Peter the Great's Poisoned Chalice: The Trial of Tsarevich Alexei

The Streltsy Uprising of 1698: Peter the Great’s Reckoning

In 1698, while Peter the Great was touring Europe on his Grand Embassy, four regiments of the Streltsy—Moscow’s elite musketeers—marched on the capital. This episode jumps into the uprising that nearly toppled Peter before he had fully taken power. We explore the Streltsy’s grievances: back pay, foreign influence, and rumors that Peter had been replaced by a German impostor. When Peter returned from the West, he exacted a brutal revenge—mass executions, public beheadings, and the systematic dismantling of the Streltsy as a military force. We discuss the role of Sophia Alekseyevna, Peter’s half-sister, who may have incited the rebellion, and the gruesome aftermath at Preobrazhenskoye. The revolt hardened Peter’s distrust of the old guard and accelerated his Westernizing reforms. Names, dates, and places: Streltsy, Sophia Alekseyevna, Preobrazhenskoye, Franz Lefort, Patrick Gordon, the execution at Lobnoye Mesto, the torture chamber at Preobrazhensky Priask. This is the story of a rebellion that changed Russia’s future. #Streltsy #PeterTheGreat #RussianHistory #TsardomOfRussia #1698 #SophiaAlekseyevna #GrandEmbassy #Preobrazhenskoye #LobnoyeMesto #MilitaryHistory #Rebellion #Executions #Boyars #ForeignInfluence #Moscow #FexingoHistory #History #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Peter the Great's Northern War: The Battle of Poltava

In 1709, Peter the Great faced his greatest military test at the Battle of Poltava in Ukraine. Charles XII of Sweden had invaded Russia, marching deep into the heart of the country. But Peter's reformed army, forged in the fires of defeat at Narva years earlier, now stood ready. We trace the campaign from the Swedish invasion through the brutal winter of 1708-1709, the scorched-earth tactics that bled the Swedish army, and the decisive clash at Poltava where Peter personally led his troops. We also explore the role of Ivan Mazepa, the Ukrainian hetman who switched sides to Sweden, and the aftermath that established Russia as a major European power. Along the way, we discuss Peter's new military tactics, artillery, and the transformation of the Russian army from a medieval force to a modern fighting machine. #PeterTheGreat #BattleOfPoltava #GreatNorthernWar #CharlesXII #IvanMazepa #RussianHistory #SwedishHistory #UkrainianHistory #1709 #Poltava #MilitaryHistory #Tsar #EasternEurope #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #18thCentury #Empire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Peter the Great's First Navy: Building Russia's Azov Fleet

In 1695, Peter the Great's first siege of Azov failed disastrously — because Russia had no navy. Over the winter of 1695-96, the tsar mobilized thousands of carpenters, Dutch shipbuilders, and forced laborers to construct a fleet from scratch on the Voronezh River. This episode follows the frantic shipbuilding that produced the Azov fleet: two ships of the line, four fireships, and over a thousand galleys, barges, and supply vessels. We explore the role of Franz Lefort and Patrick Gordon, the use of confiscated church bells for cannon bronze, the logistical nightmare of transporting materials to Voronezh, and the final victory in July 1696. We also touch on the tensions with the Boyar Duma and the Streltsy, and how this naval triumph reshaped Peter's vision for Russia. #PeterTheGreat #AzovFleet #RussianNavy #Voronezh #FranzLefort #PatrickGordon #TsardomOfRussia #Shipbuilding #GreatNorthernWar #AzovCampaigns #BoyarDuma #Streltsy #Galley #DonRiver #17thCentury #EasternEurope #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Peter the Great's Secret Weapon: The Grand Embassy's Underground Network

In 1697, Tsar Peter I embarked on a secret mission that would change Russia forever. Under the guise of a simple soldier named Peter Mikhailov, he traveled with the Grand Embassy across Europe, not just to learn shipbuilding and military tactics, but to recruit thousands of specialists—engineers, architects, doctors, and craftsmen—to modernize Russia. This episode dives into the hidden recruitment network: how Peter and his agents like Jacob Bruce and Franz Lefort negotiated with foreign experts, bypassed royal restrictions, and smuggled knowledge into Russia. We explore the bribes, the contracts, the defectors, and the cultural clashes that followed. From the Dutch shipyards of Zaandam to the workshops of London and Vienna, discover how Peter's personal charm and iron will attracted a wave of talent that built St. Petersburg, the Russian navy, and the foundations of the empire. #PeterTheGreat #GrandEmbassy #RussianHistory #Modernization #17thCentury #EuropeanHistory #Shipbuilding #JacobBruce #FranzLefort #Zaandam #London #Vienna #PeterMikhailov #Recruitment #ForeignExperts #StPetersburg #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Peter the Great's War on Corruption: The Fiscal Reforms of Russia

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore Peter the Great's relentless campaign against corruption, a lesser-known but crucial pillar of his modernization of Russia. From the creation of the fiskal system — a network of secret informants — to the establishment of the Governing Senate and the introduction of regular audits, Peter attacked graft with the same ferocity he brought to the battlefield. We delve into the story of Alexei Kurbatov, the serf-turned-innovator who proposed revenue stamps, and the fate of Prince Mikhail Gagarin, the Siberian governor executed for embezzlement. The episode examines Peter's 1714 decree on bribery, his use of the dreaded Preobrazhensky Prikaz to investigate officials, and the creation of the Revenue Collegium. We also discuss how Peter's reforms laid the groundwork for modern Russian bureaucracy while highlighting the cultural and social challenges he faced, including resistance from the boyars and regional governors. This episode offers a fresh perspective on Peter's state-building efforts, showing that his vision extended beyond ships and cities to the very integrity of governance. #PeterTheGreat #Corruption #FiscalReforms #RussianHistory #FiskalSystem #GoverningSenate #AlexeiKurbatov #PrinceGagarin #PreobrazhenskyPriask #RevenueCollegium #1714Decree #Bribery #18thCentury #EasternEurope #History #FexingoHistory #Modernization #Bureaucracy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]