Treaty of Preobrazhenskoye between Peter I and Augustus II concluded

11 (21) November 1699 in the village of Preobrazhenskoye near Moscow the Russian tsar Peter I and the Saxon Prince Elector and King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Augustus II the Strong concluded a treaty of alliance, which was called Preobrazhenskoye. The Treaty marked the beginning of formation of the Northern military alliance against Sweden.

In the summer of 1699 the Polish king and Saxon Prince Elector Augustus II the Strong decided to oppose Sweden. The goal of the latter was the annexation of Estonia and Livonia to the Commonwealth. By that time the anti-Sweden alliance between Russia and Denmark had been already formed.

In September 1699, unofficial envoy and confidant of the King of Poland, Major-General Karlovic, came to Moscow. He submitted to the Russian Tsar a memorial, in which he called upon Peter to take by force of arms Swedish territories on the Gulf of Finland which had long since belonged to Russia. Karlovic believed December 1699 to be a favorable time for an attack against Sweden. Talks were held in great secrecy: the Swedish ambassadors, who arrived at this time in Moscow to obtain confirmation of the Treaty of Cardis of 1661, had no suspicions. They were received by Peter and assured that the king will honor the peace treaties. Peter I, in turn, having received assurances of loyalty of Denmark to anti-Sweden alliance, concluded a treaty with Augustus II.

The Preobrazhenskoye Treaty of alliance between Peter I and the Saxon Prince Elector was ratified by the tsar and compiled on a form pre-signed by Augustus II. By its terms, Augustus II pledged to serve only as Elector of Saxony, as well as to break the peace with Sweden. According to the agreement were recognized the historical rights of Russia for the lands "which the Swedish crown laid hold of at the beginning of the century when there was an internal disagreement in Moscow and then retained them using mischievous agreements”. The parties committed themselves to assist each other in a war against a common enemy and not to conclude peace until the requirements for which it has begun are not met "and none of the two allies should listen to any peace proposals and take them without permission of another."

According to the Treaty of Preobrazhenskoye, Russian troops were to hold military actions in Izhora land and Karelia, and the Polish and Saxon troops - in Livonia and Estonia. Saxony and Poland-Lithuania were the first to start a war against Sweden. Allies pledged not to enter into separate negotiations. It was also agreed that Russia would start a war with Sweden not before the peace or a long truce with Turkey is signed. In the case of failure of peace talks Peter promised to facilitate the conclusion of peace between Saxony and Sweden.

Two months after the Treaty of Preobrazhenskoye was signed, the Northern War (1700-1721) began.

Lit.: Брикер А. Г. Северная война до 1710 г.: Дипломатические сношения накануне войны. М., 1996; Преображенский союзный договор 1699 // Вышинский А. Я., Лозовский С. А. Дипломатический словарь. М., 1948; Создание Северного союза и осада Нарвы // Боханов А. Н., Горинов М. М. История России с древнейших времен до конца XX века. Кн. 2. М., 2001; Широкорад А. Б. Предпосылки к Северной войне // Северные войны России. М.; Минск, 2001; То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL:http://militera.lib.ru/h/shirokorad1/4_01.html.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Great Northern War (1700–1721) // Peter I (1672–1725): [digital collection];

Legislative acts of Peter I. Great Northern War (1700–1721) // State Authority: [digital collection].