Peter the Great is a rather remarkable personality, both from the side of the person and from the side of the ruler. His numerous changes in the country, decrees and an attempt to organize life in a new way were not perceived positively by everyone. However, it cannot be denied that during his reign a new impetus was given to the development of the Russian Empire of that time.
The great Peter the Great introduced innovations that made it possible to reckon with the Russian Empire at the world level. These were not only external achievements, but also internal reforms.
An extraordinary personality in the history of Russia - Tsar Peter the Great
IN Russian state there were a lot of prominent sovereigns and rulers. Each of them contributed to its development. One of these was Tsar Peter I. His reign was marked by various innovations in various fields, as well as reforms that brought Russia to a new level.
What can be said about the time when Tsar Peter the Great ruled? Briefly, it can be described as a series of changes in the way of life of the Russian people, as well as a new direction in the development of the state itself. Peter after his trip to Europe caught fire with the idea of a full-fledged navy for your country.
In his royal years, Peter the Great changed a lot in the country. He is the first ruler who gave direction to change the culture of Russia towards Europe. So many of his followers continued his undertakings, and this led to the fact that they were not forgotten.
Peter's childhood
If we now talk about whether the childhood years influenced the future fate of the tsar, his behavior in politics, then we can answer that of course. Little Peter was always developed beyond his years, and his remoteness from the royal court allowed him to look at the world in a completely different way. No one hampered him in development, and also did not forbid him to feed his craving for learning everything new and interesting.
The future Tsar Peter the Great was born on June 9, 1672. His mother was Naryshkina Natalya Kirillovna, who was the second wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Until the age of four, he lived at court, loved and spoiled by his mother, who did not have a soul in him. In 1676, his father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, died. Fedor Alekseevich, who was Peter's older half-brother, ascended the throne.
From that moment on, a new life began both in the state and in the royal family. By order of the new king (part-time half-brother), Peter began to learn to read and write. Science was given to him quite easily, he was a rather inquisitive child who was interested in a lot of things. The teacher of the future ruler was the clerk Nikita Zotov, who did not scold the restless student too much. Thanks to him, Peter read many wonderful books that Zotov brought him from the armory.
The result of all this was a further genuine interest in history, he even in the future had a dream of a book that would tell about the history of Russia. Peter was also fascinated by the art of war, was interested in geography. At an older age, he compiled a rather easy and simple alphabet to learn. However, if we talk about the systematic acquisition of knowledge, then the king did not have this.
Ascension to the throne
Peter the Great was enthroned when he was ten years old. This happened after the death of his half-brother Fyodor Alekseevich, in 1682. However, it should be noted that there were two contenders for the throne. This is Peter's older half-brother - John, who was rather painful from birth. Perhaps that is why the clergy decided that the younger, but stronger applicant should be the ruler. Due to the fact that Peter was still a minor, the king's mother, Natalya Kirillovna, ruled on his behalf.
However, this was not at all liked by the no less noble relatives of the second contender for the throne - Miloslavsky. All this discontent, and even the suspicion that Tsar John was killed by the Naryshkins, led to an uprising that happened on May 15. This event later became known as the "streltsy revolt". On this day, some boyars, who were Peter's mentors, were killed. What happened made an indelible impression on the young king.
After the Streltsy rebellion, two were married to the kingdom - John and Peter 1, the first had a dominant position. Their older sister Sophia, who was the real ruler, was appointed regent. Peter and his mother again left for Preobrazhenskoye. By the way, many of his relatives and friends were also either exiled or killed.
Life of Peter in Preobrazhensky
Peter's life after the May events of 1682 remained the same solitary. Only occasionally did he come to Moscow when there was a need for his presence at official receptions. The rest of the time he continued to live in the village of Preobrazhensky.
At this time, he became interested in the study of military affairs, which led to the formation of, for the time being, children's, amusing regiments. They recruited guys around his age who wanted to learn the art of war, since all these initial children's games grew into just that. Over time, a small military town is formed in Preobrazhensky, and children's amusing regiments grow into adults and become quite an impressive force to be reckoned with.
It was at this time that the future Tsar Peter the Great had the idea of his own fleet. Once he discovered a broken boat in an old barn, and he got the idea of fixing it. After a while, Peter found the person who fixed it. So, the boat was launched. However, the Yauza River was small for such a vessel, it was dragged to a pond near Izmailovo, which also seemed small for the future ruler.
In the end, Peter's new hobby continued on Lake Pleshchevo, near Pereyaslavl. It was here that the formation of the future fleet of the Russian Empire began. Peter himself not only commanded, but also studied various crafts (blacksmith, joiner, carpenter, studied printing).
Peter at one time did not receive a systematic education, but when the need arose to study arithmetic and geometry, he did it. This knowledge was needed in order to learn how to use the astrolabe.
During these years, when Peter received his knowledge in various fields, he had many associates. These are, for example, Prince Romodanovsky, Fedor Apraksin, Alexei Menshikov. Each of these people played a role in the character of the future reign of Peter the Great.
Peter's family life
Peter's personal life was quite complicated. He was seventeen years old when he got married. This happened at the insistence of the mother. Evdokia Lopukhina became the wife of Peter.
Between the spouses there was never mutual understanding. A year after his marriage, he became interested in Anna Mons, which led to a final quarrel. The first family history of Peter the Great ended with Evdokia Lopukhin being exiled to a monastery. This happened in 1698.
From his first marriage, the tsar had a son - Alexei (born in 1690). It has a rather tragic story. It is not known exactly for what reason, but Peter did not love his own son. Perhaps this happened because he did not at all resemble his father, and also did not at all welcome some of his reformist introductions. Be that as it may, but in 1718 Tsarevich Alexei dies. This episode itself is rather mysterious, as many spoke of torture, as a result of which the son of Peter died. By the way, hostility to Alexei extended to his son (grandson of Peter).
