The Great Northern War (1700-1721) was a big fight that changed how power was shared in Northern Europe. It also had a huge effect on Sweden, causing them to lose a lot of land. In this war, Sweden faced a group of countries, including Russia, Denmark-Norway, and Poland-Saxony, which changed Sweden's territory forever.

What Land Did Sweden Lose?

1. Ingria:

   • Sweden lost the area called Ingria to Russia during the war. This region included St. Petersburg, an important city that Russia later made its capital. Losing Ingria was a big hit for Sweden, making it harder for them to keep control in the area.

2. Estonia:

   • Sweden also lost Estonia. This was a large piece of land that had been part of Sweden since the early 1600s. Losing Estonia to Russia changed who controlled the Baltic Sea.

3. Latvia:

   • The western part of Latvia, which was once called Livonia, also went to Russia. This made Sweden's power over the eastern Baltic Sea much weaker.

4. Parts of Finland:

   • Later in the war, Sweden lost some lands in Finland, especially in the southeast. These areas were given to Russia in the Treaty of Nystad.

What Land Did Sweden Gain?

Even though Sweden lost a lot of land, there were some regions that they took over at the beginning of the Great Northern War:

1. Part of Norway:

   • At the start, Sweden took over parts of Norway when it was controlled by Denmark-Norway. However, these gains didn’t last long.

2. Strategic Control:

   • Sweden kept control of some important areas in the northern Baltic Sea, but these were much smaller than what they had before.

Consequences

After the Great Northern War, Sweden was much weaker. They used to be a major power in Northern Europe, but now they had lost a lot of land and their influence shrank. The Treaty of Nystad in 1721 officially ended the war and confirmed many of the areas that Sweden had lost.

In short, Sweden lost large parts of its empire, especially in the Baltic region to Russia, while only gaining a little. The Great Northern War was a crucial moment in Swedish history, showing how empires can rise and fall and how the balance of power in Europe can change.