The Russian tsar was dying with great suffering and hadn’t been able to write his will; however, for many years, he had been preparing for his own funeral. But something went wrong. His body was left in a coffin for six whole years without a proper burial. What were they waiting for all this time? And what does the “tsar’s sorcerer” have to do with it?
At the end of 1724, Peter the Great, who was already severely ill with bladder and kidney diseases, departed to inspect the Ladoga Canal – more than 100 kilometers along Lake Ladoga. His court physician insisted that the tsar refrained from this journey, yet Tsar Peter remained adamant. The project was crucial; the canal should have tremendously increased trade volumes with Europe. Besides, by fall, the tsar’s health seemed to have improved.
Time has shown, however, that this was a fatal mistake.
A funeral like for European kings
Wading in sea water in cold, bad weather (at Lakhta, Peter the Great, waist-deep in ice-cold water, had to rescue a ship aground with soldiers) only exacerbated the bouts of his sickness. Soon enough, the 52-year-old tsar became bedridden. His condition worsened so quickly that he couldn’t write his will: according to witnesses, he was only able to utter “Leave all to…” before he lost consciousness.