In 1703, Marta Skavronskaya entered the life of the tsar, who later became Catherine I. For a long time she was Peter's mistress, and in 1712 they got married. In 1724, Catherine was crowned empress. Peter the Great, whose biography of family life is truly fascinating, was very attached to his second wife. During their life together, Catherine bore him several children, but only two daughters survived - Elizabeth and Anna.
Peter treated his second wife very well, one might even say he loved her. However, this did not prevent him from sometimes having an affair on the side. Catherine herself did the same. In 1725, she was convicted of having an affair with Willem Mons, who was a chamberlain. It was a scandalous story, as a result of which the lover was executed.
The beginning of the real reign of Peter
For a long time, Peter was only second in line to the throne. Of course, these years were not in vain, he studied a lot, became a full-fledged personality. However, in 1689 a new streltsy uprising took place, which was prepared by his sister Sophia, who was ruling at that time. She did not take into account that Peter is far from being the younger brother he was before. Two personal royal regiments - Preobrazhensky and Streletsky, as well as all the patriarchs of Rus', rose to his defense. The rebellion was suppressed, and Sophia spent the rest of her days in the Novodevichy Convent.
After these events, Peter became more interested in the affairs of the state, but nevertheless shifted most of them onto the shoulders of his relatives. The real reign of Peter the Great began in 1695. In 1696, his brother John dies, and he remains the sole ruler of the country. From that time on, innovations began in the Russian Empire.
Wars of the king
There were several wars in which Peter the Great took part. The biography of the king shows how purposeful he was. This is proved by his first campaign against Azov in 1695. It ended in failure, but this did not stop the young king. After analyzing all the mistakes, Peter carried out a second assault in July 1696, which ended successfully.
After the Azov campaigns, the tsar decided that the country needed its own specialists, both in military affairs and in shipbuilding. He sent several nobles to study, and then he decided to travel around Europe himself. This lasted for a year and a half.
In 1700, Peter begins the Great Northern War, which lasted twenty-one years. The result of this war was the signed Treaty of Nystadt, which opened him access to the Baltic Sea. By the way, it was this event that led to the fact that Tsar Peter I received the title of emperor. The resulting lands formed the Russian Empire.
estate reform
Despite the conduct of the war, the emperor did not forget to conduct and internal politics countries. Numerous decrees of Peter the Great affected various spheres of life in Russia and not only.
One of the important reforms was a clear division and consolidation of rights and obligations between nobles, peasants and city dwellers.
Nobles. In this estate, innovations concerned primarily the compulsory literacy education for males. Those who failed to pass the exam were not allowed to receive an officer's rank, and they were also not allowed to marry. A table of ranks was introduced, which allowed even those who by birth did not have the right to receive the nobility.
In 1714, a decree was issued that allowed only one offspring from a noble family to inherit all property.
Peasants. For this class, poll taxes were introduced, instead of household taxes. Also, those serfs who went to serve as soldiers were freed from serfdom.
City. For urban residents, the transformation consisted in the fact that they were divided into “regular” (subdivided into guilds) and “irregular” (other people). Also in 1722, workshops for crafts appeared.
Military and judicial reforms
Peter the Great carried out reforms for the army as well. It was he who began recruiting into the army every year from young people who had reached the age of fifteen. They were sent to military training. This led to the fact that the army became stronger and more experienced. A powerful fleet was created, a judicial reform was carried out. Appellate and provincial courts appeared, which were subordinate to the governors.
Administrative reform
At the time when Peter the Great ruled, the reforms also affected the administration of the state. For example, the ruling king could appoint his successor during his lifetime, which was previously impossible. It could have been absolutely anyone.
Also in 1711, by order of the king, a new state body appeared - the Governing Senate. Anyone could also enter it, it was the king's privilege to appoint its members.
In 1718, instead of Moscow orders, 12 colleges appeared, each of which covered its own field of activity (for example, military, income and expenses, etc.).
At the same time, by decree of Tsar Peter, eight provinces were created (later there were eleven). The provinces were divided into provinces, the latter into counties.
Other reforms
The time of Peter the Great is also rich in other equally important reforms. For example, they affected the Church, which lost its independence and became dependent on the state. Later, the Holy Synod was established, the members of which were appointed by the sovereign.
Great reforms took place in the culture of the Russian people. The king, after returning from a trip to Europe, ordered to cut off the beards and shave the faces of men (this did not apply only to priests). Peter also introduced the wearing of European clothes for the boyars. In addition, balls, other music, as well as tobacco for men, which the king brought from his trip, appeared for the upper class.
An important point was the change in the calendar calculation, as well as the transfer of the beginning of the new year from the first of September to the first of January. This happened in December 1699.
Culture in the country was in a special position. The sovereign founded many schools that gave knowledge about foreign languages, mathematics and other technical sciences. A lot of foreign literature was translated into Russian.
The results of the reign of Peter
Peter the Great, whose reign was full of many changes, led Russia to a new direction in its development. A fairly strong fleet appeared in the country, as well as a regular army. The economy has stabilized.
The reign of Peter the Great also had a positive impact on the social sphere. Medicine began to develop, the number of pharmacies and hospitals increased. Science and culture have reached a new level.
In addition, the state of the economy and finances in the country has improved. Russia has reached a new international level, and has also signed several important agreements.
End of reign and Peter's successor
The king's death is shrouded in mystery and speculation. It is known that he died on January 28, 1725. However, what led him to this?
