Peter the Great for his stormy activities associated with the transformation of Russia into a great European country, reforms in military affairs, in the judiciary, in church affairs and others, are called "Great". He was one of the greatest people of his time, possessed giant growth, enormous physical strength, he did not shun hard physical labor, in addition he was the founder of the glorious and legendary Russian fleet, became famous for his military campaigns against the Tatars, Turks and Swedes. The king had good health, but lived only fifty-three years and died in great agony. So what is the cause of Peter's death?
According to historians, a year before his death, in 1724, the king became very ill, but soon began to recover and the disease seemed to recede. But after a short period of time, Peter fell ill again. The doctors tried to improve the iron health of the king, but he, in anger from his illness, almost killed the unfortunate doctors. Then the pain went away again. One day, in November of the same year, the emperor sailed along the Neva and saw how one of the sides ran aground. There were sailors on board. Peter jumped into the cold, autumn water and began to save people, being knee-deep in water. This had a fatal effect, the king fell ill. His health was deteriorating more and more, and on January 28, 1725, he died in bed, without even leaving a will. The reasons were various. Many Europeans who served Peter or with him as diplomats expressed their versions. Someone said that Peter was ill with stranguria, Lefort's comrade-in-arms argued that the emperor suffered from a urinary stone. Russian historian M. N. Pokrovsky stated that the tsar died of syphilis, which he received in Europe. Thus, the cause of Peter's death could be either one or completely different.
The person who was then in charge of Peter's treatment was Blumentrost. With the development of the king's illness, Dr. Bidloo was prescribed to help him. They were engaged in improving the health of the autocrat. At first, he felt better after seeing doctors. Peter recovered a little and even intended to go abroad. But a few days later, attacks reappeared, the monarch's health deteriorated. On the night of January 21st, the king felt better, he slept well and everything seemed to get better, but, as often happens, relief came before death. The emperor developed a severe fever, he fainted and died, in great agony, as was said above.
Historians of our time express different opinions regarding the causes of the death of Peter the Great.
There is a version of poisoning. The hypothesis is as follows: the king died without having time to announce the official heir. Catherine comes to power with the help of His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov. Alexander Danilovich came from the lower classes, was the son of a simple peasant, and achieved such a position at court only thanks to Peter's disposition towards him. The emperor was often dissatisfied with Menshikov for constant embezzlement. In addition, the gray cardinal once patronized the love affair of the king's wife with the foreigner Vilim Mons. The monarch would never have known about this if it had not been for a note about lovers thrown to him. Mons was executed, Menshikov this accident passed. At the direction of the tsar, for a long time they were conducting a case about the abuses of "Aleksashka". Most Serene and could be interested in the elimination of Peter. He did not benefit from the recovery of the monarch, and the coming to power of the party of influential courtiers, for they nominated the grandson of Tsar Peter II to the throne. Menshikov won only with the accession of Catherine, who was not very smart and far-sighted, through her it was possible to safely manage the state.
Similar versions were expressed by contemporaries of Peter. With the execution of Mons, Catherine herself could either get into the monastery, as Peter did with his first wife Evdokia Lopukhina, or the tsar could find another way to pay. Take the same block. European kings did not shy away from this method with the elimination of women who had betrayed them. Therefore, both Catherine and Menshikov were primarily interested in eliminating Peter, who was quick to punish. The pedestal of power on which Alexander Danilovich stood and has staggered so much lately. Peter no longer showed his confidence in him and removed him from some leadership positions.
Immediately after the death of the emperor, there were rumors about his poisoning. As you know, there is no smoke without fire. Knowing the mind of the king, it was not difficult to guess that the emperor guessed to whom the throne should be transferred, namely, the grandson Peter. The Tsarevich was surrounded by associates devoted to the monarch, with whom he had been together for a long time, and Menshikov and Catherine could not help but understand that with the coming to power of Peter the Second, there would be no paradise life for them, even if their rivals would have left them life
So how could Peter be killed? One day, he was given candy as a gift. After that, he began to feel unwell, vomiting, numbness and abdominal pain appeared.
But the doctor of medical sciences L. L. Khundanov argued that there could not be a special poison. At that time, they often tried to cure a person with arsenic, a large amount of the latter could lead to death. Instead, the professor says that the most likely cause of the king's death is the stricture of the urerta. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption at the "most drunk" and "most jocular" orgies, as well as hypothermia in the water, could affect. All this could cause an exacerbation, which could then progress.

