Peter the Great – the father of modern Russia

God has destined him for great things and I am very excited that such a great empire has embarked on the path of reason and order.
Leibniz

The greatness and power of a ruler lie in his ability to develop and utilize all the forces of the people for a great, beneficial goal for the entire country at a specific historical moment, and to embody the best and most fertile characteristics of that people in his personality in order to lead them forward despite all obstacles.

Such a ruler was undoubtedly Peter the Great. The German philosopher Leibniz said of Peter the Great, “God has destined him for great things and I am very excited that such a great empire has embarked on the path of reason and order.”

Russia before Peter the Great

After chaos and long struggles for power, in 1613, Michael Romanov ascended the throne – the first ruler from the Romanov dynasty, a lineage whose first representatives would lead Russia on the path of recovery from previous upheavals. After the state had strengthened, an absolute monarchy was established, supported by most of the population. to je bio važan faktor u borbi za vlast.

Sofija je iskoristila podršku Strijelaca i zajedno s Miloslavskima organizirala vojni puč protiv Nariškinovih. Ubrzo je uspjela doći do vlasti i proglasila se regenticom, čime je postala de facto vladarka Rusije.

Međutim, Sofija nije bila zadovoljna samo regenticom. Ambiciozna i moćnoželjna, željela je preuzeti punu vlast i postati carevka. Stoga je smislila plan da odvoji Fjodora od njegove majke Natalije, koja je bila glavni protivnik Sofije i Nariškinovih.

Sofija je uspješno uvjerila Fjodora da se odvoji od majke i traži njeno izgnanstvo. Natalija je protjerana iz Moskve 1681. godine, ostavljajući Sofiji otvoreni put prema prijestolju. Ubrzo je počela sprovoditi svoje vlastite politike i reforme u cilju jačanja svoje vlasti i položaja.

Ipak, Sofijin vladarski režim nije bio bez protivnika. Mnogi su joj zamjerali tiranski i nasilni način vladanja, kao i njeno prekomjerno korupcijsko ponašanje. Kao odgovor na te kritike, Sofija je poduzela oštre mjere protiv svojih protivnika i ugušila svaki pokušaj pobune.

Nakon nekoliko godina, Sofija je suočena s ozbiljnim prijetnjama i izazovima na državnoj razini. Kako bi ojačala svoju poziciju, odlučila se vjenčati s Ivanom, polubratom koji je bio slabouman i koji nikada nije bio zainteresiran za politiku. Ova politička aranžman nije bio dobro primljen, ali Sofija je bila spremna učiniti sve kako bi zadržala vlast.

Unatoč svojim naporima, Sofija je polako gubila podršku naroda i plemstva. Njezina koruptivna politika i autoritarno ponašanje nisu bili opraštani i mnogi su tražili promjenu. Konačno, 1689. godine, narod se pobunio protiv Sofije, a njezina vlast je završila.

Sofija je bila prisiljena povući se iz politike i povući se u samostan, gdje je provela ostatak svog života. Iako je pokušala zadržati vlast, njena vladavina je na kraju završila kao jedna od najkontroverznijih i najspornijih razdoblja u ruskoj povijesti. On Sofia’s insistence, they seized the Kremlin and mercilessly dealt with the supporters of the Narishkins. The Narishkins were declared traitors, and most of them were executed or expelled, while Peter and his mother were sent to Preobrazhenskoye, a village near Moscow. Although the power should have legally belonged to the elder Ivan, and then to Peter who was only ten years old at the time, for the next seven years, Sofia ruled as a regent on their behalf. Peter witnessed these bloody events and when he eventually came to power, he would seek ruthless revenge against both Sofia and the Musketeers.

While Europe develops propelled by the winds of enlightened absolutism, Russia stagnates; the peasants are oppressed and impoverished by numerous taxes, the mineral wealth remains untapped, the factories are outdated, the state apparatus is corrupt, and the army, defeated in the Crimean War, is in a disastrous state. Not a single Russian ship flies the national flag at sea. Turkish rule, lasting almost 340 years, blocks access to the Black and Azov Seas, and Sweden controls navigation in the Baltic. om.

Petrov arrival to power

During this time, Peter rarely stays in the Kremlin, which is associated with unpleasant memories for him. He spends his time in Preobrazhenskoye or in the Moscow suburb populated by foreigners, known as the “German suburb”. Socializing with foreign soldiers, traders, and intellectuals, he becomes acquainted with European achievements in which he sees salvation for the Russian state. In the Swiss adventurer Lefort, he finds a teacher who implants new ideas in him, and from the seasoned Scottish general Gordon, he receives advice for restructuring the army. While listening to stories about distant seas from Dutch sailors, he becomes aware of the lack of a trading fleet sailing under the Russian flag.

The development and expansion of Russia from the end of the 13th to the beginning of the 19th century.

