The Russian raid on the environs of Olavinlinna in the spring–summer of 1496

Abstract

This study identifies and analyzes evidence of a Russian raid carried out in the spring–summer of 1496, initiated by Grand Prince Ivan III of Moscow, against the southeastern territories of Swedish possessions – namely, present-day southeastern Finland in the vicinity of Olavinlinna. The raid began on April 24. On June 28, after burning the parish of Jokas, the Russian detachment disappeared unexpectedly for the Swedish side. As the sources indicate, this was a relatively small and highly mobile force. It operated in the vicinity of Olavinlinna approximately at the same time as the troops of the Ushaty princes were devastating lands in the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia. However, given the vast distance of several hundred kilometers separating these theaters of operations, it can be concluded that these were undoubtedly different forces commanded by different voivodes. Moreover, unlike the flotilla of the Ushaty princes, the Russian detachment operating near Olavinlinna was most likely a cavalry unit. Olavinlinna lacked convenient navigable connections with the Gulf of Finland; therefore, it was more expedient to dispatch cavalry rather than a “naval host” on a raid from Rus’. The identity of the commander of the Russian detachment that devastated the surroundings of Olavinlinna remains unknown. At the same time, it is evident that this could not have been Prince S. I. Ryapolovsky, who at that period was engaged on the eastern Kazan front.