Did Peter the Great have any enemies?

Answer 1

Peter the Great had enemies, one of whom was Charles XII of Sweden. He had the most powerful standing army in Europe. Peter wanted an entrance to the Baltic Sea since he had built ships for a war against the Ottoman Empire and entrance to the Black Sea. He could get no support for this on his first trip to Europe. On the trip back was persuaded a three pronged attack from Poland, Denmark and Russia would get him his port. Charles's army had defeated a much larger Russian army of Peter the Great's but were lured into Russia, did not get support they had counted on, had their supply lines from Sweden cut and then lost all at Poltava. He also fought Turkey and was almost taken captive to get a port again.

Peter the Great had more enemies at home than friends and kept them in check by using plain old terror. All the aristocratic families were torn between being his friend and getting power for them selves. He had friends therefore among them Jacob Dolgorusky and enemies like his cousin Vassily Dolgorusky who was exiled but had done him great services. The Golitzines were the same, Boris was his great friend and Vassily lover of his worst enemy . He had enemies among the generals like Sheremetov who also had won great victories for him, and as long as he lived would be faithful but supported his son Alexei. Families and individuals were torn because he was destroying old mores.

He also made enemies with the clergy since on the death of Patriarch Adrian after ten years of being head of the Orthodox Church in Russia he did not appoint a new head but made the church operate as a division of the State. He did not dare take on the church directly but held the Drunken Synod which had Catholic faux officials instead. He melted the church bells down when he needed more copper for cannons.

Answer 2

Charles XII of Switzerland