Many talk about an illness from which he did not fully recover, but went on business to the Ladoga Canal. The king was returning home by sea when he saw a ship in distress. It was late cold and rainy autumn. Peter helped drowning people, but he got very wet and as a result caught a bad cold. He never recovered from all this.
All this time, while Tsar Peter was ill, prayers were held in many churches for the health of the Tsar. Everyone understood that this was indeed a great ruler who had done a lot for the country and could have done so much more.
There was another rumor that the tsar was poisoned, and it could be A. Menshikov close to Peter. Whatever it was, but after his death, Peter the Great did not leave a will. The throne is inherited by Peter's wife Catherine I. There is also a legend about this. They say that before his death, the king wanted to write his will, but he managed to write only a couple of words and died.
The personality of the king in modern cinema
The biography and history of Peter the Great is so entertaining that a dozen films have been made about him, as well as several television series. In addition, there are paintings about individual members of his family (for example, about the deceased son Alexei).
Each of the films reveals the personality of the king in its own way. For example, the television series “Testament” plays on the dying years of the king. Of course, there is truth mixed with fiction. An important point will be that Peter the Great never wrote a will, which will be described in colors in the film.
Of course, this is one of many pictures. Some were filmed based on works of art (for example, the novel by A. N. Tolstoy “Peter I”). Thus, as we see, the odious personality of Emperor Peter I excites the minds of people today. This great politician and reformer pushed Russia to develop, to learn new things, and also to enter the international arena.
Peter I - the youngest son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from his second marriage with Natalya Naryshkina - was born on May 30, 1672. As a child, Peter received home education, knew German from a young age, then studied Dutch, English and French. With the help of palace masters (carpentry, turning, weapons, blacksmithing, etc.). The future emperor was physically strong, agile, inquisitive and capable, had a good memory.
In April 1682, Peter was enthroned after the death of a childless man, bypassing his older half-brother Ivan. However, the sister of Peter and Ivan - and relatives of the first wife of Alexei Mikhailovich - the Miloslavsky used the streltsy uprising in Moscow to palace coup. In May 1682, the supporters and relatives of the Naryshkins were killed or exiled, Ivan was declared the "senior" tsar, and Peter the "junior" tsar under the ruler Sophia.
Under Sophia, Peter lived in the village of Preobrazhensky near Moscow. Here, from his peers, Peter formed "amusing regiments" - the future imperial guard. In those same years, the prince met the son of the court groom Alexander Menshikov, who later became the "right hand" of the emperor.
In the second half of the 1680s, clashes began between Peter and Sofya Alekseevna, who were striving for autocracy. In August 1689, having received news that Sophia was preparing a palace coup, Peter hastily left Preobrazhensky for the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, where troops loyal to him and his supporters arrived. Armed detachments of nobles, gathered by the messengers of Peter I, surrounded Moscow, Sophia was removed from power and imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent, her close associates were exiled or executed.
After the death of Ivan Alekseevich (1696), Peter I became an autocratic tsar.
Possessing a strong will, purposefulness and great capacity for work, Peter I throughout his life replenished his knowledge and skills in various fields, paying special attention to military and naval affairs. In 1689-1693, under the guidance of the Dutch master Timmerman and the Russian master Kartsev, Peter I learned to build ships on Lake Pereslavl. In 1697-1698, during his first trip abroad, he completed a full course in artillery sciences in Koenigsberg, worked as a carpenter at the shipyards of Amsterdam (Holland) for six months, studying ship architecture and drawing plans, and completed a theoretical course in shipbuilding in England.
By order of Peter I, books, instruments, weapons were purchased abroad, foreign craftsmen and scientists were invited. Peter I met with Leibniz, Newton and other scientists, in 1717 he was elected an honorary member of the Paris Academy of Sciences.
During the reign of Peter I carried out major reforms aimed at overcoming the backwardness of Russia from the advanced countries of the West. Transformations touched all spheres of public life. Peter I expanded the landowners' rights over the property and personality of serfs, replaced the household taxation of peasants with head taxes, issued a decree on the possession of peasants, who were allowed to be acquired by the owners of manufactories, practiced the mass registration of state and yasak peasants to state and private factories, the mobilization of peasants and townspeople into the army and the construction of cities, fortresses, canals, etc. The decree on single inheritance (1714) equalized estates and estates, giving their owners the right to transfer real estate to one of the sons, and thereby secured noble ownership of the land. The Table of Ranks (1722) established the order of rank in the military and civil service not according to nobility, but according to personal abilities and merit.
Peter I contributed to the rise of the country's productive forces, encouraged the development of domestic manufactories, means of communication, domestic and foreign trade.
The reforms of the state apparatus under Peter I were an important step towards the transformation of the Russian autocracy of the 17th century into the bureaucratic-noble monarchy of the 18th century with its bureaucracy and service classes. The place of the Boyar Duma was taken by the Senate (1711), boards were established instead of orders (1718), the control apparatus was represented first by "fiscals" (1711), and then by prosecutors headed by the prosecutor general. Instead of the patriarchate, the Spiritual College, or Synod, was established, which was under the control of the government. Great importance had an administrative reform. In 1708-1709, instead of counties, voivodships and governorships, 8 (then 10) provinces headed by governors were established. In 1719, the provinces were divided into 47 provinces.
As a military leader, Peter I is among the most educated and talented builders of the armed forces, commanders and naval commanders of Russian and world history of the eighteenth century. His whole life's work was to strengthen the military power of Russia and increase its role in the international arena. He had to continue the war with Turkey, which began in 1686, to wage a long-term struggle for Russia's access to the sea in the North and South. As a result of the Azov campaigns (1695-1696), Azov was occupied by Russian troops, and Russia fortified on the shores of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov. In the long Northern War (1700-1721), Russia under the leadership of Peter I achieved a complete victory, gained access to the Baltic Sea, which gave it the opportunity to establish direct ties with Western countries. After the Persian campaign (1722-1723), the western coast of the Caspian Sea with the cities of Derbent and Baku went to Russia.
