BATTLE // August 20, 1809

Battle of Ratan

Name: Battle of Ratan
Start: 1809-08-20
End: 1809-08-20
Location: Battle of Ratan

LOADING MAP TELEMETRY…

Significance

The Battle of Ratan was the last engagement fought on Swedish soil during the Finnish War of 1808–1809. It formed the concluding action of a Swedish operation aimed at eliminating the Russian force that had advanced into northern Sweden following Russia's conquest of Finland. The Swedish plan combined a land assault with naval support, but the operation unraveled over two days: Russian forces defeated the Swedish landing at Sävar on 19 August, then on 20 August pushed the Swedish riflemen out of Ratan entirely, forcing an evacuation covered by warship artillery. Swedish casualties reached 2,000 from a force of 5,420. The battle's immediate consequence was the opening of peace negotiations, marking the effective end of hostilities and confirming Russia's retention of Finland — the central territorial outcome of the war.

Tactics

The Swedish operation relied on a combined arms approach, using troops landed from the sea supported by a naval flotilla. After the Swedish riflemen were attacked and pushed out of Ratan, they fell back to the flotilla and began evacuating. Swedish warships then provided covering artillery fire to hold the Russian force at bay and protect the withdrawal.