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In July 1709, the Swedish army laid siege to Poltava, aiming to draw out Peter's forces. Numbers dwindled as hunger and disease set in, reducing Swedish ranks to a mere shadow of their former glory. Charles himself suffered injuries that sidelined him during crucial moments.
When battle finally commenced, the Swedish forces were quickly overwhelmed, leading to catastrophic losses. Charles and a small remnant fled, hoping to regroup on the banks of the Geneipa River. However, here they found themselves cornered, and the bulk of the army ultimately surrendered.