Peter the Great's Grand Embassy: Russia's First European Tour

In 1697, Tsar Peter I embarked on an unprecedented journey: an 18-month tour of Western Europe under a false name, seeking technology, shipbuilding knowledge, and allies against the Ottoman Empire. This episode follows Peter's Grand Embassy from Riga to Amsterdam, London, and Vienna, where he apprenticed as a shipwright, hired hundreds of experts, and even witnessed a dissection. We explore how Peter's encounters with Dutch and English shipyards, the Royal Society, and the British parliament shaped his vision for modernizing Russia. Along the way, we uncover the diplomatic tensions, the Streltsy revolt that cut the trip short, and the seeds of the Great Northern War. Lucas and Luna discuss Peter's infamous behavior—like paying a fortune to see a flea circus—and the lasting impact of his industrial espionage. From the Zaandam cottage to the dissection of a severed head, this episode reveals how one tsar's obsession with the West transformed Russia forever. #PeterTheGreat #GrandEmbassy #RussianHistory #RomanovDynasty #Shipbuilding #DutchRepublic #England #Zaandam #RoyalSociety #GreatNorthernWar #Streltsy #IndustrialEspionage #TsarPeterI #Vienna #Amsterdam #History #FexingoHistory #EasternEurope #TsarNicholasII #CatherineTheGreat Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo