Peter the Great (1672-1725), Emperor

Categories / Capital/Personalia
Peter the Great (Peter I) (b. 1672, d. 1725 in St. Petersburg), Tsar (from 1682) and Emperor (from 1721) of Russia, founder of St. Petersburg. Peter was the son of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich (born from his second marriage) and N. K. Naryshkina. The Strelets Revolt and the death of his close relatives in his childhood and youth had left a heavy impression on him. His secular and professional schooling was untraditional for a Russian Tsarevich. In 1696-1697, Peter travelled to Western Europe, where he experienced a culture shock after learning about European lifestyle and the level of European economic development. He became bitterly opposed to traditional Russian life, and was intent on reforming his country, using strong and focused measures to bring Russia closer to Western Europe. Loving the sea, being a fanatic seafarer, and holding idealistic mercantile theories about the state's financial status being connected to the development of sea trade, Peter the Great decided to gain access to the Baltic Sea. To this end, in 1700, he started a war with Sweden (see Northern War, 1700-1721). After the unsuccessful start of his military campaign, Peter sought to broaden and expand the reform process. Gradually his reforms took shape and brought results, affecting every sphere of the country’s life. His military reforms (mostly completed by 1716) led to the establishment of a regular army and the navy. His reforms of the Russian state led to the reorganisation of official bodies of government, and the adoption of new principles of public services. Following the capita reform, a per-capita tax was introduced. His reforms also changed the society's social structure, particularly in the establishment of serfdom. In 1702-1703, armies led by Peter the Great captured the Swedish fortresses of Noteburg and Nyenschantz. By order of Peter the Great, a new city was founded at the mouth of the Neva River. This city was to become the city of his dreams, very different from other Russian cities, a model city of European culture and consistent architecture. The city began with the foundation of the Fortress of St. Petersburg. The ground was broken on May 27, 1703 (May 16 according to the Old Calendar) on Zayachy (Hare) Island. From its very first years, St. Petersburg became Peter's favourite project. After making peace with Sweden in 1705-1708, the Tsar agreed to return all the captured lands except St. Petersburg. In 1710-1720, he ordered 4000 merchants and noble men to relocate to St. Petersburg, along with up to 40.000 workers. Forbidding foreign trade via Archangelsk, Peter the Great sought to turn St. Petersburg into a world sea trade centre. He prohibited building in stone elsewhere in the country, wanting to make sure that the only stone buildings erected were in his new capital. From 1712, St. Petersburg became the de facto Russian capital. Peter putt together the urban development plans for what is now the Admiralteisky District and the Vasilievsky Island area. The Tsar ordered the setup of city police and fire fighting services, established commercial regulations and sanitation standards, and introduced other rules for the city. Peter the Great dreamed to develop St. Petersburg with similar houses (a project by D. Trezzini and J.B. Le Blond). Although he did not completely succeed, the construction of stone multi-story buildings was developed on the basis of a standard plan. The Peter and Paul Fortress, the Main Admiralty, the Summer Palace (see Summer Palaces), Kunstkammer, and the The Twelve Colleges Building, were all constructed or initiated by him, as was the foundation of the St. Alexander Nevsky Monastery (see Alexander Nevsky Lavra). Initially, Peter the Great lived in a house at Gorodskoy Island (see Peter's Cabin); he then lived in the First (1712) and Second (1719) Winter Palace, where he died (see The Winter Palaces). He also built the original Summer Palaces, and the Summer Garden at the Fontanka River Embankment. The construction of the Observation House (1721) and the creation of Peterhof at Lotsmansky Island began under his reign; a wooden palace was built in Strelna and the construction of a stone palace was launched (see Konstantinovsky Palace). He was buried at the SS. Peter&Paul Cathedral, which became the Imperial Vault. A number of monuments in St. Petersburg were erected in honour of Peter the Great (see Peter the Great's Monuments). His name was given to the Petrovskaya Embankment, Petrovsky Island, Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge, Petrovsky Stadium, and Petrozavod OJSC. There are exhibitions devoted to Peter the Great and his reforms at the Hermitage (Peter the Great's Winter Palace), the Summer Palace, and several other museums.

References: Петров П. Н. История Санкт-Петербурга с основания города. СПб., 1885; Богословский М. М. Петр I: Материалы для биогр.: В 5 т. М.; Л., 1940-1948; Луппов С. П. История строительства Петербурга в первой четверти XVIII века. М.; Л., 1957; Анисимов Е. В. Время петровских реформ. Л., 1989; Его же. Юный град: Петербург времен Петра Великого. СПб., 2003; Беспятых Ю. Н. Петербург Петра I в иностранных описаниях: Введение. Тексты. Комментарии. Л., 1991; Павленко Н. И. Петр Великий. М., 1998; Петр Великий: pro et contra: Личность и деяния Петра I в оценке рус. мыслителей и исследователей: Антология. СПб., 2003.

G. V. Kalashnikov. Alexis I (Alexey Mikhailovich), Tsar
Le Blond Jean-Baptiste Alexander
Naryshkina Natalia Kirillovna, Tsarina
Peter I, Emperor
Trezzini Domenico
Луппов С. П. История строительства Петербурга в первой четверти XVIII века. М.; Л., 1957
Богословский М. М. Петр I: Материалы для биогр.: В 5 т. М.; Л., 1940 - 1948
Петров П. Н. История Санкт-Петербурга с основания города. СПб., 1885
Павленко Н. И. Петр Великий. М., 1998
Анисимов Е. В. Время петровских реформ. Л., 1989
Беспятых Ю. Н. Петербург Петра I в иностранных описаниях: Введение. Тексты. Комментарии. Л., 1991 Great Northern War of 1700-21
Shlisselburg Fortress.
St. Peter and Paul fortress
St. Peter and Paul fortress
Admiralty
Admiralty
Summer Palaces (entry)
Kunstkammer
Kunstkammer
Twelve Collegiums Building
Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Cabin of Peter the Great, museum
Winter Palaces
Konstantinovsky Palace (Strelna)
SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral
Peter the Great, Monuments to (entry)
Hermitage
Hermitage
1712
1714
1721
1725