Russian Tsar Peter the Great. The reign and reforms of Peter the Great

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Peter I is a great Russian emperor and an incredibly attractive and creative person, so interesting facts from the biography of the tsar of the Romanov dynasty will be of interest to everyone. I will try to tell you something that is definitely impossible to find in any school textbooks.

Peter the Great, according to the new style, was born on June 8, according to the sign of the zodiac - twins. It is not surprising that it was Peter the Great who became the innovator for the conservative Russian Empire. Gemini is an air sign that is characterized by ease of decision-making, a sharp mind and amazing imagination. Only the "horizon of expectation" usually does not justify itself: the rough reality is too different from blue dreams.

An unusual fact about the character of Peter the Great

According to the calculations of the square of Pythagoras, the character of Peter 1 consists of three units, which means that the emperor was distinguished by a calm character. It is believed that it is a person with three or four units that is most suitable for working in government structures.

For example, a person with one or five, six units has a despotic character and is ready to “go over their heads” for the sake of power. So, Peter the Great had all the prerequisites for occupying the royal throne.

Is it an heir?

There is an opinion that Peter the Great is not the native son of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov. The fact is that the future emperor was distinguished by strong health, unlike his brother Fedor and sister Natalya. But this is only an assumption. But the birth of Peter was predicted by Simeon of Polotsk, he informed the sovereign that he would soon have a son who would go down in Russian history as a great ruler!

But the wife of the Emperor Catherine I was of peasant origin. By the way, this is the first woman who was aware of all state affairs. Peter discussed everything with her and listened to any advice.

Innovator

Peter the Great introduced many new ideas into Russian life.

• While traveling in Holland, I noticed that skating is much more convenient if they are not tied to shoes, but are tightly attached to special boots.

• In order for the soldiers not to confuse right and left, Peter I ordered hay to be tied to the left leg, and straw to the right. During drill training, the commander, instead of the usual "right - left", commanded "hay - straw". By the way, only educated people used to be able to distinguish between right and left.
• Peter intensively fought against drunkenness, especially among the courtiers. In order to completely eradicate the disease, he came up with his own system: to give out iron, seven-kilogram medals for each spree. Such an award was hung around the neck in the police station and it was necessary to walk with it for at least 7 days! It was impossible to take pictures on your own, and it was dangerous to ask someone else.
• Peter I was impressed by the beauty of overseas tulips; he brought flower bulbs from Holland to Russia in 1702.

Peter I's favorite pastime is dentistry, with such interest he pulled out bad teeth from everyone who just asked. But sometimes he got so carried away that he could vomit healthy ones too!

Substitution of Peter I

The most unusual and interesting fact in Russian history. Researchers A. Fomenko and G. Nosovsky argue that the fact of substitution was and provide strong evidence to confirm. In those days, the names of the future heirs to the throne were given in accordance with the day of the angel of the Orthodox canons, and this is where the discrepancy opened up: the birthday of Peter the Great falls on the name Isakiy.

Peter the Great from his youth was distinguished by his love for everything Russian: he wore a traditional caftan. But after a two-year stay in Europe, the sovereign began to wear exclusively fashionable European clothes and never again put on his once beloved Russian caftan.

• Researchers claim that the impostor who returned from distant countries had a body structure that was different from Peter the Great. The impostor was taller and thinner. It is believed that Peter 1 actually wasn’t two meters tall before, this is logical, because his father’s height was 170 cm, his grandfather’s was 167. And the king who came from Europe was 204 cm. Therefore, there is a version that the impostor did not wear favorite clothes of the king due to size discrepancies.
• Peter I had a mole on his nose, but after his stay in Europe, the mole mysteriously disappeared, this is confirmed by numerous portraits of the sovereign.
• When Peter returned from a trip abroad, he did not know where the oldest library of Ivan the Terrible was located, although the secret of its location was inherited. Princess Sophia constantly visited her, and the new Peter could not find a repository of rare editions.
• When Peter returned from Europe, his companions consisted of the Dutch, although when the tsar was just setting off on his journey, there was a Russian embassy with him, consisting of 20 people. Where did the 20 Russian subjects go during the two years of the tsar's stay in Europe remains a mystery.
• After arriving in Russia, Peter the Great tried to bypass his relatives and associates, and then got rid of everyone in various ways.

It was the archers who announced that the returned Peter was an impostor! And staged a riot, which was brutally suppressed. This is very strange, because only close associates of the king were selected for the archery troops, the title of archer was inherited with the confirmation of the king.

Therefore, each of these people was clearly dear to Peter the Great before his trip to Europe, and now he suppressed the uprising in the most cruel way, according to historical data, 20 thousand people were killed. After that, the army was completely reorganized.

