Surrender Of The Tower Of Prasto, Bomarsund

Description

Bomarsund Fortress is located in the Aland Islands, which today belong to Finland. It was built by the Russian Empire in the 1830s to defend the entrance to the Baltic Sea. During the Crimean War, it became one of the targets of the British-French navy on the Baltic Front. On August 8, 1854, the British-French joint fleet landed and besieged the fortress. Although the fortress was not fully completed, it tried to show strong resistance with its thick walls. It was seriously damaged by artillery bombardment on August 15-16. The fortress surrendered on August 16, 1854. The Russian garrison was taken prisoner. The fortress was then demolished and never used for military purposes again. The structure in the engraving is the main stone fortress of Bomarsund. This engraving also depicts the Russian Officer Commanding the Bomarsund Fortress handing over his sword to the officers of the Allied forces on August 16, 1854. An officer's sword is a symbol of his rank, honor and command. In martial arts tradition, a commander who surrenders hands over his sword to the enemy, signifying the transfer of authority.