Peter's heart was sorely wrung by giving up Azof, and his fleet, and his outlet to the Southern seas.

The peace was costly, but welcome; and Catherine had earned his everlasting gratitude.
The Tsar now returned to the task of reforming his people.

There were to be no more prostrations before him: the petitioner must call himself "subject," not "slave," and must stand upright like a man in his presence, even if he had to use his stick to make him do so! The Asiatic caftan and the flowing robes must go along with the beards; the _terem_, with its "twenty-seven locks," must be abolished; the wives and daughters dragged from their seclusion must be clothed like Europeans.

Marriage must not be compelled, and the betrothed might see each other before the wedding ceremony.
If it is difficult to civilize one willing barbarian, what must it have been to compel millions to put on the garment of respectability which they hated! Never before was there such a complete social reorganization, so entire a change in the daily habits of a whole people; and so violently effected.

It required a soul of iron and a hand of steel to do it; and it has been well said that Russia was knouted into civilization.