Charles XII's policies lead to the repudiation of absolute monarchy in Sweden and to the ushering in of a half-century of parliamentary supremacy, referred to as the Age of Freedom.

One major characteristic of this era is the strife between the two major political parties, the Hats, representing the upper classes, and the Caps, representing the lower classes.

These political parties, however, prove no more competent in the realm of foreign affairs than the kings.

In 1741 the Hats lead Sweden into a war with Russia in order to try to undo the result of the Peace of Uusikaupunki.

Russian forces thereupon invade Finland and begin, virtually without a fight, a short-lived occupation known as the Lesser Wrath.

In accordance with the Peace of Turku signed in 1743, Russia once again evacuates Finland, but takes another slice of Finnish territory along the southeastern frontier.

Northeast Europe (1732–1743 CE): Renewed Conflict, Territorial Shifts, and Cultural Consolidation

Between 1732 and 1743 CE, Northeast Europe entered a period marked by renewed military conflicts, strategic territorial shifts, and sustained cultural and economic consolidation. This era was defined prominently by the outbreak of the War of the Polish Succession, renewed Swedish–Russian tensions culminating in the Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743), ongoing Danish–Norwegian diplomatic prudence, and continued Prussian internal reforms.

War of the Polish Succession and Regional Dynamics

The War of the Polish Succession (1733–1738), triggered by disputes following the death of King Augustus II the Strong, involved key Northeast European powers. Though primarily fought in Central Europe, the conflict significantly impacted regional stability, especially influencing diplomatic alignments among Russia, Prussia, and the weakened Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Russian intervention secured the Polish throne for Augustus III, reaffirming Russian influence over Polish affairs and further diminishing the Commonwealth's autonomy.

Russo–Swedish War and Territorial Losses for Sweden

Tensions between Sweden and Russia resurfaced dramatically in the early 1740s. Encouraged by French diplomatic support, Sweden sought to reverse territorial losses suffered during the Great Northern War. The resulting Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743) ended in a clear Russian victory. The subsequent Treaty of Åbo (Turku) in 1743 forced Sweden to cede additional territory in southeastern Finland—including strategically vital fortress towns such as Lappeenranta (Villmanstrand)—to Russia. This territorial adjustment further consolidated Russian Baltic influence and substantially weakened Sweden’s geopolitical position.

Danish–Norwegian Diplomatic Stability and Economic Consolidation

Under Christian VI (r. 1730–1746), Denmark–Norway continued prudent diplomatic neutrality, largely avoiding direct entanglement in regional conflicts. Internal economic and administrative reforms enhanced stability and prosperity, with significant investments in infrastructure, education, and urban development in Copenhagen and other major cities. Danish naval power was carefully maintained, safeguarding strategic maritime trade routes.

Prussian Military and Administrative Strengthening

King Frederick William I of Prussia continued substantial internal military, administrative, and economic reforms until his death in 1740. His successor, Frederick II (Frederick the Great), accelerated these reforms, significantly enhancing Prussia’s military efficiency, centralized governance, and economic development. Under Frederick II, Prussia began asserting itself more prominently in European diplomacy, cautiously navigating regional power shifts and cultivating alliances.

Economic Resilience and Urban Prosperity

Despite regional conflicts, major urban centers—including Stockholm, Copenhagen, Königsberg, and newly flourishing Saint Petersburg—continued experiencing sustained economic resilience. Maritime trade, strengthened merchant networks, and stable urban governance facilitated ongoing regional prosperity, significantly offsetting disruptions caused by intermittent military conflicts.

Finland’s Territorial Realignment and Economic Adjustments

Finland faced significant territorial realignment and disruption resulting from the Russo-Swedish War. The loss of critical southeastern territories to Russia reshaped Finland's geopolitical role within the Swedish kingdom, compelling extensive internal economic and administrative adjustments. Nevertheless, Finland retained internal stability and economic productivity, mitigating broader impacts of territorial losses.

Cultural Flourishing and Educational Expansion

Cultural and intellectual growth continued robustly across Northeast Europe, particularly in Sweden, Denmark, and Prussia. Universities and academies benefited from heightened royal patronage and private investment, significantly advancing scholarly activities in science, literature, and philosophy. These institutions enhanced Northeast Europe's broader intellectual prominence and cultural identity despite regional turbulence.

Complex Diplomatic Realignments

Regional diplomacy during this period grew increasingly intricate. Sweden’s failed attempt to regain territory highlighted the diplomatic strength of Russia and shifted regional balance. Prussia’s emergence under Frederick II, Denmark–Norway’s careful neutrality, and continued Russian assertiveness underscored increasingly sophisticated diplomatic maneuvering aimed at maintaining regional stability and strategic advantage.