Travels in Europe

These turbulent events in Europe will have only a negligible impact because Russia is far from European political and cultural happenings. Finally free, Peter wants to get to know progressive Europe. But before that, he decides to He embarked on a military campaign that would bring him and Russia prestige, as he did not want to travel as an unknown ruler of a distant and unfamiliar country. The goal was to conquer Azov, a port at the mouth of the Don River on the Azov Sea. These maritime gates of Russia towards the Black Sea, and then the Mediterranean Sea, were in Turkish hands.

At the end of 1694, Peter sets off on his first campaign to Azov. The campaign ended in failure, but it showcased one of Peter’s fundamental character traits – his unwavering persistence in achieving his goals. In a second attempt in 1697, with the help of brave Cossacks, Azov was captured.

After this victory, a delegation of 270 people left Moscow on March 10, 1697, embarking on a tour of Western Europe. However, Peter the Great did not travel as a tsar, but as a common captain – Peter Mikhail. He did not feel the need to stand out with his position, neither then nor later. He did not seek special accommodations for himself and was content with an attic or a servants’ quarters. In later battles, he would participate as a lower-ranked officer, and the supreme command was Unity will entrust its generals; they will assign themselves the position of helmsman or gunner on the ships.

The delegation is traveling slowly because Petra is interested in everything: she works in shipyards, sail workshops, helm workshops, various manufactories, printing houses in the Netherlands, she learns by the anvil, visits museums, is interested in art, and visits family houses to learn about their way of life. In England, she attends Parliament sessions, where she is amazed that the king does not have supreme power in managing finances, but has to discuss it with, according to her, too many people.

However, out of everything seen and experienced on this journey, shipbuilding impressed her the most. Ever since her years in Preobrazhensky, when she found an old English ship, ships have been her passion. So, in her second campaign to Azov, she sailed on a galley that she had largely built herself. This shipbuilding passion will keep her throughout her life.

Her journey goes more or less unnoticed. Her attempts to influence the ruling circles in the Netherlands are futile, as are her attempts to implement parliamentary reforms in England. Efforts to gain support from Germany, France, England, and Austria for their political goals have not been particularly successful. On his way to Venice, he received a message from Moscow: The rebels have risen. The delegation is returning urgently.

The visit to Europe was crucial and an important lesson that determined the course of Peter’s life, and the true results of this “study” trip will only be seen later through the enormous changes that Russia will go through.

Wars against Sweden and Turkey

During his rule, Peter led many wars, the most significant of which was against Sweden – a powerful force that blocked Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea. In this twenty-one-year war, with great battles and dramatic turns, Peter faced Swedish King Charles XII – a military leader who intimidated the whole of Europe. In the first battle at Narva in the Gulf of Finland in 1700, Peter suffered a heavy defeat. However, this did not discourage him: “I know well that the Swedes will defeat us again, but the important thing is to continue fighting.” We will learn from them themselves how to beat them. This way, learning came without losses and suffering! And indeed, all of this will be compensated in 1709 with the victory at Poltava in present-day Ukraine, where Russia will finally secure access to the Baltic Sea.

In 1711, he attacked the Ottoman Empire. It was a reckless and hasty military campaign in which his army, along with him and his entourage, found themselves surrounded by a much larger Turkish army from all sides. Luckily, the Turks were not too eager to engage in conflict for various reasons, so Peter managed to withdraw under relatively lenient conditions. However, Azov was once again in Turkish hands. Peter constantly wages war and conducts diplomatic battles. Russia is now a force that no one dares to ignore.

In 1721, Peter triumphantly enters Petrograd. The Senate awards him three titles: “Father of the Homeland,” “Peter the Great,” and “Emperor.” He is the Tsar of all Russians.

Reforms

From the very beginning of his reign, and especially after the rebellion of the streltsy, Peter initiates numerous reforms. During his travels throughout Europe, he tirelessly worked on a thorough restructuring of Russia. His work in the field of reforms was truly colossal; there was hardly an area where he did not introduce radical changes.

He transformed the army into one of the most powerful in the world. He carried out relentless recruitment in all classes, even forcing the nobility to mandatory service in the military or military administration. He abolished class distinctions, allowing ordinary but capable individuals to attain high military ranks previously reserved only for the nobility.

In the state administration, he replaced the boyars’ Duma with a Senate consisting of nine members, which had full authority in the absence of the tsar. He also introduced ministerial colleges subordinate to the Senate. Peter ordered the establishment of schools and set conditions for general education. He sent young Russian men to study in Europe.

The wave of reforms also reached the church, which in a way became part of the state administration. Instead of a patriarch, the church was now governed by the Holy Synod composed of ten clergy members. ka. The calculation of time according to the old calendar, which counted years from the beginning of the world (according to that calendar, Peter was born in 7180), has been abandoned, and the Julian calendar has been introduced. Over two hundred newly established factories brought great benefit to the country.

