No GNW (or “Peter goes South”)

For any Danish or Swedish Far East company, some ports would be pretty interesting. The mostly likely route to the Far East is South Africa-Western Australia-Indonesia-Phulipines-Japan or Falkland-Galapagos-Philippines-Japan.

I would find route number 1 more likely, but it also mean that such company need to avoid competition with the Dutch on Japan. At the same time it make Western Australia a very likely stopover, so you could see such company setting up it own Cape Colony there.

Next it raise the question of dual-owned companies, purely theoretical there’re nothing wrong with the idea as these trading companies were owned through shares. The problem is purely practical like who will cover the losses and take over the infrastructure in case of collapse. Of course one country could be senior owner or each trading port could be owned by individual countries. The company with dual ownership would likely have to fly it own company flag, but that flag would need to indicate that some specific state would destroy you if you messed with it. The company could likely have two flag a variation on both the Danish and Swedish one.

As Denmark has a bigger navy and a stock exchange, I would suggest that Denmark served as senior partner simply for practical reasons. As for Flag I would suggest the use of Danish and Swedish flag with the letters FOK (United East Asian Company) in the left corner of the flag. The Danes would likely insist on a member of the Swedish or Russian royal family as chairman/protector, simply to ensure that people got it was a shared project if they decided to mess with it.

Potential stopovers (Walvis Bay, Western Australia)
Main Trading Ports (Hokkaido, Amur River, Alaska/Pacific North West[1])

[1] it’s relative easy when you’re already in the region to also sail to North America.
 
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For any Danish or Swedish Far East company, some ports would be pretty interesting. The mostly likely route to the Far East is South Africa-Western Australia-Indonesia-Phulipines-Japan or Falkland-Galapagos-Philippines-Japan.
At least when it comes to the Swedish EIC in OTL, some of these stops are unnecessary.

This is the site I read about their routes. It uses a number of ship journals and other such sources to learn the navigational routes the Swedes took. After rounding South Africa, generally not actually stopping there, they went right across the Indian Ocean to reach Java, Indonesia. They'd pass through the Sunda Strait, and then sail straight to Canton. That was the Sunda route, which the majority of their ships used. West Australia is a large diversion, and the Philippines could draw the ire of Spain. Cadiz was their primary method of getting silver to trade with in China. The Surat route was only used by six ships. The Swedes didn't have the foothold, and the Dutch, English, and French were far more hostile to them there.
 
Peter goes West
75. Peter goes West
“Travel is the only thing that makes you richer for the money spent”
Unknown author

My opinion about travel is brief: when traveling, do not go too far, otherwise you will see something that will be impossible to forget later”
Daniel Harms

Even in summer, going on a trip, take something warm with you, because can you know what will happen in the atmosphere?”
Kozma Prutkov

I'm leaving here abroad to calm down from the kaleidoscopic diversity of Russian life and I think I'm not the only specimen of my kind”
Leskov
1720 [1] With the domestic affairs being settled, the border negotiations with China going on and the Baltic System being functional, Peter decided to go on an extensive trip abroad. The official goal was to visit Spa [2] in a hope that its famous waters will help with his heath problems [3].
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A planned route was St. Petersburg - Riga - Danzig - Mecklenburg - Bad Pyrmont (famous spa [4]) -

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- Netherlands - France - Spa - Netherlands (Amsterdam) - Berlin - Danzig - Riga - St. Petersburg.

In Danzig he was greeted by The Favorite Pet. “King Augustus gave his contemporaries the impression of a vassal who is pleasing his sovereign rather than the owner of the house, who hosted the guest of honor. Seeing how arrogant Peter treated King Augustus in Danzig, contemporaries in Western Europe were horrified.” [5]

Probably not all of them had been too “horrified” because August’s position after the LNW was not a secret and it did not noticeably improved after the Big Foolish War. However, neither the Brits nor the Dutch had been happy with the fact that they are not anymore in a position to dictate the prices in Baltic trade. George I of Britain still kept the interests of Hanover as his top priority and, besides being angry at not expanding his territories at the Swedish expense and losing Saxe Launenburg to Prussia, was afraid that Prussia and/or Denmark may want to get more and had been worried about continued Russian military presence in Mecklenburg (two infantry regiments had been left there to guarantee that the Duke will be able to raise his own army) out of fear that Peter may want to annex Mecklenburg to Russia. To prevent this from happening, George I appealed to Emperor Charles VI to demand that he, as head of the German Empire, think about the means to save Northern Germany from the Russian preponderance.

