Editing Anti-Russian sentiment (section)

=== 15th to 17th century ===
Negative views of Russia in Europe began to take shape in the 15th century during the period of Russian expansion into non-Russian lands under [[Ivan III of Russia|Ivan III]]. Russia's campaigns against Poland-Lithuania, Livonian cities, and Swedish-held Finland marked the beginning of a perception of Russia as a threat. During this era, Russia was often portrayed as a barbaric, un-Christian, and imperialistic nation by its European adversaries.<ref name="mpaul2001" />{{rp|104–105}} Michael C. Paul argued that [[Swedish–Novgorodian Wars|the crusades of the 13th century]] against Russian Christian cities like Novgorod and Pskov may highlight even more deeply rooted religious and cultural animosity.<ref name="mpaul2001" />{{rp|106}}

During the [[Livonian War]] (1558&ndash;83), European powers, particularly Poland-Lithuania and the Livonian German cities, intensified their negative perception of Russia. They imposed embargoes on war supplies to Russia, fearing the possibility of it receiving military supplies from England, which had an [[Muscovy Company|active trade mission in Russia]]. [[Elizabeth I#Russia|Queen Elizabeth]] denied the accusations.<ref name="mpaul2001" />{{rp|106–107}}

Contemporaries described the [[Tsardom of Russia]] and early [[Russian Empire]] as a barbaric enemy of Christianity. Accounts by Western travelers like Austrian Ambassador [[Sigismund von Herberstein]] and English Ambassador [[Giles Fletcher, the Elder|Giles Fletcher]] in the 16th century portrayed Russia in a negative light, focusing on aspects like superstition, brutality, and backwardness. Negative views persisted into the 17th and 18th centuries, with Western observers continuing to highlight aspects like superstition, drunkenness, and barbaric practices in Russian society. Notable figures like Captain John Perry and French travelers [[Jacques Margeret]] and [[Jean-Baptiste Chappe d'Auteroche|Jean Chappe d'Auteroche]] contributed to these perceptions, often comparing Russian society unfavorably with Western standards.<ref name="mpaul2001" />{{rp|107–109}}