Treaty of Stolbova

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After nearly two months of negotiations, representatives from Sweden and Russia, met at the (now derelict) village of Stolbova, south of Lake Ladoga, February 27, 1617, to sign a peace treaty to end the Ingrian War.

From the outset, Sweden had gone into negotiations with very high ambitions, with the hopes of fulfilling the old dream of making all Russian trade pass through Swedish territory. As a consequence of this ambition, the Swedes originally demanded far-reaching territorial gains into western Russia, including the important northern part of Arkhangelsk. At this point, however, James I of England sent a delegation to mediate, and so did the Dutch, mostly to make sure Arkhangelsk did not fall into Swedish hands, which would have made the extensive trade between Western Europe and Russia far more difficult. Arkhangelsk did not change hands in the resulting treaty, partly because of the Dutch and English efforts, but mostly because Russia finally managed to unite under one tsar, Michael Romanov. As word reached Russia that the Swedish war against Poland might soon be over, the Russians were quick to get negotiations going for real - knowing that they could not afford Sweden's renewal of the war effort on just one front.

In the resulting peace treaty, the tsar and the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus agreed to the following terms:

Sweden gains the provinces of Kexholm and Ingria - including the fortress of Nöteborg, known as "the key to Finland"
Members of the upper classes in these conquered areas are allowed to migrate within 14 days, if they wish to, a right not granted to regular priests and farmers
Russia renounces all claims to Estonia and Livonia
Russia pays Sweden war indemnities of 20,000 roubles
Novgorod and other Swedish territorial gains during the war is to be returned to Russia
Sweden has the right to keep all spoils of war collected before November 20 1616
The Russian city of Gdov remains in Swedish hands until the peace has been confirmed and the borders fully established
Sweden recognizes Michael Romanov as the rightful tsar of Russia, putting an end to further Swedish claims in Russia
Russia is allowed free trade at normal trade tariffs, making sure Sweden could not cripple Russia completely
Russia is allowed to establish merchant houses in Stockholm, Reval and Vyborg in exchange for Sweden to be allowed to establish merchant houses in Novgorod, Pskov and Moscow.

Gustavus Adolphus is known to have said about this treaty, which granted Sweden natural borders to Russia, partly in the form of Lake Ladoga and Lake Peipsi: "jag hoppas att det skall bliva svårt för ryssen att hoppa över den bäcken" - "I hope it will be hard for the Russians to jump across that creek"

England is officially credited of broking this peace, through their mediator John Mericke, though the Dutch efforts were of great importance. The leader of the Dutch delegation, Reinald Brederode, is after the war granted the title Baron and given the barony of Wesenberg in Estonia by Gustavus Adolphus.

Treaty of Stolbova

See also