Cossacks- European Wars Online

Perhaps no conflict better illustrates the duality of the relationship than the Great Northern War. Sweden’s Charles XII, the "Lion of the North," was undefeatable in line-to-line combat. But in the frozen Ukrainian steppes, he met the Cossacks.

To write the history of is to write the history of Europe’s military evolution. They began as renegades fighting for survival against Poland. They matured as the Tsar’s most feared irregulars against Sweden and Prussia. They peaked as the legendary "Scourge of Napoleon" who camped on the Seine. Cossacks- European Wars

The Cossack model—lightly armed, highly mobile, self-sufficient warriors breaking the enemy’s will rather than his line—predicted the special forces doctrines of the 20th century. Perhaps no conflict better illustrates the duality of

However, Peter the Great responded with brutal efficiency. While the Swedish army froze to death waiting for reinforcements, Peter unleashed his loyal Don and Kalmyk Cossacks to scorch the earth. Every village was burned; every well was poisoned. The Cossack strategy of "deep raid" was turned against them. At the , the betrayal was complete. The Swedish-Cossack army was annihilated. The aftermath was a turning point: The Tsar abolished the Zaporozhian Sich (their capital) and forcibly integrated Cossack regiments into the Imperial Russian Army . The wild steppe warriors were now imperial shock troops. To write the history of is to write