Studying the topic “Personality of Peter 1” is important for understanding the essence of the reforms he carried out in Russia. Indeed, in our country, it was often the character, personal qualities and education of the sovereign that determined the main line of socio-political development. The reign of this king covers a fairly long period of time: in 1689 (when he finally removed his sister Sophia from government affairs) and until his death in 1725.
General characteristics of the era
Consideration of the question of when Peter 1 was born should begin with an analysis of the general historical situation in Russia at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th centuries. This was the time when the preconditions for serious and profound political, economic, social and cultural changes were ripe in the country. Already during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, a tendency towards the penetration of Western European achievements into the country was clearly noted. Under this ruler, a number of measures were taken to transform certain aspects of public life.
Therefore, the personality of Peter 1 was formed in a situation when society already clearly understood the need for serious reforms. In this regard, it is necessary to understand that the transformative activity of the first emperor of Russia did not arise out of nowhere, it became a natural and necessary consequence of the entire previous development of the country.
Childhood
Peter 1, a brief biography, whose reign and reforms are the subject of this review, was born on May 30 (June 9), 1672. The exact birthplace of the future emperor is unknown. According to the generally accepted point of view, this place was the Kremlin, but the villages of Kolomenskoye or Izmailovo are also indicated. He was the fourteenth child in the family of Tsar Alexei, but the first from his second wife, Natalya Kirillovna. on his mother's side he came from the Naryshkin family. She was the daughter of small-scale nobles, which may have subsequently predetermined their struggle with the large and influential boyar group of the Miloslavskys at court, who were relatives of the tsar through his first wife.
Peter 1 spent his childhood among nannies who did not give him a serious education. That is why until the end of his life he never learned to read and write properly and wrote with errors. However, he was a very inquisitive boy who was interested in everything, he had an inquisitive mind, which determined his interest in practical sciences. The end of the 17th century, when Peter 1 was born, was the time when European education began to spread in the highest circles of society, but the early years of the future emperor passed away from the new trends of the era.
Teenage years
The life of the prince took place in the village of Preobrazhenskoye, where he, in fact, was left to his own devices. No one was seriously involved in raising the boy, so his studies during these years were superficial. Nevertheless, the childhood of Peter 1 was very eventful and fruitful in terms of the formation of his worldview and interest in scientific and practical activities. He became seriously interested in organizing troops, for which he arranged for himself the so-called amusing regiments, which consisted of local courtyard boys, as well as the sons of small-scale nobles, whose estates were located nearby. Together with these small detachments, he took improvised bastions, organized battles and gatherings, and carried out attacks. In relation to the same time, we can say that the fleet of Peter I arose. At first it was just a small boat, but nevertheless it is considered to be the father of the Russian flotilla.
First serious steps
It has already been said above that the time when Peter 1 was born is considered to be a transitional time in the history of Russia. It was during this period that the country was in a position where all the necessary prerequisites arose for its entry into the international arena. The first steps were taken in this direction during the future emperor's trip abroad to the countries of Western Europe. Then he was able to see with his own eyes the achievements of these states in various areas of life.
Peter 1, whose short biography includes this important stage in his life, appreciated Western European achievements, primarily in technology and weapons. However, he also paid attention to the culture, education of these countries, and their political institutions. After his return to Russia, he made an attempt to modernize the administrative apparatus, the army, and legislation, which was supposed to prepare the country for entering the international arena.
The initial stage of government: the beginning of reforms
The era when Peter 1 was born was a preparatory time for major changes in our country. That is why the transformations of the first emperor were so appropriate and outlived their creator for centuries. At the very beginning of his reign, the new sovereign abolished which had been the legislative advisory body under the previous kings. Instead, he created a Senate based on Western European models. Meetings of senators to draft laws were supposed to take place there. It is significant that this was initially a temporary measure, which, however, turned out to be very effective: this institution existed until the February Revolution of 1917.
Further transformations
It has already been said above that Peter 1 on his mother’s side comes from a not very noble noble family. However, his mother was raised in the European spirit, which, of course, could not but affect the boy’s personality, although the queen herself adhered to traditional views and measures when raising her son. Nevertheless, the Tsar was inclined to transform almost all spheres of life of Russian society, which was literally an urgent need in connection with Russia's conquest of access to the Baltic Sea and the country's entry into the international arena.
