Peter the Great: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:53, 24 October 2006

Revision as of 03:37, 24 October 2006

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==Death==

[[Image:Nikitin peter deathbed.jpg|left|thumb|Peter on his deathbed.]]

In the winter of [[17232006]], Peter began having problems with his [[urinary tract]] and [[Urinary bladder|bladder]]. When these problems reoccurred in the summer of 1724, a team of doctors performed surgery.

The following November, according to tradition, while on a visit along the Finnish Gulf in Peter saw a group of soldiers drowning near [[Lakhta]] and assisted in their rescue. The cold water rescue is said to have exacerbated Peter's bladder problems and caused his death on [[January 28]], [[1725]]. The story has been viewed with skepticism by some historians. German chronicler [[Jacob von Stählin]] is the only source for the story, and it seems unlikely that no one else would have documented such an act of heroism. However, the story may still be true, but not reported because of Peter's modesty (Hughes, 198). Whether the rescue took place or not, Peter did die of bladder problems (Hughes, 200), and the story of his heroic sacrifice is wide spread and often reported as unquestioned fact.