A number of brochures had been published in Britain, the most important place between these works of journalism was occupied by the brochure "The Crisis of the North, or Impartial Discussion on the Tsar’s Policy". [6] The content of this pamphlet is as follows: after the general description of Peter, his abilities, his "purely political spirit" it refers to his ambition, his passion for the accumulation of wealth and expansion of power, his journey through Europe in 1697 and 1698, and especially his stay in England, aimed at giving Russia the opportunity to build a fleet. Quite harsh terms talk about Peter's cunning in his treatment of allies whom he forced to waste energy and money in order to make it more convenient to take advantage of the exhaustion of these states for his own ambitious plans. Thus, the author continues, Russia will become England's rival in the near future, capturing all trade in northern Europe, as well as trade with Persia and Turkey, which, with the successful development of industry in Russia, becomes even more likely and feasible. Peter is characterized as an intriguer, ready to sacrifice the benefit of his allies every minute. From all this, according to the author, it follows that the king has become extremely dangerous for the whole of Europe, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to beware of him, counteract him and, by the way, prevent Charles XII from further cooperation with Peter; otherwise, all Christianity will not cease to worry. In a word, it came to a crisis.

Actually, Peter was somewhat flattered by such an assessment of his achievements. In his letter to Alexey he wrote “By military affairs, we came out from darkness to light, and whom nobody in the word knew, now they are honored.” [7]

In Bad Pyrmont, where he stayed for few days, Peter had been visited by some diplomats but nothing pf importance did happen. From here he went to Havelberg where he met with FWI who recently cancelled meeting with King George (or rathe Elector Georg Ludwig of Hanover 😉) and confirmed his loyalty to the Baltic System. Peter wrote about this meeting: “I announce here that our arrival here is not in vain, but with some benefit”. Conversation was about rapprochement with France on the basis of Utrecht and Baden treaties.

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From here Peter arrived to Amsterdam and arrived there on December 6 1720. Peter stayed in the Netherlands for several months. During this time, he has been busy with as much foreign policy issues as the acquisition of versatile information in the field of economy, science and arts. On his first visit, he appeared in Holland as an inexperienced sovereign of the little-known Moscow kingdom alien to Europe, but now he could be considered a representative of a great power, a famous commander, an influential member of the Union of States. Since Peter's first stay in Holland, diplomatic relations between Russia and the Netherlands have become more lively. Since then, Russian diplomats in Amsterdam and The Hague, Matveev and Kurakin, have played a rather important role. Russia was increasingly involved in pan-European affairs, and the main city in the Netherlands, The Hague, was at this time that it became the center of diplomatic affairs in Europe. The states-general did not like Russia's growing power. There were different, albeit not particularly important diplomatic clashes between the tsar and Holland on the eve of Peter's arrival in Amsterdam. Holland feared that the Russians would interfere with the freedom of trade in the Baltic Sea, complained about the oppression of Dutch merchants in Russia [8], etc.

While in the Netherlands, Peter fell ill, which served as an official excuse for cancelling his meeting with George I. The meeting did not take place, partly on the occasion of the Peter’s illness, but especially, it seems, due to some discord between Russia and England. The reason for this discord was the question of Russian troops in Northern Germany. While these troops remained in Mecklenburg, the English king considered the situation of Hanoverian possessions dangerous. Therefore, he tried to force Peter to withdraw his troops from Northern Germany. Negotiations on this took place during Peter's illness in the Hague, mostly by Shafirov. However, Peter did not pay attention to the requests and ideas of the English king, emperor, German Sejm and responded to everyone in general terms.

Peter left Holland at the end of March. About his relations to the republic, Preis' reports say, among other things: "It is believed that the Tsar will no longer return here, a circumstance that is interpreted by everyone as a sign of displeasure with the states. There is no doubt that his current stay differed from the previous one by less caution and did not represent much pleasure. In general, here they began to speak about the Tsar with much less respect."