Peter I Alekseevich is the last Tsar of All Russia and the first All-Russian Emperor, one of the most prominent rulers of the Russian Empire. He was a true patriot of his state and did everything possible for its prosperity.

From his youth, Peter I showed great interest in different things, and was the first of the Russian tsars who made a long journey through the countries of Europe.

Thanks to this, he was able to accumulate a wealth of experience and carry out many important reforms that determined the direction of development in the 18th century.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the features of Peter the Great, and pay attention to the features of his personality, as well as success in the political arena.

Biography of Peter 1

Peter 1 Alekseevich Romanov was born on May 30, 1672 in. His father, Alexei Mikhailovich, was the Tsar of the Russian Empire, and ruled it for 31 years.

Mother, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina, was the daughter of a small estate nobleman. Interestingly, Peter was the 14th son of his father and the first of his mother.

Childhood and youth of Peter I

When the future emperor was 4 years old, his father Alexei Mikhailovich died, and Peter's older brother, Fedor 3 Alekseevich, was on the throne.

The new king took up the education of little Peter, ordering him to be taught various sciences. Since at that time there was a struggle against foreign influence, his teachers were Russian clerks who did not have deep knowledge.

As a result, the boy failed to receive a proper education, and until the end of his days he wrote with errors.

However, it is worth noting that Peter 1 managed to compensate for the shortcomings of basic education with rich practical exercises. Moreover, the biography of Peter I is notable precisely for his fantastic practice, and not for theory.

History of Peter 1

Six years later, Fedor 3 died, and his son Ivan was to ascend the Russian throne. However, the legitimate heir turned out to be a very sickly and weak child.

Taking advantage of this, the Naryshkin family, in fact, organized a coup. Enlisting the support of Patriarch Joachim, the Naryshkins made young Peter the Tsar the very next day.

26-year-old Peter I. Kneller's portrait was presented by Peter in 1698 to the English king

However, the Miloslavskys, relatives of Tsarevich Ivan, declared the illegality of such a transfer of power and the infringement of their own rights.

As a result, in 1682, the famous Streltsy rebellion took place, as a result of which 2 tsars, Ivan and Peter, were on the throne at the same time.

From that moment on, many significant events took place in the biography of the young autocrat.

It is worth emphasizing here that from an early age the boy was fond of military affairs. By his order, fortifications were built, and real military equipment was involved in staged battles.

Peter 1 put on uniforms for his peers and marched along the city streets with them. Interestingly, he himself acted as a drummer, walking ahead of his regiment.

After the formation of his own artillery, the king created a small "fleet". Even then, he wanted to dominate the sea and lead his ships into battle.

Tsar Peter 1

As a teenager, Peter 1 could not yet fully manage the state, so his half-sister Sofya Alekseevna, and then his mother Natalya Naryshkina, served as regent under him.

In 1689, Tsar Ivan officially transferred all power to his brother, as a result of which Peter 1 became the only full-fledged head of state.

After the death of his mother, his relatives Naryshkins helped him manage the empire. However, soon the autocrat freed himself from their influence and began to independently rule the empire.

The reign of Peter 1

Since that time, Peter 1 stopped playing war games, and instead began to develop real plans for future military campaigns. He continued to wage war in the Crimea against the Ottoman Empire, and also repeatedly organized the Azov campaigns.