Under Peter I, for the first time in the history of Russia, permanent diplomatic missions and consulates abroad were established, outdated forms of diplomatic relations and etiquette were abolished.
Major reforms were also carried out by Peter I in the field of culture and education. A secular school appeared, the monopoly of the clergy on education was eliminated. Peter I founded the Pushkar School (1699), the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences (1701), the Medical and Surgical School; the first Russian public theater was opened. In St. Petersburg, the Naval Academy (1715), engineering and artillery schools (1719), schools of translators at collegiums were established, the first Russian museum, the Kunstkamera (1719) with a public library, was opened. In 1700, a new calendar was introduced with the beginning of the year on January 1 (instead of September 1) and the reckoning from the "Christmas", and not from the "Creation of the World".
By order of Peter I, various expeditions were carried out, including to Central Asia, the Far East, Siberia, and a systematic study of the country's geography and mapping was laid.
Peter I was married twice: to Evdokia Fedorovna Lopukhina and to Marta Skavronskaya (later Empress Catherine I); had a son from his first marriage, Alexei, and from his second, daughters Anna and Elizabeth (besides them, 8 children of Peter I died in early childhood).
Peter I died in 1725 and was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources
The personality of Peter the Great stands apart in the history of Russia, since neither among his contemporaries, nor among his successors and descendants was there a person who could make such profound changes in the state, so infiltrate into historical memory of the Russian people, becoming at the same time a semi-legendary, but its brightest page. As a result of Peter's activities, Russia became an empire and took its place among the leading European powers.
Pyotr Alekseevich was born on June 9, 1672. His father was the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, and his mother, Natalia Naryshkina, was the second wife of the Tsar. At the age of 4, Peter lost his father, who died at 47. The upbringing of the prince was carried out by Nikita Zotov, who, by the standards of Russia at that time, was very educated. Peter was the youngest in a large family of Alexei Mikhailovich (13 children). In 1682, after the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, the struggle between two boyar clans escalated at the court - the Miloslavskys (relatives of the first wife of Alexei Mikhailovich) and the Naryshkins. The first believed that the sick Tsarevich Ivan should take the throne. The Naryshkins, like the patriarch, advocated the candidacy of a healthy and rather mobile 10-year-old Peter. As a result of the streltsy unrest, the zero option was chosen: both princes became kings, and their elder sister, Sophia, was appointed regent under them.
At first, Peter was little interested in state affairs: he often visited the German Sloboda, where he met his future associates Lefort and General Gordon. Peter spent most of his time in the villages of Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky near Moscow, where he created amusing regiments for entertainment, which later became the first guards regiments - Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky.
In 1689, a break occurs between Peter and Sophia. Peter demands that his sister be removed to the Novodevichy Convent, because by this time Peter and Ivan had already reached the age of majority and had to rule on their own. From 1689 to 1696 Peter I and Ivan V were co-rulers until the latter died.
Peter understood that the position of Russia did not allow her to fully implement her foreign policy plans, as well as to develop steadily internally. It was necessary to get access to the ice-free Black Sea in order to give an additional impetus to domestic trade and industry. That is why Peter continues the work begun by Sophia and intensifies the fight against Turkey within the framework of the Holy League, but instead of the traditional campaign to the Crimea, the young tsar throws all his energy to the south, under Azov, which he failed to take in 1695, but after the construction of the flotilla in Voronezh in the winter of 1695-1696, Azov was taken. The further participation of Russia in the Holy League, however, began to lose its meaning - Europe was preparing for the war for the Spanish Succession, so the fight against Turkey ceased to be a priority for the Austrian Habsburgs, and without the support of the allies, Russia could not resist the Ottomans.
In 1697-1698, Peter traveled incognito around Europe as part of the Great Embassy under the name of bombardier Peter Mikhailov. Then he makes personal acquaintances with the monarchs of the leading European countries. Abroad, Peter received extensive knowledge in navigation, artillery, and shipbuilding. After meeting with Augustus II, the Elector of Saxony and the Polish king, Peter decides to move the center of foreign policy activity from south to north and go to the shores of the Baltic Sea, which were to be recaptured from Sweden, the most powerful state in the then Baltic.
In an effort to make the state more efficient, Peter I carried out public administration reforms (the Senate, boards, bodies of higher state control and political investigation were created, the church was subordinate to the state, the Spiritual Regulations were introduced, the country was divided into provinces, new capital- Saint Petersburg).
Understanding the backwardness of Russia in industrial development from the leading European powers, Peter used their experience in various fields - in manufacturing, trade, and culture. The sovereign paid great attention and even forcibly forced the nobles and merchants to develop the knowledge and enterprises necessary for the country. This includes: the creation of manufactories, metallurgical, mining and other plants, shipyards, marinas, canals. Peter perfectly understood how important the military successes of the country were, therefore he personally led the army in the Azov campaigns of 1695-1696, took part in the development of strategic and tactical operations during the Northern War of 1700-1721, Prut campaign 1711, the Persian campaign of 1722-23.
7 Comments
Valuev Anton Vadimovich
February 8 is the Day of Russian Science, the founder of which was Peter I the Great, an outstanding statesman and public figure, Tsar - reformer, creator of Russian Empire. It was through his work that the Academy of Sciences was established in St. Petersburg, in which outstanding representatives of domestic and foreign science worked from generation to generation for the benefit of Russia. Let me congratulate my colleagues on their professional holiday and wish them interesting work, constantly improving their knowledge and experience, while always remaining true to their convictions, striving to multiply the centuries-old traditions of Russian science.
