^[8]

After they had razed Tulemajärvi, the Swedes marched another mile and a half into Russia, burning and killing everything and everyone they encountered.^[4]

Aftermath

The attack on Tulemajärvi became the last notable military event on the Finnish border for the rest of 1657.^[4]

References

^ Virrankoski, Pentti. "Gustaf Evertinpoika Horn". biografiasampo.fi. Biografiasampo. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ignatius 1865, p. 100.
^ ^a ^b Lappalainen 1979, p. 106.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ignatius 1865, p. 101.
^ ^a ^b Essen 2022, p. 188.
^ Lappalainen 1972, p. 346.
^ Lappalainen 1979, p. 107.
^ Lappalainen 1979, pp. 106–107.

Works cited

Essen, Michael Fredholm von (2022). Charles X's Wars Vol.2: The Wars in the East, 1655-1657. Helion & Company. ISBN 9781915070302.
Ignatius, Karl Emil Ferdinand (1865). Finlands historia under Karl X Gustafs regering [History of Finland during the reign of Karl X Gustaf] (in Swedish). Edlund.
Lappalainen, Jussi T. (1979). Stade, Arne (ed.). Kriget på östfronten [The War on the Eastern Front] (in Swedish). Militärhistoriska förlaget. ISBN 9789185266098.
Lappalainen, Jussi T. (1972). Kaarle X Kustaan Venäjän-sota v. 1656-1658 Suomen suunnalla (in Finnish). University of Jyväskylä. ISBN 9789516770263.