Marshal Torkel, as Torkel Knutsson has come to be known, leads the so-called third Swedish crusade against Novgorod following an attack on Tavastland in by the Republic of Novgorod in 1292, and in 1293 conquers parts of Karelia, where he founds the stronghold of Vyborg.

A Swedish attempt to assault Vyborg in 1790 fails, and the Swedish Navy, along with King Gustav himself, is caught in the Bay of Viborg.

It manages to escape during the "Viborg gauntlet" on July 3, though with heavy losses to the deep-sea navy.