I’m catching up on Revolutions, and in the episode I just listened to there was a brief mention of Peter the Great traveling incognito as part of a Russian delegation to other countries in 1697. But Peter the Great was also very very tall.
Was Peter the Great really able to travel incognito? Was so little known about Russia and its ruler that people were just like “well that’s a giant Russian”? Or was it more of a polite fiction where everyone knew who he was but pretended they didn’t?
Or was it more of a polite fiction where everyone knew who he was but pretended they didn’t?
This is closer to the mark, as you'll see in a moment. As always, we will never turn down any further posts that wish to provide more insight on Peter the Great, so if you can contribute, please don't let this post stop you!
In the meantime, here are some previous posts on Peter and his embassy: