Yes, I agree. A common trait in many of history's "great" is that they had an ability both to find talent, tie it to themselves and/or their cause, foster and nurture it and not feel threatened by it when it showed success but rather reward it to further encourage it (and other talent).
No GNW (or “Peter goes South”)
- Thread starter alexmilman
- Start date
I was talking about the OTL Charles and framework of the GNW. In this TL Charles is ready to annex Courland and perhaps Elblag. Danzig is still politically toxic: the WoSS is not going to last forever and by annexing it he steps on too many toes besides making it almost impossible for <whoever is on the PLC throne> to maintain good relations with Sweden.
You see, the planned territorial losses are rather peripheral to the PLC: Courland, Inflanty Polskie, Lithuanian pieces of Belorussia and even the right bank Ukraine (with some caveats). But Danzig is hitting interests of the Polish nobility and in this TL Charles is not planning to get himself again into the Polish morass plus, with a high probability, a major international conflict as well.
Thanks.
Ah understood
It is your TL, but it sounds to me like Peter is getting the Lions Share and Charles is getting scraps. Right Bank Ukraine is some highly productive agricultural land. Whats in Courland?
Yeah, Karl really needs to be given more. Peter would gain territories with a population probably slightly exceeding a million, while Courland had a population of about 250,000 at the time. True Courland is fairly wealthy, but still. There is also the issue that eastern Courland would be wedged between Latgale and Lithuania, but giving that to Peter would make split even more unfair. That is not an equal carving up by any stretch of the imagination and Karl is an equal or greater member of the partnership in everyone's eyes except maybe Peter's. Really Karl getting Latgale is necessary, Peter would still get twice the population, but it would be poorer, so relatively fair division. This would just be splitting the pie, if Peter wants a bit of Ingria, that will need its own set of concessions to Karl, territorial or otherwise. Unless Karl gets Danzig/West Prussia, which is a big enough prize for Peter to get a lot and it still be perceived as a fair split. Of course, Peter likely knows all this and is just starting with a high bid and then everyone can compromise and feel good.
In regard to Danzig/Prussia, if Karl wants to go for either, Peter could say that Karl is free to do that if he wants, but that that is too far away from home for Peter to feel comfortable having his army operating. That wouldn't even be a falsehood, Koingsburg is 400 miles from the Russian border and targets in HRE would be double that. While OTL the Russians operated in concert with Danes/Saxons as far west as Stettin, they probably prefer not to do that, and no one circa 1703 would expect them to.
In regard to Danzig/Prussia, if Karl wants to go for either, Peter could say that Karl is free to do that if he wants, but that that is too far away from home for Peter to feel comfortable having his army operating. That wouldn't even be a falsehood, Koingsburg is 400 miles from the Russian border and targets in HRE would be double that. While OTL the Russians operated in concert with Danes/Saxons as far west as Stettin, they probably prefer not to do that, and no one circa 1703 would expect them to.
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In case of Royal Prussia, I think the suggestion that Sweden get Royal Prussia and Warmia, while Danzig stay a independent City underPolish suzerainty is interesting, Sweden could then demand a large annual fixed sum for not taxing trade on the Vistula. This would keep Danzig out of Swedish hands while also giving Sweden income from it and Royal Prussia. Putzig/Puck would then become the main Swedish port in Royal Prussia.
When talking about value of the acquisitions, their size is not necessarily the most important factor. Curland is pretty much undamaged prosperous duchy with a well-developed agriculture and nothing serious in the terms of the domestic conflicts. Its is, especially with the Polish Livonia, a nice addition to the Swedish Livonia which guarantees control over both banks of the Dvina River (and security of the commercial traffic from Dunaburg to Riga, and most of the route from Pskov to Dunaburg if the Polish Livonia is included).
