Peter the Great's Decision to Go to War with Sweden
Explain why Peter decided to go to war with Sweden. Peter declared war on Sweden in August 1700 with the most important aim of expansion and regaining lost territories. He had also hoped to weaken the power and might of the Swedish empire and in doing this, create a more powerful and prestigious image for Russia as he has tried to do throughout his reign so far. Despite the fact that Peter had not yet completed his conquest of the Ottoman empire in the south, he decided to impose war on Sweden perhaps because in Lee's opinion Sweden was “more immediately vulnerable and exploitable” than Turkey was and so Peter felt the time was right to challenge Sweden and leave his plans in the south, such as breaking through to the Black sea, to embark upon at a later date. Another reason for Peters change in tact could have been because of the recent bitter disappoint of the 30 year truce that had just signed with the Turks. It meant that no Russian ships were allowed on the Black Sea and that the Turks kept control of Kerch. This meant a dead end for Peter in regards to southwards expansion as Kerch blocked access to the Black Sea and it could now not be attacked. This would have been hugely frustrating to Peter considering all of the time effort and resources that had been undertaken to defeat the Turks and would have contributed to his decision to abandon plans in the south and turn his attention to Sweden in the North. Peter also deeply resented the reception he received at Swedish held Riga which Swift describes as “less than warm”- this could also have contributed to Peters decision to attack Sweden. Peters main priority when embarking upon war with Sweden was gain access to the Baltic sea in order to recapture Ingria and Karelia- lands that had been lost to Sweden in the seventeenth century which Peter felt he had a “moral claim” to. Not only would this have meant the partition and therefore weakening of the Swedish empire but would also have gave Russia a more