RUSSIA KNOUTED INTO CIVILIZATION--PETER DEAD While Peter was absorbing more territory on the Baltic, and while he was with frenzied haste building his new city, Charles XII.

was still hiding in Poland.

The Turks were burning with desire to recapture Azof, and the Khan of Tartary had his own revenges and reprisals at heart urging him on; so, at the instigation of Charles and the Khan, the Sultan declared war against Russia in 1710.
It seemed to the Russian people like a revival of their ancient glories when their Tsar, with a great army, was following in the footsteps of the Grand Princes to free the Slav race from its old infidel enemies.
Catherine, from whom Peter would not be separated, was to be his companion in the campaign.

But the enterprise, so fascinating in prospect, was attended with unexpected disaster and suffering; and the climax was finally reached when Peter was lying ill in his tent, with an army of only 24,000 men about to face one of over 200,000--Tatars and Turks--commanded by skilled generals, adherents of Charles XII.
This was probably the darkest hour in Peter's career.

The work of his life was about to be overthrown; it seemed as if a miracle could not save him.