Peter the Great (1672-1725)BENEDICT GOMBOCZ

Who was Peter the Great?

Who was Peter the Great? Peter the Great was a Russian czar who is best known for his

widespread reforms that attempted to establish Russia’s status

as a world power.

He was the ruler of the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian

Empire from 1682 until he died in 1725; before 1696, he jointly

ruled with his half-brother Ivan V, who had no real power.

He expanded the territory of the Tsardom into a much bigger

empire that became a significant European power through

numerous effective wars.

He presided over a cultural revolution that replaced some of

the traditionalist and primitive social and political systems with

one that was contemporary, systematic, westernized, and had

its origins in the Enlightenment.

Peter the Great by Paul Delaroche, 1838

Synopsis

Synopsis Born Pyotr Alekseyevich in Moscow, Tsardom of Russia on June

9, 1672 (O.S. 30 May), Peter the Great was a Russian czar who

is best known for his widespread reforms that attempted to

establish Russia’s status as a world power.

He also created a strong navy, upgraded his army in

accordance with Western ideals, secularized schools,

exercised more power over the conservative Orthodox

Church, and introduced new governmental and provincial

divisions of the country.

Moscow in the seventeenth-century

Tsardom of Russia in the seventeenth-century

Early Rule

Early Rule Peter the Great was the fourteenth child of Czar Alexis through

his second wife, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina.

He ruled Russia with his brother Ivan V from 1682 until the

latter’s death in 1696; his brother’s death made him Sovereign

(Emperor) of All Russia.

Peter took over a nation that was rigorously underdeveloped

in comparison to the culturally thriving European countries.

While the Renaissance and the Reformation swept through

Europe, Russia chose not to undergo Westernization and

remain secluded from modernization.

Czar Alexis, Peter the Great’s father

Early Rule – cont.

Early Rule – cont. Throughout his rule, Peter assumed long-term reforms in order

to restore Russia as a powerful state.

Peter successfully resisted opposition from Russia’s medieval

nobility and began a number of reforms that changed all

aspects of Russian society.

Among his important reforms were the creation of a strong

navy, restructuring his army in accordance with Western

traditions, secularizing his army, establishing more governing

over the backward-looking Orthodox Church, and new

administrative and territorial divisions of Russia.

Peter the Great’s fleet, 1709

Russia’s territorial expansion between

1689-1796

Expansion of Russia between 1533-1894

Sweeping Changes

Sweeping Changes Peter turned his attention to advancing science, employing a number

of experts to teach his people about technical developments.

He particularly deliberated on developing trade and industry and

forming an improved bourgeoisie (the wealthy, highly advantaged

middle class capitalists) population.

Reflecting the culture of the West, Peter modernized the Russian

alphabet, introduced the Julian calendar, and founded the first

Russian newspaper, the Vedomosti (literally “The Journal”).

Peter was a visionary and skilled envoy who ended Russia’s old form

of government and employed a feasible Senate, which managed all

branches of administration; he also made innovative achievements in

Russian foreign policy, some of which were the capture of the

Ottoman city of Azov in 1695 and the capture of the Swedish fort of

Nyenschantz (Nyenskans), present-day St. Petersburg – the latter

achievement was a major one as it was Russia’s first warm water port.

Vedomosti (Ведомости)

Capture of Azov, 1695/1696

Model of Nyenschantz

The Great Embassy

The Great Embassy Another major achievement for Peter the Great was the Great

Embassy, when he visited Western Europe in 1697-1698.

Western Europe inspired him to westernize Russia; in addition to

the founding of the Vedomosti, westernizing Russia helped

influence the country with respect to better education and

different clothes.

New universities were founded in Russia to ensure decent

educations for future generations.

Peter the Great made his people wear more European style

clothing that they did not like wearing.

St. Petersburg State University

Territorial Gains

Territorial Gains Peter the Great obtained land in Estonia, Latvia, and

Lithuania.

A number of wars with Turkey in the south won him access to

the Black Sea.

He conquered the Swedish army in 1709 by deliberately

directing their troops to the city of Poltava (in present-day

Ukraine) during a horrible Russian winter.

Three years later, he established a city in his name, St.

Petersburg on the Neva River and moved the capital there

from its previous location in Moscow; it would be the capital of

Russia from 1713-1728 and again from 1732-1918.

Shortly after, the new city was named Russia’s “window to

Europe”.

St. Petersburg in its early years

Expansion of Russia during Peter the Great’s

reign

Pivotal Russian victory at Poltava, 1709

Shortcomings and Death

Shortcomings and Death Under Peter’s reign, Russia became a great European nation; in 1721,

he declared Russia an empire and was given the title of “Emperor of

All Russia”, “Great Father of the Fatherland”, and “the Great”.

While he proved to be a successful and respected leader, Peter was

also known to be harsh and oppressive.

His numerous reforms were frequently accompanied by high taxes

that led to revolting among Russian citizens, which Peter immediately

put down.

Peter, a frightening 6 and ½ feet tall, was a striking man who drank

overly and had violent habits.

He was married twice and had eleven children, most of whom did

not make it beyond infancy; the oldest son from his first marriage,

Alexis, was found guilty of high treason and secretly put to death in

1718.

Peter the Great died in St. Petersburg on February 8, 1725 at age 52,

without designating a successor.

His second wife, Catherine I, succeeded him; she ruled as Empress of

Russia from 1725 until her own death two years later.

He is buried in the Cathedral of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg.

Peter and Paul Cathedral, St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg today

Day time Bridge Night View

References

References http://www.biography.com/people/peter-the-great-

9542228#shortcomings-and-death

http://peterdagreat.weebly.com/accomplishments.html

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