A short story about Peter 1. Peter the First

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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 century. 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.

Peter Alekseevich Romanov or simply Peter I is the first Russian Emperor and the last Tsar of the Romanov Dynasty. Peter was proclaimed Tsar at the age of 10, although he began to rule personally only a few years later. Peter 1 is a very interesting historical figure, so here we will look at some of the most interesting facts about Peter the Great (1).

1. Peter 1 was a very tall man (2 meters and 13 cm tall), but despite this he had a small foot size (38).

2. It was Peter 1 who came up with the idea of completely and tightly attaching blades to shoes to create skates for skating on ice. Before that, they were simply tied with belts, which was not very convenient.

3. Peter I really did not like drunkenness and tried in every possible way to eradicate it. One of his favorite methods was a special medal “For Drunkenness,” which weighed 7 kg and was made of cast iron. This medal was hung on the drunkard and secured so that he could not remove it. After that, the person walked with this “reward” for a whole week.

4. Peter was a very versatile person and he was well versed in many things, for example, he excelled in shipbuilding and navigation, also learned to make watches, in addition, he even mastered the craft of a mason, gardener, carpenter and took drawing lessons. He even tried to weave bast shoes, but he never mastered this science.

5. Many soldiers could not distinguish between right and left, no matter how much it was “drilled into them.” Then he ordered each soldier to tie a little hay to his left leg and a little straw to his right leg. After that, instead of left-right, it was customary to say hay-straw.

6. Among other things, Peter I was very interested in dentistry, in particular, he was very fond of pulling out sick teeth.

7. It was Peter the Great who introduced the decree on the celebration from December 31 to January 1 (1700). The New Year was also celebrated in Europe.

8. Peter himself had excellent health, but all his children were sick very often. It was even rumored that the children were not his, but these were just rumors.

And finally, a few decrees from the great emperor, which some may find funny:

1. Navigators should not be allowed into taverns, because they, boorish bastards, quickly get drunk and cause trouble

2. “On shaving the beards and mustaches of people of all ranks” dated January 16, 1705. “And if those who do not want to shave their mustaches and beards, but want to wander around with beards and mustaches, and from those, from courtiers and courtyard servants, and from policemen, and all kinds of servants, and clerks, 60 rubles per person, from guests and the living room, hundreds of the first articles for a hundred rubles... And give them signs of orders for zemstvo affairs, and carry those signs with them.”

3. A subordinate in front of his superiors should look dashing and stupid, so as not to embarrass his superiors with his understanding.

4. From now on, I instruct the gentlemen senators to speak in the presence not according to what is written, but only in their own words, so that everyone’s stupidity will be visible to everyone

5. We hereby command from now on not to take women on warships, and if they do take them, only according to the number of the crew, so that there will be no…

Peter the Great was born in Moscow in 1672. His parents are Alexey Mikhailovich and Natalya Naryshkina. Peter was raised by nannies, his education was weak, but the boy’s health was strong, he was sick least of all in the family.

When Peter was ten years old, he and his brother Ivan were proclaimed kings. In fact, Sofya Alekseevna reigned. And Peter and his mother left for Preobrazhenskoye. There, little Peter began to become interested in military activities and shipbuilding.

In 1689, Peter I became king, and Sophia's reign was suspended.

During his reign, Peter created a powerful fleet. The ruler fought against Crimea. Peter went to Europe because he needed allies to help him stand against the Ottoman Empire. In Europe, Peter devoted a lot of time to shipbuilding and studying the cultures of different countries. The ruler mastered many crafts in Europe. One of them is gardening. Peter I brought tulips from Holland to the Russian Empire. The emperor liked to grow various plants brought from abroad in his gardens. Peter also brought rice and potatoes to Russia. In Europe, he became obsessed with the idea of changing his state.

Peter I waged war with Sweden. He annexed Kamchatka to Russia and the shores of the Caspian Sea. It was in this sea that Peter I baptized those close to him. Peter's reforms were innovative. During the Emperor's reign there were several military reforms, the power of the state increased, and a regular army and navy were founded. The ruler also invested his efforts in the economy and industry. Peter I invested a lot of effort in the education of citizens. Many schools were opened by them.

Peter I died in 1725. He was seriously ill. Peter handed the throne to his wife. He was a strong and persistent person. Peter I made many changes, both in the political system and in the life of the people. He successfully ruled the state for more than forty years.

Biography by dates and interesting facts. The most important.

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Peter I - the youngest son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from his second marriage to Natalya Naryshkina - was born on May 30, 1672. As a child, Peter was educated at home, from a young age he knew German, then studied Dutch, English and French. With the help of palace craftsmen (carpentry, turning, weapons, blacksmithing, etc.). The future emperor was physically strong, agile, inquisitive and capable, and had a good memory.

