Peter arrived on the bank of the Pruth with 38,000 exhausted soldiers.
There he found himself surrounded by 200,000 Turks and Tartars. Peter
gained a slight success, but not of sufficient importance to extricate
or relieve him. Fearing an overwhelming calamity, Peter was prepared
to make immense sacrifices in return for peace, and even to surrender
Azof and the territory taken from Sweden, when his second wife
Catherine had a happy thought. She collected all the money and jewels
in the Russian camp, and sent them as a present to the Grand Vizier in
command of the enemy, asking at the same time, what terms he would (p. 161)
make. They were found unexpectedly reasonable: the surrender of Azof,
the razing of the Russian forts erected on Turkish territory, and that
Charles XII should be free to return to Sweden. Peter accepted
eagerly, much as he regretted the loss of Azof and the failure of his
schemes.

In 1713, a Russian fleet under Admiral Apraxine, with Peter serving
under him as vice-admiral, captured several cities on the Baltic, and
a Russian force entered north Germany. An alliance was formed against
him and Peter decided to make an attempt at an alliance with France.
In 1718, just as peace was being concluded with Charles XII, the King
of Sweden, died and war broke out anew, lasting until 1721, when, by
the Peace of Nystad, Sweden surrendered to Russia Livonia, Esthonia,
and part of Finland. Peter had his way: Russia had open ports.

Peter was greatly pleased, and Russia rejoiced with him. The senate
and Holy Synod conferred upon him the titles of "the Great, the Father
of his country, and Emperor of all the Russias." In 1722, Peter led an
expedition to the Caspian Sea. He captured Baku and five other
important towns. He died three years later, in 1725.

XIX--PETER THE GREAT AND HIS TIME. (p. 162)

Before judging Peter the Great, the time in which he lived, and the
conditions which prevailed should receive careful consideration.
Throughout Western Europe, in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, in
parliamentary England and republican Holland, the people, that is the
masses, toiled early and late for the privilege of paying the taxes;
all immunities were reserved for the favored few composing the
aristocracy.

There was no education among the people, with the exception perhaps of
Holland, then still a power of the first rank. The principle was that
the interests of the in