He also defeated Charles XII of Sweden in the Great Northern War.
This ruler came to power with the backing of the Naryshkin family. He faced an early revolt by the musketeer division of his bodyguard, called the streltsy. After capturing Azov, he led the Grand Embassy westward to learn of other countries. To achieve that goal, he became a (*) carpenter in a Dutch East India Company shipyard. After returning home, he ordered the boyars, or nobles, to cut their beards. He also defeated Charles XII of Sweden in the Great Northern War. For 10 points, name this modernizing tsar of Russia.
This ruler came to power with the backing of the Naryshkin family.
{Peter} the Great [or {Pyotr Veliky}; or {Peter} I; or {Pyotr Alekseyevich}; prompt on {Peter}]