Now, the area Witebsk-Polotsk plus the Right Bank of Ukraine is much greater as far as the square mileage is involved. However, the first area in in Lithuanian Belorussia, which means that it is rather poor and its nobility are predominantly Polish-speaking Catholics, aka, people not excessively friendly to Russia (not a big surprise, taking into an account the history of the wars fought there over the last couple centuries. The Right Bank Ukraine of that time is a battleground of a severely fought civil war between the Cossacks/Ukrainians and the Poles. The soil may be fertile but to take advantage of this fact you need to stop the ongoing war and resolve a tiny, insignificant problem: conflict between the Polish nobility and Ukrainians (free Cossacks and the serfs). Over the past centuries the kings of Poland spectacularly failed to reconcile this conflict of interests (and lost the Left Bank) so whoever gets it, inherits the problem. And the national/social aspect is just a part of the package: on the top comes Catholics/Uniates vs. the Orthodox and a big Jewish population which the Orthodox side tends to associate with the Poles and slaughter wholesale. Now, as a cherry on the top, are coming the Crimean Tatars who are regularly raiding the area for the slaves, the Cossacks of Zaporizie, who always feel themselves free to launch the looting raids on the coastal Ottoman-held territories in a complete disregard of the peace treaties and other nonsense and, last but not least, the Ottomans who, admittedly rarely but usually in a big force, are feeling free to invade the area if and when they feel like that.
Almost forgot, taking into an account that a big part of the left bank and right bank is going to be the Hetmanate, there is always a set of the delicate questions on which the government in Moscow and Hetman in Baturin tended to have different views:
(a) Precise territory of the Hetmanate vs. the areas ruled directly by Moscow.
(b) Precise rights of the Hetman, especially in the area of foreign relations. Was it OK to ally with a foreign power (between Bohdan Khmelnitsky and Mazepa most of the Hetmans would answer “yes” and quite a few of them had been changing affiliations at will; understandably, Moscow did not think so).
(c) Hetman’s rights within Hetmanate vs. both Moscow and the the local “starshina” (holders of the administrative and military offices).
(d) Authority over Zaporizian Sich (on that account all sides involved had their own opinions).
Most probably I missed quite a few items.
To make the long story short, between getting this territory and being able to move against the Ottomans and Crimea Peter would have to spend a considerable effort figuring out a workable model for converting the region into a reliable base of the operations and then putting this model into implementation. This is not going to be easy and bloodless.
Well, the author said that he won't go that way, but I would like to answer on the potential mechanism for conversation's sake: Sweden could do what Old Fritz did in OTL. The Free City of Danzig does not include the Abbey of Oliwa. Frederick's agents managed to dig up files to prove that the port of Danzig was on land leased long-term by the Abbey. Then, to let the city use its own port, he set up a rent equal to the city's custom dues.
When it came to finding old obscure medieval documents to make a threadbare case and squeeze a community, Prussian agents were almost equal to Louis XIV's shenanigans in Alsace.
Having said that, Karl doesn't seem that ruthless and willing to use such tools. But who knows...
Something tells me that these slavers won't be able to prey upon Ukrainians, Poles and Russians for much longer.
To start with, look at the 1st Partition: who got more square miles and who got the better deal.
Then, IMO, before judging comparable values, it makes sense to look at the “environment”. Courland and Polish Livonia are trouble free and provide a nice and economically meaningful addition to the Swedish Livonia. Its population are either German or Latvian and merges nicely with one of the Swedish Livonia.
OTOH, Lithuanian Belorussia is (a) poor (look at Belorus now or at any point in the past couple centuries) and (b) the ruling class are predominantly Polish Catholics. You may figure out the ensuing “issues”.
Right Bank Ukraine is in the midst of the “2nd Khmelnitschina”. If you need clarification, this means that there is an ongoing civil war in which both sides are killing each others in the big numbers and in rather unpleasant ways. Peter would have to stop the fighting and find a compromise solution reasonably acceptable for both sides (who actually have mutually exclusive interests). The problems are economic, social and religious.
Then, of course, the whole initial premise is questionable because Charles is not looking for partition of the PLC and not planning a serious further expansion of the Swedish territories. Peter has different interests and his conquests on the East have nothing to do with the Swedish interests.
Of course, in this TL the Russian troops went as far as Thorn and the “Prussian Prussia” is to the East of it but Charles is not planning to start war with Prussia and is considering Swedish garrisons in Danzig and Elblag as a purely temporary measure needed for pushing August into the corner.
