Poltava - Definition and Overview

Poltava is a city and oblast center in the Poltavs'ka oblast' of eastern Ukraine with some 313,400 inhabitants (2004).

History

The city belonged to Lithuania from the 14th century. Polish administration took over in 1569. In 1667 Poltava became part of the Russian Empire.

In the Battle of Poltava on June 27, 1709 (Old Style), or 8 July (New Style), tsar Peter the Great, commanding 45,000 troops, defeated at Poltava a Swedish army of 29,000 troops led by Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Rehnskiöld (who had received the command of the army after the wounding of the Swedish king Charles XII on June 17). "Like a Swede at Poltava" remains a simile for "totally helpless" in Russian and Ukrainian idiom. The battle marked the end of Sweden as a great power and the rise of Russia as one.

The city played host to the Mir Yeshiva during World War I and until 1921.