In addition, while in London, Peter the Great imprisoned his wife Lopukhina in a monastery without announcing the reason and married a peasant woman, Marta Samuilovna Skavronskaya-Kruse, who in the future would become Empress Catherine I.

The researchers note that the calm and fair Peter the Great became a real despot after returning from a foreign campaign.

All his orders were aimed at the destruction of Russian heritage: Russian history was rewritten by German professors, many Russian chronicles disappeared without a trace, a new chronology system was introduced, the usual measures of measurement were abolished, repressions against the clergy, the eradication of Orthodoxy, the distribution of alcohol, tobacco and coffee, a ban on cultivation of medicinal amaranth and much more.

Whether this is really so, one can only guess, all the historical documents of those times that we have cannot be considered valid, because. Everything has been rewritten many times. It remains only to guess and assume, you can also watch a film on this topic.

In any case, Peter I is a significant personality in Russian history.

Peter the Great was born in Moscow in 1672. His parents are Alexei Mikhailovich and Natalya Naryshkina. Peter was raised by nannies, his education was poor, but the boy's health was strong, he was the least ill in the family.

When Peter was ten years old, he and his brother Ivan were proclaimed kings. In fact, Sofia Alekseevna reigned. And Peter and his mother left for Preobrazhenskoye. There, little Peter began to be interested in military activities, 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 the 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, 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 in the gardens various plants brought from abroad. Peter also brought rice and potatoes to Russia. In Europe, he caught fire with the idea to change his state.

Peter I waged war with Sweden. He annexed Kamchatka to Russia and the coast of the Caspian Sea. It was in this sea that Peter I baptized people close to him. Peter's reforms were innovative. During the reign of the Emperor, there were several military reforms, the power of the state increased, and a regular army and navy were founded. And also the ruler invested his forces in the economy and industry. Peter I put a lot of effort into the education of citizens. They opened many schools.

Peter I died in 1725. He was seriously ill. Peter gave the throne to his wife. He had a strong and persistent personality. Peter I made many changes, both in the state 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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Brief history of the reign of Peter I

Childhood of Peter I

The future great Emperor Peter the Great was born on May 30, 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 passes to Fedor, Peter's half-brother. At the same time, Fedor himself insisted on the enhanced education of Peter, reproaching Naryshkin for being illiterate. A year later, Peter began to study hard. The teachers of the future ruler of Russia was the educated deacon Nikita Zotov, who was distinguished by his patience and kindness. He managed to enter the location of the restless prince, who only did what he got into fights with noble and archery children, and also spent all his free time climbing through the attics.

Since childhood, Peter was interested in geography, military affairs and history. The tsar carried his love of books through his whole life, reading already as a ruler and wanting to create his own book on the history of the Russian state. Also, he himself was engaged in compiling the alphabet, which would be easier for ordinary people to remember.

Ascension to the throne of Peter I

In 1682, without making a will, Tsar Fedor dies, and after his death, two candidates claim the Russian throne - the sickly Ivan and the daredevil Peter the Great. Enlisting the support of the clergy, the entourage of ten-year-old Peter puts him on the throne. However, the relatives of Ivan Miloslavsky, in pursuit of the goal of placing Sophia or Ivan on the throne, are preparing a streltsy revolt.

On May 15, an uprising begins in Moscow. Ivan's relatives start a rumor about the murder of the prince. Outraged by this, the archers advance 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 continued to kill and rob in the city for several more days, demanding the feeble-minded Ivan as king. After 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.

The formation of the personality of Peter I

Having witnessed the cruelty and recklessness of the archers during the riot, Peter hated them, wanting to avenge his mother's tears and the death of innocent people. During the reign of the regent, Peter and Natalia Naryshkina lived most of the time in Semenovsky, Kolomensky and Preobrazhensky villages. He left them only to participate in ceremonial receptions in Moscow.

The liveliness of mind, as well as the natural curiosity and firmness of Peter's character, led him to a passion for military affairs. He even collects "amusing regiments" in the villages, recruiting teenage boys from both noble and peasant families. Over time, such fun turned into real military exercises, and the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments become quite an impressive military force, which, according to the records of contemporaries, surpassed the archers. In the same period, Peter plans to create a Russian fleet.

He gets acquainted with the basics of shipbuilding on the Yauza and Lake Pleshcheeva. At the same time, foreigners who lived in the German Quarter had a huge role in the strategic thinking of the prince. Many of them became faithful companions of Peter 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 throne promised to him earlier. However, Sophia does not like this at all and in the summer of 1689 she tries to provoke an uprising of 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 the environment of Peter and Patriarch Joachim. Soon the rebellion was completely suppressed, and its participants were subjected to repression and execution. The regent Sophia herself is imprisoned by Peter in the Novodevichy Convent, where she remains until the end of her days.

Brief description of the policy and reforms of Peter I

Tsarevich Ivan soon 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 entourage. After her death, the entire burden of power falls on Peter.

