Upcoming battle in Ukraine - Poltava 1709

[Lt. Campers]

Just when you thought it was quite in Ukraine. The relative peace and tranquility of eastern Ukraine
is about to be disturbed by the sounds of cannon and musket fire, as Peter the Great's russian
army do battle against the invading Swedish forces of Charles XII of Sweden. In one of the most
decisive clashes of the Great Northern War of 1700-1721.




News of the impending battle have already hit the front page of today's Ukrainian Observer as
re-enactors gather for a dress rehersal of next years 300th anniversary event ( on Poltava
memorial battlefield )
Note - anyone really keen on attending this event can send me a private mail.

The Ukrainian Observer article:
http://ukraine-observer.com/index.php?c=1635

Of course the event is not without controversy, as many Ukrainians feel the Cossacks lost
a great deal of autonomy from Czarist Russia following the Battle of Poltava. Due to
an important Hetman changing sides and supporting the Swedes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazepa

Battle of Poltava in history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poltava

A russian film called Sluga Gosudarev has been produced following the events of Peter 
the Greats struggle against the Swedes that led to this decisive battle - now on Youtube.
The style of the film reminds me of the Barry Lyndon film and although visually
apealling to movie people it has been criticised by re-enactors for not being as
authentic as it should be.

The Great Northern War - prelude to battle:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/HPE7NFekRIc&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/HPE7NFekRIc&rel=1</a>

Battle of Poltava 1709, part one:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/24gQKRF9aJ0&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/24gQKRF9aJ0&rel=1</a>

Battle of Poltava 1709, part two:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/esMhRIpxhSQ&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/esMhRIpxhSQ&rel=1</a>

Battle of Poltava 1709, part three:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/3j5X432TESM&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/3j5X432TESM&rel=1</a>

Of course how big next years 300th anniversary event is going to be, is open
to question at the present time.

[P-N]

Another "quality" post Campers 

[Capt.Ted]

Campers - What can I say, all this and Sharpe too !!!

[dazure]

I saw the movie on TV a few nights ago and it's a good watch. The ebb and flow of the battle is well done.

[Lt. Campers]

For those of you curious about last weekends re-enactment of Peter the Greats victory
over the Swedish army invading mother Russia and sister Ukraine back in 1709.
Heres the action packed pics from last sundays battle.
 
First the group photos:





Russian standard bearer, grenadiers and cossacks line up for battle:



Russian line infantry:



Russian grenadier & musketeer:



Russian grenadiers reloading with standard bearer:



Russians take aim at rebellious cossacks:





Russian cavalry supporting the infantry:



After the battle the russians retire to camp:

[Capt.Ted]

Russians take aim at rebellious cossacks:

Thats the trouble with Cossacks, they are always revolting . . . . ! 

[Lt. Campers]

As I said at the start of this article on the Battle of Poltava - the 300th anniversary commemorations
of Peter the Greats, russian victory over the Swedes is not without controversy in Ukraine.
Hetman Ivan Mazepa, changed sides during the Great Northern War & threw in his lot ( and that
of the Ukrainian cossacks under him ) with the swedish king Charles XII. As he considered his
cossack troops were ill used by the russians in their various european campaigns.
Following his defeat, exile and death after the battle of Poltava. Mazepa was villified by
the russian tsars as a turncoat and traitor for breaking his allegiance to the Russian empire. A
view that persisted throughout the Soviet period and was only exonerated and proclaimed a
national hero of Ukraine ( for standing upto the Czars ) following her independance in 1991.

Being british - I refuse to be drawn into the issue. But instead have added an interesting
article on the subject, published in the March edition of Kommersant.

Ukraine and Russia clash at Poltava - Kommersant:

http://www.kommersant.com/p871344/r_527/Battle_of_Poltava/

[fragov]

Hello! Just read a news about Norwegian guy, who come to Poltava, Ukraine to see how is preparation of holiday is going. But nobody meet him on Railway Station and nobody help him to see interesting places in Poltava.
So just in case, there is a local Poltava Forum, where you can get information about Poltava.

You may visit forum there: http://www.poltavaforum.com/poltava-forum-137/.
And I've started creating of Poltava web-site for guests: http://poltava.us/.

Interested in your opinion about forum and web-site.

[P-N]

As I woke up bleary eyed and was waiting for the senses to adjust to full consciousness mode this morning, there was something on TV going on in Crimea today.  It was a reenactment involving what looked like Napoleonic soldiers (and they were really French.....I could here them talking in French behind the Ukrainian presenter) and what looked like Crimean forces.

History buffs hit your books - by the time I was fully "compus mentus" the article had finished but it looked as though it was going to be a cracking reenactment. 

[Carlushika]

As I woke up bleary eyed and was waiting for the senses to adjust to full consciousness mode this morning, there was something on TV going on in Crimea today.  It was a reenactment involving what looked like Napoleonic soldiers (and they were really French.....I could here them talking in French behind the Ukrainian presenter) and what looked like Crimean forces.

History buffs hit your books - by the time I was fully "compus mentus" the article had finished but it looked as though it was going to be a cracking reenactment. 

Crimean War reenactment at Balaclava according to 24TV from Ukraine (as translated by Irina).

[P-N]

As I woke up bleary eyed and was waiting for the senses to adjust to full consciousness mode this morning, there was something on TV going on in Crimea today.  It was a reenactment involving what looked like Napoleonic soldiers (and they were really French.....I could here them talking in French behind the Ukrainian presenter) and what looked like Crimean forces.

History buffs hit your books - by the time I was fully "compus mentus" the article had finished but it looked as though it was going to be a cracking reenactment. 

Crimean War reenactment at Balaclava according to 24TV from Ukraine (as translated by Irina).

I guessed that was all it could be but my historical knowledge of my host country can be, at times, rather embarrasingly lacking 

[Carlushika]

Ooops! Irina now reports that it is the International Festival of Living History from Balaclava. My guess is that they are probably reenacting more than just the Crimean War.

http://www.24tv.com.ua/ukraine/2008-08-09/12291.htm

[fishcop444]

I am hopefully going to be in Ukraine next summer. I would love to go to Poltava for the 300th anniversary. I hear that the Swedish king will be there. I wonder if Putin will go? Anyhow, please post any updates as you hear about them. There's not much info out on the English-web.

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