How Peter I became the last Russian tsar and the first emperor. Peter I the Great - biography, information, personal life

In foreign policy, Peter inherited two tasks from his predecessors:

• 1. it was necessary to complete the political unification of the Russian people, almost half of which was still outside the Russian state;
• 2. It was necessary to correct the borders of the state territory, especially on the southern and western sides, which were too open for attack.

The resolution of these tasks was necessary to ensure Russia's external security in the south and west.

At the beginning of his reign, Peter directed his main efforts in the south with the aim of securing and securing the shores of the Black and Azov Seas. In 1695-1696. he undertakes two campaigns and captures the fortress of Azov. The first Russian fleet appears on the Sea of ​​Azov, shipyards and harbors appear there. The construction of the fortress and harbor of Taganrog began.

However, then international relations with Western Europe changed. Sweden began to dominate in northern and central Europe. Its predominance had a severe effect on the states close to the Baltic Sea: Denmark, Poland, Russia. From Poland, Sweden captured Estonia and Livonia. Russia has Ingria and Karelia. All this forced Peter to turn his efforts from the south to the Baltic Sea. The southern direction was abandoned for the sake of fencing the northwestern territories. A Baltic coalition was formed against Sweden: Poland. Denmark, Russia. The Northern War (1700-1721) was divided by the Battle of Poltava into 2 stages:

• 1. 1700-1709
• 2. 1709-1721.

The first stage was defensive for Russia, it began with the defeat of the Russian army near Narva. Peter created a new army, liberated the ancient Russian city of Oreshek (Noteburg), in the spring of 1703 he captured the mouth of the Neva. The laying of the Peter and Paul Fortress laid the foundation for St. Petersburg, which in 1712 became the capital of the Russian Empire. The Russian fleet appeared in the waters of the Baltic Sea. The sea fortress of Kronstadt was founded.

The Poltava victory made it possible to seize the initiative. The Russian army occupied Livonia and Estonia, and then entered Germany. The Swedes were ousted from all their overseas possessions, supremacy in the Baltic Sea and in general in northern Europe passed to Russia. In 1716 the Swedish empire was finished forever.

Russia's military successes did not suit everyone in Europe. The activity of French diplomacy and the efforts of Charles XII led to a clash between Turkey and Russia. In 1710 Türkiye declared war on Russia. In 1711, Peter undertook the Prut campaign with the aim of defeating the Turkish Empire, but failed. Russia returned the Sea of ​​Azov to the Turks (the fortresses of Azov and Taganrog were destroyed). The failure on the Prut pushed back the resolution of the Black Sea issue for more than half a century.

Peter's efforts again turned to the Baltic Sea. He abandoned his previous promises to the allies to confine himself to the old Russian territories, torn away by the Swedes in the early 17th century. (that is, Ingria and Karelia). Estonia and Livonia in 1710 were included in Russia. Since 1712 Peter began to actively intervene in German affairs, fighting the influence of England, France and Denmark. In 1721, at a peace congress in Nystadt (Finland), an agreement “on eternal peace” was signed between Russia and Sweden. Sweden ceded to Russia Livonia, Estonia, Ingria and part of Karelia (with Vyborg). Russia pledged to return Finland to Sweden.

In honor of the victory, the Senate presented Peter with the rank of admiral and the title of “Father of the Fatherland”, “Great”, and “Emperor of All Russia”. Thus, the Treaty of Nishtad legally formalized Russia's acquisitions in the Baltics and the birth of a new empire. After the Treaty of Nystadt, the interests of trade policy come to the fore in Russia's foreign policy. The Russo-Persian War of 1722-1723 was a consequence of the merging of the military-political and trade interests of the Russian Empire. This war was also combined with attempts to penetrate Central Asia in order to seize the traditional trade routes with India and China. The conquest of the southern coast of the Caspian Sea was by no means conceived by Peter as a temporary measure. According to the Russian-Persian peace of 1723, significant territories of Persia were ceded to Russia. The creation of a foothold in the Caspian set the goal of preparing a campaign against India. Thus, during the reign of Peter there were serious changes in foreign policy. The essence of the changes was that Russia moved from solving urgent problems of national policy to posing and solving typical imperial problems.

