ABSTRACT
Peter looked forward in the first place to the partition of the Swedish empire and the permanent gain by Russia of a substantial coastline on the Baltic, in Ingria and Karelia. The early years of the Great Northern War thus produced no striking change in Russia's relations with the powers of Western Europe. Even before Russia's declaration of war, however, the whole situation had changed sharply in Sweden's favour. While the war in Poland and the Baltic lasted it was impossible to obtain such help from either Sweden or Saxony. One of the most striking and provocative symbols of the new position was the title of Emperor which Peter assumed at the end of the war with Sweden. Many of the states of northern Europe -Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, and the Dutch Republic - made little about giving it formal recognition. Nevertheless the idea of a French alliance and of an accompanying dynastic marriage continued to be bruited until Peter's death.