Peter's stay in the Austrian Netherlands, where a solemn reception was given to the king everywhere, was not of particular political significance. Going through Bruges and Ostend to France, Peter, having entered French soil, was in considerable danger. His curiosity to see everything, this dominant passion of Peter, in the words of the Austrian governor Marquis de Prieux, almost cost him his life. Taking advantage of the low tide, he wanted to go around the Dunkirchens bank and went to it in a carriage. Suddenly a strong wind rose; the tide began with extraordinary speed, and the water covered the road on which the Tsar was; he barely had enough time to untie one of the horses and ride away from the danger that threatened him. In France, measures were taken to meet the king everywhere with the honor, although they expressed a desire to travel incognito. However, he did not stay anywhere on his way to Paris for a long time. France does not seem to have made a favorable impression on him. After visiting the richest countries in Europe at that time, the Dutch and Austrian Netherlands, he was struck by the poverty of the population in France. Small wonder after ruinous reign of Louis XIV with its WoSS and the War of Quadruple Alliance, which just ended.

In Paris, two accommodations were prepared for the Tsar: in the Louvre and in the house of Lesdiguieres, owned by Marshal Villeroy. Peter preferred to fit in Lesdiguieres’s house. The day after Peter's arrival, he had a visit to the Duke of Orléans, and the Tsar behaved somewhat proudly. The Duke of Orléans, after a conversation in which Prince Kurakin, who served as an interpreter, praised the Tsar’s mind.
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Two days later, the king himself, ten-year-old Louis XV, visited the Tsar and in this case very deftly said his memorized speech. The Tsar seemed delighted, kissed the king and took him several times in his arms. When the next day, April 30, Peter went on a visit to the Tuilerian palace, the young king met Peter with ministers and marshals on the lower porch. Peter took it in his arms and, carrying it up the stairs, as they said later, said: "I carry all France in my hands.”
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Peter took a very careful look at the sights of the city of Paris. He was at the observatory, at the anatomical institute, at the tapestry factory, in the art gallery, in the library. Then he looked at the workshop where the statues were made, walked in the Tuilerian garden, watched the structure of the bridge, was in the opera, in the "Hotel des invalides", in various castles, for example, in Meudhon, in S. Cleu, in Issy, Luxembourg Palace, in Versailles, Trianon, Marley, Fontainebleau, Saint-Germain, etc. In Saint-Cira, he inspected the famous women's school established by Ms. Mentenon, and without ceremony went to the room where Ms. Mentenon, wanting to avoid meeting the Tsar, went to bed. Approaching the bed, he, without saying a word or bowing to her, looked at her and then calmly left the room again.

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Peter was also at the Sorbonne, where they talked to him about connecting the eastern and western churches, and, however, he behaved cautiously and restrainedly. Then he inspected the royal printing house, was in the board founded by Cardinal Mazarin, was present at the exercitions of the French Guard, at a meeting of parliament, was at the Academy of Sciences, etc. Peter became a member of the Academy of Sciences. In France, his geographical knowledge was especially appreciated. The map of the Caspian Sea, which he showed to the scientist Delil in Paris, completely changed the concepts that existed in the West regarding the shape of this sea. Leaving France, as they say, Peter noted: "I regret the king and France: it will die of luxury".

Contemporaries claim that the French government was not very pleased with the arrival of the king, especially because France was in very close relations to England at that time.

In France, there were people who knew how to appreciate the importance of an alliance with Russia. The Duke of Saint-Simon wrote then in his memoirs: "Nothing else could favor our trade and our weight in the north, in Germany and throughout Europe. In the hands of this monarch was the trade of England (sic), and King George was very afraid of him because of his German possessions. Holland, as well as the Roman emperor, he was able to inspire respect for himself; in short, it is undeniable that he was a very important person in Europe and Asia and that France would benefit a lot from a close alliance with him. He did not like the emperor and wanted little by little to save us from the influence of England, and it is this last country that we owe the fact that in the most indecent way rejected his proposals made to us long after his departure. I have repeatedly insisted in this case with the regent; I presented him with the most sensible and irrefutable arguments in vain... Since then, we have repeatedly had to repent of following the harmful suggestions of England and the insane disregard for the conditions offered to us by Russia.”

Leaving France, Peter authorized Baron Shafirov, Tolstoy and Kurakin to enter into an alliance with France. The treaty was signed only on August 4, in Amsterdam, where Peter was at the time. By virtue of this treaty, the king and kings, French and Prussia, pledged to maintain peace restored by treatises of Utrecht and Baden as well as by the Treaty of Lubeck. The immediate consequence of the conclusion of this treaty was the departure to Russia of French Ambassador Campredon and French consul Villardo.