Valuev Anton Vadimovich/ Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
By decree of Peter the Great, the Senate, the highest body of state executive power, was established in St. Petersburg. The Senate lasted from 1711 to 1917. One of the most important and influential institutions in the system of secular government of the Russian Empire.
Valuev Anton Vadimovich/ Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
The Great Embassy of the young sovereign Peter Alekseevich is considered a turning point in the history of the European modernization of the socio-political system of Russia. During the Embassy, the future emperor saw Western Europe with his own eyes and appreciated its great potential. After returning to their homeland, the renewal processes accelerated many times over. Diplomatic and trade-economic relations, industrial production, science, culture and military affairs developed rapidly. In a sense, this was the real "window to Europe" that Tsar Peter opened for Russia.
Valuev Anton Vadimovich/ Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
The talent of a statesman is visible in his attitude to the development of the human factor, personality, social potential of the country. And here Peter I did a lot to strengthen both public ties and internal stability, and, as a result, the positions of the Russian Empire on the world stage. The personnel policy of the Petrine era was based on two foundations: the talent of each person - regardless of his social origin - and his desire to be useful to the Fatherland. In 1714, by the Decree of Peter, the production of nobles to the rank of officer was prohibited, if before that they had not served as ordinary soldiers. Six years later, in a new decree, Peter secured the right of every senior officer to receive a patent of nobility and transfer the title of nobility by inheritance. In practice, this meant that thanks to his talents and the courage and heroism shown in real conditions, a person honestly earned the right to move to another, higher class. This was an important step in updating the class hierarchy of the Russian Empire.
Valuev Anton Vadimovich/ Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
May 18 is a doubly important date in military history our Fatherland. In 1703, at the mouth of the Neva, thirty Russian boats under the command of Peter I, during a daring raid, captured two Swedish military frigates, Astrild and Gedan. This event is considered the beginning of the heroic history of the Baltic Fleet. A year later, in order to strengthen military positions in the Baltic, by decree of Peter I, Kronshlot, the fort of Kronstadt, was founded. Three centuries have passed since then, and the Baltic Fleet and Kronstadt have always defended and defend the interests of Russia. Solemn events on this day are held in St. Petersburg and Kronstadt, cities of Russian naval glory. The founder of the Russian Empire, the Baltic Fleet, Kronstadt - vivat !!!
Smart Ivan Mikhailovich
Nice, informative article. Although it is worth noting that in the course of pro-Western official history, "improved" in the matter of distorting the Truth since the time of the first Romanov-Westerners, Peter Romanov looks like a benefactor of the Fatherland, the "father of the peoples" of Russia-Eurasia.
But the Russian people still retained information that "the Germans replaced the tsar" - either in infancy, or already in his youth (A.A. Gordeev). And most likely, the truth is that Peter the 1st was recruited by Catholic Jesuits, who tirelessly carry out their work on the implementation of "Drang nah Osten" - "Onslaught on the East" (B.P. Kutuzov).
For "... it must be said that under Peter I, the colonialists were no longer embarrassed to "spend the human resources" of the country they captured -" in the era of Peter the Great "population decline
Muscovite Rus was, according to various historians and researchers, about 20 to 40% of the total population.
However, the population of Muscovite Rus' was also declining as a result of the flight of the people from the despotism of the colonialists. And the people fled from them mainly to Tataria (see below).
Actually, I must say, Peter Romanov began the “Europeanization” of Rus'-Muscovy with his family. First of all, he imprisoned his wife from a native Russian family, Evdokia Lopukhina, in a monastery - in prison, that is. She dared to object to the bullying of her husband and his Western European entourage over the Fatherland - in that, apparently, she seriously interfered with the "implementation of Western culture and progress.")
But the girl Mons from the German settlement helped Peter in every possible way in that introduction. Peter changed his Russian wife for her - a beauty and a clever girl. And the son of Alexei, since he, too, stubbornly did not want to “Europeanize” with age, was put to death. But before that, Peter, using all the skills he had learned from the Jesuit teachers, long and stubbornly "led the search" for Alexei. That is, under torture he interrogated his son - why is he opposed to this "Europeanization", and who are his accomplices in this "dark" and villainous, according to the "tsar-enlightener" case (7)...."
(From the book "HERITAGE OF THE TATARS" (Moscow, Algorithm, 2012). Author G.R. Enikeev).
Also, about all this and much more hidden from us from the true history of the Fatherland, read in the book “The Great Horde: Friends, Enemies and Heirs. (Moscow-Tatar coalition: XIV–XVII centuries)”– (Moscow, Algorithm, 2011). The author is the same.
Valuev Anton Vadimovich/ Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
Russia owes many transformations to Peter the Great. So, it was precisely according to his decree of December 15, 1699 that the Julian chronology and the Julian calendar were approved in Russia. Since then New Year in our country they began to celebrate not from September 1, but from January 1. Under Peter the Great, many of the most important cultural attributes of this folk celebration were laid - decorated fir trees, fireworks, New Year's carnivals and many other winter entertainments. On the eve of the New Year holidays, according to tradition, it is customary to sum up the results of the past year and hopefully make plans for the future. I would like to wish all colleagues and project participants pleasant New Year's Eve troubles, more joy, family warmth, comfort, happiness. May new creative plans, successful and interesting ideas await us in the New Year 2016, may they come true!
The first Russian Emperor Peter I the Great was born
autocratic hand
He boldly sowed enlightenment,
He did not despise his native country:
He knew her purpose.