I keep repeating that in this TL Charles more or less (with the exception of Courland, which borders Swedish Livonia and not the PLC proper) sticks to his OTL official line: he is in Poland to help the Poles to get rid of the bad king if they want so and not for the territorial advantages. Of course, in a process his troops are looting the country, killing peaceful population, etc. but all of the above, including garrisoning the cities, are usual practices of a contemporary warfare.
Sweden is already being spread in the small pieces all over the place making defense of its territories problematic (in OTL Charles could not simultaneously fight in Poland and defend Livonia) and adding a piece squeezed between the Prussian territories makes this task even more problematic. Judging by the sums he in OTL was extracting from the PLC to maintain his troops, income from even a big port would not compensate for the war expenses.
Now, his ally and “dear cousin” Peter has seriously different goals, which do not really contradict to those of Charles and do not impact the vital interests of the Polish nobility in a critical way (as would seizure of Danzig) so whatever he can squeeze out of the Poles is not Charles’ concern.
Charles already holds the biggest port on the Baltic, Riga, and is going to improve its security by the reasonable acquisition and increase revenues from it by improving trade route Pskov-Dyneburg-Riga. Now, he has plenty things to do at home.
To those in the know about the situation in all said regions, sure. I agree with you 100% Peters task is hard and the chalice is more poisoned than Danzig+west Prussia.
However, my point was that most western monarchs wouldn't know much of what you have said and in their eyes Charles would look a lesser partner in his alliance with Peter and thereby be humiliated.
Fair point on the both banks of the Dvina - Sweden does want that.
Not really if you look at the land Sweden took after 30YW you would think Sweden had gotten a bad deal, except no one at the time thought so, Sweden had gotten control over the access to the Weser, Elbe and Oder. Courland is worth a lot more than vast amount of steppe and swamp in the view of most Europeans.
Oxenstierna thought Sweden got a bad deal and had a bitchfest blaming Christina's meddling in the negotiations. IIRC Sweden swiftly criminalised criticism of the peace terms.
Also the 30 years war was at absolute best a very phyric victory for Sweden. Sweden couldnt sustain operations for much longer, The Emperor still had an army and most of his hereditary lands etc. What has happened here is swift decisive victory where Sweden has lost basically nothing can keep going as long as need be and where Augustus has no army left.
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Why would they think anything at all and why their opinions would be of any importance to Charles is anybody’s guess. He just confirmed Sweden’s reputation as a major European military power and his own reputation as one of the top generals of that time so who is going humiliate him? By the reasonably modest but meaningful acquisitions he did what was expected from him and established reputation of a reasonable ruler who can play, if needed a role of the regional arbiter.
Yes, Peter got some territories which most of the European diplomats would not be able to point on a map without preliminary consultation with the specialists in geography and about which nobody could tell for sure if they are Europe or Asia (Charles during his Russian adventure was under the impression that he is just within few mikes from Asia). Looks like they are populated by the savages who are even less civilized then semi-barbaric Russians. Who cares?
Yeah, but Charles is running out of money and is forced to loot the territory which he is presumably saving from August. The PLC is big but it can’t be kept looted forever and after that turn into the Swedish ally. August does not have a Saxon army but, due to the beautiful political system of the PLC, there can be plenty of the private “armies” and a crown army as well. And all of them are appearing, disappearing and causing various types of a mischief.
It should be said that the whole Asia thing can simply be a insult, a common saying in Denmark is that Asia begins east of Copenhagen, the Austrians had the same saying about Vienna.
Honestly I expect Swedish victory will just worsen the problems in PL.
The Important Question
17. The Important Question
Capitulation of the Thorn had been followed by the banquets, the first given by Charles and the second by Peter.
***********************************
Interlude. Peter’s menu
Peter did not ate fish. Probably had an allergy.
A dinner had been preceded by a glass of anise vodka “for appetite” (even without it Peter never suffered from an absence of the appetite).