And so the emperor changed the administrative apparatus: he created collegiums instead of orders, a Synod to manage church affairs. In addition, he formed a regular army, and the fleet of Peter I became one of the strongest among other naval powers.
Features of transformation activities
The main goal of the emperor's reign was the desire to reform those areas that were necessary for him to solve the most important tasks when conducting combat operations on several fronts at once. He himself obviously assumed that these changes would be temporary. Most modern historians agree that the ruler did not have any pre-thought-out program of activities to reform the country. Many experts believe that he acted based on specific needs.
The significance of the emperor's reforms for his successors
However, the phenomenon of his reforms lies precisely in the fact that these seemingly temporary measures outlived their creator for a long time and existed almost unchanged for two centuries. Moreover, his successors, for example, Catherine II, were largely guided by his achievements. This suggests that the ruler’s reforms came to the right place and at the right time. The life of Peter 1 was, in fact, dedicated to changing and improving a variety of areas in society. He was interested in everything new, however, when borrowing the achievements of the West, he first of all thought about how this would benefit Russia. That is why his transformative activities for a long time served as an example for reforms during the reign of other emperors.
Relationships with others
When describing the character of the tsar, one should never forget which boyar family Peter 1 belonged to. On his mother’s side, he came from a not very well-born nobility, which, most likely, determined his interest not in nobility, but in a person’s merits to the fatherland and his skills serve. The emperor valued not rank and title, but the specific talents of his subordinates. This speaks of Pyotr Alekseevich’s democratic approach to people, despite his stern and even harsh character.
Mature years
In the last years of his life, the emperor sought to consolidate the successes achieved. But here he had serious problems with the heir. subsequently had a very bad effect on political governance and led to serious difficulties in the country. The fact is that Peter's son, Tsarevich Alexei, went against his father, not wanting to continue his reforms. In addition, the king had serious problems in his family. Nevertheless, he made sure to consolidate the successes achieved: he took the title of emperor, and Russia became an empire. This step raised the international prestige of our country. In addition, Pyotr Alekseevich achieved recognition of Russia's access to the Baltic Sea, which was of fundamental importance for the development of trade and the fleet. Subsequently, his successors continued the policy in this direction. Under Catherine II, for example, Russia gained access to the Black Sea. The emperor died as a result of complications from a cold and did not have time to draw up a will before his death, which led to the emergence of numerous pretenders to the throne and repeated palace coups.
The first years of the reign of Peter I.
Azov campaigns and the “Great Embassy”.
Industry.
Trade.
Agriculture.
Financial policy.
Reorganization of the public administration system.
The Church and the liquidation of the patriarchate.
Creation of a regular army and navy.
Streltsy uprising of 1698
“The Case of Tsarevich Alexei.”
Astrakhan uprising.
Uprising under the leadership of K. Bulavin.
The main directions of foreign policy in the era of Peter I and the Northern War.
Reforms in the field of education and culture.
The first years of the reign of Peter I.
After the August coup of 1689, power in the country passed to supporters of the seventeen-year-old Tsar Peter Alekseevich (who formally ruled until 1696 together with his brother Ivan) - P.K. Naryshkin, T.N. Streshnev, B.A. Golitsyn and others. A number of important government posts were also occupied by relatives of Peter’s first wife E.F. Lopukhina (the wedding took place in January 1689). Having given them the leadership of the country, the young tsar devoted all his energy to “Neptune and Mars fun”, for which he actively attracted “foreign servicemen” who lived in the German settlement (Kukue).
Peter surrounded himself with capable, energetic assistants and specialists, especially military ones. Among the foreigners, the following stood out: the tsar's closest friend F. Lefort, the experienced general P. Gordon, the talented engineer J. Bruce, and others. And among the Russians, a close-knit group of associates gradually formed, who subsequently made a brilliant political career: A.M. Golovin, G.I. Golovkin, brothers P.M. and F.M. Apraksin, A.D. Menshikov. With their help, Peter organized maneuvers of “amusing” troops (the future two guards regiments - Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky), which were held in the village of Preobrazhensky. Peter paid special attention to the development of the Russian navigator. Already in May 1692, his first “amusing” ship, built with the participation of the Tsar himself, was launched on Lake Pereslavl. In 1693-1694. The first Russian naval ship was built in Arkhangelsk and another one was ordered in Amsterdam. It was on board a Dutch-built ship in July 1694, during a real sea voyage organized by the Tsar, that the Russian red-blue-white flag was first raised.
