# Treaty of Fredrikshamn (17 September 1809)

URL: https://allhistories.com/sweden/timeline/1809-treaty-of-fredrikshamn
Location: Hamina, Finland
Themes: Revolution

On 17 September 1809 Sweden and Russia signed the Treaty of Fredrikshamn (Hamina), ending the Finnish War. Sweden ceded all of Finland, the Åland Islands and the part of Västerbotten east of the Torne and Muonio rivers to the Russian Empire. The new Swedish government had little choice after further defeats in 1809, including the battles of Sävar and Ratan in Västerbotten in August, where Russian troops had crossed onto Swedish soil. Tsar Alexander I had already convened the Diet of Porvoo in March 1809, where the Finnish estates swore loyalty to him in return for keeping their laws and Lutheran faith. The treaty ended some 600 years of shared history, removing about a third of Sweden's territory and a quarter of its population. Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy under the tsar. The loss forced Sweden to rethink its foreign policy and turn its ambitions towards Norway.

## Why it matters
Fredrikshamn severed Finland from Sweden and redrew the map of northern Europe.

Ruler at the Time: [Charles XIII](https://allhistories.com/sweden/rulers/charles-xiii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Treaty of Fredrikshamn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Fredrikshamn)
- [Wikipedia — Finnish War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_War)
- [Wikipedia — Grand Duchy of Finland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Finland)
- [Wikipedia — Battle of Sävar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_S%C3%A4var)
- [Wikipedia — Gustavian Era (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavian_era)