Treaty of Nöteborg

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Treaty of Nöteborg (1323) — Simple Overview

- What and when: The Treaty of Nöteborg, also called the Treaty of Oreshek or Pähkinäsaari, was a peace agreement signed on 12 August 1323 at Oreshek Fortress between the Novgorod Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden. It was the first formal border agreement between them for the Karelian Isthmus and parts of present-day Finland.

- Why it mattered: The treaty established a defined border between Sweden and Novgorod that largely held for more than two centuries, until the Treaty of Teusina in 1595.

- Where and who: The signing took place at Oreshek Fortress (also called Nöteborg in Swedish and Orekhov in Russian). The Swedish side was represented by Magnus Eriksson’s envoys, and the Novgorodian side included Varfolomey Yuryevich, Avram, and Yury of Moscow, among others. Two Gotland merchants represented the Hanseatic League on Sweden’s side.

- The border details: The border was described by 18 points. The southern portion near Viborg was the clearest, defined with 12 points. It ran from just south of Viborg Castle, along the Sestra and Volchya rivers to Vuoksi, then northwest to the final clear point at Särkilahti on Lake Saimaa. The northern part of the border was more vague, and the different surviving copies of the treaty describe it in slightly different ways.

- What Sweden gained: Sweden received three parishes—Savilahti (now part of Mikkeli), Jääski, and Äyräpää.

- The northern boundary and debates: The exact line in the north has been a matter of debate among historians for many years. Later researchers questioned and revised earlier ideas about its precise course.

- Aftermath and conflicts: Although the treaty aimed for lasting peace, clashes and border pressure continued as Swedish and Novgorodian (later Russian) influence expanded north and east. Forts such as Uleåborg (Oulu) and Olofsborg were built north of the line in the following decades. Karelians lived under Novgorodian influence, while Swedish activity increased in frontier areas. A later renewal in 1339 included harsh clauses about Karelians escaping custody. The border remained essentially unchanged until 1595.

- Original texts: The treaty’s original documents do not survive, but copies exist in Russian, Swedish, and Latin. The name “Nöteborgsfreden” comes from Swedish usage, while the Russian term is Orekhovsky mir, and the Finnish name is Pähkinäsaari.