red greatly in demanding a position in the State.

Peter altered the betrothal customs, insisting that the bridal couple
should meet before the actual ceremonies took place. He gave
assemblies to which his subjects were obliged by _ukase_ or edict to
bring the women of their families, and he endeavoured to promote that
social life which had been unknown in Russia when she was cut off from
the west. He approved of dancing and music, and took part in revels of
a more boisterous {144} kind. He drank very heavily in his later days,
and was peremptory in bidding both men and women share the convivial
pleasures of his court. National feeling was suspicious of all
feminine influence till the affable Catherine entered public life. She
interceded for culprits, and could often calm her husband in his most
violent moods. Gradually the attitude changed which had made proverbs
expressing such sentiments as "A woman's hair is long, but her
understanding is short."

Peter's fierce impetuous nature bore the nation along the new channel
in which he chose that it should flow. He played at being a servant,
but he made use of the supreme authority of an Emperor. All men became
absorbed in his strong imperious personality which differed from the
general character of the Russian of his day. Relentless severity
marked his displeasure when any disaffection was likely to thwart his
favourite plans. He sacrificed his eldest son Alexis to this theory
that every man must share his tastes. "The knout is not an angel, but
it teaches men to tell the truth," he said grimly, as he examined the
guilty by torture and drew confession with the lash.

St Petersburg became the residence of the nobles. They had to desert
their old estates and follow the dictates of a Tsar whose object it was
to push continually toward the west. Labourers died in thousands while
the city was built and destroyed again by winter floods, but the past
for Russia was divided from the future utterly at Peter's death in 1725.

{145}

Chapter XIII

The Royal Robber

Peter the Great had paid a famous visit to the Prussian court, hoping
to conclude an alliance with Frederick William I against Charles XII,
his northern adversary. Queen Catherine and her ladies had been
sharply criticized when they arrived at Berlin, and Peter's own bearing
did not escape much adverse comment and secret ridicule; nevertheless
he received many splendid presents, and these, no do