Slaget ved Oravais (1808)

The Battle of Oravais (occasionally Orawais; Finnish: Oravaisten taistelu; Swedish: Slaget vid Oravais) from September 14 until September 15 was one of the decisive battles in the Finnish War, fought from 1808 to 1809 between Sweden and the Russian Empire as part of the wider Napoleonic Wars. Taking place in modern-day Vörå in western Finland, it is sometimes regarded as the turning point of the Finnish War: the last chance for Sweden to turn the war to her advantage. It was the bloodiest battle of the conflict, along with the Battle of Sävar, which some historians attribute to the exhaustion, resignation and desperation of the Swedish army: it was losing the war, and defeat led to its loss of Finland to Russia.

In this battle Nikolay Kamensky, who was in charge of the Russians, displayed outstanding military qualities, showing himself a worthy disciple of Suvorov. Considering the uncertain situation before the battle, he deploys his forces in echelons; but, as soon as the main Swedish force at Oravais is determined, he endeavours to bring everyone onto the battlefield at a crucial moment.

Oravaisten taistelu käytiin 14. syyskuuta 1808 Oravaisissa Pohjanmaalla. Sitä pidetään yleisesti yhtenä Suomen sodan ratkaisutaisteluista. Taistelussa kreivi Nikolai Kamenskin komentamat 7 000 venäläistä voittivat kenraali Carl Johan Adlercreutzin 5 000 suomalaista ja ruotsalaista sotilasta.

Slaget vid Oravais var ett fältslag under finska kriget. Det utkämpades den 14 september 1808 vid byn Oravais i södra Österbotten, mellan en svensk armé på 5 500 man under Carl Johan Adlercreutz och Wilhelm Mauritz Klingspor och en rysk armé på 7 000 man under Nikolaj Kamenskij. Slaget vid Oravais blev en avgörande rysk seger och tvingade den svenska armén att fortsätta sitt återtåg norrut. Förlusterna i döda och sårade uppgick till drygt 2 000 man på den svenska sidan 900 man på den ryska.