Behind Peter’s “military amusements” there was a far-reaching goal: the struggle for Russia’s access to the sea. Due to the short winter navigation, the Arkhangelsk port could not provide year-round trade. Therefore, the bet was made on access to the Black Sea. Thus, Peter returned to the idea of the Crimean campaigns, in which Prince V.V. failed. Golitsyn. After a three-month siege of Azov (spring - summer 1695), Peter was forced to retreat. Without a fleet, it was impossible to besiege the fortress from both land and sea. The first Azov campaign ended in failure. In the winter of 1695/96. Preparations for the second campaign began. Construction of the first Russian fleet began in Voronezh. By spring, 2 ships, 23 galleys, 4 fire ships and 1,300 plows were ready, on which the 40,000-strong Russian army again besieged Azov in May 1696. After a blockade from the sea on July 19, the Turkish fortress surrendered. The fleet found a convenient harbor in Taganrog and began building a port. But still, the forces to fight Turkey and Crimea were clearly not enough. Peter ordered the construction of new ships (52 ships in 2 years) at the expense of landowners and merchants.
At the same time, it was necessary to start looking for allies in Europe. Thus was born the idea of the “Great Embassy” (March 1697-August 1698). Formally, it had the goal of visiting the capitals of a number of European states to conclude an alliance against Turkey. Admiral General F.Ya. was appointed as great ambassadors. Lefort, General F.A. Golovin, head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz, and Duma clerk P.B. Voznitsyn. The embassy included 280 people, including 35 volunteers who were traveling to learn crafts and military sciences, among whom, under the name of Peter Mikhailov, was Tsar Peter himself. The main task of the embassy was to familiarize itself with the political life of Europe, study foreign crafts, life, culture, military and other orders. During his one and a half year stay abroad, Peter and his embassy visited Courland, Brandenburg, Holland, England and Austria, met with sovereign princes and monarchs, studied shipbuilding and other crafts. Came in the summer of 1698. A message from Moscow about a new uprising of the archers forced the tsar to return to Russia.
International relations in Europe at this time were not in favor of continuing the war with Turkey, and soon (January 14, 1699), Russia, like other countries members of the “Holy League,” had to agree to a truce concluded in Karlovtsy. However, the “Great Embassy” became a true academy for Peter, and he used the experience gained in carrying out reforms in both domestic and foreign policy. For a long period, it determined the task of Russia’s struggle with Sweden for possession of the Baltic coast and access to the sea. Reorientation of Russian foreign policy by the beginning of the 18th century. from the southern direction to the northern coincided in time with enormous transformations that swept the country in all spheres of life, from priority diplomatic and military efforts to the Europeanization of life. Preparations for the war with Sweden served as an impetus for deep political and socio-economic reforms, which ultimately determined the appearance of the Peter the Great era. Some reforms took years, others were rushed. But on the whole, they formed a system of an extremely centralized absolutist state, headed by “an autocratic monarch who, as Peter himself wrote, should not give an answer to anyone in his affairs in his affairs.” The transformations were formalized by legislative decrees of the tsar, and their number in the first quarter of the 18th century. amounted to more than 2.5 thousand.
Peter the Great was born on May 30 (June 9), 1672 in Moscow. In the biography of Peter 1, it is important to note that he was the youngest son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from his second marriage to Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. From the age of one he was raised by nannies. And after the death of his father, at the age of four, his half-brother and new Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich became Peter’s guardian.
From the age of 5, little Peter began to be taught the alphabet. The clerk N. M. Zotov gave him lessons. However, the future king received a weak education and was not literate.
Rise to power
In 1682, after the death of Fyodor Alekseevich, 10-year-old Peter and his brother Ivan were proclaimed kings. But in fact, their elder sister, Princess Sofya Alekseevna, took over the management.
At this time, Peter and his mother were forced to move away from the yard and move to the village of Preobrazhenskoye. Here Peter 1 developed an interest in military activities; he created “amusing” regiments, which later became the basis of the Russian army. He is interested in firearms and shipbuilding. He spends a lot of time in the German settlement, becomes a fan of European life, and makes friends.
In 1689, Sophia was removed from the throne, and power passed to Peter I, and the management of the country was entrusted to his mother and uncle L.K. Naryshkin.
