Officially, the beginning of the reign of Peter I is usually counted from May 7, 1682, when, after the death of his brother Fyodor Alekseevich, he, at the age of ten, was crowned Tsar of All Rus' along with his fifteen-year-old brother Ivan V. In fact, the independent reign of Peter I began not even after the overthrow of Princess Regent Sophia in 1689, who had ruled during the dual reign since 1682, but only since the death of his mother, Natalya Naryshkina, in 1694.
Beginning of the reign of Peter I and Ivan V - coronation, 1682
Streletsky riot 1682 - Khovanshchina
After the death of Tsar Fedor, the Miloslavskys, with the help of I.A. Khovansky, directed the wrath of the archers against the Naryshkin clan, resulting in the throne along with Peter I was crowned by his brother Ivan V, A Princess Regent Sophia became the de facto ruler(daughter of the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich - Maria Miloslavskaya).
The reign of Peter and Ivan - the reign of Princess Sophia
Sophia ruled based on her favorite - Vasily Golitsin. After concluding a fairly profitable “Eternal Peace” with Poland in 1686, it was Golitsin who launched two unsuccessful campaigns against the Crimean Khanate in 1687 and 1689. After the Albazin War with China for the Amur territories, the unfavorable Treaty of Nerchinsk of 1689 was concluded.
Removal of Sophia 1689
On May 30, 1689, Peter I turned 17 years old, he was married and, according to custom, no longer needed the regent princess Sophia. The princess did not want to give up power, and, according to rumors, was preparing an assassination attempt on the king. Together with his closest associates, and the amusing army representing at that time already combat-ready units, Peter I took refuge in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Gradually, Sophia lost power - most of her subjects and troops swore allegiance to Peter I, and the princess was exiled to a monastery.
Tsarevna Sofya Alekseevna Romanova
The first years of the reign of Peter I
After the overthrow of Princess Sophia in 1689, Ivan V actually ceased to participate in the reign - power passed into the hands of people who rallied around the mother of Peter I, Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna. She tried to accustom her son to public administration, entrusting him with private affairs, which Peter found boring. The most important decisions (declaration of war, election of the Patriarch, etc.) were made without taking into account the opinion of the young king. This led to conflicts. After the death of Natalya Kirillovna, the tsar did not displace the government of L.K. Naryshkin - B.A. Golitsyn, formed by his mother, but ensured that it strictly carried out his will.
Natalia Naryshkina
Azov campaigns
The death of the Tsar's mother, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina in 1694, marked the beginning of the independent reign of Peter I. His brother Ivan V, who lived until 1696, did not take part in the administration. Peter I wanted to test his new military formations in action - the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments; in addition, the Azov fortress was a key point for consolidation on the coast of the Azov Sea.
The first Azov campaign of 1695 ended in failure due to the poor organization of the Russian troops and lack of naval support, and Peter I learned his lesson - he went to build new shipyards and ships.
Having gathered more troops, with the support of artillery and the navy, which cut off the Turkish fortress from supplies by sea, Peter I took Azov during the second Azov campaign in 1696. Taganrog was founded as a base for the Russian fleet in 1698.
Intervention of Peter I in European politics
In an effort to prevent the election of a pro-French prince to the Polish throne, Peter I sent streltsy units under the command of G. Romodanovsky to the Lithuanian border to support the party of the Elector of Saxony, Friedrich Augustus, who was also fighting for the Polish crown. As a result, the plan was a success - the Elector ascended the Polish throne under the name of Augustus II and gave his word to act jointly against the Turks.
Great Embassy 1697-1698
The Azov campaigns clearly proved the importance of the fleet and artillery for warfare. Peter I understood that in technological terms the Russian kingdom was significantly behind the advanced Western states - he wanted to personally see the advanced technologies for the production of weapons and ships, and get acquainted with the traditions of Europe. In addition, it was necessary to find allies to wage wars against Turkey and Sweden for the right to gain access to the seas. This trip, undertaken by Peter I at the beginning of his reign, had a significant impact on the future fate of the tsar and radically changed cultural life in Russia.
Streltsy riot of 1698
The uprising of the Moscow archers during the stay of Peter I in the Great Embassy, with a total number of more than 2 thousand people, is justified by historians by the hardships of military campaigns, insufficient salaries and the appointment of foreign officers to senior military positions. Princess Sophia planned to take advantage of events and regain her lost power.
The last Tsar of All Rus' and the first Emperor of Russia - Peter the First- a truly great figure. It is not for nothing that this king was called “The Great” by Peter. He sought not only to expand the borders of the Russian state, but also to make life in it similar to what he saw in Europe. He learned a lot himself and taught others.