As a result, he managed to take the fortress of Azov, which was one of the first military successes in his biography. Then Peter 1 took up the construction of the port of Taganrog, although the state, as such, still did not have a fleet.

From that time on, the emperor set out to create a strong fleet at all costs in order to have influence on the sea. To do this, he made sure that young nobles could learn ship craft in European countries.

It is worth noting that Peter I himself also learned to build ships, working as an ordinary carpenter. Thanks to this, he received great respect among ordinary people who watched him work for the good of Russia.

Even then, Peter the Great saw many shortcomings in the state system and was preparing for serious reforms that would forever inscribe his name in.

He studied the state structure of the largest European countries, trying to learn from them all the best.

During this period of biography, a conspiracy was drawn up against Peter 1, as a result of which a streltsy uprising was to occur. However, the king managed to suppress the rebellion in time and punish all the conspirators.

After a long confrontation with the Ottoman Empire, Peter the Great decided to sign a peace agreement with it. After that, he started a war with.

He managed to capture several fortresses at the mouth of the Neva River, on which the glorious city of Peter the Great will be built in the future -.

Wars of Peter the Great

After a series of successful military campaigns, Peter 1 managed to open an exit to, which would later be called a "window to Europe."

Meanwhile, the military power of the Russian Empire was constantly growing, and the fame of Peter the Great was carried throughout Europe. Soon, the Eastern Baltic was annexed to Russia.

In 1709, the famous took place, in which the Swedish and Russian armies fought. As a result, the Swedes were completely defeated, and the remnants of the troops were taken prisoner.

By the way, this battle was beautifully described in the famous poem "Poltava". Here is a snippet:

It was that troubled time
When Russia is young
Straining strength in the struggles,
Husband with the genius of Peter.

It is worth noting that Peter 1 himself participated in the battles, showing courage and courage in battle. By his example, he inspired the Russian army, which was ready to fight for the emperor to the last drop of blood.

Studying Peter's relationship with the soldiers, one cannot fail to recall the famous story about the negligent soldier. More about it.

An interesting fact is that at the height of the Battle of Poltava, an enemy bullet shot through Peter I's hat, passing a few centimeters from his head. This once again proved the fact that the autocrat was not afraid to risk his life for the sake of defeating the enemy.

However, numerous military campaigns not only took the lives of valiant warriors, but also depleted the military resources of the country. Things got to the point that the Russian Empire found itself in a situation where it was required to fight simultaneously on 3 fronts.

This forced Peter 1 to reconsider his views on foreign policy and make a number of important decisions.

He signed a peace agreement with the Turks, agreeing to give them back the fortress of Azov. Having made such a sacrifice, he was able to save many human lives and military equipment.

Some time later, Peter the Great began to organize campaigns to the east. Their result was the accession to Russia of such cities as Semipalatinsk and.

Interestingly, he even wanted to organize military expeditions to North America and India, but these plans never came true.

But Peter the Great was able to brilliantly conduct the Caspian campaign against Persia, having conquered Derbent, Astrabad and many fortresses.

After his death, most of the conquered territories were lost, since their maintenance was not beneficial for the state.

Reforms of Peter 1

Throughout his biography, Peter 1 implemented many reforms aimed at the benefit of the state. Interestingly, he became the first Russian ruler to call himself emperor.

The most important reforms in terms of significance concerned military affairs. In addition, it was during the reign of Peter 1 that the church began to obey the state, which had never happened before.

The reforms of Peter the Great contributed to the development of industry and trade, as well as a move away from the outdated way of life.

For example, he taxed the wearing of a beard, wanting to impose European standards of appearance on the boyars. And although this caused a wave of discontent on the part of the Russian nobility, they nevertheless obeyed all his decrees.

Every year, medical, maritime, engineering and other schools were opened in the country, in which not only the children of officials, but also ordinary peasants could study. Peter 1 introduced a new Julian calendar, which is still used today.

