Poltava has a long history. It is one of Ukraine's oldest cities, was the site of a Slavic settlement in the 8th and 9th century, and was captured by Lithuania in 1430. In the 17th century it was ruled by Bohdan Chmielnitski, and was the chief base of a Ukrainian Cossack regiment.

In the 18th and 19th century Poltava was a flourishing commercial center, also a major center for the Ukrainian literary and nationalism movement; and, when Czar Nicholas I ruled Russia, it was a place to which dissidents were exiled.

In the summer of 1709, a major battle of the Northern War between Russia and Sweden took place in Poltava. And certain experts perceive this war as permanently ending Sweden's role as a major power in Europe.

The battle began at 3:45 am on June 28, with the Swedes advancing against the fortified Russian lines. In the early stages the Swedes pressed on the Russian's left flank and center, and made progress: they overran a few Russian defensive redoubts (a position with a defensive barrier).

Peter the Great, the Russian leader, had many more infantry than the number present in the Swedish army. And when General Lewenhaupt of Sweden attacked the Russian infantry in front of the Russian command headquarters, the Swedish forces soon faltered. Poor communications between the various sections of the Swedish forces also contributed to their succumbing to the Russians.

An additional problem occurred with General Roos of Sweden, who got trapped in one of the Russian redoubts with 2,600 men. After receiving over 1,000 casualties and running low on ammunition, he surrendered to the Russians who numbered about 4,000.

In another area of the battlefield, Menskikov, a Russian cavalry general attacked the Swedish right flank. This left the Swedish infantry in the center isolated and they were soon overwhelmed by the Russian infantry lead by Peter the Great himself. As Peter was defeating the Swedish infantry, General Bauer lead a Russian cavalry attack on the Swedish left flank and rear, and within fifteen minutes of the commencement of the attack the general and his cavalry had broken through the Swedish lines.

By 11.00 am, King Charles XII of Sweden, who had been wounded before the battle by a sniper shot and was lying on a stretcher, realized the battle was lost and ordered a retreat.

The Russians forces took many prisoners, and used the majority to assist in the building of Peter's new capital, Saint Petersburg.

When you visit Poltava, you can see where the battle occurred and see a monument erected in honor of the victory.