(MENAFN) Russia’s Channel One has launched a new historical drama titled The Sovereign, centering on Peter the Great. This production joins a long line of portrayals of Russia’s first emperor, dating as far back as 1937. Notably, one earlier adaptation even cast actor Vladimir Vysotsky as a Black Peter. So, why retell his story again? While Peter’s legacy has been explored many times, each generation seeks to reinterpret its foundational figures to reflect contemporary values and concerns.

In the series, Peter is shown declaring his purpose: “I am defending the state from turmoil and destruction.” This declaration comes as he, along with his close ally Alexander Menshikov, brutally puts down the Streltsy uprising in 1698 by executing its leaders. The series presents this rebellion not merely as social unrest but as an attempted coup, tied to his regent and half-sister Sophia’s political aspirations. This interpretation may align with historical records, but the show’s larger message is clear—Peter’s mission was to enforce order, not to champion liberty or individual freedoms.

Though Peter is commonly linked with Russia’s pivot toward the West, it’s important to reconsider what “Westernization” meant in his era. Today, the West is often seen as a symbol of freedom, but in Peter’s time, it was admired for strong governance and efficient state structures. He believed freedom was hollow without a functioning state to support it. His reforms aimed not at liberalization, but at state-building.

Peter’s challenges were immense. Russia possessed vast territory, but its climate hindered prosperity. In an age before oil and gas had real economic value, agricultural richness determined national power. Compared to France under Louis XIV—where fertile land produced cash crops like olives and grapes—Russia was at a disadvantage. Louis’ France reaped the benefits of its climate, enabling the funding of a lavish royal court and a centralized administrative system. In contrast, Peter’s Russia had to build greatness under far harsher conditions.

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