Peter the Great
(1682-1725)

I. Childhood

a. Born 1672. As youngest son not expected to become tsar.

1. He was allowed to play with whom he wanted and do what he wanted.
2. He played soldier with local village boys and formed entire regiments, even designing the uniforms.

b. 1676. Tsar Alexis, Peter's father, dies. Eldest son Theodore assumes throne.
c. 1682. Theodore suddenly dies. He leaves no heir.

1. Peter named co-tsar with half-brother Ivan
2. Since Alexis had been married twice, two boyar families competed for power. The Miloslavskys inspired certain soldiers to rebel and kill leading members of the Naryshkin family. The Miloslavskys take over the govt.

d. 1689. Peter's family, the Naryshkins, and its faction at court gain effective control of the government thanks to disastrous military campaigns that discredited the Miloslavskys.
e. 1696. Ivan dies and Peter is left as sole ruler.

II. Reign

a. Traits: energy, unbending will, determination; violent temper, frequent cruelty.
b. Toured Europe twice to learn, 1697-98 and in 1717.

1. Began sending students to Europe, particularly to study shipbuilding and navigation.

c. Reforms

1. Immediately upon his return in 1698 he demanded that beards be shaved, that officials wear foreign dress, and that years were now to be counted from Christ's birth and not the beginning of the world.
2. . Began to establish schools that taught mathematics, science and technology. Desired compulsory education for the gentry.
3. Creates modern army and navy.

a. Drafted both aristocrats and peasants into army. Everyone had to work their way up from the bottom and merit determined promotion.
b. Builds a navy from scratch. Eventually ends up with 48 major warships, 787 minor craft and a navy of 28,000 men.

4. Court officials, govt. administrators etc., all receive salaries. "Kormlenie" comes to an end.
5. 1721. Church established as branch of govt.
6. 1722. Table of Ranks

a. Fourteen ranks, from 14 to 1, for those employed in the military, civil, and court services. Somewhat similar to our civil service rankings.
b. attaining the eighth rank permitted one of non gentry origin to become hereditary members of the gentry.
c. Great Northern War.

1. August 19, 1700 Russia declares war against Sweden.
2. 1703 begins building St. Petersburg near the mouth of the Neva river.

a. Tsar rapidly began to build a navy.
b. Building of St. Petersburg, basically located in an inhospitable swamp, took thousands of lives.

3. July 8, 1709 Russia destroys Swedish army in the battle of Poltava.