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.