While in Europe, the tsar saw many beautiful paintings that struck his imagination. As a result, upon arrival in his homeland, he began to provide financial support to artists in order to stimulate the development of Russian culture.

In fairness, it must be said that Peter 1 was often criticized for the violent method of implementing these reforms. In fact, he forcibly forced people to change their thinking, as well as to carry out the projects he had conceived.

One of the most striking examples of this is the construction of St. Petersburg, which was carried out in the most difficult conditions. Many people could not stand such loads and ran away.

Then the families of the fugitives were imprisoned and stayed there until the perpetrators returned back to the construction site.

Peter I

Soon Peter 1 formed an organ of political investigation and court, which was transformed into the Secret Chancellery. Any person was forbidden to write in closed rooms.

If anyone knew about such a violation and did not report it to the king, he was subjected to the death penalty. Using such harsh methods, Peter tried to fight against anti-government conspiracies.

Personal life of Peter 1

In his youth, Peter 1 liked to be in the German Quarter, enjoying foreign society. It was there that he first saw the German Anna Mons, with whom he immediately fell in love.

The mother was against his relationship with the German, so she insisted that he marry Evdokia Lopukhina. An interesting fact is that Peter did not argue with his mother, and married Lopukhina.

Of course, in this forced marriage, their family life could not be called happy. They had two boys: Alexei and Alexander, the last of whom died in early childhood.

Alexei was to become the legitimate heir to the throne after Peter the Great. However, due to the fact that Evdokia tried to overthrow her husband from the throne and transfer power to her son, everything turned out completely differently.

Lopukhina was imprisoned in a monastery, and Alexei had to flee abroad. It is worth noting that Alexei himself never approved of his father's reforms, and even called him a despot.

Peter I interrogates Tsarevich Alexei. Ge N. N., 1871

In 1717, Alexei was found and arrested, and then sentenced to death for participating in a conspiracy. However, he died while still in prison, and under very mysterious circumstances.

Having dissolved the marriage with his wife, in 1703 Peter the Great became interested in the 19-year-old Katerina (nee Marta Samuilovna Skavronskaya). A stormy romance began between them, which lasted for many years.

Over time, they got married, but even before marriage, she gave birth to daughters Anna (1708) and Elizabeth (1709) from the emperor. Elizabeth later became Empress (reigned 1741-1761)

Katerina was a very smart and insightful girl. She alone managed to calm the king with the help of kindness and patience when he had acute attacks of headache.

Peter I with the sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called on a blue St. Andrew's ribbon and a star on his chest. J.-M. Nattier, 1717

Officially, they got married only in 1712. After that, they had 9 more children, most of whom died at an early age.

Peter the Great truly loved Katerina. In her honor, the Order of St. Catherine was established and the city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals was named. The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo (built under her daughter Elizabeth Petrovna) also bears the name of Catherine I.

Soon, another woman, Maria Cantemir, appeared in the biography of Peter 1, who remained the favorite of the emperor until the end of his life.

It is worth noting that Peter the Great was very tall - 203 cm. At that time, he was considered a real giant, and was head and shoulders above everyone else.

However, the size of his feet did not match his height at all. The autocrat wore shoes of size 39 and was very narrow in the shoulders. As an additional support, he always carried a cane with him, on which he could lean.

Death of Peter

Despite the fact that outwardly Peter 1 seemed to be a very strong and healthy person, in fact he suffered from migraine attacks throughout his life.

In the last years of his life, he also began to be tormented by nephrolithiasis, to which he tried not to pay attention.

At the beginning of 1725, the pains became so severe that he could no longer get out of bed. His health deteriorated every day, and the suffering became unbearable.

Peter 1 Alekseevich Romanov died on January 28, 1725 in the Winter Palace. The official cause of his death was pneumonia.

The Bronze Horseman - a monument to Peter I on the Senate Square in St. Petersburg

However, an autopsy showed that death was due to inflammation of the bladder, which soon developed into gangrene.

