To an extent Charles I, Peter the Great and Louis XIV were successful as absolute monarchs because they held all .
In 1696, Czar Peter I became the sole ruler of Russia after his father and brother Ivan died. He basically inherited his power from his father but when he died he had to share the throne with his brother Ivan. After Ivan died, he became the sole ruler of Russia. He is often remembered as being Peter the Great. The reason for this is because he was Russia's greatest reformer. A year later after he gained the sole power of Russia, he embarked on a long visit to Western Europe called the "Grand Embassy ". By embarking on this trip he was inspired by the ways of westernization of West Europe. Peter decided that Russia would change to the ways of westernization. Even though he believed Russia needed to change, he knew that the people of his state would not agree to do so. He stated to himself "For you know yourself that, though a thing be good and necessary, our people will not do it unless forced to. " Due to this he increased his power as an absolute monarch. He made many reforms to the Russian Orthodox Church, reduced the power of many great landowners and hired European officers to drill his army to apply to the ways of European tactics. Nevertheless, he often tortured and even at times killed people who would not listened under his control. Overall, Peter the Great gained all the power and control over the people. In his attempts to westernize Russia, he introduced potatoes as the staple in the Russian diet, started Russia's first newspaper and named it after himself, ordered nobles to give up their traditional clothes for Western fashions, and finally made all men pay taxes if they didn't shave their beards. No one was brave enough or had enough power to limit Peter's power therefore he claimed his authority and complete control without any limits of his power. In addition, he established building St.
