Peter was a man of too strong sense to be elated and vainglorious in view of such success. He knew full well that Charles XII., since the battle of Narva, looked with utter contempt upon the Russian soldiers, and he was himself fully conscious of the vast superiority of the Swedish troops. But while Charles XII., with a monarch's energies, was battering down the fortresses and cutting to pieces the armies of Poland, Peter had gained several victories over small detachments of Swedish troops left in Russia. To inspire his soldiers with more confidence, he ordered a very magnificent celebration of these victories in Moscow. It was one of the most gorgeous fete days the metropolis had ever witnessed. The Swedish banners, taken in several conflicts on sea and land, were borne in front of the procession, while all the prisoners, taken in the campaign, were marched in humiliation in the train of the victors. While thus employed, the stern, indefatigable tzar was pressing forward the building of his fleet on the Don for the conquest of the Black Sea, and was unwearied in his endeavors to promote the elevation of his still semi-barbaric realms, by the introduction of the sciences, the arts, the manufactures and the social refinements of southern Europe. CHAPTER XX. CONQUESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF PETER THE GREAT. From 1702 TO 1718. Peter takes Lake Lagoda and the Neva.--Foundation of St. Petersburg.--Conquest of Livonia.--Marienburg Taken by Storm.--The Empress Catharine.--Extraordinary Efforts in Building St. Petersburg.--Threat of Charles XII.--Deposition of Augustus.--Enthronement of Stanislaus.--Battle of Pultowa.--Flight of Charles XII. to Turkey.--Increased Renown of Russia.--Disastrous Conflict with the Turks.--Marriage of Alexis.--His Character.--Death of his Wife.--The Empress Acknowledged.--Conquest of Finland.--Tour of the Tzar to Southern Europe. Charles XII., despising the Russians, devoted all his energies to the humiliation of Augustus of Poland, resolving to pursue him until he had driven him for ever from his throne. Peter was thus enabled to get the command of the lake of Ladoga, and of the river Neva, which connects that lake with the Baltic. He immediately laid the foundations of a city, St. Petersburg, to be his great commercial emporium, at the mouth of the Neva, near the head of the Gulf of Finland. The land was low and marshy, but in other respects the location was admirable. Its approaches could easily be defended against any naval attack, and water communications were opened with the interior through the Neva and lake Ladoga.