What was Peter to do with such a rebellious, undutiful, profligate, silly youth as Alexis,—­a sot, a bigot, and a liar?  Should he leave to him the work of carrying out his policy and aims?  It would be weakness and madness.  It seemed to him that he had nothing to do but disinherit him.  In so doing, he would render no injustice.  Alexis had no claim to the throne, like the eldest son of Victoria.  The throne belonged to Peter.  He had no fetters on him like a feudal sovereign; he could elect whom he pleased to inherit his vast empire.  It was not his son he loved best, but his country.  He had the right to appoint any successor he pleased, and he would naturally select one who would carry out his plans and rule ably.  So he disinherited his eldest son Alexis, and did it in virtue of the power which he imagined he had received, like an old Jewish patriarch, from God Almighty.  There was no law of Russia designating the eldest son as the Czar’s successor.  No one can reasonably blame Peter for disinheriting this worthless son, whom he had ceased to love,—­whom he even despised.

Having disinherited him, out of regard to public interests more than personal dislike, the question arises, what shall he do with him?  Shall he shut him in a state-prison, or confine him to a convent, or make way with him?  One of these terrible alternatives he must take.  What struggles of his soul to decide which were best!  We pity a man compelled to make such a choice.  Any choice was bad, and full of perils and calumnies.  Whatever way he turned was full of obstacles.  If he should shut him up, the priests and humiliated boyars and other intriguing rascals might make him emperor after Peter’s death, and thus create a counter reformation, and upset the work of Peter’s life.  If he should make way with Alexis, the curses of his enemies and the execrations of Europe and posterity would follow him as an unnatural father.  David, with his tender nature and deep affection, would have spared Absalom if all the hosts of Israel had fallen and his throne were overturned.  But Peter was not so weak as David; he was stern and severe.  He decided to bring his son to trial for conspiracy and rebellion.  The court found him guilty.  The ministers, generals, and senators of the empire pronounced sentence of death upon him.  Would the father have used his prerogative and pardoned him?  That we can never know.  Some think that Peter did not intend to execute the sentence.  At any rate, he was mercifully delivered from his dilemma.  Alexis, frightened and apparently contrite, was seized with a fit of apoplexy, and died imploring his father’s pardon.