Now an academician, then a hero,
Now a navigator, now a carpenter,
He is an all-encompassing soul
On the throne was an eternal worker.
Pushkin A. S. "Stans", 1826
May 30 (June 9), 1672 in Moscow in the family Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov and his second wife Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina was born first Russian emperor (1721) Peter I Alekseevich the Great.
Being the youngest of the heirs, Peter Alekseevich received the Moscow throne in April 1682, immediately after the death of his childless half-brother, Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, bypassing the second prince, Ivan. This caused dissatisfaction with the relatives of the first wife of Alexei Mikhailovich, the Miloslavskys, who used Streltsy Moscow uprising of 1682 for a palace coup. Adherents and relatives of the Naryshkins were repressed, Peter I was crowned king together with his half-brother, Ivan V, as a junior co-ruler, and the sister of the elder tsar, Princess Sofya Alekseevna, became regent under them. During her reign, Peter, along with his mother, was away from the Court in the village of Preobrazhensky. Only in 1689 did he succeed in removing Princess Sophia from power, and in 1696, after the death of Ivan V, he became an autocratic tsar.
Like all the children of Alexei Mikhailovich, Peter I received a good education at home, and then throughout his life he replenished his knowledge and skills in various fields, paying special attention to military and naval affairs. In 1687, he created the amusing Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments, which later became the basis of the Russian regular army. In 1688-1693. an amusing flotilla operated on Pleshcheyevo Lake, the experience of which was then used in the construction of a fleet in the Black Sea region and the Baltic. And in 1697-1698. the young tsar made a trip abroad, during which he not only got acquainted with the peculiarities of the state structure of other countries, but also completed a full course in artillery sciences in Königsberg, a theoretical course in shipbuilding in England and a six-month practice as a carpenter at the shipyards of Amsterdam.
While maintaining and strengthening the feudal serf system during his reign, Peter I carried out a series of reforms aimed at overcoming Russia's separation from the Western European path of development and strengthening the country's influence on the international economy and politics.
This was greatly facilitated by the energetic foreign policy king. So, as a result of the Azov campaigns of 1695-1696. Russia captured the Turkish fortress of Azov and received access to the Azov and Black Seas. During Northern War (1700-1721) the lands along the banks of the Neva, in Karelia and the Baltic states, previously conquered by Sweden, were returned, the country received access to the Baltic Sea, which greatly influenced its economic, political and cultural development. During the Persian campaign (1722–1723), the western coast of the Caspian Sea with the cities of Derbent and Baku went to Russia.
Important transformations were carried out inside the country in all spheres of life. So, there was a transfer of the capital to the city created in 1703. city of St. Petersburg , division of the country's territory into provinces in 1708–1715., the formation of the highest body of state administration - the Senate, creation of colleges and so on. Changes in the social sphere, reflected in the decree on uniform inheritance of 1714, touched upon the merger of two forms of land ownership (estates and estates) and the transformation of the nobility into life service. In 1722, a document was approved regulating the procedure for moving through the service - "Table of Ranks". In 1721, Peter I introduced "Spiritual regulation" officially abolished the Patriarchate in the Russian Church and created the Spiritual Board for its management, which was soon renamed the Holy Governing Synod. BThanks to the military reform, a regular Russian army and navy were formed, the organizational basis of which was the "Military Charter" and the "Marine Charter".Under Peter was created the Russian Academy of Sciences, a number of higher educational institutions, formed a secular comprehensive school, the first museum and public library in Russia were opened, began to publish the first Russian newspaper "Vedomosti", a number of expeditions were organized to Central Asia and the Far East, etc. In 1721 Russia became an empire, and a year later decree of succession, which secured the autocratic rights of the monarch to appoint his successor.
The activity of the king was evaluated by society ambiguously. The promotion of the service nobility and bureaucratic bureaucracy to the fore, the elimination of the patriarchate, the loss of political independence by the church caused dissatisfaction among the boyars and the church hierarchy. The answer to many violent innovations and the increased tax burden was the uprisings of the townspeople and soldiers.
On January 28 (February 10), 1725, the first Russian emperor died and was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. His successor was his wife, Catherine I.
Lit .: Bazilevich K.V. Peter I - statesman, reformer, commander. M, 1946; Brikner A. G. History of Peter the Great. M., 2004; Valishevsky K. F. Peter the Great. M., 2003; Great reformer of Russia: On the 300th anniversary of the birth of Peter I. Voronezh, 2002; Memorable stories about the life and deeds of Peter the Great. SPb., 1872; Legislation of Peter I. M., 1997; Zolotov V. A. History of Peter the Great. SPb., 1872; Kara-Murza A. A. Reformer: Russians about Peter I. Ivanovo, 1994; Massey R.K. Peter the Great: Personality and Epoch. St. Petersburg, 2003; Pavlenko N. I. Peter I. M., 2003; Peter the Great in legends, anecdotes, fairy tales, songs. St. Petersburg, 2000; Letters and papers of Peter the Great. St. Petersburg; M. T. 1-13. 1887-1992; Pogosyan E. A. Peter I - the architect of Russian history. SPb., 2001; Reforms of Peter I and the fate of Russia. M., 1994; Senigov I.P. Tsar-worker and teacher. Pg., 1915; Tarle E.V. Russian fleet and foreign policy of Peter I. St. Petersburg, 1994; Shchebalsky P.K. Sovereign Tsar Peter the Great, the first Russian emperor. Warsaw, 1873.