On June 9, Peter left Paris. On the same day, Danjo noticed in his diary that the king, leaving, promised the Duke of Orleans to withdraw his troops from Mecklenburg and that the English king had asked the regent to exert some pressure on the Tsar in this sense.

Anyway, during Peter's stay in Spa, where he was treated for four days he ordered to remove the Russian troops from Mecklenburg (the Duke, who already created his army of two infantry and two dragoon regiments, also asked him to do this). Peter’s visit to Spa greatly added to the town’s reputation with a resulting greater influx of the visitors.

On the way back Peter stopped, again, in Amsterdam where there were numerous festivities and diplomatic meeting but very little of a substance: no trade treaty had been concluded. From here Peter went for few days to Berlin and then returned to Russia.

On a whole, diplomatic part of the trip was not too successful except for a purely “presentation” part: unlike his first visit, Peter travelled as a head of a powerful state and behaved accordingly.

On a positive side, during Peter’s absence the empire kept functioning without any noticeable problems.



___________
[1] In OTL in 1716-17. The official goal was the same but diplomatic component quite different (GNW was going on).
[2] As in “town in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium known for its mineral-rich thermal waters”.
[3] There are various opinions regarding a nature of his “problems” but it seems that among the contemporaries version regarding “social diseases” was quite popular. Official version was “pneumonia” (yeah, like “hemorrhoid colic” or “stroke” ) but a modern conclusion was “The cause of death at the age of 53 was inflammation of an ulcer in the urethra. The consequence of this disease, which caused so much suffering to the Tsar, was chronic gonorrhea. Even not being a medic, I have certain doubts that pneumonia could cause the known symptoms?
[4] This time in lower case.
[5] Brikner “History of Peter the Great”. A big part of this chapter is shamelessly stolen from this work. With the necessary adjustment to fit IITL. 🤭
[6] Both the title and contents of this brochure are …er… “abridged” to fit this TL. 😉
[7] Real Peter’s letter to Alexey in 1716.
[8] By 1700 the Dutch merchants had pretty much a free hand in their operations in Russia and, of course, did not have any reason to be happy with the Baltic System and its trade policies.
 
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At least when it comes to the Swedish EIC in OTL, some of these stops are unnecessary.

This is the site I read about their routes. It uses a number of ship journals and other such sources to learn the navigational routes the Swedes took. After rounding South Africa, generally not actually stopping there, they went right across the Indian Ocean to reach Java, Indonesia. They'd pass through the Sunda Strait, and then sail straight to Canton. That was the Sunda route, which the majority of their ships used. West Australia is a large diversion, and the Philippines could draw the ire of Spain. Cadiz was their primary method of getting silver to trade with in China. The Surat route was only used by six ships. The Swedes didn't have the foothold, and the Dutch, English, and French were far more hostile to them there.
It is very interesting but to fit ITTL (reminder: it is primarily about Russia, everybody else appears only on “need to be involved” basis 😉) there should be a meaningful Russian component making it worthy to get into a major trouble with the Manchu over the border issue and to develop the Russian Pacific coast well ahead of the schedule. Couple Danish or Swedish merchants ships visiting Okhotsk annually simply not enough of a motivation.
So there should be a very significant volume of trade and not necessarily with China (even better if it is not with China thus making Kyakhta trade not too important). However, Russia is still interested in nomenclature of the imports close to one of OTL China and, realistically, in that region the furs are going to remain its major export item for quite a while.

Personally, I’m not sure what this alternative could be but I’m open to the ideas. Any suggestions?
 
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Slowing down
76. Slowing down
But in old age he wanted to take a break from military affairs and arrange peace for himself.”
Pushkin “Fairy tale about golden cockerel”
A good wife, a good house, what else does a person need to meet old age?
‘White sun of a desert”
1721. Upon his return from the trip abroad Peter did not rush to get back to his capital (which he always disliked). Instead he went to his “summer residence” in Peterhof to oversee its construction and to make sure that its formal park is planned along the same lines as one in Versailles (which was something of a prototype for every …er… “civilized” monarch).
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Of course, he was not, yet, old, only 49, but his health was failing and the regular fits of the “colics” [1] started making his usual travel-heavy life style rather difficult to maintain. But even Peter had to admit that there was very little need in his personal and rather chaotic intervention in all details of the empire’s life: the system was working within the established framework. Not ideally, but reasonably satisfactory and “apparatus” led by Aleksey seemingly could “translate” his ideas into the implementable directives and oversee their implementation [2].