Peter the Great, Father of the Fatherland, Emperor of All Russia. Early 18th century engraving

The Treaty of Nystadt, which ended the long-term Northern War, was signed on August 30, 1721. Peter received news of this on September 3 on his way to Vyborg and immediately returned to the capital. On September 4, in St. Petersburg, the conclusion of peace with Sweden was announced. All day trumpeters and riders in ceremonial clothes rode around the city and announced the end of the war, and a few days later the capital celebrated the victory. A masquerade was arranged, which lasted for several days. The tsar himself, in the costume of a ship's drummer, walked at the head of the carnival column along Trinity Square and "performed his work excellently," as an eyewitness wrote. The king really did not hide his happiness, he sang songs, danced and said on this occasion: "This joy exceeds all joy for me on earth."

In October, the holidays in the capital ended with official acts. Peter declared an amnesty for all those convicted, forgiveness for state debtors. On October 22, a solemn ceremony of presenting the title of Peter the Great, Father of the Fatherland and Emperor of All Russia, was held at the Trinity Cathedral. An appeal to Peter with a request to accept this title was signed by all senators. At the beginning of the ceremony, a peace treaty was read, and then Feofan Prokopovich delivered a sermon. He reminded everyone of the famous deeds of Peter, and argued that "the name of the Father of the Fatherland and the Emperor of All Russia is worthy to have." The oldest of the senators, Chancellor G.I. Golovkin, also turned to Peter, who noted that now the Russians "have been produced from non-existence into existence and added to the society of political peoples." Peter congratulated everyone on the end of a difficult war and said that "hoping for peace, one must not weaken in military affairs." To commemorate the event, the guns of the Admiralty, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and almost a hundred galleys stationed on the Neva rang out. On Trinity Square, barrels of wine and a platform were prepared in advance, on which the tsar climbed and addressed the crowd of thousands, congratulating everyone on the coming peace. Celebrations began - carnival, illumination. In the Senate building, a dinner was held for noble persons. The celebration ended with a magnificent display of fireworks, with lights soaring into the sky depicting various figures related to victory, the last was a ship with a Latin inscription "The end crowns the deed."

Then the holiday moved to Moscow, and continued, as in St. Petersburg, for several weeks. Here, too, a grandiose masquerade was staged, which symbolized, according to Peter's plan, the transformation of Russia into a maritime power.

The Russian state began to be called the Empire, and Peter - the All-Russian Emperor. European countries, although not immediately, were forced to recognize the new status and new role of Russia in international affairs.

Pyotr Alekseevich Romanov, already in childhood, became king twice within a few days. For the first time he was elevated to the throne on April 27 (May 7), 1682 after the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich. At the same time, Peter's older brother, Ivan, was formally bypassed, who was considered incapable of governing the state due to poor health. Together with the young tsar, supporters of the Naryshkin clan came to power, which immediately caused active opposition from the Miloslavsky clan, supported by Princess Sophia and her favorite Vasily Golitsyn.

Two weeks later, a riot provoked by the Miloslavsky archers began, which led to the physical elimination of many Naryshkins and their supporters. As a result, Ivan was proclaimed the first king, and Peter, as the youngest in age, the second. On June 25, Patriarch Joachim crowned two kings at once. But in reality, all power was in the hands of Princess Sophia, who officially took over the government of the country due to the infancy of the royal brothers.

Tsars and Grand Dukes Ivan V and Peter I

For seven years, Sophia reigned supreme in the country. In July 1689, the first public conflict between the ruler and her younger brother took place, when Peter tried to prevent his sister from participating in the religious procession in a procession with men, declaring that her place was among women. Then he failed to insist on his own, but he clearly demonstrated that he was ready to take all power into his own hands.

Sophia was not going to voluntarily cede power, but the plot to physically eliminate Peter failed. On the night of August 7-8, 1689, the young tsar managed to escape from the Transfiguration to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, where the “amusing” regiments with cannons arrived. For several weeks, a formal dual power reigned in the country. Peter was the legitimate king, and he was supported by a significant number of the highest officials of the state and the vast majority of the army, which, ultimately, decided the outcome of the case in his favor. Soon, Sophia's supporters were taken into custody, and she herself ended up in the Novodevichy Convent under strict supervision.