Rule of the Tsar
Peter continued the war with Crimea and took the fortress of Azov. Further actions of Peter I were aimed at creating a powerful fleet. Peter I's foreign policy at that time was focused on finding allies in the war with the Ottoman Empire. For this purpose, Peter went to Europe.
At this time, the activities of Peter I consisted only of creating political unions. He studies shipbuilding, design, and culture of other countries. Returned to Russia after news of the Streltsy mutiny. As a result of the trip, he wanted to change Russia, for which several innovations were made. For example, chronology according to the Julian calendar was introduced.
To develop trade, access to the Baltic Sea was required. So the next stage of the reign of Peter I was the war with Sweden. Having made peace with Turkey, he captured the fortress of Noteburg and Nyenschanz. In May 1703, construction of St. Petersburg began. Next year, Narva and Dorpat were taken. In June 1709, Sweden was defeated in the Battle of Poltava. Soon after the death of Charles XII, peace was concluded between Russia and Sweden. New lands were annexed to Russia, and access to the Baltic Sea was gained.
Reforming Russia
In October 1721, the title of emperor was adopted in the biography of Peter the Great.
Also during his reign, Kamchatka was annexed and the shores of the Caspian Sea were conquered.
Peter I carried out military reform several times. It mainly concerned the collection of money for the maintenance of the army and navy. It was carried out, in short, by force.
Further reforms of Peter I accelerated the technical and economic development of Russia. He carried out church reform, financial reform, transformations in industry, culture, and trade. In education, he also carried out a number of reforms aimed at mass education: he opened many schools for children and the first gymnasium in Russia (1705).
Death and legacy
Before his death, Peter I was very ill, but continued to rule the state. Peter the Great died on January 28 (February 8), 1725 from inflammation of the bladder. The throne passed to his wife, Empress Catherine I.
The strong personality of Peter I, who sought to change not only the state, but also the people, played a vital role in the history of Russia.
Cities were named after the Great Emperor after his death.
Monuments to Peter I were erected not only in Russia, but also in many European countries. One of the most famous is the Bronze Horseman in St. Petersburg.
Other biography options
- Contemporaries and historians note that Peter I was distinguished by his tall height, more than two meters, beautiful, lively facial features and noble posture. Despite his formidable dimensions, the king still could not be called a hero - shoe size 39 and clothing size 48. Such disproportion was observed in literally everything: his shoulders were too narrow for his gigantic height, his hands and head were too small. His frequent dashing and fast walking did not save the situation. Those around him did not feel the strength and power in him. He conquered others.
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Peter I - the youngest son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from his second marriage to Natalya Naryshkina - was born on May 30, 1672. As a child, Peter was educated at home, from a young age he knew German, then studied Dutch, English and French. With the help of palace craftsmen (carpentry, turning, weapons, blacksmithing, etc.). The future emperor was physically strong, agile, inquisitive and capable, and had a good memory.
In April 1682, Peter was elevated to the throne after the death of a childless man, bypassing his elder half-brother Ivan. However, the sister of Peter and Ivan - and the relatives of Alexei Mikhailovich's first wife - the Miloslavskys used the Streltsy uprising in Moscow for a palace coup. In May 1682, adherents and relatives of the Naryshkins were killed or exiled, Ivan was declared the “senior” tsar, and Peter was declared the “junior” tsar under the ruler Sophia.
Under Sophia, Peter lived in the village of Preobrazhenskoye 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 2nd half of the 1680s, clashes began between Peter and Sofia Alekseevna, who strived for autocracy. In August 1689, having received news of Sophia’s preparation for 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, assembled by the messengers of Peter I, surrounded Moscow, Sophia was removed from power and imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent, her associates were exiled or executed.
After the death of Ivan Alekseevich (1696), Peter I became the sole tsar.
Possessing a strong will, determination and great capacity for work, Peter I expanded his knowledge and skills in various fields throughout his life, 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 took a full course in artillery sciences in Konigsberg, worked as a carpenter for six months in the shipyards of Amsterdam (Holland), studying naval architecture and drawing plans, and completed a theoretical course in shipbuilding in England.
By order of Peter I, books, instruments, and weapons were purchased abroad, and foreign craftsmen and scientists were invited. Peter I met with Leibniz, Newton and other scientists, and in 1717 he was elected an honorary member of the Paris Academy of Sciences.