The Baltic System had been functioning and participation in the Svenska Ostindiska Companiet [3] and Danish Ostindisk Kompagni allowed some alternative access to the goods from India and China.

There was a potentially growing problem on the South where the Ottomans seemingly wanted to use the turmoil in Persia to grab some of the Persian possessions on the Caucasus (especially Armenia and Georgian states) but so far this was not hurting the Russian interests, at least as long as the silk imports from Derbent were not hurt. A profitable trade treaty with the Ottomans made a direct confrontation unwelcome but the military presence in Astrakhan was increased and an order for creating the Caspian flotilla issued just in case the Ottomans will become too successful and extend their advance all the way to the Caspian shore. As Peter wrote in his instruction to the Russian ambassador in Constantinople, “Our interests do not allow any other power, no matter who is, to establish itself in the Caspian Sea”. This, as the Grand Vizier was assuring, was not in the Ottoman plans and, anyway, so far they had enough problems with establishing control over the western part of the Persian Caucasus. Not because the Persians provided a serious military resistance or because their local vassals had been excessively loyal or strong but simply because the whole area was a complicated mess of the small states and tribes who were in a permanent conflict with each other. The Shahs, while being generally interested in the Russian trade, also were trying to prevent the Russian penetration into the CA khanates and their position toward the Ottoman was changing from one shah to another. So it did make sense to wait and see how situation is going to develop.

Further to the East the Dzungars and Qing Empire were in “neither peace nor war” status: there were no formal peace but for a while no open hostilities either. On a positive side, each of them finally made an agreement with Russia regarding the border (with China the process of marking it was going on) but a definite success of one side could make it more ambitious.

Both sides had been somewhere in the early XVII (by European equivalent) in the military technology with the infantry having the matchlocks but Chinese also had a primitive field artillery (on the picture below mounted on the camels but on another painting used in more “conventional” way). Infantry with the firearms had been routinely protected by the dismounted pikemen and used exclusively as a defensive force (preferably having some protective shields or some kind of the light field fortifications) leaving an offensive role exclusively to the cavalry. The Dzungar cavalry was, generally, of a higher quality but Manchu had more of it, especially taking into an account the Khalka Mongols. Also, while the Manchu were proficient in building fortresses, the Dzungars, due to the lack of artillery and engineering skills, had been pretty much helpless even against the relatively weak fortifications.
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Taking into an account that the Dzungars were an objectively a weaker side (technologically and by the numbers), it was decided to upgrade their arsenal acting discretely through the “Bukhara” merchants by providing them with the flintlocks (no bayonets), field artillery (there was a huge surplus of the old pieces) and few specialists, preferably of a suitable descent, to have a plausible deniability.

Weakening both sides may provide an opening for revising a border without getting into a major war.

With all these things going on Peter had plenty of time for enjoying himself with construction of his palaces and sailing in the Baltic on his yacht “Saint Peter”. [4]

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Of course, for his trip to Stockholm to visit “dear brother”, who was also a rather complicated “someone in law”, he chose a more appropriate ship.

With more time spent on a Baltic coast he inevitably way paying more attention to his Baltic Fleet (to a distress of the naval personnel 😉) and to expansion of St. Petersburg (to even greater distress of the city administration 😢 ). The imperial business may not require his close attention but, being “on a spot”, he could not leave the local entities without his fatherly attention and wise advice. Well, you can’t have everybody happy….




______________
[1] “Colics” at that time described pretty much any internal problem from a mere indigestion and all the way to the deadly “hemorrhoids colic”. 😉
[2] Two decades of experience had been enough to teach the bureaucrats that “thou shalt not object to your superior” ( 11th Commandment). How and if you are going to implement his orders is a completely different issue.
[3] In OTL founded in 1731 and formally open only to the Swedish subjects but with some loopholes.
[4] The picture shows Peter’s yacht of that name but in OTL it was in Archangelsk. Could not find a picture of one he got as a present from FWI. 😂
 
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Life goes on….
77. Life goes on…

