Jakob Henrik Zidén (31 October 1785 – 27 October 1808) was a Finnish officer, acclaimed for his bravery in the defence of

Kuopio Kuopio (, ) is a Finnish city and municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia. It has a population of , which makes it the most populous municipality in Finland. Along with Joensuu, Kuopio is one of the major urban, economic, and cult ...

in 1808–09. He died near

Iisalmi Iisalmi (; sv, Idensalmi) is a town and municipality in the region of Northern Savonia in Finland. It is located north of Kuopio and south of Kajaani. The municipality has a population of (), which makes it the second largest of the five towns ...

in the

Battle of Koljonvirta The Battle of Koljonvirta ( fi, Koljonvirran taistelu) ( sv, Slaget vid Virta bro) i.e. the Battle of the Virta Bridge was fought between Swedish and Russian troops on October 27, 1808. The Swedish force consisted of troops from Savolax and Öst ...

between the Swedes and Russians in 1808 which was a Swedish victory. Zidén was born in

Marttila Marttila (; sv, S:t Mårtens, i.e. " Saint Martin's") is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southwest Finland region. The municipality has a population of () and covers an area of of ...

; his father, the provost Jakob Zidén, was of West Finnish descent and his mother, Kristina Elisabet Fahlberg, was from a Swedish family. He started his military career in 1797 at the age of 11, as a driver in the Turku provincial regiment. After studying in Turku, he withdrew in 1801, but by 1804 he had re-enlisted and that year was promoted to feldwebel. He distinguished himself in the Finnish War, particularly in the Battle of Haistila on 17 March 1808, and was promoted to ensign in the newly organised Vasa regiment. He was reportedly "not very precise in his duties", but he again distinguished himself with his bravery in the attack on

that June, and was mentioned in dispatches by Löwenhjelm. In the Battle of Koljonvirta on 27 October 1808, he led his platoon in the attack against the Russians but was mortally wounded in the forehead by grapeshot. Zidén was awarded medals of bravery in both silver and gold, and his name was included on the Virta Monument raised in 1885. He is also the subject of a poem, "Löjtnant Zidén", in

Johan Ludvig Runeberg Johan Ludvig Runeberg (; 5 February 1804 – 6 May 1877) was a Finnish priest, lyric and epic poet. He wrote exclusively in Swedish. He is considered a national poet of Finland. He is the author of the lyrics to (''Our Land'', ''Maamme'' in Fin ...

's '' The Tales of Ensign Stål'' (Runeberg promoted him to lieutenant). He was married to Albertina Kreander, who remarried after his death to Johan Ithimaeus, a paymaster.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ziden, Jakob Henrik 1785 births 1808 deaths People from Marttila Finnish military personnel Finnish military personnel of the Finnish War Swedish-speaking Finns