Annika Svahn

Annika Svahn (

.

Annika Svahn was the daughter of the vicar in

in 1714. The same year, she was given the task to act as a messenger for the Russians. She planned to desert, but was captured by the Swedish army on her way. She made her confession for the Swedish army authorities, who documented it. It is not known what happened to her after this.

According to modern interpretations, Svahn distorted the truth in her testimony. She undoubtedly followed the dragoon regiment to Finland and may have participated in battles, but most likely not as a soldier. A large number of women accompanied the armies of that time, serving as soldiers' wives, laundresses, cooks and prostitutes. She also mentions two dragoon women who gave birth to a child in winter quarters in Mikkeli. The idea of a pregnant dragoon seems impossible. From this, it has been inferred that the names of the military branches could have been embellished expressions for the real roles of forcibly taken women. These names may have been concocted out of fear of judgment within their own community.^[1]

See also

• Lovisa von Burghausen
• Afrosinya

References

• Suomen kansallisbiografia (National Biography of Finland)
• https://web.archive.org/web/20121101153825/http://lappeenranta.fi/Suomeksi/Palvelut/Kirjasto/Etela-Karjala-aineisto/Joutsenolaisia_tarinoita/Annikka_Swahn%2C_tsaarin_rakuuna.iw3

Notes