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

The results of Peter's activities 1. Brief description.

Video lecture: a brief history of the reign of Peter I

He was, of his own free will, the last tsar of all Russia and the first ruler of the Russian Empire. The life of this monarch is haunted by one mystery. His character, traditions and skills changed dramatically after the Great Embassy. Moreover, the face, figure, weight and height of Peter 1 also raised many questions.

The childhood of the future king

The first All-Russian emperor was born on the night of May 30 (June 9), 1672. Where exactly he was born is unknown: some indicate the Terem Palace of the Kremlin, others indicate the village of Kolomenskoye. His parents were Alexei Mikhailovich and (the royal couple). The boy was a direct contender for the throne. When the baby was four years old, his father died. Theodore the Third was declared the monarch, who became the guardian of the prince. His accession to the throne pushed Natalya Naryshkina into the background. She was forced to go to the village of Preobrazhenskoye.

From childhood, Peter was plagued by problems with education. The teachers were simple clerks who understood little in the sciences, while in Europe the nobles were taught by university graduates and the brightest minds of the time. But the boy made up for his lack of knowledge with practical talents.

In the sixth year of his reign, Tsar Theodore the Third died. His place could be taken by the weak Ivan, the eldest son of Alexei Mikhailovich from his first wife, or ten-year-old Peter, the son from another wife. The choice was made in favor of the smaller one. So, in 1682, the boy became king.

A few years later, the people were divided: some loved the monarch, others hated it. This was due to his sympathy for Europe. Many argued that the emperor-father was replaced abroad. This was evidenced by numerous changes, including the discussion of the growth of Peter 1.

External Data

From childhood, the king was distinguished by amazing beauty. Everyone around him admired his appearance. The emperor was especially struck by his gigantic growth. In the crowd, his head was exalted above the others. But, despite his tall stature, Peter was thin and had a small clothing size. Narrow shoulders, short arms and a disproportionately small head set him apart from others. Her hair was dark, cut short, curled at the ends.

In the early portraits, a large one is clearly visible. Many believe that another Peter 1 returned to Russia after traveling to Russia. Height, weight, and even age have changed. The mole is gone too.

Trip to Europe

Considering traditions, Ivan's relatives - the Miloslavskys - wished their representative to take the throne. Therefore, in the same 1682, both applicants were named rulers. Little Peter was sent away from the court. In the villages where the boy lived, he was fond of military affairs.

In 1689, at the request of his mother, the guy married an unloved girl. A few months later he began to rule alone.

In 1697, the king went on a trip to Europe. The monarch went to other countries incognito. Abroad, he studied the Western art of government, adopted foreign laws and lifestyles.

Upon returning, relatives and friends noticed that the growth of Peter 1 had changed. The man was called an impostor.

Change of monarch

There were many reasons not to trust the new ruler. His political program has completely changed. Now he is not looking for allies against Turkey, but directs his anger towards the aggression of Charles XII. His spiritual consciousness plummeted. The knowledge of the Russian language is weakening. From now on, he despises his people and ignores their traditions.

It is not surprising that rumors circulated around the country that the king had been replaced. But if internal changes could really be caused by the influence of foreign countries, then external changes did not dare to explain. There are legends that the king returned as a giant. The growth of Peter 1 in cm, according to some sources, reached 220. Other sources put the ruler under the bar of 2 meters.

Physical and spiritual changes

Much evidence has been found that the king was an impostor. One of the most important is the physique. Before the Great Embassy, ​​the emperor was of medium height, inclined to be overweight. A man with a height of 204 centimeters came from abroad.

Genetically, the king could not grow to such a height. Parents, like grandfathers, did not differ in such parameters. In those days, a man two meters tall was considered a giant. In connection with the change in the body, the sovereign asked to replace his entire wardrobe. Since then, he has worn exclusively European outfits, neglecting Russian clothes.

You can also trace the changes in the portraits, which depict Peter 1 in full growth before and after 1698.

It is worth noting that immediately after returning home, the king, without even meeting his wife, sent her to a monastery. Also, according to the chroniclers, it was not a 28-year-old autocrat who returned, but a 40-year-old man. The moral code has fallen astonishingly. The emperor rioted, drank, led a wild life. He did not listen to Russian music, but promoted foreign motives. He moved the capital to St. Petersburg, while Moscow was considered a symbol of the invincibility and unity of the Russian nation.

Real facts

The answer to the question of what is the height of Peter 1 in cm can be given by every man. To do this, you need to visit the imperial chambers, look at things and try to lie in his bed.

The sovereign frightened the courtiers. This trait is directly related to his growth. The doors of the estates were made in standard sizes, so in order to enter the room, a giant two meters high had to bend down. Many historians believe that, given the tough temper that legends circulated about, the king would not have tolerated such a thing.