He even changed the way of dressing: he ordered that traditional Russian clothing be replaced by the European way of dressing. He also ordered the shaving of beards, which were a sign of masculinity in old Russia – he himself fearfully cut people’s beards and styled their mustaches in the Western fashion. Women from higher classes were ordered to appear at social gatherings, which was previously unimaginable.

After the first victories against Sweden, he built a new capital at the mouth of the Neva River – the gateway of Russia to Europe. Moscow is a symbol of old Russia, its isolation from European currents, and St. Petersburg, built after the French model, is a symbol of the new Russia oriented towards European culture, education, and mode of production. The Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg The work process will begin one year after his death.

His rule and implementation of changes did not go without turmoil and resistance. Peasants, who were driven to extreme poverty by long wars, rise up in rebellions, while the dissatisfied nobility plot conspiracies. As a response, Peter establishes a strong secret police that spies on everyone, and every day there are arrests, torture, and executions. In 1718, this police discovers that the leader of one conspiracy is Peter’s own son from his first marriage. Peter is relentless even when it comes to his own son – Alexei dies as a result of torture.

Peter the Great – his character and legacy

Under Peter’s strong leadership, the vast Russian land underwent a fundamental transformation. Isolated and economically backward, deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition, with its own beliefs, superstitions, and social rigidity, it almost overnight stood shoulder to shoulder with other European countries. How is it possible that one man was the cause of such radical change?

With Peter, who was He was nearly two meters tall and had incredible strength, and the seemingly insurmountable became possible. On one hand, there was his endless energy and incredible perseverance that irresistibly led him towards his chosen goal. He made decisions quickly, often impetuously, and they led him from one mistake to another, but he would tirelessly start over, correcting the mistakes until he achieved what he had set out to do. He was a man of ideas. They say that not a single day went by without him invoking a new idea and giving it life.

On the other hand, there was his insatiable desire for learning. Throughout his life, he mastered fourteen trades: he built ships, forged weapons, studied astronomy, architecture, weaving, agriculture, he knew how to play instruments, and he even learned painting. Learning filled him with pride, and by his order, basic education began systematically in Russia.

On his deathbed, he ordered the discovery of a route through the Arctic Ocean to China and India and said, “Bu Knowing that our homeland is no longer threatened by enemies, we must focus on bringing glory to our country through art and science.”

What was Peter the Great really like? This great ruler did not indulge in flattery, parades, or grand honors. He did not reside in lavish palaces nor did he demand great comfort. He would rather choose to live in a hut than a palace, and he would sometimes opt for a servant’s bed to sleep on. He would host feasts, but often ate with the servants what they ate. When he came across a place where work was being done, he would join the workers and grab an axe, saw, or shovel. He loved fireworks and even made his own rockets.

On the other hand, he had a tendency towards daily drunkenness and debauchery. He easily sentenced thousands of people to death if he deemed it necessary. He would personally take the executioner’s axe and decapitate people. Although this may seem like gruesome savagery to us today, he was not a sadist who killed for pleasure – just as he would personally handle a carpenter’s axe when needed. Hello, he built ships just like he wielded the executioner’s axe when it was time to punish the guilty.

The Peterhof Palace, often referred to as the “City of Fountains,” is located 30 km from Petrograd. It was built in the likeness of Versailles.

Constant exertion and an unruly lifestyle took a toll on Peter’s health. The first signs of kidney disease appeared when he was fifty years old, but he refused to seek treatment or take medicine. So in October 1724, despite being swollen from illness, he inspected the works on the Ladoga Canal, spent freezing nights in tents, rode on horseback through frozen marshlands, and then went to foundries and took on work like any other ordinary worker. On his way back to Petrograd, he came across a stranded ship where soldiers were in danger. Despite being seriously ill, Peter didn’t hesitate for a moment: he jumped out of his own ship and waded through icy water up to his waist. The soldiers were saved, but there was no saving Peter – he arrived in Petrograd with a high fever and went to bed. And he never rises again. He will die on January 28, 1725, at six in the morning.

The first monument dedicated to him was erected only fifty years after his death, during the time of Catherine the Great. Deeply inspired by the figure of the Russian tsar, the French sculptor Falconet spent ten years working on the monument, believed to be the most skillful depiction of a horse and rider in the world. On a huge pedestal, there is a rider who seems to be climbing to the top of a rock, symbolizing all the difficulties that Peter overcame with the strength and perseverance of his genius. With his left hand, he calms the horse, and with his right hand, in which there is no scepter, he seems to greet the whole country. In the May sun, which the Russians say is the most beautiful, the bronze face of the rider seems to radiate in a miraculous way. It exudes a strong will, mind, determination, and a focus on the future; it is not just a monument to Peter – it is a symbol of the birth of a new Russia.