Legacy of the Era

The era from 1732 to 1743 CE significantly reshaped Northeast Europe’s geopolitical and cultural landscape through renewed warfare, territorial realignments, and sustained cultural and economic growth. The territorial adjustments stemming from the Russo-Swedish War reinforced Russia’s dominant regional position, accelerated Sweden’s geopolitical decline, solidified Prussia’s internal strength, and preserved Denmark–Norway’s diplomatic stability. These developments critically influenced regional boundaries, diplomatic relations, and cultural trajectories into subsequent decades.

One major characteristic of this era in the Eastern Baltic is the strife between the two major political parties, the Hats, representing the upper classes, and the Caps, representing the lower classes.

These political parties, however, prove no more competent in the realm of foreign affairs than the kings.

In 1741 the Hats lead Sweden into a war with Russia in order to try to undo the result of the Peace of Uusikaupunki.

Russian forces thereupon invade Finland and begin, virtually without a fight, a short-lived occupation known as the Lesser Wrath.

In accordance with the Peace of Turku signed in 1743, Russia once again evacuates Finland, but takes another slice of Finnish territory along the southeastern frontier.

The Russo–Swedish War of 1741–1743, known as the Hats' Russian War in Sweden and the Hats' War in Finland, which results in the Lesser Wrath, or the occupation of Finland, is instigated by the Hats, a Swedish political party that aspires to regain the territories lost to Russia during the Great Northern War, and by French diplomacy, which seeks to divert Russia's attention from supporting its long-standing ally, the Habsburg monarchy, in the War of the Austrian Succession.

While eight thousand Swedish and Finnish troops are being deployed at the Russian border, near Lappeenranta (Swedish: Villmanstrand) and Hamina (Swedish: Frederikshamn), Sweden declares war on August 8.

The objective of these maneuvers is to threaten Saint Petersburg and to set the stage for a coup d'état, engineered by French and Swedish diplomats and aimed at toppling the pro-Austrian regime of Anna Leopoldovna.

Henrik Magnus von Buddenbrock, born on July 22, 1685, in Swedish Livonia, was the son of the landed gentleman and Swedish Empire army officer Henrik Gotthard von Buddenbrock (1648-1727) and Charlotta Cronman.

He had enlisted as an officer of the Swedish army, becoming a captain of the Livgardet in 1711, Major of grenadiers in 1715, and Major General in 1721.

He had been elevated to friherre (matricle number 206) in 1731 and promoted to Lieutenant General of the infantry in 1739.

As such, he is in 1741 commander of the troops in Finland, under General Charles Emil Lewenhaupt, at the onset of the Russo-Swedish War.

Major General Carl Henrik Wrangel, who leads one of the two divisions of the Swedish Army in Finland, with a strength of four thousand men, is ordered by Buddenbrock to lead his force into battle against General Peter Lacy's numerically superior Russian force in order to defend Villmanstrand, at the long disputed frontier between Sweden and Russia.

Anna Leopoldovna presides over a brilliant victory by Russian forces at the Battle of Villmanstrand in Finland after Sweden had declared war against her Government.

She has an influential favorite, Julia Mengden, daughter of the Livonian baron Magnus Gustav von Mengden.

Having participated in the coup that placed Anna Leopoldovna in power in 1740, Juila had been named the official nurse of Ivan VI of Russia.

The battle of Villmanstrand is fought in Karelia during the Russo-Swedish War on August 23, 1741 (September 3, NS), when twenty thousand Russian forces, under the command of General Peter von Lacy, advance from Vyborg (Swedish: Viborg, Finnish: Viipuri) to assault Villmanstrand (Finnish: Lappeenranta).

Fighting begins around two PM, but the Swedes withdraw at five PM before Swedish baron and Lieutenant General Henrik Magnus von Buddenbrock, less than ten kilometers away, can come to the assistance of General Wrangel.

Swedish casualties amount to two thousand men killed or wounded and  one thousand captured, among them Wrangel, who had lost his right arm during the battle.

Russia loses twenty-four hundred men.

The threat to the Russian capital thus relieved, Lacy does not continue his movement after the battle.

Elizabeth, the second-oldest surviving daughter of Peter I of Russia and Catherine I of Russia, was born at Kolomenskoye, near Moscow, on December 18, 1709 (O.S.).

Her parents had been secretly married in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in St. Petersburg in November 1707.

The marriage had been made public in February 1712.

As her parents were not publicly acknowledged as being married at the time of her birth, Elizabeth's 'illegitimacy' will be used by political opponents to challenge her right to the throne.

