Peter I, 1672-1725

Childhood (1672-1689):

• Violent struggle among relatives

• Sophia’s reign gave him time and western exposure

• Focused on the West

Images of European Monarchs

Kneller’s Peter I, 1698 Kneller’s James II, 1684

Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, b. 1629, r. 1645-1676

Nikitin’s Peter I, 1715Alexis I, 1670s

The empire expands, 1533-1894

Peter’s Grand Embassy, 1697-1698• Initial goal: to widen and

strengthen Holy League against the Ottoman Empire.

• Also to hire foreign skilled workers and soldiers.

• Bring back new technology.• “Peter Mikhailov”

– Loathed formality– Security– absence

Moscow Streltsy Revolt of 1698

Peter’s reforms• The West (more Northwest) impressed Peter• Ordered nobles to cut off beards (or 100 ruble

beard tax) and wear West European clothes.• Called for end to arranged marriages.• The year 7207 declared to be 1700 (Julian

calendar).• Westernized much of the former Muscovite

state – goal: a well regulated state: – Boyar council to Senate– Prikaz to Kollegii

Peter’s reforms1722: Table of Ranks• Followed Prussian, Danish, and Swedish

examples.• Only service rank gave eminence in society,

regardless of origins.• Attempted to encourage promotion by merit, but

not merit alone.• “Boyars” continued to dominate the upper-ranks.• Privileged military rank.• Ordered a growing bureaucracy and army.

Peter’s religious reforms• Not anti-religious, equally suspicious of monks

and the godless.• Brought the church under state control, but in

the name of the faith.• 1721: Created the “Most Holy Governing

Synod,” “for better administration.”

The Great Northern War, 1700-1721

• Russia, Denmark-Norway, Polish-Lithuania and Saxony against Sweden

• Prize: control of Baltic Sea region• A very long war, 29 set battles• Charles XII (b. 1682, r. 1697-1718) and his army

dominated early.• Battle of Poltava, 1709: key victory, but did not end

the war; dragged on and on…• Concluded by Treaty of Nystadt, 1721: Russia gained

southeast Finland and the Baltic region (Baltic Germans).

Peter’s City• Founded in 1703 at Ingria (former Swedish

province).• Saint Petersburg, “Piter”• Imperial capital, 1713–1728, 1732–1918• Conscripted serfs and Swedish prisoners of

war to build the city.

Map of St. Petersburg

The Bronze Horseman

Петру перьвому Екатерина вторая, лето 1782 (From Catherine the Second to Peter the First, summer 1782)

Alexei Petrovich, 1690-1718• Born 1690, son of Peter’s first wife: Eudoxia• Estranged from Peter, but western education.• 1703: ordered as army private to war

(bombardier).• Peter demanded he become the first servant of

Russia• 1711: Married Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-

Lüneburg (sister-in-law of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI)

• Charlotte bore Natalia and then Peter (1715), died shortly after the latter’s birth.

• 1716 fled to Vienna; 1718 convinced to return to Moscow.

• Tortured, confessed, knouted to death.• Peter: “For my fatherland and people I have

never spared my life and do not spare it now, so how can I spare a vile creature like you?”

Alexei Petrovich, 1690-1718

Peter’s legacy (died 1725)• Fought many battles, but

gained little.• Inspired some innovation• Increased state order,

though still lots of chaos.• Made peasants’ situations

worse (legally more than economically).

• Turned the empire resolutely West.

• Created schizophrenic “Russian” mind: Western but not Western.