Typical dinner menu included: Rye bread, pickles, sauerkraut, black raddish, meat jelly with garlic, sour cabbage soup, boiled beef, ham, corned beef, porridge, Limburg cheese, grapes, watermelon, kvas.
For the important occasions a typical addition was a piglet in a sour cream, which Peter was cutting personally.
For the international occasions some “European” dishes could be added.
Wines: Tokaj (eventually, Peter purchased his own winery there) and rhine wines.
So for this specific occasion you can chose whatever your imagination tells you but a piglet is mandatory. 😂
*************************************
During the banquet he hosted Peter finally spelled out what everybody wanted but nobody risked to ask: “What are you planning next?” Of course, he got a standard answer about dethroning August and liberating Poland but his position allowed to press the issue.
“Liberating the Poles? But they obviously don’t want to get rid if August: look at all these confederations and crazy sejms that they are assembling. Why should we bother to care about their well-being to start with? They are not showing you any gratitude or appreciation for what you already did for them [1] and as soon as you turning your back to them, they are concocting a new plot against you. “
Charles countered with his usual gambit, “August must be punished”, with which Peter wholeheartedly agreed: “Of course, he must formally apologize for his dastardly attack on you, this part is not even worthy of a discussion. But my diplomats just received a letter from August in which he expressed a readiness to do so formally and, in general, to make peace on the conditions you find fitting. I ordered to keep his messenger under close watch in Kiev and he can be brought here if you wish. And as for the punishment, can you imagine a worse punishment than being saddled with the subjects like these and not even being able to punish them? This is definitely a marriage made in Hell so how about leaving them to enjoy it?”
From this point Charles started listening: what Peter was saying had been very close to what Piper wrote in his memorandum so probably there was something to it. And it also looked like his faithful ally may start considering his mission accomplished. Of course, Charles could do without him and chasing August all over the Commonwealth certainly was a great entertainment but there was seemingly no end to it and, after all, Peter was his only ally and such a nice person …..
Then Peter brought the next obvious question: “and what are we going to about Poland? Should we cut it to pieces as this piglet? <demonstration followed>?”
Which provided Charles with a perfect opening to jump back on his high horse and declare that he does not want anything from Poland, which, of course, resulted in a compliment regarding his unselfishness [2] and insistence that he absolutely must compensate if not himself then Sweden for all hardships it suffered: after all, it was the Polish fault that the Saxon troops were permitted on their territory and allowed to launch a dastardly attack on the Swedish possessions. Doesn’t he think that Courland is a prudent compensation fir all his troubles?
At this point Piper, who was sitting near Charles in a state close to a stupor [3], decided that it is a good time to interfere and, after expressing all due admiration of the depth and breadth of the Peter’s ideas, offered to continue conversation in a more suitable environment allowing getting to the specifics. Peter wholeheartedly agreed but Charles, before giving his agreement, insisted on making sure that August is willing to acknowledge his sins. [4]
The meeting followed with Charles being accompanied by Piper and Peter by a person about whom everybody already forgot [5]. August part was simple. He offended Charles so all conditions related to him personally are up to Charles to formulate. However, as of right now, he is (still) a duly anointed King of the PLC (of course, not by the God’s Grace and as a result inherently inferior to Charles and Peter but nonetheless a legitimate monarch) and all questions related to the compensations which Charles and Peter are entitled to at the Polish expense must be agreed upon by the delegates authorized by him and the Senate [6].
The first outline looked as following: Sweden - Courland and, possibly, Elblag (if Charles wants); Russia - territories on the right bank of the Dvina, including Dyneburg, Polotsk ans Vitebsk, and the voyevodships of Kiev and Braclaw (right bank Ukraine). A contention point initially was Polish Livonia but Peter’s assistant, whom he was addressing as “Prince Vasily”, offered a compromise: exchange of the Russian-occupied Polish Livonia (after it will be formally ceded by the PLC) to the marginally inhabited Ingria stretching from Noteburg on Ladoga Lake to Nien in the Gulf of Finland going North to the Lake Royka level and on the West ending in the front of Narva. The offer included 100,000 rigsdalers as approximately 10 years worth of a compensation for the lost custom dues. After a little bit of a haggling, the general outline was accepted by both sides with an agreement to discuss the favorable custom dues for the trade across region’ borders. Peter expressed willingness to build a navy of 10-15 ships of the line which, in the case of a need, are going to act together with the Swedish navy against the third party offenders.
