Sweden and Russia after the Thirty Years War

Sweden and Russia after the Thirty Years War

Our objectives are • You will know the reasons why Queen Christina gave up her throne of Sweden. • Identify the area in Europe where Sweden and Russia fought over territory. • You will know the reasons behind Charles XII decline in power. • You will appraise the ways in which Peter the Great attempted to modernize Russia.

Remember, Gustavus Adolphus, the Swedish King, led the third phase of the Thirty Years War.

Adoplphus was killed in battle.

During the last phase, the French joined with the Swedish. The War ended with the Treaty of Westphalia, 1648. But what happened to Sweden after this time?

Sweden enjoyed a brief moment of glory on the European Stage

Queen Christina: A protestant Queen turns Catholic—chalk on up for the Counterreformation

First, Gustavus Adophus’ daughter presided over a brilliant court of philosophers, musicians and artists.

Christina caused an uproar in Europe when she converted to Catholicism and gave up her throne and retired to Rome to live.

Charles XII was the great nephew of Christina. He would prove to be an important Swedish King.

The Baltic Area was the prime location of the Great Northern War between Sweden and Russia

He led Sweden to expand in areas claimed by Russia, Denmark, and the emerging Prussian state.

This was done while the super-powers fought in the War of Spanish Succession (1703-1713). Charles took advantage of the pre-occupation of Europe to press for his country’s advantage.

He had a powerful statefunded army.

Sweden’s vast forests and iron ore deposits were harvested to produce this army.

You will now learn the reasons for the decline of Charles XII of Sweden, and the rise of Peter “The Great” of Russia

Charles was wounded in battle, and this greatly diminished his ability to actively lead the army.

The Mouth of the Baltic now was under Russian control. Here, a Russian Tsar would build a magnificent city.

Peter the Great finally defeated Charles in the battle of Poltova, in 1709.

Charles escaped and went and lived among the Muslims in Turkey! He returned to Sweden, and was killed during a border war with Norway. His body was brought home to Stockholm.

The way was clear for Russia and Prussia to dominate the Baltic. . .

Introducing Russia. ..

Yes, students, the time has come to introduce Russia onto the European stage!

European Russia is the area WEST of the Urals—the mountain range that runs north/south through Russia.

Russia has many rivers, including the famous Volga River.

Russia emerged as a country quite late in European history—from about 1650 to 1750 it established its borders and acquired new sea ports.

It was dominated by the Orthodox church and Eastern influence (Constantinople)

Serfdom was omnipresent in Russia

Mongols, from Mongolia, had spread to the east and dominated until 1480.

The small kingdom of Muscovite increased its gains under Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

Ivan, an tyrant, was successful in fighting the Tartars—a vast nomadic group of raiders from the Steppes of Russia

After his wife died, Ivan committed terrible atrocities, including the murder of his own son..

But, he corresponded with Elizabeth I of England, and even considered offering her hand in marriage!

After his death, Russia descended into minor civil wars among nobles for control of the kingdom.

This was known as the “Time of Troubles” •

Finally, in 1613, a national assembly met and elected a 17 year old boy, Michael Romanov, as their Tsar.

The Russian Royal family name would remain the same for the next 300 years. The last Russian Tsar would be brutally murdered by the communists in 1918.

The word Tsar comes from the word Caesar. You pronounce it with a hissing “s” and the beginning: ssss-tar

But chaos continued in Russia. Serfdom was institutionalized. The rural population protested.

Some murdered their lords.

An uprising in 1667 had to be suppressed by the army after several thousands were killed.

The church, weakened, and unable to help, was dominated by the State.

At this time, it became the Russia Orthodox church, with its own Patriarch (pope).

The church instituted a variety of reforms—including translation corrections.

The more traditional and superstitious people resisted these changes and became known as “old believers.”

In Woodburn, Oregon, there are many Russian descendants of these Old Believers who settled in the area in the early 1950’s.

It was during this troubled time that a child was born who would become Peter the Great. 1672-1725

In what ways did Peter the Great attempt to modernize Russia during his reign?

Peter the Great was born in Moscow in 1672. Like Louis XIV, he face revolts from various factions in his childhood, and his uncle was murdered in front of his eyes. Moscow would remain a forbidding, medieval city in his eyes.

His mother and advisors raised him. He grew to be a large man—huge for the time (almost 7 ft.!)

As a young man, he built a boat—and was interested in seamanship.

He was greatly disturbed that Russia had only one port—Archangel! And it was frozen for 8 months of the year.

Peter the Great’s famous trip: in 16971698, Peter went on a journey to Europe incognito!

He worked in the Dutch shipyards

When Peter came back from this first trip to Europe, he faced a revolt from a group of officers in the army, the streltsi. He publicly executed these rebels.

As an autocrat, Peter was not afraid to use ferocious torture or execution. He will eventually have his own son executed for treason.

Upon returning to Russia, Peter began the of building his capital city, St. Petersburg.

Located at the Mouth of the Baltic gulf, it would provide a more accessible port for Russian trade.

Thousands of peasants died creating this beautiful city. Peter imported architects and engineers from Europe.

What famous place did he model the city after? Hint: We’ve studied it already!

St. Petersburg was destined to have three names: During World War I it was called Petrograd, then re-named Leningrad, after the communist leader. But now it is called St. Petersburg again.

Peter was forced to heavily tax his subjects. He copied a lot of the mercantilist policies of Colbert.

Peter dived Russia into 10 territorial areas, with a governor in charge.

He chose the leader of the Church. Between State and Church, Peter was and autocrat, and reigned supreme.

Like the monarchs of Western Europe, Peter was an absolute monarch. But the state he ruled was backward, ignorant and illiterate, expect for the wealthy landed classes.

Peter was willing to ennoble and raise men’s status provided they had talent and merit.

He changed “culture” and society. Men were ordered to cut their beards and dress in Western European clothes.

On a second trip to Russia, Louis XIV had now died, but Peter held up Louis XV, who was but a small child. He laughed and hugged him to the delight of the onlookers at Versailles.

Peter was determined to “push” Russia forward and develop it as a European state.

But millions of peasants were born and died who were affected very little by Peter’s reforms. They were regarded as brutes or children by their masters.

Peter the Great remains a towering figure in European history. It would be his granddaughter in law who would continue to westernize Russia.

We will learn about Catherine the Great shortly. . .

Our objectives were: • You learned the reasons why Queen Christina gave up her throne of Sweden. • You can identify the area in Europe where Sweden and Russia fought over territory. • You know the reasons behind Charles XII decline in power. • You can appraise the ways in which Peter the Great attempted to modernize Russia.