Peter The Great, The Physically Enormous Czar Who Modernized Russia

Czar Peter the Great of Russia casts a long shadow over history. A giant of a man, with appetites for learning and adventure to match, he did more to modernize his country than pretty much any other ruler before or since. But who was Peter the Great as a man, a father, and a reformer?
#PeterTheGreat #RussianHistory #WeirdHistory

[@spicytrash4981]

This is what the History Channel used to be and we need it so badly.

[@monkeygraborange]

History is _raaaaaaaaaaaacist!!!_

[@fleetcenturion]

You mean leaving out half the story, and screwing up important details? Yeah, they definitely do that.

[@Alma2525]

We need it badly???? Ok weirdo

[@MattTee1975]

Drunk History is more accurate than this channel.

[@RevanJJ]

I remember when history channel wasn’t aliens shows 24/7 lol

[@benisaten]

There's just something about this narrators voice and style that could make anything interesting. Hope TIMELINE comes back, those videos were great. Cheers.

[@ashleelarsen5002]

Ditto!

[@rogerdargartz1864]

He announced Timeline 1970's a while ago. I've been waiting, too

[@Lownamebrand]

@@rogerdargartz1864 literally came to say this as well after 70s I'm hoping for 60s that would be incredibly interesting

[@ryankravitz5151]

think it’s time the narrator gave us a face reveal

[@breamargot3529]

I’ve been wondering who this narrator is! I can’t find out and I want to know haha!

[@someboiontheinternet9283]

this dude is wicked, 7 foot tall and almost single handedly modernised russia. I'd vote for him.

[@dr.floridaman4805]

serfs don't vote

[@ImNotaRussianBot]

Monarchs don't need votes. Their power is given to them by "divine right".

[@Happy-fu7fb]

@@dr.floridaman4805 Facts 💯!

[@SavioureG]

You did get the part about him beating his son to death right?

[@carrofoda9204]

@@SavioureG Hes son would kill him so is kinda fair

[@Mr_M_History]

Thanks so much for providing a great history channel to look up to. Love your work!

[@schizoidboy]

One thing I heard about Peter the Great was his military education. He started as a boy playing war games, but his games involved real weapons and in the beginning he started out as a drummer boy, however, as he learned how to use weapons he promoted himself. These games were not just kids playing soldier. He took these games very seriously and in some instances people got killed in them. These war games would prepare him for fighting against Sweden years later against the Swedish King Charles who was also a proficient soldier. Missed here was how Peter died. He dove in some freezing water to save a soldier and the exposure killed him.

[@Borderose]

His playmates, most of whom the sons of servants, neighbors, and lower nobles also essentially became the Russian Imperial Guard. The boys stayed together. His war games did start with toys. But because he was a prince as they got better and better he started sending letters requesting for material from the armory. The letter that struck me most was his letter to his mother at the time, requesting for more rope as a birthday gift. He was gonna use the rope so he and his friends can build some warships out of boats and fight each other on a nearby lake. As they all got older, Peter did recognize things were getting dangerous and they can only do so much by themselves so he requested trainers: old army vets who could show them how to run an army and organize a company. As he did latet when he became emperor, even in his toy army Peter insisted everyone, including himself, had to start from the bottom. As mentioned, he started as a drummer boy. Then a gunner, and by the end I think he believes he's earned sergeant. When he became the Tsar he enrolled into his own service as a gunner again.

[@lalita9041]

He died because of liver damage and urine bladder infection. He also had hepatitis.

[@Scraggledust]

His tour of Europe is one of my favorite “epic” history stories!

[@barbiquearea]

It is said that Peter the Great started the Russian tradition of breaking glasses after toasts. Its believed that once he was presented with a fine glass cup by a esteemed glass maker by the name of Yefim Smolin. Smolin assured his emperor that the glass could not be broken. Taking this as a challenge, during a banquet, Peter threw his new glass cup on the ground, smashing it to pieces. The people in attendance parrotted their sovereign by also throwing their glass cups to the floor and littering the ground with shards of glass. Thus a new trend was spawned, where breaking drinkware on special occasions (such as parties and weddings) began. In Russia its believed this custom brings good luck and happiness. The man was truly a rockstar long before they were even a thing.

[@whiteowl4097]

Not to the people that have to clean up all the broken glass.

[@BigpapamoneymanMVPtypebeat]

I’ve always dreamed of having a small home bar in my basement, and making the corner of the room just for whipping shot glasses lmao have like tile or a metal floor ect to easily sweep 🧹 😂

[@Replicaate]

My favorite anecdote about Peter the Great was how when he met some Hanoverian princesses (one of whom was to be the mother of fellow The Great, Frederick II of Prussia) and after giving them some crushing Russian hugs then remarked how strange it was that German women had such hard bones - it was because he'd felt the hard canes/whalebones of their corsets, of course.

[@dvdv8197]

When Peter the Great first met his future wife, was she tsarstruck? 🤷‍♀️

[@monkeygraborange]

You win! 🤣 👍

[@titansfitness3393]

😄😄😄

[@BlackIce3190]

Not after he stuck her in a convent.

[@KM-go9ck]

😅😅

[@swedichboy1000]

Speaking as a swede, he was a worthy adversary indeed.

[@channellegendarium7677]

Peter the Great provides a stark contrast with the majority of Romanov tsars, who tended to focus on expanding their realm south and east while not fundamentally changing a country that struck many people of the time as two or three centuries behind the times.

[@drpepper3838]

Funfact: when tsar Peter the great came to amsterdam to learn all about shipbuilding and tactics he was so impressed that he took the colours of the Dutch flag switching the order creating the modern Russian one.

[@vaziralramin4565]

Just another myth about Peter. The colours of Russian flag were created before he was even born.

[@drpepper3838]

@@vaziralramin4565 The earliest mention of the flag occurs during the reign of Alexis I, in 1668, and is related to the construction of the first Russian naval ship, the frigate Oryol. According to one source, the ship's Dutch lead engineer Butler faced the need for the flag, and issued a request to the Boyar Duma, to "ask His Royal Majesty as to which (as is the custom among other nations) flag shall be raised on the ship". The official response merely indicated that, as such issue is as yet unprecedented, even though the land forces do use (apparently different) flags, the tsar ordered that his (Butler's) opinion be sought about the matter, asking specifically as to the custom existing in his country.[3]

[@drpepper3838]

@@vaziralramin4565 A different account traces the origins of the Russian flag to tsar Peter the Great's visits to Arkhangelsk in 1693 and 1694. Peter was keenly interested in shipbuilding in the European style, different from the barges ordinarily used in Russia at the time. In 1693, Peter had ordered a Dutch-built frigate from Amsterdam. In 1694 when it arrived, the Dutch red, white, and blue banner flew from its stern.[4] Peter decided to model Russia's naval flag after that banner by assigning meaning and reordering the colours.

[@Sova1453]

@@drpepper3838 Петр Первый очень полюбил Нидерланды и даже город Санкт-Петербург строился вдохновленный Амстердамом. Так что вполне возможно и флаг был взят из подражания голландцам. Только Бело-сине-красный использовался до конца 19 века только на торговых судах

[@NewMessage]

"Peter's coming to town for an official visit... I hope he likes my beard. Cross your fingers, eh? No! Not like that!"

[@jenniferlee1993]

Considering people at the time were maybe 5 foot tall. Seeing a guy nearly 7 foot, must have been shocking.

[@thevolatilitywhisperer7616]

It still shocks me tbh.

[@MrSupernova111]

Can you cite proof that the average person was 5' during Peter the Great's reign?

[@kevinbergin2225]

@@MrSupernova111 I thought he was closer to 6'-7" anyway.

[@cevadesign]

@@MrSupernova111 The average height in Europe during the 1700’s was 5‘4" to be specific. (And Peter the Great was closer to 6’8")

[@MrSupernova111]

@@cevadesign . The average person where? Do you know that people around the world have vastly different average heights? Before regurgitating nonsense you people should get your facts straight.

[@muftyhussein1144]

Can’t believe you left out the second War against Sweden 1709. Where he defeated the best army in Europe.

[@jherlenecargill4081]

I deeply appreciate the use of Russian composers for the background music :)

[@ericoberlies7537]

I believe he died after jumping into the river to save someone who’s boat was foundering. He never designated an heir, the written decree unfinished. His death was followed by two decades of dynastic turmoil, with his second wife, various descendants, and relatives all trading the throne. Finally, in 1742, his daughter Elizabeth took power. She is known for her infrastructure and educational improvement programs, and the fact that not a single person was executed during her reign.

[@zach7193]

Heard about him from Russia: The Land of the Tsars from the History Channel. Great choice of music for this.

[@kallekas8551]

I have been lucky enough to go to St Petersburg which he established… truly amazing!

[@BryanHo]

One of my favorite European monarchs. Robert Massie wrote the definitive biography of Peter the Great which I highly recommend.

[@herodotus945]

Too bad that Putin isn't half as sane as Peter was.

[@SavioureG]

@@herodotus945 Sane? the guy that beat his own son to death is "sane"?

[@desiqti]

@@SavioureG Peter sacrificed his life and soul to Russia, while his son wasn't that nuts and they weren't alike, his son didn't really care about Russia, and just wanted to take all goods from life, which pissed off Peter. So yeah, Peter was too valorous he couldn't be considered sane anymore, but for Russia he was a miracle. You can see a perfect example what could've been with Russia if Peter's son had become new ruler of Russia - it's Putin. We can admit Peter was not sane, but in a good way. And because he killed his son he also saved Russia from terrible ruler, this is ridiculous, but that's actually shows how horrible monarchy can be.

[@SavioureG]

@@desiqti or he could have just handed the throne to someone else? Killing his son wasn't the only option on the table....

[@herodotus945]

@@SavioureG By russian standards it is.

[@simplemind7]

Killing his kid for not submitting to his vague ideals, it's not so great, Pete.

[@alycemartinez7022]

This is literally my favorite channel on KZbin 🤗

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

I really wish you'd do a whole video on Peter and his entourage trashing the Englishman's estate.

[@ShaySovaOfficial]

Ah. One of my favorite monarchies!!!! ☺️

[@charlieryan1736]

Thanks for another interesting and entertaining video

[@butternutpickle234]

Weird History is the best! I would love to see a video of how the views of mental health have changed over the centuries

[@JeighNeither]

Search the Channel data base, there have been a lot of videos on mental health practices and views throughout history, with most of them usually making comparisons to modern times.

[@sandyereca]

This is one of my favorite channels and I'm so glad that I'm early

[@N_0968]

In power at 10, eh? That’s an achievement.

[@imaginelizabeth]

Wasn’t anything he did.

[@Jetwolf]

@@imaginelizabeth I think that's the unspoken punch line :)

[@N_0968]

Love the music by the way!

[@catalin2766]

You're telling me that Peter The Swole didn't have any stories about bench pressing a horse? Bending the sword of a guard? Anything? Still an interesting character but still....

[@Borderose]

He did take an axe or hammer to create a big ass hole in his cabin wall just so he can get back to building sooner and have a better eye at how things were progressing as he had lunch.

[@BlackIce3190]

He did used to throw parties where bears server shots of vodka, and if his men found you weren’t drunk enough, he’d punch you in the face. He also invited all the dwarves in Russia to live in Moscow. He liked to make giant cakes with a naked dwarf inside them, then send them to his buddies. You can. Guess what happened.

[@michaelsinger4638]

Such a remarkable, fascinating man.

[@emilyhenderson1928]

Thanks!

[@hermit7903]

This was great!😀

[@odonnaspiteri]

Would you consider doing an episode about Barba Rossa, who was a mercenary soldier in the 1500s and worked with Turkish invaders?

[@sarahburggraf907]

Love this channel

[@sagemorgan983]

He banned beards! This guy was too funny.. lol 😂

[@michaelfernandez8413]

Love this video great humour

[@otysb209]

Would totally throw down for some “So What Do You Think?” merch! Or any at alllllllL, you guys are certainly a highlight of the week ^-^

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Peter may be good or evil but he did great things.

[@jgallardo7344]

Definitely transformed the country into the path of being a global power

[@herodotus945]

@@jgallardo7344 A global power with pathetic army and military equipment that can't take over even Ukraine.

[@cani5761]

Terrible but great

[@ruthanneseven]

Too short! 💖

[@billyboucher2629]

Love the civ 6 music at the beginning.

[@Westernman1415]

One of the best rulers of all time

[@ivareskesner2019]

Fun Peter The Great fact - he was an avid amateur dentist who used to pull his servants teeth for practice.

[@joshuafrimpong244]

Another fact: he had an adopted son, Abram Petrovich Gannibal, who he treated better than his natural son. He would be the grandfather of Alexander Pushkin

[@AeneasGemini]

@@joshuafrimpong244 That the same Gannibal who was adopted from Africa?

[@joshuafrimpong244]

@@AeneasGemini yes

[@cheechiajohri]

Maybe i missed the video a few seconds , what about his museum of Anthropology and Ethnography?🧐

[@Borderose]

Not just dentist. Bootmaker, clockmaker, gunsmith, shipbuilder, carpenter, barber, sailor, tailor, mason.

[@JonahIronstone]

"Building an entire city in a swamp is a bit like trying to build a swing set in a bowl of ice cream, only much more expensive." Ze Frank, are you writing for this show now?

[@DS-re4vs]

LOL

[@SouthoftheHill]

I found out not too long ago that I'm a descendant of Czar Kathryn the Great. She's on my father's mother's side.

[@AstarionWifey]

What proof?

[@Borderose]

From which sire? Orlov? If it's Potemkin you lucked out.

[@Worselol]

Female Czar is Czarina (Tsaritsa in Russia)

[@scottnotpilgrim]

The Zangief mention made the video for me honestly

[@KaptainKirk265]

You should make a video about Abram Petrovich Gannibal

[@ViwernWong]

I haven’t been this early before 👌🏻 I see a new weird history video, I click

[@jish55]

A few other fun facts, Peter would ride 70 miles on horseback nearly every day, he built his cabin to mark the start of St Peterburg in only 3 days, and when him and his crew went to study medicine, his crew got sick when they saw a dead body, embarrassing Peter where he forced each one of them to march back into the room and take a nice bite out of the corpse.

[@chanelfitzgerald]

I love Russian history its so fascinating. The country just never gives up. Great video.

[@jgallardo7344]

“Anastasia (1997)” really drew me into Russian culture. I also am ethnically Russian. I’m very drawn into the woodland aesthetic of the country. Snow, pine trees, bears, swans….so beautiful!

[@chanelfitzgerald]

@@jgallardo7344 Absolutely and not to get too political but it really gives you an insight as to how the country is today. I think everyone should go back into a country's history before commenting on the war. Very, very interesting.

[@mathonamoore123]

I love Russian history. Greetings from Ireland, 15th of April 2022. 🇮🇪❤️

[@tinyGrim1]

love this one ! thank you , Shaka Zulu sometime? 2 of my favorite historic " kings" just very interesting. tyvm

[@mentula3784]

If we're talking great big Peters, Rasputin has to get a mention

[@williamhome8172]

0:34 When this part played my history teacher paused the video and said "I'm so sorry i didn't know this here before!" and yes he did play this video for my class.

[@lexigrimhaive]

Peter was the younger of the co-ruling brothers, not the elder.

[@jessetellez1734]

Can you do an episode on mountain man Ben lilly he lived an interesting life and would make a cool episode my great-grandfather knew him. Thanks and keep up the amazing work

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks for this! 🪆

[@promontorium]

It's weird you don't mention all the war and conquest he engaged in. You mention he got into shipbuilding, but not that he used the ships as a naval force to expand his empire. You mention he had St. Petersburg built, but not that it was on land conquered from Sweden so he could move the capital of Russia further into Europe.

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

But on the up side they did mention the beard tax. So swings n roundabouts.

[@eduarddv00]

military victories, conquests, and expansions are exactly what makes kings/emperors "great"

[@DarkSova]

Земля, на которой был построен Санкт- Петербург, была захвачена Швецией у России в ходе войны 1610-1619 годов

[@wickidbloodymetalqueen7901]

a big Peter lol😂🤣🤣😂🤣 my mind is in another place at the moment

[@btetschner]

That Douglas Adams quote is great.

[@borisjohnsonslostcomb7457]

42

[@btetschner]

@@borisjohnsonslostcomb7457 I just looked that up, thank you for the reference. I don't know anything about Douglas Adams, but he seems very funny.

[@JohnnyAngel8]

From "The Nutcracker" to "The Great Gate of Kiev". You thought I wouldn't notice, didn't you, Weird History? I'm always listening for the unexpected, ....

[@LeoMidori]

5:30 'I'm not owned! im not owned!!', i continue to insist as i light myself on fire

[@NexusDarkworld338]

Considering the current ruler, definitely since as well.

[@deanna.radiant]

I'm your 1k like! 😁🌻

[@einezcrespo2107]

How about Cardinal Richelieu or Mazarin? Two powerful cardinals of France. Or Frederick The Great. Isabella & Ferdinand.

[@kasp5426]

Do one about Kösem Sultan and other Ottoman emperors/empresses

[@Papaseer]

This channel needs a Netflix series

[@justinakers3196]

That is one big Peter.

[@amymoore4896]

This video came at just the right time lol. I am currently reading a fictional account of Peter’s second wife Catherine’s life. Very interesting

[@h29452]

If you haven't already, you should watch The Great. It's a show about Catherine the Great and her marriage to Peter.

[@Bombay1618]

2:00 Gief!

[@brotjack]

Pyotr Alexeyovich Griffin: "Nyehehehe boat ride." 😅

[@kidofflint8812]

Can you do Charles Sumner or John brown

[@feresmourali5783]

Please make a video about Emma Goldman!

[@BloodSweatandFears]

This is the petition to bring “Weird history.” As an actual show on Netflix/Hulu!

[@tkmyrie6565]

Finally! Thanks weird history I used to think all the tsars were bad and incompetent.

[@jr2904]

No worse than than the commies that took over after

[@tkmyrie6565]

@@jr2904 Damn right. Way better than mass murderers.

[@tremorsfan]

It took me a second to realize the background music was from The Nutcracker.

[@frenchabortion]

When are y’all gonna do new episodes of “Time Line” that was my favourite series. I know you can only go so far back. But you can do from 2001-2010

[@sarahprince2412]

They are going to do Timeline again. They are doing the 70's next. Just don't know when. They are probably trying to get the whole decade made before releasing it. It must be a bitch to look up all the info needed for it not to mention very time consuming. Also, would love to see a 00's timeline like you said. Would be interesting.

[@tomurg]

Do a video on his contemporary Charles XII

[@mikeyfrederick1232]

Just gotta say all your content is superb, educational and interesting. I feel like you really honor the real history of the past..let's just say I'm a big fan..

[@herodotus945]

All his content ? You should have seen the shit show that was his video about medieval plate armor or hygiene, all lies.

[@mikeyfrederick1232]

@@herodotus945 oh shit lol womp ok ok

[@jovanweismiller7114]

Hate to tell you, but the argument over how many fingers used to cross oneself had nothing to do with Peter or the West. The Raskol (schism) took place in 1653 before Peter was born and was a result of the Patriarch Nikhon trying to enforce Greek Eastern Orthodox (not Western) practices on the Russian Church. And comparing the Table of Ranks to Magna Carta is really stretching it.

[@JeighNeither]

I have to agree w/that last part; there is nearly 700 years between the two events as well, & time matters when discussing history & doling out credit & making comparisons.

[@markherron1407]

Peter the Great is 8 of Diamonds 💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎 the Sun 🌞 Card ♦️ and King 👑 of Spades ♠️ and Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 Blessings and Hugs 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@sableye3023]

Peter the shredded

[@marcusaurelius9577]

Here is a fact you missed about Peter the Great you forgot about his adopted black son

[@TheFullmetal88m]

If not worthy of the nickname, he still was an interesting ruler

[@mlots1030]

Alexey wanted to restore the old Russian ways. He fled to Naples. That’s why he was beaten.

[@danielfox3003]

At around 4:50 he looks like an incredibly gay Robert Downey Jr.

[@yumiv2344]

Make a video on Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

[@dvdv8197]

Ironically, Russia isn't all that interested in modernizing right about now... 😣😔

[@monkeygraborange]

Wrong

[@KoiYakultGreenTea]

Yeah he’s all about going back to before the ‘great tragedy’ happened

[@rjevans2728]

De-nazifcation is crucial to modernizing 😎

[@rayzas4885]

The west has done what russia is doing countless times

[@DY-ij3ch]

Russia in industrial terms has an economy much more developed than most countries in Europe. It is even more self-sufficient than Germany. Russia will even produce its own microprocessors, which Germany cannot do. I'm not talking about space technology, satellites and my spaceport

[@MrCfredrickson]

7 feet NOT! More like 6' 8"....

[@nicko5945]

Yeah I have no idea why they keep saying 7 feet tall. Anyone that is tall knows that those 4 inches is a big difference.

[@vaga427]

Yes.

[@jakelecroy5553]

Time traveling Ron Jeremy 🤘😝🤘

[@jkudo1300]

do a video on henry the 4th and v of england

[@professorsprout3382]

It is so low key hilarious that they have "Dance of the sugar plum fairies" written by another Peter in the background.

[@jonahrm]

its difficult enough to be an undercover boss on *Undercover Boss*. I think a lot of the bosses on that show are as obvious as Peter the Great was

[@TheJwbooth]

Everybody on the show sure knows who to go to with sob stories. So many people bucking up and dragging into work in spite of their personal tragedies, so heartwarming

[@jkent9915]

Damn, how hard do we need that: “Peter the Swole”

[@kevinbergin2225]

I thought he was closer to 6'-7" anyway.

[@ryangulfa]

Please do Raden Wijaya the founder of Majapahit

[@xelldincht4251]

some interesting things he supposedly said: "Destiny may ride with us today, but there is no reason for it to interfere with lunch" "Soldiers' bellies are not satisfied with empty promises and hopes" "There shall be no promotion [to officer rank] of men of noble extraction or of any others who have not first served as privates in the Guard" "I have civilized my own subjects; I have conquered other nations; yet I have not been able to civilize or to conquer myself" "In case you act in the same way in the future, you may lose your life"

[@KoiYakultGreenTea]

Peter the Swole sounds cool

[@Nathanel-md6uc]

What’s the music used at the introduction?

[@jplouthelgm5156]

Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition