5 reasons why the first Russian emperor is remembered as an outstanding statesman to this day.
Tsar Peter (1672-1725) was an exceptional character. As a boy he could seldom sit still, he walked fast and spoke loudly, he was constantly in motion. He grew up to be a very tall, exceptionally strong man who could put fear in his subjects. Peter showed exceptional resourcefulness and breadth but had an explosive mood. And although he was a prominent war commander and legislator, he also drank heavily and could destroy anyone who did not hear him.
But Peter the Great did not receive this title for his personal traits. In 1721, when the Russian government’s Senate ‘appointed’ Peter the first Russian emperor, who also gave him the title ‘The Great’, it was because of his outstanding achievements as a statesman.
1. He created the Russian nobility and made it serve the state
“Tsar Peters Amusement Regiments at Kozhukhovo” by Alexey Kivshenko, 1862.
Alexey Kivshenko
By the end of the 17th century, the Russian state had fallen into crisis. One of the reasons for this was the fact that official positions were acquired by birth dress – only offspring of boys’ families could become boys and occupy positions of highly ranked military leaders or civilian statesmen. Obviously, these people were not always gifted or brave. Peter finished this and in a very hard way.
In 1698, Peter executed a lot of streltsy – former tsarist guards, who tried to overthrow his rule. With this, many high-ranking boys (who joined the coup attempt) were removed from service. In 1701, Peter considered that land could only be occupied by those who served the state. Stop serving, and you would be deprived of your land and serfs. Peter also installed regular aunts of the nobility, who helped to register all nobles who could serve in the army or in civilian institutions.
Finally, Peter demonstratively designated former non-nobles as nobles for military ability by turning them into barons and counts – titles he adopted from Europe. Peter made hereditary nobility and defined that all nobles must serve from the age of 15. In this way, Peter created the Russian nobility that built Russia’s greatness during the 18th century and beyond.
2. He founded St. Petersburg, the most European of all Russian cities
“Peter the Great at the base of St. Petersburg,” a later etching. Not historic: Peter was not actually present in St. Petersburg when it was founded.
General goods
Most of the formerly rich boyar families lived in and around Moscow. Peter understood that he needed a new big city where his new type of nobles would mingle with each other, compete and create a new social network. At the same time, Russia desperately needed access to the sea and new trade ties with Europe.
READ MORE: Remove 5 myths about how St. Petersburg was built
The founding of St. Petersburg in 1703 on the marshy lands of Ingria (along the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland) was an idea that achieved all these goals at once. Moscow did not lose its significance as the “former capital” – all Russian tsars after Peter was officially crowned in Moscow, in the Dormition Cathedral. But St. Petersburg, as its creators really planned, became a city that was European in appearance and organized in a European way, which helped to achieve another important goal during Peter’s reign.
3. He helped the Russians get in touch with Europeans
“The Barber”, a Russian loubok from the 18th century (folk image)
General goods
Contrary to popular belief, Peter did not “forbid” beard. Most of the Russian people were peasant servants, they lived in the countryside and their bearded Russian appearance remained the same. But in the cities, Peter had men pay a significant fee if they wanted to continue wearing beards (this applied to all citizens except the clergy). Even for the citizens, traditional Russian dress was completely forbidden.
Peter understood that in order to help Europeans and Russians join, the Russians must first and foremost look more “European” – so the Russian merchants, law and science students do not stand out in European cities with their clothes. So Peter ordered all citizens to wear European style clothes.
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Peter also flooded Russia with foreigners coming to the country to work – build ships, serve in the army, teach sciences, organize businesses, factories and factories. At the same time, Peter sent many Russians abroad to study, as he himself did in 1697-1698. But Peter did not just become friends with Europeans – he challenged the most powerful European state then, in the Great Northern War.
4. He made Russia a military superpower
Battle of Gangut, engraving by Mauritius Bakua
Mauritius Bakua
During the Great Northern War (1700-1721), Sweden opposed a coalition that included Russia, the Polish Commonwealth, Saxony and the Danish-Norwegian Empire. The conflict was about the control of the Baltic Sea and its shores. In this war, Russia wanted to return its territories in Ingria – these lands belonged to Moscow Tsardom before the problems of the time in the early 17th century. When Peter came to power, Russia had only Arkhangelsk on the White Sea as its only major trading port, so access to the Baltic Sea was crucial for the development of the navy.
READ MORE: The war that made Russia a great power
For Russia, the war began with a devastating defeat at Narva on November 19, 1700. The Russians were forced to surrender and lost all their artillery to the Swedes. This battle showed the inefficiency of the Russian army. After that, Peter ignited full-fledged reforms in the Russian military – new military formations, contemporary weapons and new field tactics were used with the help of European commanders and engineers.
In 1704 the Russians finally took Narva, in 1709 the Swedes crushed at the Battle of Poltava, and in 1714 the Swedish fleet defeated at the Battle of Gangut – the first Russian victory at sea. The war ended effectively in 1718, when the Swedish king Charles XII was killed. Formally, peace between Russia and Sweden was forged through the Treaty of Nystad (1721), which finalized Russia’s territorial gains in the Baltic Sea region. After the victory over Sweden, Russia declared itself the Russian Empire and Peter assumed the title of emperor. With its reformed army, the country developed into one of Europe’s great powers. Peter also gave it a modern legal system.
5. He created extensive legislation in all areas of Russian life
“Zertsalo” – a table post with the most important laws by Peter the Great on the civil service, the 18th century.
Futureal (CC BY-SA 3.0)
In addition to his military ability and tactical mind, Peter was a team genius. Under his supervision, a new law and a state system were built in Russia. The government was now anchored in the colleges – the predecessors of the ministers; the ruling senate acted as the highest judicial authority (after the emperor). The authority of the Russian Orthodox Church under Peter was subordinated to the state – the Most Holy Governing Synod, created in 1721, acted as the church’s “play” government, instead of being ruled by the patriarch, a position that Peter dismissed.
READ MORE: 5 things that Peter the Great brought to Russia
Peter personally issued many ukazes (orders) that very often regulated details of the Russians’ everyday lives – not just beards, but clothing styles and rules of public behavior. Peter ordered Russian women to stop painting their teeth black with soot, taught citizens to bury their rubbish in specially organized places, ordered scythes to be used instead of sails during the harvest, etc. Peter looked at the fabric of life – and rebuilt it according to his ideas . His reforms practically formed Russia and were largely valid until 1917.