In a due time August’s representative was transported from Kiev, revealing that he is authorized by Elector of Saxony to sign any conditions Charles sees fit [7] so the “personal” part was easily dealt with. Now, August had to be brought into the picture in his capacity of the PLC king. None of the monarchs was excessively eager to see “The Peacock” personally unless absolutely necessary so he was informed about a need to assemble and send the Senate delegation [8] ASAP before the allies change their collective mind regarding his royal status. Of course, task was simplified by a fact that most of the Senate including Cardinal Radziewski had been sitting in the allied-held Warsaw and the care was taken that they keep enjoying a social life and not go anywhere.
Charles already had an experience of dealing with the Senate delegations and did not want its repetition so two messengers had been sent:
1st, to August with a letter explaining that the delegation has to sign the proposed conditions fast and with a minimal speech making. No explicit description of a stick was necessary but there was a big fat carrot: if everything will be done expediently and to the allied satisfaction, then August in both his capacities may be included as a partner into the Russian-Swedish pact and if he keeps behaving as a good boy, his son’s succession to the PLC throne is going to be actively supported by Russia and Sweden.
2nd, privately to Cardinal Radziewsky with a request to chose the candidates fast and and instruct them regarding importance of signing peace fast and without causing undue annoyance to the Swedish and Russian Majesties. There was a promise not to forget him and his family (including mistress and bastard son) both at the positive and negative outcome.
After some consideration, the 3rd letter had been sent to Hetman Lubomirsky, informing him that the war may soon be over but that both monarchs fully appreciate his outstanding qualities and keep him in a high esteem. It would be unfortunate if some irresponsible individuals are going to disrupt a peace process and surely Pan Hetman is not going to allow something of the kind to happen in his army. Hugs and kisses
________________
[1] Of course, this is a pure demagoguery because so far pretty much the only thing Charles did for them was looting and killing. But, of course, Charles was seriously convinced that he is pursuing a noble goal (with whichever means that are necessary).
[2] Expressed, of course, in a straightforward soldierish manner leaving no doubts that Peter really meant it: after all, he was a simple honest soldier spelling out what he thought, wasn’t he? 😉 All this was refreshingly different from the flowery style of the Polish magnates who would talk for hours while saying absolutely nothing.
[3] As many Swedes and the Westerners in general, he tended underestimate Peter based upon his excessively simple manners and tendency to use language most of which he picked up in the Dutch drinking establishments and the rest from the similar establishments of the German Settlement near Moscow. As a result, Peter was looked upon as some kind of a rare curiosity, like a talking bear or just a well-trained parrot. Usually, the intended targets of Peter’s “eloquence” were getting back their grasp of a reality when it was too late but Piper was fast upon the uptake: Peter obviously got hold of his memorandum and was in a process of peddling his own ideas. It was time to play along and try to get the best possible deal for Sweden.
[4] This does not mean that Charles was a fool, especially an easily manipulated one. But he did have a fixation on a subject of August’s “confession”. His second idea fixe, dethronement, was no less important but an attack from the least expected direction seriously weakened it.
[5] This person deserves a separate chapter (and I just changed my mind regarding leaving him where he was). So explanations are to follow. 😜
[6] Honestly, I could not find anything meaningful regarding a due diplomatic process in the PLC so this is just my guess.
[7] As in OTL.
[8] See above. Taking into account rather unclear relations between August and his Senate, it is probably safe to assume that there is going to be some coordination process in the terms of choosing the delegates and defining an acceptable framework.
Capitulation of the Thorn had been followed by the banquets, the first given by Charles and the second by Peter.
***********************************
Interlude. Peter’s menu
Peter did not ate fish. Probably had an allergy.
A dinner had been preceded by a glass of anise vodka “for appetite” (even without it Peter never suffered from an absence of the appetite).