In April 1682, Peter was elevated to the throne after the death of a childless man, bypassing his elder half-brother Ivan. However, the sister of Peter and Ivan - and the relatives of Alexei Mikhailovich's first wife - the Miloslavskys used the Streltsy uprising in Moscow for a palace coup. In May 1682, adherents and relatives of the Naryshkins were killed or exiled, Ivan was declared the “senior” tsar, and Peter was declared the “junior” tsar under the ruler Sophia.

Under Sophia, Peter lived in the village of Preobrazhenskoye near Moscow. Here, from his peers, Peter formed “amusing regiments” - the future imperial guard. In those same years, the prince met the son of the court groom, Alexander Menshikov, who later became the “right hand” of the emperor.

In the 2nd half of the 1680s, clashes began between Peter and Sofia Alekseevna, who strived for autocracy. In August 1689, having received news of Sophia’s preparation for a palace coup, Peter hastily left Preobrazhensky for the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, where troops loyal to him and his supporters arrived. Armed detachments of nobles, assembled by the messengers of Peter I, surrounded Moscow, Sophia was removed from power and imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent, her associates were exiled or executed.

After the death of Ivan Alekseevich (1696), Peter I became the sole tsar.

Possessing a strong will, determination and great capacity for work, Peter I expanded his knowledge and skills in various fields throughout his life, paying special attention to military and naval affairs. In 1689-1693, under the guidance of the Dutch master Timmerman and the Russian master Kartsev, Peter I learned to build ships on Lake Pereslavl. In 1697-1698, during his first trip abroad, he took a full course in artillery sciences in Konigsberg, worked as a carpenter for six months in the shipyards of Amsterdam (Holland), studying naval architecture and drawing plans, and completed a theoretical course in shipbuilding in England.

By order of Peter I, books, instruments, and weapons were purchased abroad, and foreign craftsmen and scientists were invited. Peter I met with Leibniz, Newton and other scientists, and in 1717 he was elected an honorary member of the Paris Academy of Sciences.

During his reign, Peter I carried out major reforms aimed at overcoming Russia's backwardness from the advanced countries of the West. The transformations affected all spheres of public life. Peter I expanded the ownership rights of landowners over the property and personality of serfs, replaced the household taxation of peasants with a capitation tax, issued a decree on possession peasants who were allowed to be acquired by the owners of manufactories, practiced the mass registration of state and tribute peasants to state-owned and private factories, the mobilization of peasants and townspeople into the army and for the construction of cities, fortresses, canals, etc. The Decree on Single Inheritance (1714) equalized estates and fiefdoms, giving their owners the right to transfer real estate to one of their sons, and thereby secured noble ownership of the land. The Table of Ranks (1722) established the order of rank in the military and civil service not according to nobility, but according to personal abilities and merits.

Peter I contributed to the rise of the country's productive forces, encouraged the development of domestic manufactories, communications, domestic and foreign trade.

The reforms of the state apparatus under Peter I were an important step towards the transformation of the Russian autocracy of the 17th century into the bureaucratic-noble monarchy of the 18th century with its bureaucracy and service classes. The place of the Boyar Duma was taken by the Senate (1711), instead of orders, collegiums were established (1718), the control apparatus was first represented by “fiscals” (1711), and then by prosecutors headed by the Prosecutor General. In place of the patriarchate, a Spiritual College, or Synod, was established, which was under the control of the government. Administrative reform was of great importance. In 1708-1709, instead of counties, voivodeships and governorships, 8 (then 10) provinces headed by governors were established. In 1719, the provinces were divided into 47 provinces.

As a military leader, Peter I stands among the most educated and talented builders of the armed forces, generals and naval commanders in Russian and world history of the 18th century. His whole life's work was to strengthen Russia's military power and increase its role in the international arena. He had to continue the war with Turkey, which began in 1686, and wage a long-term struggle for Russia's access to the sea in the North and South. As a result of the Azov campaigns (1695-1696), Azov was occupied by Russian troops, and Russia fortified itself on the shores of the Sea of Azov. In the long Northern War (1700-1721), Russia, under the leadership of Peter I, achieved complete victory and gained access to the Baltic Sea, which gave it the opportunity to establish direct ties with Western countries. After the Persian campaign (1722-1723), the western coast of the Caspian Sea with the cities of Derbent and Baku went to Russia.

Under Peter I, for the first time in the history of Russia, permanent diplomatic missions and consulates were established abroad, and outdated forms of diplomatic relations and etiquette were abolished.

Peter I also carried out major reforms in the field of culture and education. A secular school appeared, and the clergy's monopoly on education was eliminated. Peter I founded the Pushkar School (1699), the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences (1701), and the Medical and Surgical School; The first Russian public theater was opened. In St. Petersburg, the Naval Academy (1715), engineering and artillery schools (1719), schools of translators at collegiums were established, the first Russian museum was opened - the Kunstkamera (1719) with a public library. In 1700, a new calendar was introduced with the beginning of the year on January 1 (instead of September 1) and chronology from the “Nativity of Christ”, and not from the “Creation of the World”.