Brief biography of Peter the Great
Peter the Great belonged to the Romanov family, he was born June 9, 1672. His father is the king Alexey Mikhailovich. His mother is the second wife of Alexei Mikhailovich, Natalia Naryshkina. Peter I was the first child from the tsar’s second marriage and the fourteenth.
IN 1976 Peter Alekseevich’s father died and his eldest son ascended the throne - Fedor Alekseevich. He was sickly and reigned for about 6 years.
The death of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and the accession of his eldest son Fyodor (from Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna, née Miloslavskaya) pushed Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna and her relatives, the Naryshkins, into the background.
Streletsky riot
After the death of Feodor III, the question arose: who should rule next? Peter's elder brother Ivan was a sickly child (he was also called weak-minded) and it was decided to place Peter on the throne.
However, the relatives of the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich did not like this - Miloslavsky. Having secured the support of 20 thousand archers who were dissatisfied at that time, the Miloslavskys staged a riot in 1682.
The consequence of this Streltsy revolt was the proclamation of Peter's sister, Sophia, as regent until Ivan and Peter grew up. Subsequently, Peter and Ivan were considered dual rulers of the Russian state until Ivan's death in 1686.
Queen Natalya was forced to go to the village of Preobrazhenskoye near Moscow with Peter.
"Amusing" troops of Peter
In the villages Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Peter was far from playing childish games - he formed from his peers "funny" troops and learned to fight. Foreign officers helped him master military literacy.
Subsequently, these two battalions were formed Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments- the basis of Peter's guard.
Beginning of independent rule
In 1689 On the advice of his mother, Peter got married. The daughter of a Moscow boyar was chosen as his bride Evdokia Lopukhina. After his marriage, 17-year-old Peter was considered an adult and could lay claim to independent rule.
Suppression of the riot
Princess Sophia immediately realized the danger she was in danger of. Not wanting to lose power, she persuaded the archers oppose Peter. Young Peter managed to gather an army loyal to him, and together with him he moved to Moscow.
The uprising was brutally suppressed, the instigators were executed, they were hanged, whipped, and burned with a hot iron. Sophia was sent to Novodevichy Convent.
Capture of Azov
Since 1696, after the death of Tsar Ivan V, Peter became sole ruler of Russia. A year earlier, he turned his gaze to the map. Advisers, among them the beloved Swiss Lefort, suggested that Russia needs access to the sea, it needs to build a fleet, it needs to move south.
The Azov campaigns began. Peter himself took part in battles and gained combat experience. On the second attempt they captured Azov, in a convenient bay of the Azov Sea Peter founded the city Taganrog.
Trip to Europe
Peter went “incognito”, he was called volunteer Peter Mikhailov,
sometimes captain of the Preobrazhensky regiment.
In England Peter the Great studied maritime affairs, in Germany- artillery, in Holland worked as a simple carpenter. But he had to return to Moscow prematurely - information about a new mutiny of the Streltsy reached him. After the brutal massacre of the archers and executions, Peter began preparing for war with Sweden.
Peter's war with Sweden
On Russia's allies - Poland and Denmark- the young Swedish king began to attack CharlesXII, determined to conquer all of northern Europe. Peter I decided to enter the war against Sweden.
Battle of Narva
First battle of Narva in 1700 was unsuccessful for the Russian troops. Having a multiple advantage over the Swedish army, the Russians were unable to take the Narva fortress and had to retreat.
Decisive action
Having attacked Poland, Charles XII was stuck in the war for a long time. Taking advantage of the ensuing respite, Peter announced a recruitment drive. He issued a decree according to which money and bells from churches began to be collected for the war against Sweden melted down for cannons, strengthened old fortresses, erected new ones.
St. Petersburg – the new capital of Russia
Peter the First personally participated in a combat sortie with two regiments of soldiers against Swedish ships blocking the exit to the Baltic Sea. The attack was a success, the ships were captured, and access to the sea became free.
On the banks of the Neva, Peter ordered the construction of a fortress in honor of Saints Peter and Paul, which was later named Petropavlovskaya. It was around this fortress that the city was formed Saint Petersburg- the new capital of Russia.
Battle of Poltava
The news of Peter's successful foray on the Neva forced the Swedish king to move his troops to Russia. He chose the south, where he waited for help from Turk and where is Ukrainian Hetman Mazepa promised to give him Cossacks.
The Battle of Poltava, where the Swedes and Russians gathered their troops, didn't last long.