See also in the Presidential Library:
Battle of Lesnaya // On this day. October 9, 1708 G.;
The first civil calendar was published in Moscow // On this day. January 8, 1709 G.;
Alexander Nevsky Lavra founded in St. Petersburg // On this day. April 5, 1713 G.;
A decree of Peter I "On wearing a dress in the manner of the Hungarian" was issued // On this day. January 14, 1700 ;
The Treaty of Constantinople was signed between Russia and Turkey // On this day. July 14, 1700 ;
Treaty of Preobrazhensky signed between Peter I and August II // On this day. November 21, 1699 ;
Peter I (Peter Alekseevich, First, Great) - the last Moscow tsar and the first Russian emperor. He was the youngest son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov from his second wife, noblewoman Natalia Naryshkina. Born in 1672 on May 30 (9) (June).
short biography Peter I is presented below (Peter 1 photo also).
Peter's father died when he was 4 years old, and his elder brother, Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, became his official guardian, a strong party of the Miloslavsky boyars came to power in Moscow (Fedor's mother was Alexei's first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya).
In contact with
The upbringing and education of Peter I
All historians are unanimous in their opinion about the education of the future emperor. They believe that it was as weak as possible. Up to a year he was raised by his mother, and up to 4 years old by nannies. Then the clerk N. Zotov took up the education of the boy. The boy did not have the opportunity to study with the famous Simeon of Polotsk, who taught his older brothers, since the Patriarch of Moscow Joachim, who began the fight against "Latinization", insisted on the removal of Polotsk and his students from the court. N. Zotov taught the tsar to read and write, the law of God and the initial account. The prince wrote badly, lexicon his was scarce. However, in the future, Peter will fill in all the gaps in his education.
The struggle of Miloslavsky and Naryshkin for power
Fedor Alekseevich died in 1682 leaving no male heir. The boyars Naryshkins, taking advantage of the confusion that arose and the fact that Tsarevich Ivan Alekseevich, the next brother in seniority, was mentally ill, elevated Peter to the throne, and made Natalya Kirillovna regent, while a close friend and relative of the Narashkins boyar Artamon Matveev was appointed guardian.
The Miloslavsky boyars, led by Princess Sophia, the eldest daughter of Alexei Mikhailovich, began to incite the archers, who numbered about 20 thousand in Moscow, to revolt. And the riot happened; as a result, the boyar A. Matveev, his supporter, the boyar M. Dolgoruky, and many of the Naryshkin family were killed. Tsarina Natalya was sent into exile, and both Ivan and Peter were elevated to the throne (and Ivan was considered the eldest). Princess Sophia, who enlisted the support of the leaders of the streltsy army, became their regent.
Link to Preobrazhenskoye, the creation of amusing regiments
After the wedding ceremony, young Peter was sent to the village of Preobrazhenskoye. There he grew up without feeling any restrictions. Very soon, the interest of the young prince in military affairs became clear to everyone around him. From 1685 to 1688, Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky (after the name of the neighboring village of Preobrazhensky, Semenov) amusing regiments were created in the village, and “amusing” artillery was created.
At the same time, the prince became interested in maritime affairs and founded the first shipyard on Lake Pleshcheyevo near Pereslavl-Zalessky. Since there were no Russian boyars who knew maritime science, the heir to the throne turned to foreigners, Germans and Dutch, who lived in the German Quarter in Moscow. It was at this time that he met Timmerman, who taught him geometry and arithmetic, Brandt, who studied navigation with him, Gordon and Lefort, who in the future would become his closest associates and associates.
First marriage
In 1689, on the orders of his mother, Peter married Evdokia Lopukhina, a girl from a rich and noble boyar family. Tsarina Natalya pursued three goals: to connect her son with the well-born Moscow boyars, who, if necessary, would provide him with political support, to announce the boy tsar’s coming of age and, as a result, his ability to rule independently, and to distract her son from his German mistress, Anna Mons. The prince did not love his wife and very quickly left her alone, although Tsarevich Alexei, the future heir to the emperor, was born from this marriage.
The beginning of independent rule and the struggle with Sophia
In 1689, another conflict broke out between Sophia and Peter, who wanted to rule independently. At first, archers led by Fyodor Shaklovity took the side of Sophia, but Peter managed to turn the tide and forced Sophia to retreat. She went to the monastery, Shaklovity was executed, and the elder brother Ivan fully recognized the right of his younger brother to the throne, although nominally, until his death in 1696, he remained co-ruler. From 1689 to 1696 year affairs in the state were handled by the government formed by Tsarina Natalya. The tsar himself completely "surrendered" to his favorite deeds - the creation of an army and navy.
The first independent years of reign and the final destruction of Sophia's supporters
Since 1696, Peter began to rule independently choosing as a priority the continuation of the war with Ottoman Empire. In 1695, 1696, he undertook two campaigns in order to capture the Turkish fortress of Azov on the Sea of Azov (Peter deliberately refused to go to the Crimea, believing that his army was not yet strong enough). In 1695, it was not possible to take the fortress, and in 1696, after more thorough preparations and the creation of a river fleet, the fortress was taken. So Peter received the first port on the southern sea. In the same 1696, another fortress, Taganrog, was founded on the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, which would become an outpost for Russian forces preparing to attack the Crimea from the sea.
However, an attack on the Crimea meant a war with the Ottomans, and the tsar understood that he still did not have enough strength for such a campaign. That is why he began to intensively look for allies who would support him in this war. For this purpose, he organized the so-called "Great Embassy" (1697-1698).
The official goal of the embassy, which was headed by F. Lefort, was to establish ties with Europe and train underage, the unofficial goal was to conclude military alliances against the Omani Empire. The king also went with an embassy, though incognito. He visited several German principalities, Holland, England and Austria. The official goals were achieved, but it was not possible to find allies for the war with the Ottomans.