Field Marshal Prince Golitsyn, a hero of Russia, was a smart and noble man; he knew military art very well, was brave and loved by the troops; brave and generous; he did not love foreigners, but despite this, he gave justice to worthy of them; nobles were afraid of him, and Peter I respected him. In short, he was a truly great man.”
Duke of Liria

General Fermor is an excellent administrator, a caring boss (Suvorov remembered him as a "second father"), but at the same time fussy and indecisive
Kersnovsky

1721 was a year of the losses. First, died fieldmarshal Shetemetev [1] and then general Veyde [2] leaving the Military Collegium leaderless. Taking into an account that these two pretty much shaped the Russian army in the terms of organization, weaponry and fighting methods, the loss was very serious and Peter had to chose the replacements which would not screw things up and not just stick to the existing routine.

Choice of the President of the Military Collegium was more or less obvious because for quite a while Prince Michael Golitsyn was considered as Sheremetev’s successor in the terms of a military reputation and general popularity. It also did not hurt that he belonged to the top aristocracy and his appointment provided a balance of power between two leading families, Golitsyns and Dolgoruky (member of which was a head of the Foreign Affairs Collegium). It could be expected that, being an unquestionably intelligent person, he would consider and introduce the necessary changes and, based upon his reputation, it was a safe bet that he is not going to confuse the state money with his own. As a part of a “package” he was promoted into Fieldmarshal to be able to pull a rank over all his subordinates [3]

Choice of the Vice-President also was reasonably obvious. By his military rank and record in the last war general William Fermor [4]. His operations in Prussia were brilliant but he was not an energetic commander prone to taking risk and making the bold decisions. Never displayed any ambition to become a top commander. However, his strong point was an unquestionable administrative talent and quite sincere care about his troops, sometimes going all the way to being an impediment for the operations for which had been liked by his subordinates.

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Both candidates already worked well during the Big Foolish War and it was expected that the new appointments are not going to produce the problems.

The problem, as Peter found, was elsewhere. It was seemingly a reasonable act to appoint Trubetskoy governor-general of Moscow and in some areas he lived up to the expectations being too rich not to be easily corruptible, promoting the “European” manners, etc. There was one tiny little insignificant problem: he was absolutely incompetent as an administrator and, as a result, was inclined to do as little as possible in the terms of Moscow renovation: “if you do nothing, you are not committing any mistakes”. Of course, his personal honesty did not trickle down to his subordinates who kept using his incompetence to their advantage. So all the ambitious projects of the previous administration staled under pretext of being reviewed.

While Peter did not really like Moscow and tried to spend as little time as possible in it, this was his capital and it had to correspond to the status of an imperial capital. The complaints he was receiving from all corners, including the Young Court (Alexey did not have jurisdiction over the Governor-General of Moscow) could not be ignored but (a) removing Trubetskoy from his position soon after appointment would mot look good, (b) he was seemingly on good terms with the foreign ambassadors, which was a good thing, and (c) there was only one suitable replacement, Prince Cherkassky, who was even worse. The only plausible solution seemingly was to provide him with a competent deputy. And such a deputy (vice-governor) must have a long list of the qualifications because he was going to oversee numerous engineering and construction projects and to have personality strong enough not to be intimidated by governor-general’s superior administrative and social position on one side and not to be swallowed by a bureaucratic swamp on the other. Preferably, he should not have the family links to the Russian aristocracy to avoid the usual practice of promoting the relatives but needs to have the powerful supporters and to have strong ambitions. But he also has to have certain degree of the social graces and to be intelligent enough to avoid the unnecessary confrontations.

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Choice of a “miracle worker” was not too difficult because by that time Burkhard Christoph von Münnich already made himself a well-known figure. He was in charge of the Ladoga Canal construction (one of Peter’s pet projects) and when it was ready personally sailed with Peter on a small boat through its sluices, experience that delighted the Tsar. His plan of the Kronstadt fortifications and its speedy implementation also got him the high marks from Peter and provided working relations with Alexey who was overseeing the projects. After this he was in charge of a number of projects in St-Petersburg: replacing the earthworks of Peter&Paul fortress with the stone fortifications, installing a stone facing on the Neva embankment, and doing some city planning [5].
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So his competence and ability to have things done were proved beyond the reasonable doubts. What was also quite clear is that he is extremely ambitious and, being an outsider, understand that he can raise only by the merit. Not having connections in Moscow also was a big plus. So Trubetskoy got himself an energetic vice-governor and, at least for a while, was quite happy because he could get himself busy with a social aspect of his position while leaving the boring stuff to his energetic deputy and getting praise for the things being done.

