Founding of St. Petersburg

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Monuments/Fortresses and Forts
FOUNDING OF ST. PETERSBURG. In May 1703, after the surrender of Nyenschantz, Tsar Peter the Great decided to build a fortress at the mouth of the Neva River on Zayachy Island. The laying of a land fortress according to Peter the Great's plan took place on 16 (27) May 1703, in the Tsar's presence. This date is considered to be the day of St. Petesburg's birth. By October 1703, a fortress called Sankt-Peters-Burch (from the Dutch Sankt-Peters Burch, the fortress of St. Peter), was erected under the supervision of A.D. Menshikov by soldiers. On 29 June 1703, a church dedicated to apostles Peter and Paul was laid in the fortress (hence the name Peter and Paul Fortress), and the name St. Petersburg spread to the city that began to form, made up primarily of settlements inhabited by soldiers and peasants engaged in construction. In 1704, the construction of the Main Admiralty and the Admiralty Fortress began, as did resettlement of working people to St. Petersburg for permanent residence. In 1703-04, berths, a trade market, trade routes, the Avsteria, as well as Peter the Great's residence (see the House of Peter the Great) were all built in the region of the present-day Troitskaya Square.

Reference: Анисимов Е. В. Время петровских реформ. Л., 1989. С. 162-170; Павленко Н. И. Петр Великий. М., 2001. С. 637-680.

G. V. Kalashnikov. Menshikov Alexander Danilovich, Gracious Prince
Peter I, Emperor
Troitskaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Анисимов Е. В. Время петровских реформ. Л., 1989
Павленко Н. И. Петр Великий. М., 1998 St. Peter and Paul fortress
St. Peter and Paul fortress
Admiralty
Admiralty
Admiralty Fortress
Cabin of Peter the Great, museum
1703