Explore
the life and reign of a towering figure in history – Peter the
Great.
Name: Peter the Great
Country: Russia
Position: Tsar and Emperor of All Russia
Tenure: 1682 - 1725
Contributions:
- Opened and westernized Russia
- Reformed the culture of his people
- Founded a navy
- Modernized the military
- Turned his country into a great power
Peter the Great stood as one of the most puzzling leaders in
Russian and world history. Depending in one’s view, Peter the Great inspired
many as a great energetic leader that brought glory and reform to his country;
or reviled as a ruthless and an insensitive tyrant who brought suffering to the
most impoverished. From a child who witnessed terror into a literally tall man
whose stature and ambition paralleled one another, Peter the Great delivered an
enigma over the ways and means of his life and reign.
Birth and Family Rivalry
Pyotr
Alekseyevich Romanov, born on June 9, 1672, grew up as the first son of Russian
Tsar Alexei Romanov to his second wife, Nataliya Naryshkina. Nataliya had
married Tsar Alexei in 1671 after the ruler’s first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya,
passed away two years ago in 1669. As a son in a second marriage, Peter had a
slim prospects of becoming Tsar. Tsar Alexei and Maria Miloslavkaya had
numerous children, including an heir, Feodor, Ivan (the future Ivan V) and an
ambitious intelligent woman, Sophia. Peter received education but his teacher
proved to be inefficient and inept due to their drinking habits.
In 1676,
Tsar Alexei passed away, leaving the throne to his feeble and sickly son who
ruled as Tsar Feodor III. Family rivalry among the two families married to Tsar
Alexis intensified. Under the reign of Tsar Feodor III, who came from the Miloslavsky
side, weakened their rival, the Naryshkins. A key ally of the Naryshkins,
Artamon Matveev, had been exiled to the northern fringes of the Arctic. Luckily
for the Naryshkins, the poor state of health of the Tsar led to a short reign
of Feodor that ended in 1682.
Succession Crisis
A problem
arose in the succession following the demise of the late Tsar. Feodor passed
away childless. A makeshift Zemsky Sobor
or National Assembly composed of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church
and prominent Boyars convened to discuss the issue of succession. A problem
arose when the heirs to the Tsardom of Muscovy proved to be lacking the needed
necessities one way or the other. On one side, Ivan Alexeyevich Romanov from
the Miloslavsky, aged 15 was half-blind and mentally-challenged and seemed to
be a worrying choice as the next Tsar. On the other side, the young 10 year old
Peter Alexeyevich Romanov from the Naryshkins seemed to be promising but his age
was very young for a Tsar. They had to choose between a feeble minded Tsarevich
and a very young Tsarevich. In the end, the Assembly decided to appoint Peter
as the new Tsar with his mother Natalya serving as regent. The choice, however,
angered the Miloslavskys that resulted to a bloodbath.
 |
| Moscow Uprising of 1682 by Nikolai Orenburgsky |
The
Moscow uprising ended with another Assembly convening to set up a more
acceptable terms of succession. The new Assembly decided that Peter and Ivan
would be co-Tsars with Sophia Alexeyevna Romanovna serving as their regent. In
an unprecedented event in history of Russia, two Tsar, Ivan V and Peter ruled
simultaneously with their half-sister running the state affairs in their name.
Sophia Romanov’s Regency
Sophia
ruled as regent for the two Tsar and she did it with all her might and
pleasure. She had a window placed behind the throne of the two Tsars where she
gave her advice and sometimes even spoke on behalf of the two. As Sophia
enjoyed her rule, Peter and his mother Natalya retreated to the suburbs of
Preobrazhenskoe located in the northeast of Moscow. There, Peter devoted his
time in learning different skills and crafts, but most importantly build up a
model for his future army.
