Key Facts
- Date of surrender
- 22 October 1702
- Russian force assembled
- 20,000 men
- Men on Neva riverbanks
- ~12,000
- March duration
- 10 days
- Renamed to
- Shlisselburg
Strategic Narrative Overview
Peter assembled a force of 20,000 men and marched ten days to reach the fortress. Approximately 12,000 troops were deployed along the Neva riverbanks, camping until 6 October. Peter transferred overall command to Boris Sheremetev before advancing on Nöteborg. When Swedish commander Wilhelm von Schlippenbach refused to surrender immediately, Russian forces began a sustained artillery bombardment. A final direct assault proved tactically costly but broke the garrison's ability to hold out.
01 / The Origins
The Siege of Nöteborg took place within the broader context of the Great Northern War, in which Tsar Peter the Great sought to break Swedish dominance over the Baltic region. Control of the Neva River was essential for Russian access to the Baltic Sea. Nöteborg, a Swedish fortress at the Neva's source from Lake Ladoga, represented a key obstacle to Russian expansion and had to be taken to secure the river corridor.
03 / The Outcome
The fortress's defenders capitulated on 22 October 1702 despite the final assault being technically unsuccessful in purely tactical terms. Peter immediately assumed control and ordered the reconstruction and reinforcement of the fortifications for Russian military use. He renamed the site Shlisselburg, meaning 'Key City,' reflecting its strategic importance as a gateway to the Baltic and marking one of Russia's earliest significant gains of the Great Northern War.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Peter the Great, Boris Sheremetev.
Side B
1 belligerent
Wilhelm von Schlippenbach.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.