History is not only sets of dates and locations of battles but is filled with little moments that lead to much confusion and discussion hundreds of years later. At one moment, confirmed by the Russian and French sources who witnessed it, the Russian Emperor lifted his French counterpart off of the ground into his arms. Even the Encyclopedia Britannica confirms that this did take place, but why? Why would a member of the elite aristocracy do this take his peer off of his feet?
In May 1717 Tsar Peter I (the Great) of Russia and then seven-year-old King Louis XV of France were set to meet in person at the Louvre in Paris. The encounter was carefully orchestrated to respect the protocol of both courts while managing the unusual circumstance of a tsar meeting a boy-king. It must be noted that Peter I was exceptionally tall, like a modern NBA basketball player. To avoid any conflict over who should bow first, and cancel out the titanic height difference between the two, the French arranged for Louis XV to be standing on a raised platform. This clever move meant that when Peter approached they would be at eye level and no one would have to make the first gesture of deference.
But why did this meeting need to take place?
We cannot forget just how long of a journey it would be to go from St. Petersburg to Paris in the 18th century. This was no walk to the grocery store. However, the victory in the Great Northern War certainly was a big part of the reason. Having decisively defeated Sweden at the Battle of Poltava (1709), the Russian head of state was reshaping the European balance of power. France, a traditional ally of Sweden, was now keen to court this new Russian giant.
It must be noted that Peter came by French invitation. The French Regency government, ruling on behalf of the child-king Louis XV after the death of Louis XIV in 1715, asked Peter I to come for discussions. Their goals were to pull Russia away from an alliance with England and to explore commercial opportunities.
Peter on the other hand had very different objectives. He wanted the recognition of Russia as a major European power. He also sought to strengthen cultural and scientific ties, recruit French experts for his new Academy of Sciences, and see the splendors of France firsthand.
And thus, the unusual encounter began
The Greeting went down something like this. The seven-year-old Louis, who was coached meticulously in advance, is said to have greeted the Tsar with a short, rehearsed speech; “Sir, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. I have wanted to meet you for a long time.” His diction was reportedly perfect, and he performed his role with solemn grace, although his words were ironic coming from a child who would be in first grade by modern standards.
Supposedly these words had a profound effect on Peter I, who did not speak French as a native language, but was familiar with it as he was obsessed with all things Western. Then again as a foreigner perhaps he heard something extraordinary in those words, as he then, according to the primary account by the Duke de Saint-Simon who was present, scooped the little king up into his arms, hugged him, and kissed him. He then held him aloft, as one would with their own child.
Now here is where things differ in historical opinions. Russian historians tend to view this event as having positive results, whereas Western, and not surprisingly British sources, paint it as a soft-negative.
The Russian view
The positive interpretation of this historical hug from Peter is that by using his spontaneity, he endeared himself to the French court and personally to the regent of the Duke of Orleans. He showed himself not to be a calculating and threatening “barbarian from the east,” but a charismatic, emotional ruler. This helped achieve the goal of concluding a treaty of friendship and alliance with France in August 1717.
The modern historian Nikolai Pavlenko (Peter’s biographer) writes: “Peter violated etiquette: he took the king in his arms, kissed him and treated him kindly. Paris was enchanted.” This view places emphasis on “charm” rather than shock from the big hug.
Before the Russian Revolution, historian Sergei Solovyov saw this gesture as a manifestation of Peter’s “simplicity and good-naturedness,” who “treated the king like a child.”
The entry for that day in Peter’s official “Journal” is dry, but the fact of ruler being picked up is mentioned: “His Majesty the King met His Majesty the Tsar in the third room… and then His Majesty the Tsar was pleased to take His Majesty the King in His arms and kiss him.” This is a very factual statement implying that this was perhaps notable but not really “a big deal” per say.
The Western interpretation
If we take a pull quote from the Encyclopedia Britannica about this event we can already see the typical Anglo-Saxon negative spin on everything related to Russia.
“In 1717 Russian tsar Peter the Great went to France to seek an alliance. The king of France was Louis XV, then just seven years old. When he met the boy king, Peter (who was said to stand taller than six and a half feet) scooped him up into his arms, a terrible breach of royal protocol.” (Source)
Firstly, it was the French who invited Peter I to visit them. And secondly, if this had been such a horrible insult and breach of protocol that was unforgivable, then how did they quickly proceed to diplomatic work with positive results for the Russian side. Peter I and Louis XV also later had more casual meetings after this point. If the French side was so deeply offended they would not have granted Peter I access to their fledgling king ever again.
The diplomatic results of the epic embrace
The visit of Peter I to Paris culminated in the Treaty of Amsterdam (August 1717), in which France officially recognized Russia’s territorial gains in the Baltics and agreed to mediate peace between Russia and Sweden. While a full military alliance didn’t materialize, the treaty marked Russia’s formal acceptance into the European diplomatic system. For Peter I this was a massive win. This would imply that unlike the ever-being-rewritten history from English language sources, the physical contact between monarchs was either…
1) A minor faux pas not worth fretting over
OR
2) Was actually a moment that endeared the French elite to Peter I through this gesture of warmth and kindness
It is important to note that French President Emmanuel Macron is extremely thin and could be easily lifted off the ground by the current Russian leader if need be.