During his reign, Peter I carried out major reforms aimed at overcoming Russia's backwardness from the advanced countries of the West. The transformations affected all spheres of public life. Peter I expanded the ownership rights of landowners over the property and personality of serfs, replaced the household taxation of peasants with a capitation tax, issued a decree on possession peasants who were allowed to be acquired by the owners of manufactories, practiced the mass registration of state and tribute peasants to state-owned and private factories, the mobilization of peasants and townspeople into the army and for the construction of cities, fortresses, canals, etc. The Decree on Single Inheritance (1714) equalized estates and fiefs, giving their owners the right to transfer real estate to one of their 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 merits.
Peter I contributed to the rise of the country's productive forces, encouraged the development of domestic manufactories, communications, 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), instead of orders, collegiums were established (1718), the control apparatus was first represented by “fiscals” (1711), and then by prosecutors headed by the Prosecutor General. In place of the patriarchate, a Spiritual College, or Synod, was established, which was under the control of the government. Administrative reform was of great importance. In 1708-1709, instead of counties, voivodeships 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 stands among the most educated and talented builders of the armed forces, generals and naval commanders in Russian and world history of the 18th century. His whole life's work was to strengthen Russia's military power and increase its role in the international arena. He had to continue the war with Turkey, which began in 1686, and 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 itself on the shores of the Sea of Azov. In the long Northern War (1700-1721), Russia, under the leadership of Peter I, achieved complete victory and 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 were established abroad, and outdated forms of diplomatic relations and etiquette were abolished.
Peter I also carried out major reforms in the field of culture and education. A secular school appeared, and the clergy's monopoly on education was eliminated. Peter I founded the Pushkar School (1699), the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences (1701), and 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 was opened - the Kunstkamera (1719) with a public library. In 1700, a new calendar was introduced with the beginning of the year on January 1 (instead of September 1) and chronology from the “Nativity of Christ”, 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, and Siberia, and a systematic study of the country's geography and cartography began.
Peter I was married twice: to Evdokia Fedorovna Lopukhina and Marta Skavronskaya (later Empress Catherine I); had a son, Alexei, from his first marriage and daughters Anna and Elizabeth from his second (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 based on information from open sources
Peter I Alekseevich is the last Tsar of All Rus' and the first All-Russian Emperor, one of the most outstanding rulers of the Russian Empire. He was a true patriot of his state and did everything possible for its prosperity.
From his youth, Peter I showed great interest in various things, and was the first of the Russian tsars to make a long journey through European countries.
Thanks to this, he was able to accumulate a wealth of experience and carry out many important reforms that determined the direction of development in the 18th century.
In this article we will take a closer look at the characteristics of Peter the Great, and pay attention to his personality traits, as well as his successes in the political arena.
Biography of Peter 1
Peter 1 Alekseevich Romanov was born on May 30, 1672 in. His father, Alexei Mikhailovich, was the Tsar of the Russian Empire, and ruled it for 31 years.
Mother, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina, was the daughter of a small nobleman. Interestingly, Peter was the 14th son of his father and the first of his mother.
Childhood and youth of Peter I
When the future emperor was 4 years old, his father Alexei Mikhailovich died, and Peter’s older brother, Fyodor 3 Alekseevich, took the throne.
The new tsar began raising little Peter, ordering him to be taught various sciences. Since at that time there was a struggle against foreign influence, his teachers were Russian clerks who did not have deep knowledge.
As a result, the boy was unable to receive a proper education, and until the end of his days he wrote with errors.
However, it is worth noting that Peter 1 managed to compensate for the shortcomings of basic education with rich practical training. Moreover, the biography of Peter I is notable precisely for his fantastic practice, and not for his theory.
History of Peter 1
Six years later, Fedor 3 died, and his son Ivan was to ascend to the Russian throne. However, the legal heir turned out to be a very sick and weak child.
Taking advantage of this, the Naryshkin family, in fact, organized a coup d'etat. Having secured the support of Patriarch Joachim, the Naryshkins made young Peter king the very next day.
26-year-old Peter I. The portrait by Kneller was presented by Peter in 1698 to the English king However, the Miloslavskys, relatives of Tsarevich Ivan, declared the illegality of such a transfer of power and the infringement of their own rights.
As a result, the famous Streletsky revolt took place in 1682, as a result of which two kings were on the throne at the same time - Ivan and Peter.
From that moment on, many significant events occurred in the biography of the young autocrat.
It is worth emphasizing here that from an early age the boy was interested in military affairs. On his orders, fortifications were built, and real military equipment was used in staged battles.