One of the biggest “show projects” was a huge Orphanage House built on the embankment of the Moscow river between Kremlin and the Yauza River and boasting a 379-metre frontage.
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Besides its architectural and social merits, this was one of the first mostly publicly funded projects. The state did contribute 100,000 rubles but this was peanuts comparing to the donations (two biggest ones were 200,000 and 162,995 roubles). The Orphanage was designed as a chain of three square-shaped buildings: the eastern wing for the girls, the western wing for the boys and the central administration block connecting them. The inauguration ceremony, attended by the Emperor, Empress, Grand Duke, Grand Duchess and everybody who was somebody at the court, had been held in 1722. After which it took 3 more years to build the western block and ten years to finish the administrative block. The Eastern block was completely forgotten. The adjacent Moskva River embankment was paved and set in granite.
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On the inauguration day, 19 newborn babies were brought to the unfinished Orphanage. Two of them were publicly baptized Peter and Maria , after the Emperor and Empress, but both died soon afterward. This was an early portent of extremely high infant mortality that would be characteristic of the Orphanage in the 18th century. The mortality rate continue to be high but few surviving hundreds of the resident orphans who studied a variety of trades ranging from metallurgy to accountancy.

Children lived at the Orphanage until the age of 11, whereupon they were sent for training to local factories and government offices. Some were assigned to the Michael Maddox theater school; others managed to qualify for free admission to Moscow State University. 180 students furthered their education in the universities of Western Europe. The majority, however, graduated with little more than a rouble in cash and a passport (which served to distinguish free men from serfs).

The institution was managed by the Board of Trustees and financed by private donations and two special taxes—a tax on public theater shows and a tax on playing cards. For nearly a century, all playing cards sold in Imperial Russia were taxed 5 kopecks per deck on domestic-made cards and 10 kopecks on imports. As a result, every pack of Russian cards displayed the symbol of the Orphanage, the pelican.

But these were the problems of a future and as of here and now the praises had been lavished upon the governor-general and his deputy.

______________
[1] in OTL in 1719
[2] In OTL in 1720
[3] This was not a trifle. In 1812 Barclay wasca Military Minister but Bagration was senior by promotion, which added to the tensions. In 1813 Wittgenstein had in his army 2 or 3 generals senior to him, which, again, did not make things easier. Almighty Military Protocol can’t be easily shrugged off.
[4] IITL born well ahead of the schedule (😂). In OTL he would be only 19 years old. But by a character he was a great “second man” to work under a strong leader.
[5] Peter personally planned Nevsky Prospect and location of some important buildings leaving the boring details to other.
 
Question to those interested in the royal marriages. 😂
Now, we have a …er… gap in the matrimonial links within the happy Baltic Mafia family. 😂

Prussia is, so far only marginally involved (through stepmother of FWI) but we have the growing up candidates for at least preliminary arrangements:
1. Peter Alexeevich and Princess Friederike Sophie Wilhelmine of Prussia are of the same age (in 1721 both are twelve)
2. Frederich (born in 1712) and Natalia Alexeevna (1710 or was it 1711?)

Of course, they are too young and I’m not sure how FWI would take the religious issue but an early betrothal was quite common in the royal families and in this case it also involves the tangible benefits.

So how about making two more happy couples? Well, taking into an account the alleged preferences of the future FII, not necessarily happy but who cares? 😂
 
I already commented on that but in the royal marriages “happiness” is more political than personal issue and, after all he was married in OTL.
Of course, I wouldn't think you did not know about Frederick's private life. Just could not resist a comment. For what it's worth, I think Elizabeth Christine might have had a happier life than Marie Leszczynska with the very very heterosexual Louis XV.
 
Why exactly the French would be interested? Russia was quite peripheral to their politics.
They were exactly seeking a peripheral bride. IOTL Elisabeth Petrovna was cut from short list for two reasons - a) religion; b) questionable birth. The second does not apply there period, the first is negotiable due to Princess' mother being a Royal convertee herself.
 
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Why exactly the French would be interested? Russia was quite peripheral to their politics.
They were exactly seeking a peripheral bride. IOTL Elisabeth Petrovna was cut from short list for two reasons - a) religion; b) questionable birth. The second does not apply there period, the first is negotiable due to Princess' mother being a Royal convertee herself.

