ARCHIPELAGOES - Gulf of Finland - Suomenlinna/Sveaborg

"In 1703 Peter the Great founded his new capital, St. Petersburg, in the furthest-flung corner of the Gulf of Finland. In the approach to it he built the fortified naval base of Kronstadt. Russia had become a maritime power and a force to be reckoned with in the Baltic.

The situation posed a threat to Sweden; Russian naval units made skirmishes right up to the Swedish coast. Other European states were also concerned about developments, especially France, with which Sweden had concluded a military alliance. After lengthy debate the Swedish decided in 1747 to fortify the Russian frontier and to establish a naval base at Helsinki as a counter to Kronstadt. The frontier fortifications were established at Loviisa.

Fortification of Helsinki and its islands began in January 1748, when a young Swedish lieutenant colonel by the name of Augustin Ehrensvärd came to Finland to direct the operations. A number of fortifications were also built on the Russian side of the new border during the 18th century and some of the existing Swedish ones were added to.

Sweden started the building of Suomenlinna in 1748, when Finland was still a part of the Swedish kingdom. Sweden was worried about its eastern frontier and decided to build a central fortification to prevent Russia from expanding. The small town of Helsinki and the Susiluodot islands in front of the town were chosen as the location of the fortress.

The new fortress was called Sveaborg, meaning Sweden's fortress. It was the biggest building project that Sweden had ever undertaken. The building was mainly financed by subsidies granted by France. Augustin Ehrensvärd was also a clever politician, organizer and fortress planner, and he was appointed to supervise the construction work."