Life in Preobrazhenskoe
Peter
grew up and learned a lot in Preobrazhenskoe. He grew up away from the conservatism,
traditions and rituals of Moscow. He freely sought things he wanted. He learned
skills that no Tsar before him had thought of mastering. The boy proved to be
physically energetic and mentally curious. A fresh source of knowledge for the
boy Tsar came from the German Suburb, which stood between Moscow and
Preobrazhenskoe. The Suburb had been the home of foreigners in Russia since the
decree of the Patriarch Nikon in the 1650’s. Peter
met and spoke with several foreign experts. Among them, Franz Timmerman, a
Dutch merchant, taught Peter his lifelong passion – naval sciences. Timmerman
introduced to Peter different navigational instruments like the sextant and the
astrolabe. With foreign and local experts, Peter learned carpentry, stone
masonry, and printing among others.
But
warfare became his lifelong passion in his learning stage in Preobrazhenskoe.
He formed his toy regiments made up of sons from both noble and townsmen
background. They used real weapons and live ammunitions courtesy of the Tsar’s
arsenal. His regiment grew and had to use the nearby suburb of Semenovskoe in
order to provide lodgings for his regiments. These toy regiments
became the foundations of the two oldest units in the Russian army – the
Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Regiments. His toy regiments trained together.
Their training even composed of war games, using real weapons and ammunitions,
which in some cases caused the death of some boys. Peter used merit rather than
birthright as a basis for promotion. To set an example, he positioned himself
as a drummer boy of his regiment.
From this
type of military training, Peter met men who played major roles in his reign
later on. They included foreigners like Patrick Gordon, who taught Peter about
artillery and fortifications, Franz Lefort, who became a close friend of Peter,
and most importantly, commoners like Alexander Menshikov, a simple boy from
Moscow who later became one of the most influential and powerful men in Russia,
started as a member of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.
Peter
reached majority in the late 1680’s and became a towering figure literally.
Six-foot and seven inches tall, he had a distorted proportion with big head
narrow shoulders, long arms, and giant hands. His tall figure matched his
energy. Energy he mostly devoted to learning, physical activities and also
parties. Peter made a name for himself as a heavy drinker and a party animal.
With Lefort, they formed what became notoriously known as the Jolly Company or
the Most Drunken Council of Fools and Jesters who drank all night and made fun
of the traditions of Catholics as well as Orthodox.
In
addition, his mother made him to start his own family. In 1689, Nataliya made
Peter marry Eudoxia Lopukhina – a woman that was a complete opposite of Peter.
Eudoxia was shy, timid, conservative and extremely pious. With this character,
Peter sought the company of other women and took several mistresses, the most
famous being Anna Mons, a daughter of a German merchant that Franz Lefort
introduced. Nevertheless, Eudoxia served her duty to bore an heir - Alexei. But
even with a son, Peter continued his licentiousness.
Fall of Sophia Romanov
Meanwhile,
as Peter reached adulthood, time in Sophia’s reign began to run out. After six
years in power, Sophia had become unpopular to many. She was authoritarian and
assumed powers and duties beyond her capacity as regent. She desired becoming a
Tsarina, and as a first step she took the title “the Great Sovereign”. She even
had a portrait of herself wearing the clothes of a Tsar and holding the Tsarist
regalia. This attracted disgust to some traditional boyars, clerics, and
officials. In addition, she also failed to score any military success but
rather, she gain military disasters. In the middle of 1689, Sophia authorized a
campaign to cement Muscovy rule in Crimea. However, mismanagement of logistics
led to hunger and disease causing huge casualties in the Russian army. More men
fell to mistreatment and hunger than to battle against the enemy. The military
disaster further slipped Sophia’s popularity. Aware of her dropping approval
ratings, she sank to paranoia, and Peter became her focus. She saw Peter as the
rallying point for the opposition against her. And so in August 7, 1689, she
sent out the Streltsy to Preobrazhenskoe to take care of
Peter.
 |
| Sophia Romanov after her fall from power by Ilya Repin |
Even
though Peter ousted Sophia, he respected Ivan’s right as his co-Tsar. Both men
officially shared the crown until Ivan’s death in 1696.