Peter intended to visit Venice and the Vatican, but in 1698 an uprising of archers, incited by Sophia, began in Moscow, and Peter was forced to return to his homeland. The Streltsy uprising was brutally suppressed by him. Sophia is tonsured to a monastery. Peter also sent his wife, Evdokia Lopukhina, to a monastery in Suzdal, but she was not trimmed as a nun, as Patriarch Adrian opposed this.
Empire building. Northern War and expansions to the South
In 1698, Peter completely disbanded the archery army and created 4 regular regiments, which became the basis of his new army. There was no such army in Russia yet, but the tsar needed it, since he was going to start a war for access to the Baltic Sea. The elector of Saxony, the ruler of the Commonwealth, and the Danish king offered Peter to fight with Sweden, the then hegemon of Europe. They needed a weak Sweden, and Peter needed access to the sea and convenient harbors for building a fleet. The reason for the war was allegedly an insult inflicted on the king in Riga.
First stage of the war
The beginning of the war cannot be called successful. On 19 (30) 11/1700, the Russian army was defeated near Narva. After Charles XII, king of Sweden, defeated the allies. Peter did not back down, drew conclusions and reorganized the army and rear, carrying out reforms according to the European model. They immediately paid off:
- 1702 - the capture of Noteburg;
- 1703 - the capture of Nyenschantz; the beginning of the construction of St. Petersburg and Kronstadt;
- 1704 - the capture of Dorpat and Narva
In 1706 Charles XII, confident in his victory after strengthening in the Commonwealth, began to break through to the south of Russia, where he was promised support by the hetman of Ukraine I. Mazepa. But the battle near the village of Lesnoy (the Russian army was led by Al. Menshikov) deprived the Swedish army of fodder and ammunition. Most likely, it was this fact, as well as the military talent of Peter I, that led to the complete defeat of the Swedes near Poltava.
The Swedish king fled to Turkey, where he wanted to win the support of the Turkish Sultan. Turkey intervened, and as a result of the unsuccessful Prut campaign (1711), Russia was forced to return Azov to Turkey and abandon Taganrog. The loss was heavy for Russia, but peace with Turkey was concluded. This was followed by victories in the Baltic:
- 1714 - victory at Cape Gangut (in 1718 Charles XII died and peace negotiations began);
- 1721 - victory at the island of Grengam.
In 1721, the Treaty of Nystadt was concluded, according to which Russia received:
- access to the Baltic;
- Karelia, Estonia, Livonia, Ingria (but Russia had to give the conquered Finland to Sweden).
In the same year, Peter the Great proclaimed Russia an Empire, and endowed himself with the title of Emperor (moreover, in a short time, this new title of Peter I of Moscow Tsar was recognized by all European powers: who could challenge the decision taken by the most powerful ruler of Europe at that time?).
In 1722 - 1723, Peter the Great undertook the Caspian campaign, which ended with the signing of the Treaty of Constantinople with Turkey (1724), which recognized Russia's right to the western shores of the Caspian. The same treaty was signed with Persia.
Domestic policy of Peter I. reforms
From 1700 to 1725, Peter the Great carried out reforms that in one way or another affected every sphere of life in the Russian state. The most significant of them:
Finance and trade:
We can say that it was Peter the Great who created the industry of Russia, opening state-owned and helping to create private manufactories throughout the country;
Army:
- 1696 - the beginning of the creation of the Russian fleet (Peter did everything to make the Russian fleet become the most powerful in the world in 20 years);
- 1705 - the introduction of recruitment service (the creation of a regular army);
- 1716 - the creation of military charters;
Church:
- 1721 - the abolition of the patriarchate, the creation of the Synod, the creation of the Spiritual Regulations (the church in Russia was completely subordinate to the state);
Internal management:
Noble law:
- 1714 - decree on single inheritance (a ban on splitting noble estates, which led to the strengthening of noble land ownership).
Family and personal life
After a divorce from Evdokia Lopukhina, Peter married (in 1712) his longtime mistress Catherine (Marta Skavronskaya), with whom he had been in connection since 1702 and with whom he already had several children (including Anna, the mother of the future Emperor Peter III, and Elizabeth, the future Russian Empress). He crowned her the kingdom, making her empress and co-ruler.
With the eldest son, Tsarevich Alexei, Peter had a difficult relationship, which led to treason, abdication and death of the first in 1718. In 1722, the emperor issues a decree on succession to the throne, which states that the emperor has the right to appoint himself an heir. The only male heir in a straight line was the grandson of the emperor - Peter (son of Tsarevich Alexei). But who will take the throne after the death of Peter the Great remained unknown until the end of the emperor's life.
Peter had a stern character, he was quick-tempered, but the fact that he was a bright and extraordinary personality can be judged from the photos taken from the lifetime portraits of the emperor.
Almost all his life, Peter the Great suffered from kidney stones and uremia. From several attacks that occurred between 1711-1720, he could well have died.
In 1724-1725, the disease intensified and the emperor suffered from terrible attacks of pain. In the autumn of 1724, Peter caught a bad cold (he stood for a long time in cold water, helping sailors to save a boat that had run aground), and the pains became uninterrupted. In January, the emperor fell ill, on the 22nd he confessed and took the last communion, and on the 28th, after a long and painful agony (a photo of Peter I taken from the painting “The Emperor on his deathbed” proves this fact), Peter the Great died in the Winter Palace of St. Petersburg.
The doctors diagnosed pneumonia, and after the autopsy it became clear that the emperor had gangrene after the urinary canal finally narrowed and clogged with stones.
The emperor was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. His reign is over.
On January 28, with the support of A. Menshikov, Ekaterina Alekseevna, the second wife of Peter the Great, became empress.