Typical dinner menu included: Rye bread, pickles, sauerkraut, black raddish, meat jelly with garlic, sour cabbage soup, boiled beef, ham, corned beef, porridge, Limburg cheese, grapes, watermelon, kvas.
For the important occasions a typical addition was a piglet in a sour cream, which Peter was cutting personally.
For the international occasions some “European” dishes could be added.
Wines: Tokaj (eventually, Peter purchased his own winery there) and rhine wines.
So for this specific occasion you can chose whatever your imagination tells you but a piglet is mandatory. 😂
*************************************
During the banquet he hosted Peter finally spelled out what everybody wanted but nobody risked to ask: “What are you planning next?” Of course, he got a standard answer about dethroning August and liberating Poland but his position allowed to press the issue.
“Liberating the Poles? But they obviously don’t want to get rid if August: look at all these confederations and crazy sejms that they are assembling. Why should we bother to care about their well-being to start with? They are not showing you any gratitude or appreciation for what you already did for them [1] and as soon as you turning your back to them, they are concocting a new plot against you. “
Charles countered with his usual gambit, “August must be punished”, with which Peter wholeheartedly agreed: “Of course, he must formally apologize for his dastardly attack on you, this part is not even worthy of a discussion. But my diplomats just received a letter from August in which he expressed a readiness to do so formally and, in general, to make peace on the conditions you find fitting. I ordered to keep his messenger under close watch in Kiev and he can be brought here if you wish. And as for the punishment, can you imagine a worse punishment than being saddled with the subjects like these and not even being able to punish them? This is definitely a marriage made in Hell so how about leaving them to enjoy it?”
From this point Charles started listening: what Peter was saying had been very close to what Piper wrote in his memorandum so probably there was something to it. And it also looked like his faithful ally may start considering his mission accomplished. Of course, Charles could do without him and chasing August all over the Commonwealth certainly was a great entertainment but there was seemingly no end to it and, after all, Peter was his only ally and such a nice person …..
Then Peter brought the next obvious question: “and what are we going to about Poland? Should we cut it to pieces as this piglet? <demonstration followed>?”
Which provided Charles with a perfect opening to jump back on his high horse and declare that he does not want anything from Poland, which, of course, resulted in a compliment regarding his unselfishness [2] and insistence that he absolutely must compensate if not himself then Sweden for all hardships it suffered: after all, it was the Polish fault that the Saxon troops were permitted on their territory and allowed to launch a dastardly attack on the Swedish possessions. Doesn’t he think that Courland is a prudent compensation fir all his troubles?
At this point Piper, who was sitting near Charles in a state close to a stupor [3], decided that it is a good time to interfere and, after expressing all due admiration of the depth and breadth of the Peter’s ideas, offered to continue conversation in a more suitable environment allowing getting to the specifics. Peter wholeheartedly agreed but Charles, before giving his agreement, insisted on making sure that August is willing to acknowledge his sins. [4]
The meeting followed with Charles being accompanied by Piper and Peter by a person about whom everybody already forgot [5]. August part was simple. He offended Charles so all conditions related to him personally are up to Charles to formulate. However, as of right now, he is (still) a duly anointed King of the PLC (of course, not by the God’s Grace and as a result inherently inferior to Charles and Peter but nonetheless a legitimate monarch) and all questions related to the compensations which Charles and Peter are entitled to at the Polish expense must be agreed upon by the delegates authorized by him and the Senate [6].
The first outline looked as following: Sweden - Courland and, possibly, Elblag (if Charles wants); Russia - territories on the right bank of the Dvina, including Dyneburg, Polotsk ans Vitebsk, and the voyevodships of Kiev and Braclaw (right bank Ukraine). A contention point initially was Polish Livonia but Peter’s assistant, whom he was addressing as “Prince Vasily”, offered a compromise: exchange of the Russian-occupied Polish Livonia (after it will be formally ceded by the PLC) to the marginally inhabited Ingria stretching from Noteburg on Ladoga Lake to Nien in the Gulf of Finland going North to the Lake Royka level and on the West ending in the front of Narva. The offer included 100,000 rigsdalers as approximately 10 years worth of a compensation for the lost custom dues. After a little bit of a haggling, the general outline was accepted by both sides with an agreement to discuss the favorable custom dues for the trade across region’ borders. Peter expressed willingness to build a navy of 10-15 ships of the line which, in the case of a need, are going to act together with the Swedish navy against the third party offenders.
