The Siege of Azov in 1695: Peter the Great's First Military Test

In 1695, Peter the Great launched his first major military campaign: a siege on the Ottoman fortress of Azov, which controlled the Don River's access to the Sea of Azov. This episode dives deep into the strategic importance of Azov, the logistical nightmare of moving a Russian army across the steppe, and the crucial role of foreign advisors like Patrick Gordon and Franz Lefort. We examine the siege's failure—due to lack of a navy—and how Peter used that defeat to build Russia's first fleet in the Voronezh shipyards, culminating in the successful second siege of 1696. Along the way, we discuss the streltsy's performance, the introduction of European siege tactics, and how Azov became the springboard for Peter's Grand Embassy. This is a story of ambition, failure, and the birth of Russian naval power. #SiegeOfAzov #PeterTheGreat #Azov #RussianNavy #Voronezh #PatrickGordon #FranzLefort #Streltsy #OttomanEmpire #DonRiver #SeaOfAzov #GrandEmbassy #1695 #1696 #MilitaryHistory #TsardomOfRussia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo