Chinese history has no shortage of emperors throughout the ages, and there is no shortage of heroes who have assisted the emperors of the ages in creating a prosperous era, and these Chinese historical figures are familiar and well-known. In fact, looking at the history of the world, there is no shortage of ancient emperors and heroes, such as Peter I of the Russian Romanov Dynasty, who is a well-deserved emperor for Russian history.
During the reign of Peter I, Russia became a European power, ushering in the prosperity of the Romanov dynasty and being honored as "Peter the Great". Peter I was able to create a prosperous era, of course, there are also heroes who assisted him, and the historical figure to be introduced now is one of them, his name is Alexander Danilovich Menshkov, hereinafter referred to as "Menshkov".
Alexander Danilovich Menshkov
Born in 1673 as the child of a poor family, Menshkov had been selling cakes on the streets of Moscow, the capital of Russia, as a young man, and Peter I was a year older than him. When he was young, Peter I often patrolled the streets of Moscow and noticed this teenager of his own age.
Once, while wandering the streets of Moscow, Peter I found Menshkov arguing with a soldier. Somehow provoked this soldier, Menshkov was beaten by this soldier, Peter I immediately stopped this soldier, and put Menshkov into his own junior legion, Menshkov's fate changed from then on.
Menshkov's loyalty and diligence won the trust of Peter I, who made him his close attendant, and whether Peter I went out on a tour or commanded the battlefield, he could not leave Peter I.
In the early days of the reign of Peter I, Russia had no access to the sea in Europe, and its national strength was also different from that of the European powers. At that time, the Palatinate dynasty ruled Sweden was also one of the European powers, dominating northern and Eastern Europe, and the Baltic Sea area was also Sweden's territory, and Russia had to defeat Sweden and obtain the Baltic Sea outlet to rise. As a result, Russia and Sweden fought a 20-year -- long "Great Northern War."
Peter I of the Romanov dynasty of Russia
In the Great Northern War, Peter I personally served as commander of the Russian army, and Menshkov served as Peter I's close attendant in the Northern Expedition. Perhaps Menshkov was a natural military genius who had not studied military much at all, but showed amazing military talent on the battlefield, commanding the Russian army to defeat the Swedish army many times, including the Battle of Lesnaya, the Battle of Poltava and several other major victories.
It was not until 1721 that Russia completely defeated Sweden, won a complete victory in the Great Northern War, won the Baltic Sea outlet, expanded Russia's territory, and replaced Sweden as a European power. In the same year, Peter I was officially crowned emperor and changed the name of the country to "Russian Empire".
Menshkov, as russia's number one contributor to the defeat of Sweden, of course, received the high-ranking official Houlu, who became a close confidant of Peter I. In addition to his military contribution to Russia, Menshkov also made a fairly good contribution to assisting Peter I in governing the country, vigorously developing industry and commerce economically, including the establishment of various enterprises, factories, etc., and also built the world-famous St. Petersburg as the new capital of the Romanov dynasty.
Menshkov commanded the Russian army to defeat the Swedish army
Menshkov could have been a famous hero in history, but his ambitions made him late.
As early as when Menshkoff led his troops to fight against the Swedish army, from time to time he would plunder the towns he had captured, which was inconsistent with the strictness of Peter I's military administration, but Peter I ignored his relationship with him, and Peter I's queen Catherine I was also sent to him as a lover by Menshkov's men after plundering, and later became Peter I's empress by chance.
In addition, when Menshkov was vigorously developing industry and commerce, he also used his power to enrich his own pockets, and Peter I heard about this situation, but still ignored him, and only after exhorting him did he restrain himself.
In 1725, Peter I died of a serious illness, and Menshkov, who was already in a high position, arranged for his old lover, Empress Peter I, to succeed to the throne, catherine I. Catherine I was hardly involved in military and political affairs, and all were handled by Menshkov. Two years later, in 1727, Catherine I died and was succeeded by Peter I's grandson Peter II, with Menshkov still in control.
Menshkov also had political enemies in the court, and in order to eliminate Menshkov, these political enemies informed the young Peter II that the reason why his father, the former Crown Prince Alexei, was executed by Peter I was that Menshkov plotted to kill Crown Prince Alexei for the sake of power. The unknown Peter II was so outraged that he ordered Menshkov to be stripped of all his powers and exiled as a family to the desolate regions of Siberia.
On the way to exile, Menshkov's wife tragically died, leaving him and his three daughters to go to the desolate penal colony. Two years later, in 1729, Menshkov died of depression in exile at the age of 56, leaving his three orphaned daughters to live a miserable life in exile.
Menshkov, a teenager who sold cakes on the streets of Moscow, later became the hero of the creation of the world of Peter I, the emperor of Russia, but in the end it was such a tragic end.
Menshkov was in exile with his three daughters