(Poland was on steep decline at this point, Russia successfully pushed it's marionette to become Polish king before Peter started his reforms
Augustus II the Strong crowned himself against wishes of Seim's majority, owning to massive Russian and Austrian support. Even before that, "Lion of Lechistan" Jan Sobieski, who successfully fought feared Turks, avoided to pick on Russia even during turmoil between death of Alexei Romanov and Peter's raise.What?![]()
Without Peter the Great's reforms Russia might not be the Superpower it is (well was) but a weak country? no... At that time there were just too manyRussia would be a weak country.
Well, this is no bulwark. Poland has mighty aristocracy and look how much good it did to them...the aristocracy in particular was too developed and frankly too big and rich for it to be pushed aside so easily by foreign powers.
One have to remember that all wars won or lost by Russia against Ottomans in 100 years before Peter were started either by Russian's attempt to supress Ottoman client state Crimean Khanate or by Russian attacks on Ottomans proper. Obviously Russians weren't too terrified by Ottomans even before Peter.Regarding the Ottoman Empire (Russia's other strong rival), during Peter's time the Turks did win a war against the Russians but the subsequent treaty shows that the Ottoman Empire did not wish expansion in that region at that time.
Augustus II the Strong crowned himself against wishes of Seim's majority, owning to massive Russian and Austrian support. Even before that, "Lion of Lechistan" Jan Sobieski, who successfully fought feared Turks, avoided to pick on Russia even during turmoil between death of Alexei Romanov and Peter's raise.
Well, this is no bulwark. Poland has mighty aristocracy and look how much good it did to them...
One have to remember that all wars won or lost by Russia against Ottomans in 100 years before Peter were started either by Russian's attempt to supress Ottoman client state Crimean Khanate or by Russian attacks on Ottomans proper. Obviously Russians weren't too terrified by Ottomans even before Peter.
Probably very different, maybe divided between the Ottomans, Polish
and Sverige, at least west of the Urals
Peter created very rigid economic system by extending serfdom to industry (allowing fat cats of industry which served Army to buy serfs to work on factories), basically killing Russian labour market for the next century, among other things.I read once that a lot of what he did may ultimately have actually retarded Russia's development in some respects. I can't recall that exact cut of the argument, but it's an interesting suggestion.