Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov was born around 1697 into one of Russia’s old noble families. He was related to Praskovia Saltykova, the wife of Tsar Ivan V, which connected the family to the Romanov court. As a young nobleman under Peter the Great, Saltykov entered a state transforming its army, administration, and relationship with western Europe.

In 1714 he was sent abroad to study navigation, probably in France. Such training reflected Peter the Great’s determination to create officers familiar with European science and military practice. Saltykov later shifted from naval preparation to army service. He joined the guards and advanced through ranks that combined court standing with professional duty.

During the War of the Polish Succession and the Russo-Swedish War of 1741–1743, Saltykov gained substantial campaigning experience. He served under commanders who were adapting western drill and organization to Russia’s enormous distances and difficult supply conditions. He became a lieutenant general and held administrative posts, including command connected with Ukraine. His career was respectable but not spectacular, and he spent periods away from the center of court influence.

Saltykov developed a reputation for personal simplicity, calmness, and concern for ordinary soldiers. He was older than many field commanders by the beginning of the Seven Years’ War and was not initially considered Russia’s most brilliant general. Nevertheless, he understood the endurance of Russian infantry, the importance of artillery, and the logistical limits of campaigning deep inside central Europe. In 1759 Empress Elizabeth selected him to command the principal Russian army. His long, varied service had prepared him to manage a massive force and cooperate—often uneasily—with Austrian allies against Frederick II.