Opposition: the Church; the Streltsy
Two powerful groups resisted Peter's early rule. The Orthodox Church defended its traditional authority, and the Streltsy — Russia's elite military corps — twice rose up against him.
Real World
After the 1698 Streltsy revolt, Peter personally supervised the torture and execution of over a thousand rebels — a level of personal involvement in repression comparable to authoritarian rulers who use mass violence to eliminate institutional rivals.
Exam Focus
Distinguish the Church and Streltsy as two separate threats: one ideological, one military — examiners reward precise categorisation of opposition.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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