At the beginning of glorious deeds

Tsar Ivan did not take part in the struggle for power. The existing situation, when he reigned, but did not rule, suited him perfectly. Peter, who always treated his brother with great attention, did not dispute his superiority, but was ready to take on the main state concerns. As soon as the victory leaned in his favor, Peter sent a letter from the Trinity-Sergius Monastery to his brother, as the first person in the state, a letter: “And now, sir brother, the time will come for our two persons, God-given to us, to rule the kingdom ourselves, if you have come to the measure of age our own, but to the third shameful person, our sister, with our two male persons in titles and in the reprisal of deeds, we do not deign to be; your will, the sovereign of my brother, would have bowed to that, because it taught to enter into business and write in titles by yourself without our permission; besides, she also wanted to get married with a royal crown, for our final insult. Shameful, sire, at our perfect age, for that shameful person to rule the state past us! To you, sovereign brother, I declare and ask: allow me, sovereign, by your fatherly will, for our better benefit and for the people's reassurance, without slandering you, sovereign, to inflict truthful judges on orders, but to change indecent ones, in order to calm our state. and rejoice soon. And how, sir, brother, let us happen together, and then we will put everything on the measure; and I am ready to honor you, the sovereign brother, like a father.

From that time on, Peter, formally remaining the second person in the state, ruled almost independently, having received the approval of his brother for this. In January 1696, Tsar Ivan died, and all power finally passed to Peter I. The young tsar had to solve many difficult tasks in order not only to glorify Russia, but also to make it one of the largest European powers.

Peter I literally raised the country on its hind legs, expanded and strengthened its borders, created a regular army and navy, carried out a comprehensive reform of public administration, brought up and trained a new state elite, which would later be rightfully called "Petrov's nestlings", won the hardest Northern War, which lasted over 20 years. In fact, through the efforts of Peter I, by the 20s of the 18th century, Russia turned into a powerful empire, although officially it continued to be called a kingdom.

The title of Emperor Peter I accepted in 1721. According to historical sources, this did not happen on his initiative. The signing of the Treaty of Nystadt on August 30, 1721 ended the Northern War with Sweden. The long-awaited peace has finally come to the country. Peter rejoiced at this like a child, out of habit raising the whole of Petersburg on its hind legs and forcing it to rejoice with him. A series of festivities began, many criminals were forgiven, arrears accumulated since the beginning of the war were removed from debtors, rewards were generously distributed.

In the midst of the general rejoicing, the Senate logically decided that the king should be rewarded somehow. The decision was made quickly and unanimously - to present the monarch with the title of "Emperor, Father of the Fatherland and the Great." The Holy Synod, as expected, supported the decision of the senators. To ask Peter to take the title, the Senate went in full force. The monarch agreed.

Safonov. Peter the Great announces to the people the conclusion of the Peace of Nystadt

Preparations for an important event took a couple of days. On October 22, 1721, after the end of the service at the Trinity Cathedral, which was attended by the royal family and the high society of the capital, Chancellor Count Golovkin addressed the monarch with a speech. Noting the role of Peter I in the victory over the Swedes, the count, on behalf of all his subjects, asked the tsar "to accept the title of Father of the Fatherland, Peter the Great, Emperor of All Russia." After these words, all those present shouted “Vivat” three times, then the bells of churches rang throughout the capital, volleys of cannons and rifle salutes of the regiments lined up in front of the cathedral were heard.

Peter answered with a short word: “I strongly wish that our people would directly know what the Lord did to us by the past war and the conclusion of peace. It is necessary to thank God with all the strength; however, hoping for peace, do not weaken in military affairs, so that it does not happen with us as with the Greek monarchy. It is necessary to work for the benefit and the common profit, which God places before our eyes both inside and outside, from which the people will be relieved. At the end of the ceremony, Metropolitan Stefan of Ryazan held a thanksgiving service.

From the cathedral, everyone went to the Senate, where tables were set for a thousand people. The ceremonial reception and dancing continued until three in the morning, interrupted by the festive fireworks, which glorified the victory in the Northern War with allegorical symbols. Soon two medals were stamped in honor of the Peace of Nystadt, one with Latin text, the other with Russian. Peter on them was already titled emperor. This is the inscription that was engraved on one side of the medal with the Russian text: “V.I.B.Shch. Sovereign Peter I, in the name and deeds of the divine, the Great Russian Emperor and Father, who died after twenty years of triumphs of the North, this medal from home gold is most zealously brought.

Peter I did not begin to be crowned emperor, considering that this was no longer necessary, since he already had unlimited power in his hands, which no one doubted. But three years later, he solemnly crowned his wife as empress, and he laid the crown on her himself. By this, Peter wanted to raise the status of both his wife and the daughters she had born before marriage, through whom he wanted to intermarry with European monarchs.

