ce with Turkey had been signed in order that the {141} Russians
might march westward to the Baltic sea. Their repulse showed the
determination of the Tsar, who had learnt a lesson from the humiliation
he had endured. He began to train soldiers and sailors again, and sent
for more foreigners to teach the art of war. The very church-bells
were melted into cannon-balls that he might conquer the all-conquering
Swedes.

Moscow, which consisted largely of wooden buildings, caught fire and
was burnt in 1701, both palace and state offices falling to the ground.
The capital had dreadful memories for the Tsar, who wished to build a
new fort looking out upon the Baltic Sea. Its ancient churches and
convents did not attract him, for religion was strongly associated in
his mind with the stubborn opposition of the priesthood, which
invariably met his plans for reform.

Petersburg rose in triumph on an island of the Neva when the estuary
had been seized by a superb effort of the Tsar. It was on a damp
unhealthy site and contained only wooden huts in its first period of
occupation, but inhabitants were quickly found. The Tsar was
autocratic enough to bid his _boyards_, or nobles, move there despite
all their complaints. He built the church of St Peter and St Paul, and
drew merchants thither by promises of trade. "Let him build towns,"
his adversary said with scorn, "there will be all the more for us to
take."

The King of Poland had allied himself with Russia against Sweden, but
proved faithless and unscrupulous as the contest waxed keen. Augustus
had found some qualities in the Tsar which appealed to him, for he was
boisterous in mirth himself and a hard drinker, but his principal
concern was for the safety of his own throne and the security of his
own dominions. After two {142} decisive defeats, he was expelled from
the throne of Poland by Charles XII, who placed Stanislaus Leszczynski
in his place. This alarmed Peter, who had relied on Poland's help.
The winter and cold proved a better ally of Russia in the end than any
service which Augustus paid. The Tsar wisely drew the Swedish army
into the desert-lands, where many thousands died of cold and hunger.
He met the forlorn remnants of a glorious band at Poltava in 1709, and
routed them with ease. Narva was avenged, for the Swedish King had to
be led from the battlefield by devoted comrades and placed in retreat
in Turkey, where he was the Sultan's guest. Charles' luc