1. Incognito Traveling: Peter was known to travel incognito under various aliases to blend in and avoid excessive attention during his European tours known as the "Grand Embassy." He used pseudonyms like "Peter Mikhailov" or "Peter Alekseev" to keep a low profile.
2. Secret Observation and Learning: Peter commonly disguised himself as a carpenter or artisan to work anonymously in shipyards, factories, and workshops during his journeys. By disguising himself, he could observe and learn from skilled craftsmen without the hassle of being constantly recognized or treated differently.
3. Military Intelligence Gathering: During the Great Northern War, Peter would occasionally go in disguise to gather intelligence about the enemy's positions, fortifications, and strategies. By blending in, he could obtain valuable information without being detected by opposing forces.
4. Social Experiments and Testing Public Reactions: Peter sometimes concealed his identity to test the reactions and behavior of his subjects. He might engage in conversations or observations disguised as a commoner to gauge people's opinions and impressions of his policies.
5. Avoiding Formal Obligations: On certain occasions, Peter used disguises to escape ceremonial duties, tedious diplomatic functions, or unwanted gatherings. Disguising himself allowed him to move more freely and escape unwanted obligations.
6. Security Measures: At times, Peter used disguises for his personal security. In dangerous or politically sensitive situations, he might go undercover to protect himself from potential threats or assassination attempts.
Overall, Peter the Great's use of disguises served multiple purposes, including incognito travel, learning, intelligence gathering, social experiments, avoiding obligations, and ensuring personal security.