That`s right, three kings in one movie seen yesterday: king of France Louis XIV, king of Sweden Karl XII and Russian Tsar Peter the First in Russian movie “The Sovereign`s Servant” (“Sluga gosudarev”, 2007.). Louis XIV sends two duelists to witness great battle of Poltava.
I can`t tell how much truth is in this story, but three kings, battle of Poltava and some other personalities really existed. Karl XII is crazy about war (I suppose, fighting was his greatest hobby), he got his leg shut, but it didn`t stop him to watch the battle. Louis XIV is coward and can`t even imagine to go to war himself, he is only worried that is getting old…..
Peter the First is brave, sometimes cruel, but businessman like person. War isn`t about fighting for him, war is about getting land to build ports and develop business. In the movie there is one episode, when Russian soldiers step back, because Swedes seem too many, and Peter goes to fight himself. Seeing that running away soldiers turn back and defeat Swedes. He is reasonably cruel when he orders to kill Poles who fight against Russians and even try to kill him. Bad behaving Russian soldiers get their heads cut off as well. As one foreigners tells – it`s not possible to keep such country and people in order otherwise.
All three kings have quite big likeness with real kings.
Louis XIV
Karl XII
Peter the First (left) with Aleksandr Menshikov (right).
Menshikov is extraordinary enough to tell few words about him. He was Peter`s right hand and friend, born in poor farmer`s family he was lucky, persistent, cunning and active enough to get to know Peter as teenager and stay with him till his death. He loved luxury (see his clothes…) and fame, but at the same time was as simple and straightforward as Peter himself. Menshikov introduced Peter with Catherine (German priest`s adopted daughter, captive from Aluksne (town in Latvia), Peter`s beloved wife and next imperatrice of Russia.
One doesn`t need to take this movie as 100% pure history, but it`s interesting to watch.
Tags: movie, russia, peter-the-first
