(1682 – 1725)
17 year old Peter became an emperor in 1689.
His brother John, although he continued to be called a king, and his name stood first in all charters, did not take part in the affairs of government, died in 1696.
The first years of his reign Peter took care of the organization of regular troops and at the same time continued to build ships on Pereyaslavl lake.
Seeking to expand the limits and wanting to establish itself on the sea, in 1696 he captured Azov (the first campaign in 1695 was unsuccessful). For final approval on the shores of the Sea of Azov, Peter began to build a fleet there.
In 1697, Peter went abroad himself to learn shipbuilding. In Saardam and Amsterdam, worked 5 months in the shipyards, as a simple carpenter. In England he perfected in shipbuilding, and also visited factories, studied sciences. After a visit, Vienna returned to Moscow, having received news of a new Streltsy rebellion.
The beginning of the transformation of Peter after his return from abroad was: shaving beards, changing the cut of the dress according to the European pattern for all except the clergy and peasants, celebrating the New Year from January 1st, and not from September 1st, as before.
In 1700, Peter concluded a peace with Turkey, according to which Azov remained behind Russia.
Persistent and prolonged was the Great Northern War with the Swedes (1700 – 1721). First, the Swedes inflicted a defeat on the Russian army near Narva, but then Peter defeated them near Poltava on June 27, 1709.
In 1703, on May 16, Peter founded Petersburg. Shortly thereafter, the fortress of Kronstadt was founded on the island of Kotlin.
With his victories, Peter annexed to Estonia Estland, Livonia with the adjacent islands of Finland.
In 1721, Peter ended the Swedish war with the Nystadt Peace, which, at the request of all the estates of the state, concluded the title of Emperor of the All-Russian Father of the Fatherland and the Great.
From this time the following form of his royal title was established:
“By God’s Grace, We, Peter the First Emperor and the Autocrat of All Russia.”
Peter the Great is called the transformer of Russia. And indeed he gave it a different appearance, created a new Russia, having made radical changes in the state system.
The most important reform of Peter the Great is the following. In 1700, the patriarch Adrian died, badly referring to the reforms of Peter. Peter, fearing opposition from the new patriarch, did not appoint him a successor, but placed the Ryazan Metropolitan Stefan Yavorsky as the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne.
Only in 1721 Peter carried out the church reform planned by Peter. The patriarchate was completely destroyed. The Holy Synod was established to manage church affairs. The closest employee of Peter in church conversions was Theophanes Prokopovich, educated from the clergy of that time. The representative of the sovereign was the chief procurator, appointed from the secular. Thus, having established a synod, Peter subdued the spiritual power of the secular.
In 1711, to monitor the correct course of affairs in the state, the Senate was established, which became the highest judicial seat, and directed the entire administration.
Instead of orders, 10 collegiums were established, subordinated to the Senate, which consisted of the president and 11 members who decided cases by a majority vote.
In 1722, the entire service estate was divided by a table of ranks for 14 classes. Each class corresponded to a certain rank. Chines were given for diligent service and were available to people of all classes. For a long diligent service – orders, count and princely dignity. Orders of St. Catherine and St. Andrew were first established.
With the decree issued, Peter prescribed for the noble children compulsory education in literacy. Schools were established for this purpose. Having reached the age of 15, the nobleman had to pass the established exam. Illiterates were given to soldiers, they could not marry, and some took away estates. Every nobleman began to serve as an ordinary guard and had to serve his whole life.
In 1714, issued a decree on unanimity. By virtue of this decree, the landowner could transfer all immovable property only to one of his sons and in general to only one person, it was forbidden to sell estates in the wrong hands.
In 1719, the land tax was replaced by a poll tax, for which a census of the entire taxation class was carried out. The airy lodge captured many individuals previously free of taxes, which significantly increased the size of government revenues.
Peter founded the fleet and a regular regular army on a Western European model, gave him the Military Regulations, German uniforms and introduced recruitment kits from all those who paid a per capita tax. The term of military service was not determined. In St. Petersburg and Moscow, schools were opened, special schools were founded: naval, engineering and artillery schools.
Peter the First was married to Evdokia Fedorovna Lopukhina, who on his return from abroad was imprisoned in a monastery, and married Catherine Alekseevna Skavronskaya.
From Evdokia Fyodorovna he had a son Alexei, raised by his mother in antiquity and was hostile to reforms. He fled abroad, and on his return was tried and sentenced to death. But he died before the trial in the Peter and Paul Fortress in 1718.
In 1721, Peter issued a decree on succession to the throne. The reigning sovereign appoints a successor of his own free will.
1722 – 1723 – the war with Persia, which ultimately lost to Russia Derbent, Baku and the Gilan region, Mazanderan and Astrabad.
Peter did not spare his health, working for the benefit of Russia. In the autumn of 1724, he, having saved a soldier in Lakhta, caught a cold. On January 28, 1725, Peter died without appointing a successor.
Peter is buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which he himself laid.