Europe reacted to the imperial title of Peter I with caution. He was immediately recognized by Holland and Prussia, and two years later by Sweden. It took more than 20 years to be recognized by the rest of the major European countries. Austria and England did it in 1742, and Spain and France in 1745. According to tradition, Poland “resisted” for a long time, recognizing the Russian monarch as emperor, more precisely, empress, since at that time Catherine II ruled the country, only in 1764.

Russian empire. Project by Leonid Parfenov. Peter I

Grand Embassy in England and Holland. Morning of the archery execution. Demidov factories and the creation of troops. Foundation of St. Petersburg.

Battle of Poltava and Prut campaign. Conspiracy of Tsarevich Alexei. New alphabet and new chronology. The death of the emperor and the foundation of the dynastic tomb.

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 one year he was brought up by nannies. And after the death of his father, at the age of four, Peter's half-brother and new Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich became Peter's guardian.

From the age of 5, little Peter began to learn the alphabet. The clerk N. M. Zotov gave him lessons. However, the future king received a poor education and was not distinguished by literacy.

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 court and move to the village of Preobrazhenskoye. Here, Peter 1 becomes interested in military activities, he creates "amusing" regiments, which later became the basis of the Russian army. He is fond of firearms, shipbuilding. He spends a lot of time in the German Quarter, becomes a fan of European life, makes friends.

In 1689, Sophia was removed from the throne, and power passed to Peter I, and the government of the country was entrusted to his mother and uncle L.K. Naryshkin.

King's reign

Peter continued the war with the Crimea, took the fortress of Azov. Further actions of Peter I were aimed at creating a powerful fleet. The foreign policy of Peter I of 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 in the creation of political unions. He studies shipbuilding, device, culture of other countries. He returned to Russia after the news of the Streltsy rebellion. As a result of the trip, he wanted to change Russia, for which several innovations were made. For example, the Julian calendar was introduced.

For the development of 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, Nienschanz. In May 1703, the construction of St. Petersburg began. The following year, Narva and Dorpat were taken. In June 1709, Sweden was defeated in the Battle of Poltava. Shortly after the death of Charles XII, peace was concluded between Russia and Sweden. New lands joined Russia, access to the Baltic Sea was obtained.

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, the coast of the Caspian Sea was conquered.

Peter I carried out military reform several times. Basically, it 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: many schools for children and the first gymnasium in Russia (1705) were opened.

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 crucial 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.

10/22/1721 (4.11). - Peter I took the title of Emperor of All Russia after the victory over the Swedes in the Northern War of 1700-1721.

The inferiority complex of Peter and his associates before the West made him consider the opinion of Europe in this matter extremely important. As the researcher of this topic O.G. Ageeva (although one can not agree with all of her justifying remarks):

This is also indicated by the texts of the sources. So, already in the first sentences of the Synod, and then in the Report of November 1, in decrees on the imperial title and in negotiations with foreign diplomats, the thought was constantly heard that “may Russia not appear in the gap to the whole world” (“and there is no gap for the Caesar’s title afraid"), and then went on to confirm the right of the Russian side to the imperial title of reference to the letters of Maximilian I and other "many potentants", including the kings of the French, Spanish and Venetian Republics. When justifying the presentation of the titles “Great” and “Father of the Fatherland”, it was also indicated that the title “Great” “is already applied by many in printed letters”, and the name “Father of the Fatherland” is given “according to the butt of ancient Greek and Roman singlites, which their monarchs offered."

The form of naming chosen by the Senate and the Synod also speaks volumes. His ceremonial, as already noted, consisted, firstly, in the public reading in the church of the text of the appeal to the Tsar on behalf of "all the ranks" of the state, while the senators and members of the Synod "appeared" before the monarch. Secondly, in a short response speech of the Tsar. And although Peter did not mention the title in any of its paragraphs - he spoke about the concluded peace, about “non-weakening” in military affairs and work “for the benefit and profit of the common”, nevertheless, the speech symbolized consent to accept the “offering” of subjects. Thirdly, collective triple exclamations “Vivat, viva, viva Peter the Great, Father of the Fatherland, Emperor of All Russia!”

All these three elements are very remotely, but still reminiscent of the tradition of investiture (induction) of the Roman and Byzantine emperors. Election of Roman emperors until the middle of the 5th century. carried out by the Senate, military leaders and representatives of the people. The emperor, in addition to other ritual actions (raising on a shield, laying a neck circlet on the head, etc.), gave a thanksgiving speech. A threefold proclamation was also obligatory, the content of which changed over time. The authors of the ceremony in 1721 were elected adopted at the turn of the XVII-XVIII centuries. western version of the proclamation: "Vivat, emperor ..!"

