I'm going to go. He's

a-a-ra-s-s-s-s-s-a-s-s-a-s-a-s- Hey Uphunya!

Welcome to the Russian rulers podcast, episode 27. Peter likes to play war.

Last week we saw how Sophia Miloslavskaya became regent

and the powerbroker in Russia,

manipulating the brutish Streltsi to achieve her goals.

Peter and his mother Natalia witnessed a number of horrific murders of friends and relatives, including Afinasi and Ivan Narishkin and

Ardemon Madveev. Sophia and Natalia were now mortal enemies and with Sophia in power, Natalia and Peter headed out of Moscow to enjoy

the safety of Sarra Lexi's favorite hunting lounge and the town of Priobroj and Scoy, which was about three miles northeast of Moscow.

Lying on the banks of the Yousa River, Priobraj and Scoy was the perfect place for Peter to grow up, away from the memories and intrigues of the capital.

And grow, Peter did.

Every once in a while he returned to Moscow to perform ceremonial functions such as greeting

visiting dignitaries, signing treaties, and attending religious festivals.

He chafed when he was forced to sit through the long ceremonies. So Peter was

happy that his trips to Moscow were few and far between. But when he attended an event,

Peter was a natural as Englebert Kampfer, the Secretary of the Ambassador of King Charles the 11th of Sweden wrote,

Both their majesty sat on a silver throne like a bishop's chair, somewhat raised and covered

with red cloth.

The Tsars wore robes of silver cloth woven with red and white flowers and instead of septors had long

golden staves bent at the end like Bishop's crowsiers on, as on the breastplate of their robbers, their breasts

and their caps glittered white, green, and other precious stones.

The Elder drew his cap down on the floor, sat almost immovable. The younger had a

...