To elaborate further France in this time period is still rival of Austria just like ATL Russia so they would need someone on periphery of Europe to limit Austrian ambition and if need be to protect it's interest in eastern Europe. It's one of the reasons why war of Polish succession happened.

Then there's the trade dispute that needs to be solved and it helps that Russia is influential member of Baltic alliance and BFW showed it's influence in Northern Germany.
 
To elaborate further France in this time period is still rival of Austria just like ATL Russia so they would need someone on periphery of Europe to limit Austrian ambition and if need be to protect it's interest in eastern Europe. It's one of the reasons why war of Polish succession happened.
The only potential French “interest” in Eastern Europe IITL is the PLC and it is a backyard of the Baltic Mafia which dies not want either French or Austrian interference in the region. The OTL French interest in the PLC was more meaningful because it was an addition to the French-Ottoman anti-Austrian alliance with a potential Swedish involvement vs. Austrian-Russian axis but even then it was (IMO) rather tradition than something practical taking into an account that the PLC as a military factor hardly was too much above “minor nuisance” category. Of course, France did try to get Russia on its side by supporting Elizabeth but the whole schema started with a major screwup (an assumption that Elizabeth is going to return Sweden the lost territories), proceeded along these lines and, anyway, pro-Austrian party in Russia was too strong and France could offer nothing of value (not that the Hapsburgs did). Well, of course, France is still influential at the Ottoman court but the Russian influence is much stronger than in OTL both diplomatically and militarily so it is highly unlikely that the Ottomans are going to risk another war.

Here geopolitical situation is seriously different and there is no obvious reason why Russia would want to get actively involved on either French or Austrian side in the disputes which are of no interest to it. Marriage you are proposing is going to produce obligations without benefits while stronger links to Prussia are definitely meaningful.

Then there's the trade dispute that needs to be solved and it helps that Russia is influential member of Baltic alliance and BFW showed it's influence in Northern Germany.
Which trade dispute? IIRC the French trade activities on the Baltic were quite limited during the XVIII century. But, anyway, the trade disputes can be resolved by the usual diplomacy.
 
Which trade dispute? IIRC the French trade activities on the Baltic were quite limited during the XVIII century. But, anyway, the trade disputes can be resolved by the usual diplomacy.

Russia now has access to the Mediterranean sea due to open straights (something it didn't have otl) which created "conflict " with France in one of the last updates, marriage to French King is good way to resolve those and even more important to further Russian interests in Mediterranean sea making full use of Russian black sea exit and open straights.

Also while Russian interest in Ottoman empire is strong, having France at its side makes it even stronger and it's position more secure both in regards to Ottoman empire and Austria. Regarding stronger ties with Prussia, they are already strong and marriage to Prussian princes will make them even stronger , not to mention the fact that Russia is already quite influential in the Baltic and going in more is over investment that returns as much as one marriage . Also fact that Russia doesn't want to be involved in French trouble is also true for Prussian troubles as well, so going full in when they already have everything they want is counterproductive .

Marriage to French King ultimately doesn't create new geopolitical fronts for Russia beside already existing ones that Russia plans to follow anyway and it makes Russian position stronger .
 
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Black Sea trade problems.
IITL they practically do not exist on the Black Sea leaving only passage through the Straits as a potential problem. I emphasize “potential” because (a) Russia is in a much stronger position vs. the Ottomans than it was in OTL, (b) trade with Russia becomes an important factor for the Ottomans (grain supplies are close to being of a “strategic” importance for maintaining calm in Constantinople) and (c) Russia is not interfering into the Ottoman-Persian “relations” and Austro-Ottoman conflicts.

OTOH, France, while being an important trade partner, can offer little in the terms of a practical help in the case of the Ottoman conflict with Russia.
 
OTOH, France, while being an important trade partner, can offer little in the terms of a practical help in the case of the Ottoman conflict with Russia

Trade is enough really and it can offer a lot in terms of furthering of Russian goals in Mediterranean and beyond, especially if we pair it with the fact that Russia can threaten Ottomans directly, this fact alone makes Mediterranean sea a lot more lucrative/safe for both France and Russia. Think Baltic mafia but bigger.

Also while it can't help with Ottomans as much France can help with the Austria.
 
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