Thus, when composing the ceremony in the St. Petersburg Trinity Cathedral, reminiscences of the early secular Roman coronation and the modern Western text of the proclamation were used. At the same time ... what was happening was justified by references to the practice of "ancient Greek and Roman synclites." In the early centuries of the Roman Empire, investiture was purely secular...

Orientation to the European tradition led to the fact that at the coronation of Catherine I, for the first time, new imperial insignia were adopted for the wedding to the Russian throne: an imperial crown, different from Russian ones, an imperial mantle (a golden damask with eagles, lined with ermines), complementing the European dress of the queen; as well as the imperial scepter with a double-headed eagle (“which has been used since ancient times during the coronation and anointing of the emperors of All Russia”) and a globe (power) “of the same style as Glaber mentions in his stories about ancient imperial globes. The matter of the globe is ancient Roman ... ". The imperial regalia seemed extremely important to contemporaries: their special description completed the printed report on the coronation of Catherine I.

Of course, in the report, the subjects of the Russian monarch were not informed about the abolition of the royal insignia of “Byzantine” origin, which had no Western analogue: St. a cross, a crown - Monomakh's caps and barm (tiaras), which were a mantle with images ... The abolition of the Byzantine-Russian signs of power meant the depreciation of the idea of ​​​​the Byzantine heritage and indirectly belittled the royal dignity of previous centuries ...

So the adoption of the imperial title by Peter I, on the one hand, reflected the strengthening of the power of Russia and its influence in European affairs, on the other hand, testified to the spiritual decline in the concept of the Empire as holding the Third Rome in Russia itself. In such an acceptance of the imperial title, one can see clear evidence that with Peter "Great Russia blocked Holy Rus'." In his view, Russia has ceased to be the only true Christian Kingdom that holds back the evil of the world. "True" in Peter's view were European states with advanced science and sophisticated secular art, courtly etiquette, powerful navies, colonial possessions, factory industries and global trade. In this "true" center of the world, Peter began to drive the Russian people with a whip, aggravating and creating a new split - cultural and social. So Russian patriots have nothing to rejoice at this day, much less celebrate it as a holiday.

Discussion: 7 comments

A little earlier, after 1666/7, half of Russia was burned for standing in the faith as it was originally transferred to Russia, for standing up against the defacement of liturgical books and changing the creed.
The other half was forcibly forced to be the new "Orthodox" who, as the Infallible Pope-Caesar-Patriarch said, should live like this.
And... you didn't notice that, did you? It seems like a trifle.
Satanic Peter came, arranging "the most jesting councils", the blasphemy of which is far away for modern Satanists ... At the same time, the "most holy" synod only touched Peter ..
And only then some of the heretics, I’m not afraid of this word, began to notice that - oh ... yes, we slightly ceased to be “holding back the evil of the world”, our holiness was “slightly obscured”, because the title of Caesar was changed!
Stunning spiritual and historical blindness!

Gracious sovereign with a true Orthodox Latin name rasergiy. Before accusing the Patriarch that "after 1666/7, half of Russia was burned for standing in the faith," you would first bother to find out at least three things: 1. What was the attitude of Patriarch Nikon to the old rite ("should not be declared heretical old, it will gradually die itself, for the disagreements are insignificant") and where, after 1666/7, the deposed Patriarch was located. ()2. Who, when and why started civil executions (what was the behavior of Avaakum and others -). 3. How many schismatics were executed (tens, maximum, with undocumented cases - hundreds http://jesuschrist.ru/forum/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=&Number=359191) and how many thousands burned themselves en masse, committing a mortal sin suicide. And even this was not "half of Russia" - so why throw empty words?

Your new response does not correspond to the topic of the article. If you want to argue about the Old Believers - we have a topic for this on the forum. You were unable to register on the forum because You have not read the registration rules. Read it, register with a Russian name (preferably full and real, in order to answer in Orthodoxy for your denunciations) and prove your point of view there.

Dear Administrator,
I read the rules, registered with my full name and surname, in accordance with the rules, I received a letter: "Your account is not active yet, it must be activated by the conference administrator. As soon as this happens, an email will be sent to you."
It's been a month since it happened.

And then delete the first 2 reviews (mine and MVN), as not relevant to the topic of the article.