Each visitor to the museum, where the things of the monarch are located, saw what Peter 1 wore. Height, foot size can be determined by his clothes.

Separately, you can note the small beds. The king, with his mythical height, would have to sleep sitting up, and the man did not possess such a talent.

The Zoological Museum of St. Petersburg will help you find out the truth. There is a stuffed animal of the emperor's favorite horse. Lisette (the king gave her such a name) was of medium build. A person whose height is more than 200 centimeters would not fit on it.

Destruction of legends

About how tall Peter 1 was, modern researchers say something completely different. There are historians who are still looking for information about the substitution of the king. Hundreds of articles have been written about how and where exactly the replacement took place. But this information is fiction.

Science claims that over the past 200 years, the process has grown by 10 centimeters. With each length of life increases, puberty begins later. In the nineteenth century, the average height was 165-180 centimeters. But three hundred years ago, people with a height of 120-140 cm were considered normal.

Where did the data come from that the height of Peter 1 is 170 cm, and the false one is 2 meters? Researchers believe that centimeters were added because people of the past era were implausibly low compared to their contemporaries. It was on such grounds that the legend of the replacement of the king arose.

Peter the Great was born on May 30 (June 9), 1672 in Moscow. In the biography of Peter 1, it is important to note that he was the youngest son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from his second marriage to Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. From one year he was brought up by nannies. And after the death of his father, at the age of four, Peter's half-brother and new Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich became Peter's guardian.

From the age of 5, little Peter began to learn the alphabet. The clerk N. M. Zotov gave him lessons. However, the future king received a poor education and was not distinguished by literacy.

Rise to power

In 1682, after the death of Fyodor Alekseevich, 10-year-old Peter and his brother Ivan were proclaimed kings. But in fact, their elder sister, Princess Sofya Alekseevna, took over the management.
At this time, Peter and his mother were forced to move away from the court and move to the village of Preobrazhenskoye. Here, Peter 1 becomes interested in military activities, he creates "amusing" regiments, which later became the basis of the Russian army. He is fond of firearms, shipbuilding. He spends a lot of time in the German Quarter, becomes a fan of European life, makes friends.

In 1689, Sophia was removed from the throne, and power passed to Peter I, and the government of the country was entrusted to his mother and uncle L.K. Naryshkin.

King's reign

Peter continued the war with the Crimea, took the fortress of Azov. Further actions of Peter I were aimed at creating a powerful fleet. The foreign policy of Peter I of that time was focused on finding allies in the war with the Ottoman Empire. For this purpose, Peter went to Europe.

At this time, the activities of Peter I consisted only in the creation of political unions. He studies shipbuilding, device, culture of other countries. He returned to Russia after the news of the Streltsy rebellion. As a result of the trip, he wanted to change Russia, for which several innovations were made. For example, the Julian calendar was introduced.

For the development of trade, access to the Baltic Sea was required. So the next stage of the reign of Peter I was the war with Sweden. Having made peace with Turkey, he captured the fortress of Noteburg, Nienschanz. In May 1703, the construction of St. Petersburg began. The following year, Narva and Dorpat were taken. In June 1709, Sweden was defeated in the Battle of Poltava. Shortly after the death of Charles XII, peace was concluded between Russia and Sweden. New lands joined Russia, access to the Baltic Sea was obtained.

Reforming Russia

In October 1721, the title of emperor was adopted in the biography of Peter the Great.

Also during his reign, Kamchatka was annexed, the coast of the Caspian Sea was conquered.

Peter I carried out military reform several times. Basically, it concerned the collection of money for the maintenance of the army and navy. It was carried out, in short, by force.

Further reforms of Peter I accelerated the technical and economic development of Russia. He carried out church reform, financial reform, transformations in industry, culture, and trade. In education, he also carried out a number of reforms aimed at mass education: many schools for children and the first gymnasium in Russia (1705) were opened.

Death and legacy

Before his death, Peter I was very ill, but continued to rule the state. Peter the Great died on January 28 (February 8), 1725 from inflammation of the bladder. The throne passed to his wife, Empress Catherine I.

The strong personality of Peter I, who sought to change not only the state, but also the people, played a crucial role in the history of Russia.

Cities were named after the Great Emperor after his death.

Monuments to Peter I were erected not only in Russia, but also in many European countries. One of the most famous is the Bronze Horseman in St. Petersburg.

Other biography options

• Contemporaries and historians note that Peter I was tall, more than two meters, beautiful, lively features and noble posture. Despite the formidable dimensions, the king still could not be called a hero - 39 shoe size and 48 clothing size. Such disproportion was observed literally in everything: for his gigantic growth, his shoulders, small arms and head were too narrow. His frequent swiftness and fast walking did not save the situation. Those around him did not feel strength and power in him. He conquered others.
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