Russia 1645-1741
Key evidence and Analytical Overview
PETER’S FOREIGN POLICY
GAINING ACCESS TO THE BALTIC
Context
• Sweden had a population of 1.5 million, therefore defeating Sweden and gaining access to Baltic easier
Success
• 1702, Russian boat squadrons appeared on Lake Lagoda and drove out Swedish forces, exposing the key strategic fortress of Nöteborg. It fell in
October 1702
• May 1703, Peter’s troops reached the mount of the Neva, and won his outlet to the sea
• Gave Russia all of Livonia, Estonia, Ingria and Karelia as far as Vyborg as part of the Treaty of Nystadt 1721
• Peter’s galleys were able to devastate the Swedish coast, operating too close to the shore for both the Swedish and British ships-of-the-line to
stop them
• Russian naval ships set up, over 200 galleys
Failure
• Tax burden increased signi cantly over the war, from 1.5 million roubles in 1680 to 8.7 million in 1724
• Of the 300 000 people who had been conscripted, one-third of them had either died, been disabled, or deserted
• Battle of Narva 1700 proved to be a massive failure at the start of the Great Northern War
• Scorched earth policy, which led to unrest
Overall
• He did gain access to the Baltic but at a high cost
• Successful as he recovered from Narva
BREAK THROUGH TO THE BLACK SEA
Context
• Turkey had a population of 25 million, therefore defeating Turkey more di cult than defeating Sweden
Success
• Baku was taken in July 1732, and the Russians soon took three of Persia’s provinces on the Caspian coast
• Capture of Azov and the subsequent access to the Azov Sea was a start/showed potential. Due to change in tactics
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, Russia 1645-1741
Failure
• Turkey wouldn't allow for Russia to have access to the Black Sea, as it threatened their interests in the region.
• The Caucasus regions separated the Caspian Sea from the Black Sea, and Russian failings in these regions led to their withdrawal in 1732.
• Frustrated as he couldn’t march through Persia and Afghanistan into India.
• Failure of getting Kerch blocked any further access to the Black Sea.
• 1703, Turks build a new fort along the Straits of Kerch, and not enough resources to take the city.
• Doesn’t prioritise defeating the Ottoman Empire.
• Pruth Campaign, very unlucky. Had to surrender Azov, abandon his Azov Sea eet, and removal of Russian ambassador from Constantinople.
Overall
• Failure has high cost and never gained access to the black sea
COMPLETE EXPANSION EASTWARDS
Context
• Low priority, only begins this in earnest after 1714. Eastwards policy less signi cant than western policy.
Success
• Peter had some successes in the north-east, through the annexation of the Kamchatka Peninsula in 1713.
• Mapping out Alaska. In 1724, he ordered Bering to undertake an expedition to nd if Russia and America were separated by the sea.
Failure
• In 1716, hearing reports of gold in Central Asia, he sent an expedition to the khanates of Khiva and Bukhara. This expedition was massacred due
to the incompetence of its leaders.
• In 1719, he sent an ambassador to negotiate an increase of trade with the Chinese, but his approaches were rebu ed.
Overall
• No as it wasn’t one of his main priorities
PLACING RUSSIA ON THE DIPLOMATIC MAP
Context
• Di cult with Peter due to no formal education or manners
• Moves away from Moscow, All-Drunken Synod, Grand Embassy show that he less formal as a ruler
• Another di culty was religious/cultural separation and there was no tradition of diplomacy
Success
• Married o family to Western nobility
• Niece, Catherine, to the duke of Mecklenburg
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