Charles XII left the Cossacks brought by Mazepa in the convoy; they were not sufficiently trained and equipped. The Turks never came. Numerical superiority in troops was on the side of the Russians. And no matter how hard the Swedes tried to break through the ranks of the Russian troops, no matter how they reorganized their regiments, they failed to turn the tide of the battle in their favor.
A cannonball hit Karl's stretcher, he lost consciousness, and panic began among the Swedes. After the victorious battle, Peter arranged a feast at which treated captured Swedish generals and thanked them for their science.
Internal reforms of Peter the Great
Peter the Great, in addition to wars with other states, was actively involved in reforms within the country. He demanded that the courtiers take off their caftans and put on European dress, that they shave their beards, and go to the balls arranged for them.
Important reforms of Peter
Instead of the Boyar Duma, he established Senate, who was involved in solving important government issues, introduced a special Table of ranks, which determined the classes of military and civilian officials.
Started operating in St. Petersburg Marine Academy, opened in Moscow math school. Under him, it began to be published in the country first Russian newspaper. For Peter there were no titles or awards. If he saw a capable person, albeit of low origin, he would send him to study abroad.
Opponents of reforms
To many Peter's innovations didn't like it- starting from the highest ranks, ending with serfs. The Church called him a heretic, schismatics called him the Antichrist, and sent all kinds of blasphemy against him.
The peasants found themselves completely dependent on the landowners and the state. Increased tax burden 1.5-2 times, for many it turned out to be unbearable. Major uprisings occurred in Astrakhan, on the Don, in Ukraine, and the Volga region.
The breaking of the old way of life caused a negative reaction among the nobles. Peter's son, his heir Alexei, became an opponent of reforms and went against his father. He was accused of conspiracy and in 1718 sentenced to death.
Last year of reign
In the last years of Peter's reign was very sick, he had kidney problems. In the summer of 1724, his illness intensified; in September he felt better, but after a while the attacks intensified.
On January 28, 1725, he had such a bad time that he ordered a camp church to be erected in the room next to his bedroom, and on February 2 he confessed. Strength began to leave the patient, he no longer screamed, as before, from severe pain, but only moaned.
On February 7, all those sentenced to death or hard labor (excluding murderers and those convicted of repeated robbery) were amnestied. That same day, at the end of the second hour, Peter demanded paper and began to write, but the pen fell out of his hands, and only two words could be made out from what was written: "Give it all...".
At the beginning of six o'clock in the morning February 8, 1725 Peter the Great “the Great” died in terrible agony in his Winter Palace near the Winter Canal, according to the official version, from pneumonia. He was buried in Cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
The history of Russia is diverse and interesting. Peter 1 was able to have a huge influence on her. In his reform activities, he relied on the experience of Western countries, but acted based on the needs of Russia, while not having a specific system and program for reform. The first Russian emperor was able to lead the country out of the “troubled” times into the progressive European world, forced him to respect the power and reckon with it. Of course, he was a key figure in the formation of the state.
Politics and government
Let's take a brief look at the policies and reign of Peter 1. He was able to create all the necessary conditions for wide acquaintance with Western civilization, and the process of abandoning the old foundations was quite painful for Rus'. An important feature of the reforms was that they affected all social strata; this made the history of the reign of Peter 1 very different from the activities of his predecessors.
But in general, Peter’s policy was aimed at strengthening the country and introducing it to culture. True, he often acted from a position of strength, nevertheless, he was able to create a powerful country, headed by an emperor with absolute unlimited power.
Before Peter 1, Russia was far behind other countries economically and technically, but conquests and transformations in all spheres of life led to the strengthening, expansion of the borders of the empire and its development.
The policy of Peter 1 was to overcome the crisis of traditionalism through many reforms, as a result of which modernized Russia became one of the main participants in international political games. She actively lobbied for her interests. Her authority grew significantly, and Peter himself began to be considered an example of a great reformer.
He laid the foundations of Russian culture and created an effective management system that lasted for many years.
Many experts, studying Russian history, believe that carrying out reforms by forceful imposition was unacceptable, although the opinion is not denied that otherwise the country simply could not be raised, and the emperor must be tough. Despite the reconstruction, the country did not get rid of the serfdom system. On the contrary, the economy rested on it, the stable army consisted of peasants. This was the main contradiction in Peter’s reforms, and this is how the preconditions for a crisis in the future appeared.
