Peter the Great and the Founding of Saint Petersburg

The Romanov Dynasty: Rise, Power, and Bloody End — Fexingo History · May 28, 2026 · 5m · transcript

In this episode of The Romanov Dynasty, Lucas and Luna explore Peter the Great's audacious project to build a new capital from scratch on the swampy delta of the Neva River. They discuss the strategic vision behind Saint Petersburg — Russia's 'window to the West' — and the staggering human cost of its construction, with tens of thousands of serfs dying from disease, malnutrition, and brutal conditions. The conversation covers the fierce Swedish resistance during the Great Northern War, culminating in the decisive Battle of Poltava in 1709, and the Treaty of Nystad in 1721…