Early Reign of Tsar Peter
Tsar
Peter’s early rule had been characterized by continuing pursuit of his passion
rather than personally handling the state affairs. Tsar Ivan V remained in the
Kremlin to handle the ceremonial duties of a Tsar. Meanwhile, Peter’s uncle,
Leo Naryshkin took over the daily state affairs of the Tsardom of Muscovy.
Peter, on the other hand, continued to live outside Moscow.
Dream of a Navy
Outside,
he continued to do whatever he saw interesting. One day, he found a boat made
by an Englishman during the time of Tsar Alexei kept in a shed. Remembering the
stories of naval voyages by his foreign friends, he became inspired, repaired
boat, and used it in Lake Plescheevo. In Lake Plescheevo, Peter dreamt the
creation of a Russian navy. From that single ship, he ordered the construction
of replicas with the help from craftsmen of the German Suburbs. He along with
his regiment practiced naval engagement in the lake. When the lake did not
satisfied Peter, he sought to sail into the seas. In 1693, Peter went to
Archangel, the only major Russian port city, and planned to sail in the White
Sea. However, his mother Nataliya feared for the danger of sailing in open
waters and begged his son not to press on. Peter only had the chance in the
following year, in 1694, when Nataliya Naryshkina passed away. When the frozen
White Sea melted in February, Peter returned and sailed with his ship. After
the trip he ordered the construction of an ocean going ship in Amsterdam, named
the Holy Prophecy, which was completed in 1697. From that point on, he decided to
give Russia a navy.
Azov Campaign
The Azov
Campaign of 1695 to 1696 became a stepping stone for Peter’s dream navy. The
Turkish held Azov was a fortified port city in the mouth of the Don River where
it drains to the warm waters of the Sea of Azov and ultimately, the Black Sea.
Peter saw Azov as a perfect base to launch his navy for its warm waters rather
than the frozen seas of Archangel. On the other hand, Azov also laid critical
for Russian commerce and defense. It could provide Russia a base to control
Tartar raids in the south. It could also provide access for Russian trade ships
to the Black Sea. Politically, the situation had been ripe to attack the Turks
in Azov because the bulk of the Ottoman Army had been engaging the Austrians in
the west.
Peter exploited
the absence of substantial Turkish force in the region and marched his army to
Azov in the middle of 1695. His forces surrounded the city and besieged it for
several months. Peter, however, failed to completely encircle the port. It
continued to receive supplies through the sea and Peter cannot prevent it
because he lacked a naval fleet. When winter set in, Peter had no choice but to
withdraw.
After the
failure of his first siege, he then re-planned his attack of the city
throughout winter. He stayed in the town of Voronezh in the northern section of
the Don River. There, he ordered the construction of a small flotilla of ships
capable of blockading Azov. Throughout winter, his navy began to take shape.
When spring blossomed in 1696, so as Peter’s fleet. The Muscovite army marched
back south to Azov and encircled it in land, while Peter’s navy blockaded the
city by sea. For months the city held but by July, however, lack supplies and
soldiers forced it to surrender. With the fall of Azov, Peter gained access to
the waters of the Sea of Azov. He consolidated Russian control over the region,
and established the town of Taganrog that would serve as a naval base for the
small Russian fleet.
After the
victory. Peter returned to Moscow with a grand procession complete with all
magnificence and glory of a conquering hero. Nevertheless, Azov did not
satisfied Peter. He wanted the Black Sea to become a Russian lake. But in order
to do so, he needed to strengthen Russia and gain allies.
Grand Embassy
Peter set
out in a Grand Embassy in 1697. The embassy brought Peter to Europe in hopes of
getting allies for his goal of controlling the Black Sea. Nevertheless, Peter
also had other motives for the embassy.
The
embassy offered him a chance to see and learn from Europe herself. He wanted to
learn the latest European science and technology, which he could apply to his
country. It also gave him the chance to see the cities that his foreign friends
had fascinated him with during in his childhood. He wanted to visit the cities
of Berlin, Amsterdam, and London.
