During the Battle of Poltava, an important turning point in the Great Northern War, the Swedish army under the command of King Karl XII faced a crushing defeat. On 8 July 1709, after a gruelling battle against the Russian forces led by Tsar Peter the Great, the Swedish army was left surrounded. With their supplies depleted and their morale shattered, the Swedish soldiers were forced to surrender. This marked a significant blow to Swedish dominance in the region and ultimately led to their decline as a major power. Many officers were taken prisoner in Perevolochna and exiled to Siberia, with only a few – including Karl XII – managing to escape. Over the next several years, many Swedish prisoners of war were employed in construction in Russia, especially of the Kremlin built of stone.