Peter 1 put uniforms on his peers and marched with them along the city streets. Interestingly, he himself acted as a drummer, walking in front of his regiment.
After the formation of his own artillery, the king created a small “fleet”. Even then he wanted to dominate the sea and lead his ships into battle.
Tsar Peter 1
As a teenager, Peter 1 was not yet able to fully govern the state, so his half-sister Sofya Alekseevna, and then his mother Natalya Naryshkina, became his regent.
In 1689, Tsar Ivan officially transferred all power to his brother, as a result of which Peter 1 became the only full-fledged head of state.
After the death of his mother, his relatives, the Naryshkins, helped him manage the empire. However, the autocrat soon freed himself from their influence and began to independently rule the empire.
Reign of Peter 1
From that time on, Peter 1 stopped playing war games, and instead began to develop real plans for future military campaigns. He continued to wage war in Crimea against, and also repeatedly organized the Azov campaigns.
As a result of this, he managed to take the Azov fortress, which became one of the first military successes in his biography. Then Peter 1 began building the port of Taganrog, although there was still no fleet as such in the state.
From that time on, the emperor set out to create a strong fleet at all costs in order to have influence on the sea. To do this, he made sure that young nobles could study ship craft in European countries.
It is worth noting that Peter I himself also learned to build ships, working as an ordinary carpenter. Thanks to this, he gained great respect among ordinary people who watched him work for the good of Russia.
Even then, Peter the Great saw many shortcomings in the state system and was preparing for serious reforms that would forever inscribe his name in.
He studied the government structure of the largest European countries, trying to adopt the best from them.
During this period of biography, a conspiracy was drawn up against Peter 1, as a result of which a Streltsy uprising was supposed to occur. However, the king managed to suppress the rebellion in time and punish all the conspirators.
After a long confrontation with the Ottoman Empire, Peter the Great decided to sign a peace agreement with it. After that, he started a war with.
He managed to capture several fortresses at the mouth of the Neva River, on which the glorious city of Peter the Great would be built in the future.
Wars of Peter the Great
After a series of successful military campaigns, Peter 1 managed to open access to what would later be called the “window to Europe.”
Meanwhile, the military power of the Russian Empire was constantly increasing, and the glory of Peter the Great spread throughout Europe. Soon the Eastern Baltic states were annexed to Russia.
In 1709, the famous battle took place, in which the Swedish and Russian armies fought. As a result, the Swedes were completely defeated, and the remnants of the troops were taken prisoner.
By the way, this battle was superbly described in the famous poem “Poltava”. Here's a snippet:
There was that troubled time
When Russia is young,
Straining strength in struggles,
She dated the genius of Peter.
It is worth noting that Peter 1 himself took part in battles, showing courage and bravery in battle. By his example, he inspired the Russian army, which was ready to fight for the emperor to the last drop of blood.
Studying Peter's relationship with the soldiers, one cannot help but recall the famous story about a careless soldier. Read more about this.
An interesting fact is that at the height of the Battle of Poltava, an enemy bullet shot through Peter I’s hat, passing just a few centimeters from his head. This once again proved the fact that the autocrat was not afraid to risk his life to defeat the enemy.
However, numerous military campaigns not only took the lives of valiant warriors, but also depleted the country's military resources. Things got to the point that the Russian Empire found itself in a situation where it was necessary to fight on 3 fronts simultaneously.
This forced Peter 1 to reconsider his views on foreign policy and make a number of important decisions.
He signed a peace agreement with the Turks, agreeing to give them back the fortress of Azov. By making such a sacrifice, he was able to save many human lives and military equipment.
After some time, Peter the Great began organizing campaigns to the east. Their result was the annexation of such cities as Semipalatinsk and to Russia.
Interestingly, he even wanted to organize military expeditions to North America and India, but these plans were never destined to come true.
But Peter the Great was able to brilliantly carry out the Caspian campaign against Persia, conquering Derbent, Astrabad and many fortresses.
After his death, most of the conquered territories were lost, since their maintenance was not profitable for the state.
Reforms of Peter 1
Throughout his biography, Peter 1 implemented many reforms aimed at the benefit of the state. Interestingly, he became the first Russian ruler who began to call himself emperor.
The most important reforms concerned military affairs. In addition, it was during the reign of Peter 1 that the church began to submit to the state, which had never happened before.