Biography
Peter 1 (1672-1725) was the youngest son in the marriage of Romanov A.M. and Naryshkina N.K. Learning the alphabet began on March 12, 1677, when he was not yet five years old. Peter 1, whose biography was full of bright events since childhood, later became a great emperor.
The prince studied very willingly, loved different stories and reading books. When the queen found out about this, she ordered history books from the palace library to be given to him.
In 1676, Peter 1, whose biography at that time was marked by the death of his father, was left to be raised by his older brother. He was appointed heir, but due to poor health, ten-year-old Peter was proclaimed sovereign. The Miloslavskys did not want to come to terms with this, and therefore the Streletsky rebellion was provoked, after which both Peter and Ivan were on the throne.
Peter and his mother lived in Izmailovo, the ancestral estate of the Romanovs, or in the village of Preobrazhenskoye. The prince never received a church or secular education; he existed on his own. Energetic, very active, he often played out battles with his peers.
In the German settlement he met his first love and made many friends. The beginning of the reign of Peter 1 was marked by a revolt, which was organized by Sophia, trying to get rid of her brother. She did not want to give power into his hands. In 1689, the prince had to take refuge in the regiments and most of the court, and his sister Sophia was removed from the board and forcibly imprisoned in a monastery.
Peter 1 established himself on the throne. From that moment on, his biography became even more eventful both in his personal life and in state activities. He took part in campaigns against Turkey, traveled as a volunteer to Europe, where he took a course in artillery science, studied shipbuilding in England, and made many reforms in Russia. He was married twice and had 14 officially recognized children.
Personal life of Peter I
She became the tsar's first wife, with whom they married in 1689. The bride was chosen by the great sovereign’s mother, and he did not feel tenderness for her, but only hostility. In 1698, she was forcibly tonsured a nun. Personal life is a separate page of the book, in which the story of Peter 1 could be described. On his way he met Martha, a Livonian beauty who was captured by the Russians, and the sovereign, seeing her in Menshikov’s house, no longer wanted to part with her. After their wedding, she became Empress Catherine I.
Peter loved her very much, she bore him many children, but after learning about her betrayal, he decided not to bequeath the throne to his wife. The king had a difficult relationship with his son from his first marriage. The emperor died without leaving a will.
Hobbies of Peter I
Even as a child, the future great Tsar Peter 1 assembled “amusing” regiments from his peers and launched battles. In later life, it was these well-trained regiments that became the main guard. Peter was very inquisitive by nature, and therefore he was interested in many crafts and sciences. The fleet is another of his passions; he was seriously involved in shipbuilding. He mastered fencing, horse riding, pyrotechnics, and many other sciences.
Beginning of reign
The beginning of the reign of Peter 1 was a dual kingdom, as he shared power with his brother Ivan. After the deposition of his sister Sophia, Peter did not rule the state for the first time. Already at the age of 22, the young king turned his attention to the throne, and all his hobbies began to take on real shape for the country. His first Azov campaign was undertaken in 1695, and the second in the spring of 1696. Then the sovereign begins to build a fleet.
Appearance of Peter I
From infancy, Peter was a rather large baby. Even as a child, he was handsome in both face and figure, and among his peers he was taller than everyone else. In moments of excitement and anger, the king’s face twitched nervously, and this frightened those around him. Duke Saint-Simon gave his exact description: “Tsar Peter 1 is tall, well-built, a little thin. Round face and beautifully shaped eyebrows. The nose is a little short, but not conspicuous, large lips, dark skin. The king has beautifully shaped black eyes, lively and very penetrating. The look is very welcoming and majestic.”
era
The era of Peter 1 is of great interest, since this is the beginning of the growth and comprehensive development of Russia, its transformation into a great power. Thanks to the transformations of the monarch and his activities, over several decades, a system of administration and education was built, a regular army and navy were formed. Industrial enterprises grew, crafts and trades developed, and domestic and foreign trade improved. There was a constant provision of jobs for the country's population.
Culture in Russia under Peter I
Russia changed greatly when Peter ascended the throne. The reforms he carried out were of great importance for the country. Russia became stronger and constantly expanded its borders. It became a European state that other countries had to reckon with. Not only military affairs and trade developed, but there were also cultural achievements. The New Year began to count from January 1, a ban on beards appeared, the first Russian newspaper and foreign books in translation were published. Career growth without education has become impossible.
Having ascended the throne, the great emperor made many changes, and the history of the reign of Peter 1 is diverse and majestic. One of the most important decrees stated that the custom of transferring the throne to descendants only through the male line was abolished, and any heir could be appointed at the will of the king. The decree was very unusual, and it had to be justified and the consent of the subjects sought, forcing it to be sworn. But death did not give him the opportunity to bring it to life.