By order of Peter I, various expeditions were carried out, including to Central Asia, the Far East, and Siberia, and a systematic study of the country's geography and cartography began.

Peter I was married twice: to Evdokia Fedorovna Lopukhina and Marta Skavronskaya (later Empress Catherine I); had a son, Alexei, from his first marriage and daughters Anna and Elizabeth from his second (besides them, 8 children of Peter I died in early childhood).

Peter I died in 1725 and was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

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Brief history of the reign of Peter I

Childhood of Peter I

The future great Emperor Peter the Great was born on May thirtieth, 1672 in the family of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and was the youngest child in the family. Peter's mother was Natalya Naryshkina, who played a huge role in shaping her son's political views.

In 1676, after the death of Tsar Alexei, power passed to Fedor, Peter’s half-brother. At the same time, Fedr himself insisted on Peter’s enhanced education, reproaching Naryshkina for being illiterate. A year later, Peter began to study hard. The future ruler of Russia had an educated clerk, Nikita Zotov, as a teacher, who was distinguished by his patience and kindness. He managed to get into the good graces of the restless prince, who did nothing but get into fights with noble and streltsy children, and also spent all his free time climbing through attics.

From childhood, Peter was interested in geography, military affairs and history. The tsar carried his love for books throughout his life, reading when he was already a ruler and wanting to create his own book on the history of the Russian state. Also, he himself was involved in compiling an alphabet that would be easier for ordinary people to remember.

Ascension to the throne of Peter I

In 1682, Tsar Fedor dies without having made a will, and after his death two candidates lay claim to the Russian throne - the sickly Ivan and the daredevil Peter the Great. Having secured the support of the clergy, the entourage of ten-year-old Peter elevates him to the throne. However, the relatives of Ivan Miloslavsky, pursuing the goal of placing Sophia or Ivan on the throne, are preparing a Streltsy revolt.

On May fifteenth, an uprising begins in Moscow. Ivan's relatives spread a rumor about the murder of the prince. Outraged by this, the archers move to the Kremlin, where they are met by Natalya Naryshkina along with Peter and Ivan. Even after being convinced of the lies of the Miloslavskys, the archers killed and robbed in the city for several more days, demanding the weak-minded Ivan as king. Afterwards, a truce was reached as a result of which both brothers were appointed rulers, but until they came of age, their sister Sophia was to rule the country.

Formation of the personality of Peter I

Having witnessed the cruelty and recklessness of the archers during the riot, Peter began to hate them, wanting to take revenge for his mother’s tears and the death of innocent people. During the reign of the regent, Peter and Natalya Naryshkina lived most of the time in Semenovskoye, Kolomenskoye and Preobrazhenskoye villages. He left them only to participate in ceremonial receptions in Moscow.

Peter's liveliness of mind, as well as natural curiosity and strength of character led him to become interested in military affairs. He even gathers “amusing regiments” in the villages, recruiting teenagers from both noble and peasant families. Over time, such fun turned into real military exercises, and the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments became quite an impressive military force, which, according to the records of contemporaries, was superior to the Streltsy. During the same period, Peter planned to create a Russian fleet.

He became acquainted with the basics of shipbuilding on the Yauza and Lake Pleshcheyeva. At the same time, foreigners who lived in the German settlement played a huge role in the strategic thinking of the prince. Many of them became Peter's faithful companions in the future.

At the age of seventeen, Peter the Great marries Evdokia Lopukhina, but a year later he becomes indifferent to his wife. At the same time, he is often seen with the daughter of a German merchant, Anna Mons.

Marriage and coming of age give Peter the Great the right to take the previously promised throne. However, Sophia does not like this at all and in the summer of 1689 she tries to provoke an uprising of the archers. The Tsarevich takes refuge with his mother in the Trinity - Sergeyev Lavra, where the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments arrive to help him. In addition, on the side of Peter’s entourage is Patriarch Joachim. Soon the rebellion was completely suppressed, and its participants were subjected to repression and execution. The regent Sophia herself is enlisted by Peter in the Novodevichy Convent, where she remains until the end of her days.

Brief description of the policies and reforms of Peter I

Soon Tsarevich Ivan dies and Peter becomes the sole ruler of Russia. However, he was in no hurry to study state affairs, entrusting them to his mother’s circle. After her death, the entire burden of power falls on Peter.

By that time, the king was completely obsessed with access to an ice-free sea. After the unsuccessful first Azov campaign, the ruler begins building a fleet, thanks to which he takes the Azov fortress. After this, Peter participates in the Northern War, victory in which gave the emperor access to the Baltic.

The domestic policy of Peter the Great is full of innovative ideas and transformations. During his reign, he carried out the following reforms:

Social;
Church;
Medical;
Educational;
Administrative;
Industrial;
Financial, etc.

Peter the Great died in 1725 from pneumonia. After him, his wife Catherine the First began to rule Russia.