In 1697,
Peter's journey began. He left state affairs to his confidant, Feodor
Romodanovsky. He travelled incognito under the name Peter Mikhailov in order to
avoid formalities during his visits. He made Franz Lefort and Feodor Golovin to
act as if they headed the embassy. Along with 200 members of the Grand Embassy,
Peter set off and made a stop in Riga then Berlin. They then proceed to the
city that amazed him throughout his life – Amsterdam. From there he learned
various skills. From dentistry, to printing, he learned the in the workshops,
schools, and hospitals of the Dutch city.
 |
| Shipyard of the Dutch East India Company in 1726 by Joseph Mulder |
And so he
left Amsterdam and went to London. He then continued to learn more about
shipbuilding and navigation. He also learned the newest discoveries in
sciences. He visited the Greenwich Observatory, the Royal Mint, and the Arsenal
of the King, among others. They stayed in a home of a noble who showed them
great hospitality. Hospitality, which Peter and his companions never repaid.
Peter and his wild Russian friends destroyed the interior of the house,
breaking windows, glasses, and paintings. By the time they left, the house was
a mess. His host regretted their decision.
In 1698,
the embassy passed France and then went to Vienna, the capital of the Holy
Roman Empire. He sought the Holy Roman Empire’s commitment to a Holy League
against the Turks. Peter’s trip, however, was cut short when news that the Streltsy mutinied again and threatened Moscow
and his government. He had to abandon his itinerary and rushed home. By the
time he reached Poland, he received news that Romonadovsky and Patrick Gordon
had quelled the rebellion.
In the
end of the Grand Embassy, he manage to recruit 750 European experts to go to
Russia and teach their expertise to the Russians. He also ordered 50 nobles to
study in Europe. However, the political goals of Russia to gain allies against
the Ottoman Turks failed. He had no choice but to settle peace with the Turks.
Streltsy Mutiny/Rebellion of 1698
 |
| Execution in Red Square by Vasily Surikov |
The Streltsy rose up in revolt and planned to march
to Moscow to overthrow the presiding government, destroy the German Suburb, and
kill all foreigners. But outside the New Jerusalem Monastery, they faced
Peter’s modern army, led by the Preobrazensky and Semenovsky Regiments under
the command of Feodor Romonadovsky and Patrick Gordon. After the battle, 150
ringleaders faced execution. News of the defeat of the rebels reached Peter
when he arrived in Poland. Although the rebellion had been quelled, Peter
returned quickly to Moscow to restart an investigation. He had personal distrust
of the Streltsy since their riot in 1682 that scarred
him as a boy and caused the death of his relatives. He also suspected his
half-sister Sophia of inciting the rebellion in order to reestablish her
control. Peter ordered the interrogation and torture of numerous streltsy to find evidence of such
connection. He planned to squish any single signs of a larger conspiracy,
either plotted by other nobles or by his half-sister. In the end, 1,100 faced
execution in the Red Square, some of which Peter beheaded personally.
Meanwhile, Sophia did not evaded Peter’s wrath. The Tsar hanged three streltsy over her window in the Novodevichy
Convent. Peter then forced Sophia to become a nun. The rest of the Streltsy were sent to the south to fight the
Tartars, and as years passed by, their numbers and significance dwindled until
they disappeared by 1720.
The Streltsy Rebellion of 1698 was not Peter’s last
and greatest opposition. After the Streltsy Rebellion, Peter embarked in his dream
to westernize and modernize Russia and turn it into a great power. His dream
faced tough opposition from a foreign power that led Russia to a war that
brought it to the limelight of European politics. Russia and Peter marched into
a two decade long Great Northern War.
Explore also:
Bibliography:
Boterbloem,
Kess. A History of Russia and
Its Empire: From Mikhail Romanov to Vladimir Putin. Lanham, Maryland:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2014.
Bucher,
Greta. Daily Life in Imperial
Russia. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2008.
Buskovitch,
Paul. A Concise History of
Russia. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Kort,
Michael. A Brief History of
Russia. New York, New York: Facts On File, 2008.
Moss,
Walter. A History of Russia
Volume I: To 1917. London: Anthem Press, 2005.
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