Etiquette in the time of Peter
Significant changes occurred during the time of Peter 1 in etiquette. The courtiers wore European clothes; a beard could only be preserved by paying a large fine. It has become fashionable to wear Western-style wigs. Women who had not previously been present at palace receptions now became obligatory guests at them, their education improved, since it was believed that a girl should be able to dance, know foreign languages and play musical instruments.
Character of Peter I
The monarch's character was controversial. Peter is hot-tempered and at the same time cold-blooded, wasteful and stingy, tough and merciful, very demanding and often condescending, rude and at the same time gentle. This is how those who knew him describe him. But at the same time, the great emperor was an integral person, his life was completely devoted to serving the state, and it was to him that he devoted his life.
Peter 1 was very thrifty when he spent money on personal needs, but he did not skimp on the construction of his palaces and his beloved wife. The emperor believed that the easiest way to reduce vices was to reduce his needs, and he should set an example for his subjects. Here two of his incarnations are clearly visible: one - the great and powerful emperor, whose palace in Peterhof is not inferior to Versailles, the other - a thrifty owner, setting an example of economical life for his subjects. Stinginess and prudence were also evident to European residents.
Reforms
The beginning of the reign of Peter 1 was marked by many reforms, mainly related to military affairs, which were often carried out by force and did not always lead to the result he needed. But after 1715 they became more systematic. We touched upon reforms from the first years, which turned out to be ineffective in governing the country. If we consider the reign of Peter 1 briefly, we can highlight several important points. He organized the Near Office. Many collegiums were introduced, each responsible for its own area (taxes, foreign policy, trade, courts, etc.). has undergone radical changes. The position of fiscal officer was introduced to supervise employees. The reforms affected all aspects of life: military, church, financial, trade, autocratic. Thanks to a radical restructuring of all spheres of life, Russia began to be considered a great power, which is what Peter 1 sought.
Peter I: important years
If we consider important dates in the life and activities of the monarch, then Peter 1, whose years were marked by various events, was most active in some time periods:
The beginning of the reign of Peter 1 was from the very beginning built on the struggle for the state. It was not for nothing that they called him the Great. Dates of the reign of Peter 1: 1682-1725. Being strong-willed, decisive, talented, sparing neither effort nor time to achieve the goal, the king was strict with everyone, but first of all with himself. Often ruthless, but it was thanks to his energy, determination, assertiveness and some cruelty that Russia changed dramatically, becoming a Great Power. The era of Peter 1 changed the face of the state for many centuries. And the city he founded became the capital of the empire for 300 years. And now St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Russia and proudly bears its name in honor of the great founder.
The years of the reign of Peter 1, the great Russian Tsar, were difficult years that occupy a worthy place in history.
The great Russian Tsar Peter Alekseevich was born on the thirtieth of May in 1672. He was Alexei Mikhailovich’s 14th child, however, for his mother, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina, he became the first-born. He was a very active and inquisitive boy, and therefore his father had high hopes for him, unlike his half-brothers Fyodor and Ivan, who were in poor health.
Four years after Peter's birth, his father Tsar Alexei dies. His half-brother Fyodor ascended the throne and began educating the future Russian Tsar. Even in early childhood, the Great Tsar became interested in geography, which was of great help during the reign of Peter 1. The great king composed his own alphabet, which was easy to remember and easy to speak. In addition, Peter 1 dreamed of devoting the years of his reign to writing a book on the history of his Motherland.
With the coming of age and marriage of Peter the Great, he receives the absolute right to ascend to the throne. However, in the summer of 1689 he provoked a Streltsy uprising, which was directed against Peter. Then the king takes refuge in the Sergeev Lavra, which is in Troitsk. The Preobrazhensky and Streletsky regiments arrived here and suppressed the rebellion. Sophia was imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent, where she died.
With the death of the weak-minded Ivan in 1696, Peter 1 becomes the only one. However, then he was too keen on “military fun”, and his mother’s relatives, the Naryshkins, were involved in state politics. Peter's idea to go to the sea was grandiose and was crowned with success. It was during the reign of Peter 1 that Russia turned into a Great Empire, and the Tsar became Emperor. Emperor Peter's domestic and foreign policies were very active. In history, Peter 1 is known as the Russian reformer Tsar who introduced a lot of innovations. Despite the fact that his reforms killed the identity of Russia, they were timely.
Peter the Great died in 1725 and his wife, Tsarina Catherine the First, ascended the throne.
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.