Sheremetyev

Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev (Russian: Борис Петрович Шереме´тьев), born 1692, died 1719. He was Field Marshal of Russia during the Great Northern War.

In his youth, Sheremetyev was a page to Tsar Aleksey I of Russia before starting his Military Career. He participated with among others Mazepa in the war against Turkey during the 1690's.

In 1698, Peter the Great sent a delegation to Malta under Boyar Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev, to observe the training and abilities of the Knights of Malta and their fleet. Sheremetyev also investigated the possiblity of future joint ventures with the Knights, including action against the Turks and the possibility of a future Russian naval base.

In 1700 he joined the Russian army in its attack on Narva at the Outbreak of the Great Northern War but was driven back from his position in Estonia by Charles XII of Sweden. He then became commander of the Russian forces fighting the Swedish armies in the Baltic provinces. Sheremetyev was subsequently defeated by W. A. Schlippenbach at Rauge in 1701 but later prevailed at Erastfer (Erastvere). This victory won him the title of Field Marshal. He then took the fortresses of Nöteborg and Nyenskans in 1703 -- allowing the foundation of the city of Saint Petersburg -- and the important Baltic cities Dorpat (now Tartu) and Narva in 1704. In 1705 he was sent to Astrakhan where he forcefully and successfully repressed a rebellion.

Later in the Great Northern War, Sheremetyev clashed with the Swedish general Lewenhaupt, who beat him at Gemäuerthof in 1705, and Charles XII who defeated him at Holowczyn. His revenge came at the Battle of Poltava, where the Swedish army was soundly defeated by the Russians. After Poltava, he fought against Turkey in 1711, suffering an Encirclement at Prut.

Although sympathetic to Peter the Great's strivings to Westernize Russia, he never became close to the Tsar.