In a due time August’s representative was transported from Kiev, revealing that he is authorized by Elector of Saxony to sign any conditions Charles sees fit [7] so the “personal” part was easily dealt with. Now, August had to be brought into the picture in his capacity of the PLC king. None of the monarchs was excessively eager to see “The Peacock” personally unless absolutely necessary so he was informed about a need to assemble and send the Senate delegation [8] ASAP before the allies change their collective mind regarding his royal status. Of course, task was simplified by a fact that most of the Senate including Cardinal Radziewski had been sitting in the allied-held Warsaw and the care was taken that they keep enjoying a social life and not go anywhere.
Charles already had an experience of dealing with the Senate delegations and did not want its repetition so two messengers had been sent:
1st, to August with a letter explaining that the delegation has to sign the proposed conditions fast and with a minimal speech making. No explicit description of a stick was necessary but there was a big fat carrot: if everything will be done expediently and to the allied satisfaction, then August in both his capacities may be included as a partner into the Russian-Swedish pact and if he keeps behaving as a good boy, his son’s succession to the PLC throne is going to be actively supported by Russia and Sweden.
2nd, privately to Cardinal Radziewsky with a request to chose the candidates fast and and instruct them regarding importance of signing peace fast and without causing undue annoyance to the Swedish and Russian Majesties. There was a promise not to forget him and his family (including mistress and bastard son) both at the positive and negative outcome.
After some consideration, the 3rd letter had been sent to Hetman Lubomirsky, informing him that the war may soon be over but that both monarchs fully appreciate his outstanding qualities and keep him in a high esteem. It would be unfortunate if some irresponsible individuals are going to disrupt a peace process and surely Pan Hetman is not going to allow something of the kind to happen in his army. Hugs and kisses
________________
[1] Of course, this is a pure demagoguery because so far pretty much the only thing Charles did for them was looting and killing. But, of course, Charles was seriously convinced that he is pursuing a noble goal (with whichever means that are necessary).
[2] Expressed, of course, in a straightforward soldierish manner leaving no doubts that Peter really meant it: after all, he was a simple honest soldier spelling out what he thought, wasn’t he? 😉 All this was refreshingly different from the flowery style of the Polish magnates who would talk for hours while saying absolutely nothing.
[3] As many Swedes and the Westerners in general, he tended underestimate Peter based upon his excessively simple manners and tendency to use language most of which he picked up in the Dutch drinking establishments and the rest from the similar establishments of the German Settlement near Moscow. As a result, Peter was looked upon as some kind of a rare curiosity, like a talking bear or just a well-trained parrot. Usually, the intended targets of Peter’s “eloquence” were getting back their grasp of a reality when it was too late but Piper was fast upon the uptake: Peter obviously got hold of his memorandum and was in a process of peddling his own ideas. It was time to play along and try to get the best possible deal for Sweden.
[4] This does not mean that Charles was a fool, especially an easily manipulated one. But he did have a fixation on a subject of August’s “confession”. His second idea fixe, dethronement, was no less important but an attack from the least expected direction seriously weakened it.
[5] This person deserves a separate chapter (and I just changed my mind regarding leaving him where he was). So explanations are to follow. 😜
[6] Honestly, I could not find anything meaningful regarding a due diplomatic process in the PLC so this is just my guess.
[7] As in OTL.
[8] See above. Taking into account rather unclear relations between August and his Senate, it is probably safe to assume that there is going to be some coordination process in the terms of choosing the delegates and defining an acceptable framework.
Not in the case I was talking about: Charles quite seriously asked Mazepa about proximity of Asia, got the wring answer and expressed a wish to travel these few miles to be able to claim in a future that he was in Asia.