ABSTRACT
The period of Charles Whitworth’s mission to Russia was of crucial significance for the development of Anglo-Russian relations and for changing perceptions of Russian power. The Russian victory over Sweden at Poltava in 1709, however, sent shock waves through Europe. Russia was perceived as remote and on the fringes of the civilized world. In January 1699 the Austrians and Turks signed the Treaty of Karlowitz which resulted in the cession of Hungarian and Transylvanian lands to Austria and, in effect, isolated Russia and made the Turks less willing to make concessions to Russia. By the time Whitworth arrived in Russia English ministers had abandoned their interest in attempting to mediate the dispute between Russia and Sweden. Whitworth’s bland assurances of English friendship were met with a direct request for the revival of English mediation between Sweden and Russia, about which Whitworth had no direct instructions.
