16. Siege of Thorn (The Last Siege)
In the May 1703 Charles formally started the siege of Thorn and, after an idea to take it by a cavalry charge [1] did not work and its garrison rejected demand to capitulate, Charles found himself sitting outside the city walls waiting for the reinforcements and siege artillery. While the siege train from Riga was still on the way, Charles sent Stenbock to bully city of Danzig into letting the Swedish garrison in, allowing to take its artillery to be used fir the siege of Thorn and paying a huge contribution. The city fathers bought the bluff and submitted.
In a meantime Charles was trying to play a military engineer, while also showing everybody what a brave guy he is.
The reinforcements kept arriving, including few Russian regiments, but even with the guns from Danzig things had been moving rather slowly.
In September almost simultaneously Charles received two messages: one that the siege train already reached Plock and second that Peter is even closer, in Brześć Kujawsk, and will be in his camp within couple days.
Of course, it was expected by both sides that Peter is going to arrive to Warsaw in November or December to met Charles in a proper stately environment fitting for such an important occasion but the planners on both sides (including Menshikov who surely should knew better) missed two important factors: (a) that Peter did not like the official ceremonies too much and (b) that he did like the sieges and the big “boom!” [2]. So at the news of the siege of Thorn he abandoned his stately process toward Warsaw (and most of his Guards), and with the detachment of his Life Dragoons rode full speed to Warsaw where he picked up Sheremetev, Menshikov and few others and kept pushing ahead.
Charles was surprised but not unpleasantly surprised because he also did not fancy a solemn occasion with the elaborate protocol, a lot of time being wasted upon the pointless ceremonies and empty compliments and Piper whispering into his ear what he should or he should not say. Weide, who was in charge of the Russian troops at Thorn hastily arranged for the tents for the expected visitors and and both Swedish and Russian foragers had been ordered to procure enough of food, which was not a trivial task in the already devastated area.
Finally, the visitors are arriving within the vicinity of the siege camp and Charles with his officers riding out of the camp to met them. Everybody dismounts and the two great men are facing each other. An elaborate rehearsal could not produce the better results. This is a meeting of two “true soldiers”: Charles in his blue and yellow uniform, huge botforts and without a wig and Peter in his well worn green and red uniform, huge botforts and a very modest wig, with their much better dressed retinues on a background emphasizing modesty of those who
really matter. No elaborate bows, just a nod and a handshake followed by the loud cheer of everybody present. In other words, a truly historic moment duly recorded and a later depicted by the artists, described by the historians, writers and other personages not being present at the event [3]. Minimal time spent on expressing delight about the meeting and getting familiar with each other’s health condition, followed by “So, let’s pluck one more feather from peacock August’s tail. Hopefully, this is the last one!” Smile of appreciation from Charles and a loud but respectful laugh from the lesser personages and, breach of all protocols, and expressed desire to see the siege works
right now. When in the trenches, cherry on the top of the cake: a request to make a shot from one of the Swedish guns. The Russians present at the scene politely trying to hide the smiles looking at the shock of the Swedes present. Peter in his shirt, assisted by Menshikov who had to divest of his parade garb and a huge wig, loads the cannon, aims it and “boom!”, the cannonball hits the wall. The uniform is back on (Menshikov is still fixing his wig), congratulation on a good quality of a cannon and gunpowder and the group finally walks to Charles’ tent where a modest table is prepared [4] . The next couple days Peter and Charles are busy choosing the places for the arriving siege artillery, then with overseeing its placement and then Peter is getting extremely busy putting himself in charge of one of the siege batteries. No talk about the state business, just soldiers’ chat about the ongoing siege and recollections of the past experiences. Peter’s story about unsuccessful mining attempt during the first Azov campaign is a hit [5] and everybody is seemingly enjoying the situation while the defenses kept crumbling.
In October the garrison surrenders, leaving August pretty much without an army. During the celebration banquet Peter finally brings up the
Important Question…
___________
[1] Actually, in OTL more than once the fortified cities held by the reasonably strong Polish or Saxon garrison had been taken either directly by cavalry charge (like Pultusk) or by the dismounted dragoons (like Lemberg).
[2] He also figured out that, besides presenting an opportunity to enjoy the big “boom!”, environment of a siege camp would put both him and Charles at ease allowing to discuss things without caring about the protocol and to get more out of his dear ally. Charles’ principles were fine but Peter could not continue this war forever without a negative impact on his Big Plan. So, hopefully, if his mission is successful, this will be the Last Siege of the War.
[3] On a more cynical level the scene can be described as meeting of two poseurs but both of them seemingly liked their “historic” costumes and simple manners. Anyway, this little show is nothing comparing to what century+ later Nappy arranged in Erfurt. One by one the minor German princes, in their best garb are appearing in the reception hall with the full titles being loudly announced. Then the marshals and the imoerial dignitaries are following in the clownish ceremonial uniforms Nappy invented for them, with all decorations proudly displayed and their titles announced. Then enter the kings with their spouses. Then, with her full title announced, enters Josephine proudly displaying all glittering baubles that she can physically put on. Then follows “a loud pause” after which the Master of Ceremonies announcing, short and simple, “His Majesty, the Emperor!” and here comes Nappy in his simple uniform …. Well, you can’t blame people for not being up to the same level as an ultimate showman.
[4] This was the only way in which I figured out how to bypass a menu of the royal table described by
@von Adler 
[5] The fact that few hundred Russians had been killed when the Ottomans blew a counter mine is conveniently omitted.