She had on March 6, 1711, been proclaimed a Tsarevna, and on December 23, 1721, a Tsesarevna.

Of the twelve children of Peter and Catherine (five sons and seven daughters), only two daughters, Anna and Elizabeth, have survived.

Anna had been betrothed to the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, nephew of the late King Charles XII of Sweden, Peter's old adversary.

Her father had tried to also find a brilliant match for Elizabeth with the French Royal court when he paid a visit there.

It had been Peter's intention to marry his second daughter to the young French King Louis XV, but the Bourbons had declined the offer as Elizabeth`s mother’s origin was deemed too obscure.

Elizabeth had then been betrothed to Prince Karl Augustus of Holstein-Gottorp, son of Christian Augustus, Prince of Eutin.

Politically, it was a useful and respectable alliance, but Karl Augustus had died a few days after the betrothal.

At the time of Peter's death in 1725, no marriage plan had succeeded.

As a child, Elizabeth was bright, if not brilliant, but her formal education was both imperfect and desultory.

Her father adored her.

Elizabeth was his daughter and in many ways resembled him as a feminine replica, both physically and temperamentally.

Peter had no leisure to devote to her training, and her mother was too down-to-earth and illiterate to superintend her formal studies.

She had a French governess, and was fluent in Italian, German and French.

She was also an excellent dancer and rider.

From her earliest years, she delighted everyone with her extraordinary beauty and vivacity.

She is commonly known as the leading beauty of the Russian Empire.

So long as Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov had remained in power, Elizabeth had been treated with liberality and distinction by the government of her adolescent half-nephew Peter II.

The Dolgorukovs, an ancient boyar family, had deeply resented Menshikov.

With Peter II's attachment to Prince Ivan Dolgorukov, and with two of their family members on the Supreme State Council, they had the leverage for a successful coup.

Menshikov had been arrested, stripped of all his honors and properties and exiled to northern Siberia, where he later died in November 1729.

The Dolgorukovs hate the memory of Peter the Great, and have practically banished Peter's daughter from Court.

With the death of her father and the later accession of the Empress Anna, no royal court or noble house in Europe can allow a son to pay court to Elizabeth, as it would be seen as an unfriendly act to the Empress.

Marriage to a commoner is not possible as it would cost Elizabeth not only her title, but also her property rights and her claim to the throne.

Elizabeth's response had been to make a lover of Alexis Shubin, a handsome sergeant in the Semyonovsky Guards regiment.

After his banishment to Siberia (having previously been relieved of his tongue) by order of the Empress Anna, she had turned to a coachman and even a waiter.

Eventually, she consoles herself with a young Ukrainian peasant with a good bass voice who had been brought to Saint Petersburg by a nobleman for a church choir.

His name is Alexis Razumovsky, and Elizabeth has acquired him for her own choir.

A good and simple-minded man, untroubled by personal ambition, Elizabeth is devoted to him, and there is reason to believe that she could have married him in a secret ceremony in a rural church of Perovo (now a part of Moscow) in the autumn 1742, earning him the nickname of "the Emperor of the Night."

Elizabeth had been gathering support in the background during the reign of her cousin Anna; but after the death of Empress Anna, the regency of Anna Leopoldovna with infant Ivan VI has been marked by high taxes and economic problems.

Such a course of events compels the indolent, but by no means incapable, beauty to overthrow the weak and corrupt government.

Elizabeth, being the daughter of Peter the Great, enjoys much support from the Russian guards regiments, often visiting the regiments, marking special events with the officers and acting as godmother to their children.

The guards repay her kindness when on the night of November 25, 1741 OS (December 6 NS), Elizabeth seizes power with the help of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.

Arriving at the regimental headquarters dressed in a metal breastplate over her dress and grasping a silver cross she states, "Who do you want to serve? Me, the natural sovereign, or those who have stolen my inheritance?"

After winning the regiment over, ...

...the troops march to the Winter Palace where they arrest the infant Emperor, his parents and their own lieutenant-colonel, Count von Munnich.

It is a daring coup and passes without bloodshed.

This coup has the support of the ambassadors of France and Sweden, possibly with financial inducements to members of the Guard's regiments who want o change the pro-British and pro-Austrian policies of Anna Leopoldovna's Government.

Elizabeth has vowed that if she becomes Empress that she will not sign a single death sentence, an unusual promise that she—notably—will keep to throughout her life.

However, the new Tsarina reneges on her promises to return the Baltic provinces to Sweden and continues the vigorous prosecution of the war, under the guidance of her pro-Austrian chancellor, Aleksey Bestuzhev.