Peter The Great dies in 1711

Let's say this is an accident (to prevent bringing in more factionalism than is needed for the POD)

His heir is Alexius, a young adult and capable of taking the throne for himself

A lot of Peter's OTL reforms remain half-done or not-yet-done

Poltava is only two years previous, and IIRC he recently lost Azov back to the Ottomans

So, what is Russia's path through history now ?


Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
19 readers but no ideas ?

Would the Cossack Hetmanate be able to flex its muscles once again ?

Could Charles XII take the field successfully against the Russians again ?

Will Poland avoid Russian domination ?

Will Alexius prove strong enough to hold onto power in Russia ?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
Although Poltava ended Sweden's direct threat to Russia, it did not end the war, which continued to rage for several more years.

I think we would see the abandonment of St. Petersburg in this scenario.
 
Although Poltava ended Sweden's direct threat to Russia, it did not end the war, which continued to rage for several more years.

I think we would see the abandonment of St. Petersburg in this scenario.

Would the Ottomans let Charles XII go earlier, or make a more vigorous entry into the war ?

It would I think depend on how well Alexius starts his reign ?

As for Saint Petersburg, its been around for 8 years but most of the major building projects haven't happened yet and a lot of it is potential city rather than actual city

Interesting, thanks !

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
It really depends on when in 1711 Peter dies.
Has he already attacked the Ottomans?
Has he abolished the Duma yet?
Has Alexis married Princess Charlotte?

If it is before these events, I could see an alliance between Sweden and the Ottomans - King Charles XII had taken refuge there after the 1709 Battle of Poltava, and Russia still held the Black Sea ports, surely a sore point to the Ottomans. Alexis is as of yet untested as a leader in battle, why not try to take back the Black Sea? Charles XII only concluded peace with Russia in 1721, he's going to want to take back his lands as well. Perhaps St Petersburg gets captured or burnt to the ground? What happens to the Russian Baltic fleet then?

Alexis apparently wasn't all that keen on his bride, does the marriage even take place is Peter is dead? Or does he marry his long time mistress, Afrosinia?

Did he really hate his father as much as is reported? I don't think he would have any interest in continuing the reforms of his father.

I could see Alexis restoring the power of the Patriarch of Moscow and the boyars, retreating to a palace and leaving the running of the country to them. He at some point wanted to become a monk, maybe he takes that path and abdicates in favor of his half brother Peter.
The Boyars would love that, they get regain their rights and power, while molding the future Tsar. Maybe Alexis (or Peter) marries Russian nobility instead.

I think Russia is going to be screwed no matter what.
 
I was thinking after the signing of the treaty in July that gave Azov back to the Ottomans

Maybe though before Alexius's marriage in the October...

Do we know Peter's movements over the Summer of 1711 ? Would he have been in Moscow, or Saint Petersburg or was he personally involved in the recent campaign and be on his way back ?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Oh, and Alexis can't abdicate in favour of little Peter, because he hasn't been born yet :) 1715 I believe

He has two half-sisters by his father and 'Catherine' but both are babies and unlikely to be of any concern to him

Was he reactionary in his inclinations at this period ? It would seem he held commission in his father's army, and had not had the blazing rows, seen his friends impaled etc that later on would mould him

On the other hand, I have no definite information on what he thought at age 21, so maybe he was inclined this way ?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Ok then, that will probably mean no Swedish/Ottoman alliance.

I would imagine that after making peace with the Ottomans Peter would have to go north to Moscow or St Petersburg, he is still at war with Sweden.

Maybe Princess Ulrika, sister of Charles XII is married to Tsarevich Alexis, forming a political union of Sweden and Russia? or is that ASB?

That may lead to Alexis later being crowned "Emperor of the North" or something rather than "Emperor of all Russia"

Otherwise, Sweden and Russia are still at war, and I don't know if Alexis had what it takes to win it. Russia loses the Baltic.
 
If I remember correctly didn’t Alexis resemble peter and have flashes of greatness, however it was only sporadic glimpse unlike peter. Also if Alexis did marry princess Ulrika and united the northern kingdoms that would be a pretty unstoppable force Swedish military backed up with Russian manpower
 
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