The reforms of Peter the Great promoted development and trade, as well as a departure from an outdated way of life.
For example, he imposed a tax on wearing a beard, wanting to impose European standards of appearance on the boyars. And although this caused a wave of discontent on the part of the Russian nobility, they still obeyed all his decrees.
Every year, medical, maritime, engineering and other schools were opened in the country, in which not only the children of officials, but also ordinary peasants could study. Peter 1 introduced the new Julian calendar, which is still used today.
While in Europe, the king saw many beautiful paintings that captured his imagination. As a result, upon arriving home, he began to provide financial support to artists in order to stimulate the development of Russian culture.
To be fair, it must be said that Peter 1 was often criticized for the violent method of implementing these reforms. Essentially, he forced people to change their thinking and also to carry out the projects he had in mind.
One of the most striking examples of this is the construction of St. Petersburg, which was carried out under difficult conditions. Many people could not withstand such stress and ran away.
Then the families of the fugitives were put in prison and remained there until the culprits returned back to the construction site.
Peter I Soon Peter 1 formed a body of political investigation and court, which was transformed into the Secret Chancellery. Any person was prohibited from writing in closed rooms.
If anyone knew about such a violation and did not report it to the king, he was subject to the death penalty. Using such harsh methods, Peter tried to fight anti-government conspiracies.
Personal life of Peter 1
In his youth, Peter 1 loved to be in the German settlement, enjoying foreign society. It was there that he first saw the German Anna Mons, with whom he immediately fell in love.
His mother was against his relationship with a German woman, so she insisted that he marry Evdokia Lopukhina. An interesting fact is that Peter did not contradict his mother and took Lopukhina as his wife.
Of course, in this forced marriage, their family life could not be called happy. They had two boys: Alexey and Alexander, the latter of whom died in early childhood.
Alexei was to become the legal heir to the throne after Peter 1. However, due to the fact that Evdokia tried to overthrow her husband from the throne and transfer power to her son, everything turned out completely differently.
Lopukhina was imprisoned in a monastery, and Alexei had to flee abroad. It is worth noting that Alexei himself never approved of his father’s reforms, and even called him a despot.
Peter I interrogates Tsarevich Alexei. Ge N. N., 1871 In 1717, Alexei was found and arrested, and then sentenced to death for participating in a conspiracy. However, he died in prison, and under very mysterious circumstances.
Having divorced his wife, in 1703 Peter the Great became interested in 19-year-old Katerina (nee Marta Samuilovna Skavronskaya). A whirlwind romance began between them, which lasted for many years.
Over time, they got married, but even before her marriage she gave birth to daughters Anna (1708) and Elizabeth (1709) from the emperor. Elizabeth later became empress (reigned 1741-1761)
Katerina was a very smart and insightful girl. She alone managed, with the help of affection and patience, to calm the king when he had acute attacks of headache.
Peter I with the sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called on a blue St. Andrew's ribbon and a star on his chest. J.-M. Nattier, 1717 They officially got married only in 1712. After that, they had 9 more children, most of whom died at an early age.
Peter the Great truly loved Katerina. The Order of St. Catherine was established in her honor and a city in the Urals was named. The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo (built under her daughter Elizaveta Petrovna) also bears the name of Catherine I.
Soon, another woman, Maria Cantemir, appeared in the biography of Peter 1, who remained the emperor’s favorite until the end of his life.
It is worth noting that Peter the Great was very tall - 203 cm. At that time, he was considered a real giant, and was head and shoulders taller than everyone else.
However, the size of his feet did not correspond to his height at all. The autocrat wore size 39 shoes and had very narrow shoulders. As an additional support, he always carried a cane with him on which he could lean.
Death of Peter
Despite the fact that outwardly Peter 1 seemed to be a very strong and healthy person, in fact he suffered from migraine attacks throughout his life.
In the last years of his life, he also began to suffer from kidney stones, which he tried to ignore.
At the beginning of 1725, the pain became so severe that he could no longer get out of bed. His health condition worsened every day, and his suffering became unbearable.
Peter 1 Alekseevich Romanov died on January 28, 1725 in the Winter Palace. The official cause of his death was pneumonia.
The Bronze Horseman is a monument to Peter I on Senate Square in St. Petersburg However, an autopsy showed that death was due to inflammation of the bladder, which soon developed into gangrene.
Peter the Great was buried in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, and his wife Catherine 1 became the heir to the Russian throne.
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