This episode explores the early years of Charles XII of Sweden and Peter the Great of Russia, setting the stage for the Great Northern War. Against the backdrop of Sweden's military prowess and Charles's ascetic, militaristic upbringing, the podcast details his rise to power and initial victories against a coalition of enemies, including Denmark, Saxony, and Russia. More significantly, the discussion highlights Peter the Great's efforts to modernize Russia and gain access to the Baltic Sea, leading to the founding of St. Petersburg amidst immense hardship and resistance. As the discussion pivots to Charles's obsession with punishing Augustus the Strong, Peter seizes the opportunity to build a new army and capture key territories. In contrast to Peter's pragmatic approach, Charles's unwavering commitment to total war and belief in his own invincibility set the stage for a fateful invasion of Russia, despite warnings and opportunities for peace. The episode concludes with Charles poised to march on Moscow, his hubris foreshadowing potential disaster, setting the stage for the next phase of the Great Northern War.
