Peter the Great

[Ausmanov]

Also, Vive_HIH_Aleksey i know its been a while since this thread was posted on, how are you going with your writings going?

[Vive_HIH_Aleksey]

My gosh, I know! I have been meaning to come here and read and post for several months now, but have lacked the time!

My writing which would mainly focus on the Romanov dynasty is on hold. I realize, as I map out what I want to do, the many details which need to be researched before I can really put pen to paper... well, I can get it started, but it will take years to write.

This saga is in 3 parts - At least, that is my intention. It might end up being longer, like 6 parts, depending on how things work out length-wise.

My story so far focuses heavily on Petr's court. I change history a bit to have him wed, willingly, 2 years before he really did, and his wife dies in childbirth with their only child, his son and heir. Then I go back on the course of history, have him pressured to wed Eudoxia, have Alexei, and go from there mostly correct to history. The only change (a big one I know) is my character is the heir to the throne. A big sibling rivalry ensues between him and Alexei because of that. As years pass, my character (I named him Evgeni, simply because the meaning of the name is "noble/aristocrat") grows up desiring to keep Russia modernized, westernized, and strong. But here's the kicker: In 1710, Evgeni is ambushed while riding his horse and kidnapped. Eventually he comes to the horrific realization that his captor is a vicious, ancient vampire. So I have him eventually turned into a vampire.

Since I want to be as detailed as possible, this means I'll need to do a LOT of reading and asking questions. I am going to be very careful with the details, right down to:
Times and Places of certain historical events (of course that's a given)
Etiquette in Petr's court
Ranks/Titles at the time
Clothing
Transportation
Residences
Landscapes (kind of essential since I have Evgeni kidnapped in a forest)
WEAPONRY (this is ESSENTIAL since I focus on a particular sword owned by Petr, which Evgeni smuggles out of the palace upon his father's death and uses it to behead vampires; I imagine the sword to have the Romanov crest in gold on the blade somewhere)
Religious customs (obviously of interest, especially since Petr hated the church; I also wonder if Evgeni would be able to wed an Ottoman Princess)

All that and more from the time of Petr. Then, I have Evgeni assist, kind of anonymously, his descendants (some of them; he couldn't assist all of them because he'd be found out) in their respective rules. I plan to have him help Elizaveta and Ekaterina the Great stage their coups, Alexander I defeat Napoleon, and other key events. ..

Which means, I need to research the CHANGES that would be made to the above and more throughout the centuries.

So yeah, I have my work cut out for me.

Meanwhile the other writing that I thought of, about a protagonist's ancestor being a clergyman for the Tzar and making ikons of the saints and angels, I decided it might be even more impressive to have those ikons be older than Petr, and they might be better suited for a different Tzar anyway. So I am debating between Mikhail and Alexei I or maybe even Feodor. That would merit some more research to determine which I would go with.

At any rate, it is great that this board exists because when I want to get started on this research, I know there are plenty of experts who can help me out!

So yeah, sorry about the slight departure from topic.

Amazing paintings. They can really help me out too!

[Suzanne]

Interesting that Vladimir Putin will be the first Russian leader to divorce in office since Peter the Great 

http://www.royalhistorian.com/president-vladimir-putin-to-be-the-first-russian-leader-to-divorce-since-peter-the-great-in-1698/

[agordon2000]

Peter the Great did not hate the Church. He hated the rivalry for power and the conservatism of the archbishops who did not support him.  He had an atheist sent to Siberia because he said without faith in God an oath meant nothing and without an oath there is no society. He attended church and fined those who spoke during the service and sang in the choir. In the end he made the church subordinate to the government when the Patrairch Adrian died.

[amelia]

I saw recently a program about Peter the Great and they said that he tortured and killed his son Alexei. However Robert Massie in his book Peter the Great, says that he imprisoned him and he died in prison. Which one is the correct?

Thanks Amelia
(Eva McDonald)

[agordon2000]

Both. Peter got his son to return to Russia by promising him to let him live on his own estate and marry Afrosina. When he returned he said his pardon was contingent on his honesty. No matter what is son said it would have been considered a partial truth. His father was sick of the opposition and wanted to use his son to put an end to it. Many were named  by his son and  arrested and then finally Alexei was. He was tortured they say with the participation of his father. Then the senate condemned him to death. He was tortured even after that and after being tortured at 11 in the morning died that evening. Many historians say he could easily have died of the torture, Jacob Bruce said he himself brought poison but is said to  be a liar. One of the ladies in waiting of Catherine said she sowed his head on but is also thought to be a liar.  Others said Catherine I got a physician to open his veins. The woman who made his meals said he ate all his lunch that day and so thinks he met a violent end.  No one knows but certainly a public execution would not be to the advantage of his father.

[Vive_HIH_Aleksey]

Thanks for that information, it's greatly appreciated. Alexei's death features pretty prominently in my saga especially since it is after my character's abduction. I put an interesting spin on the motives to tie my fiction with reality.