Finnish War

The Finnish War (1808-1809) was a conflict between Sweden and Russia, sparked by territorial ambitions. Sweden aimed to regain control of Finland, which was under Russian rule. The war resulted in a decisive Russian victory, and as part of the Treaty of Fredrikshamn, Sweden ceded Finland to Russia. This shifted Finland from being part of Sweden to an autonomous Grand Duchy under the Russian Empire, laying the foundation for Finland’s later independence efforts. The war significantly altered the region’s political landscape and impacted national identities within Finland and Sweden.