Peter the Great was buried in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, and his wife Catherine 1 became the heir to the Russian throne.

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Peter 1 the Great (Born 1672 – died 1725) The first Russian Emperor, known for his public administration reforms.

How did the king die?

1725, January 27 - The Emperor's Palace in St. Petersburg was surrounded by reinforced guards. The first Russian emperor, Peter 1, was dying in terrible agony. For the last 10 days, convulsions were replaced by deep fainting and delirium, and in those minutes when Peter came to himself, he screamed terribly from unbearable pain. During the last week, in short moments of relief, Peter took communion three times. By his decree, all the arrested debtors were released from prisons and their debts were covered from royal sums. In all churches, including those of other faiths, about him

Origin. early years

Peter was the son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his second wife, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. Peter was born on May 30, 1672. From his first marriage with Maria Ilinichnaya Miloslavskaya, the tsar had 13 children, but only two of the sons survived - Fedor and Ivan. After the death of Alexei Mikhailovich in 1676, Peter's upbringing was looked after by his elder brother, Tsar Fedor, who was his godfather. For the young Peter, he chose Nikita Zotov as mentors, thanks to whose influence he became addicted to books, especially historical writings. Nikita told the young prince a lot about the past of the Fatherland, about the glorious deeds of his ancestors.

The real idol for Peter was Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Subsequently, Peter spoke of his reign: “This sovereign is my predecessor and model; I have always imagined him as the model of my government in civil and military affairs, but I did not go as far as he did. Fools only those who do not know the circumstances of his time, the properties of his people and the greatness of his merits, call him a tormentor.

Fight for the throne

After the death in 1682 of the 22-year-old Tsar Fedor, the struggle for the royal throne of two families, the Miloslavskys and the Naryshkins, sharply escalated. The pretender to the kingdom from the Miloslavskys was Ivan, who was in poor health, from the Naryshkins, healthy, but the younger Peter. At the instigation of the Naryshkins, the patriarch proclaimed Peter the tsar. But the Miloslavskys were not going to reconcile themselves and they provoked a streltsy riot, during which many of the people close to the Naryshkins died. This made an indelible impression on Peter, had an impact on his mental health and worldview. For the rest of his life, he harbored a hatred for the archers and for the entire Miloslavsky family.

Two kings

The result of the rebellion was a political compromise: both Ivan and Peter were elevated to the throne, and Princess Sophia, the smart and ambitious daughter of Alexei Mikhailovich from his first marriage, became their regent (ruler). Peter and his mother did not play any role in the life of the state. They ended up in a kind of exile in the village of Preobrazhensky. Peter had to take part only in embassy ceremonies in the Kremlin. There, in Preobrazhensky, the military "fun" of the young tsar began. Under the leadership of the Scot Menesius, from Peter's peers, usually representatives of noble families, a children's regiment was recruited, from which in the early 90s. two guards regiments grew up - Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky. The future Field Marshal M.M. Golitsyn, and the descendant of a noble family Buturlin, and the son of a groom, and in the future a friend and associate of Peter, A.D. Menshikov, served in them. The king himself served here, starting with a drummer. The officers in the regiments were usually foreigners.

In general, foreigners who lived near Preobrazhensky in the German settlement (Kukui), who came to the country under Tsar Alexei, seekers of happiness and ranks, masters, military specialists, played a huge role in the life of the king. From them, he studied shipbuilding, military affairs, and besides this, drink strong drinks, smoke, wear foreign dresses. From them, one might say, he absorbed a disdain for everything Russian. The Swiss F. Lefort became closer to Peter.

Riot attempt

In the summer of 1689, the struggle with the Miloslavskys intensified. Princess Sophia, realizing that soon Peter would push back the sick Ivan and take control into his own hands, began to incite the archers, led by Shaklovity, to revolt. However, this plan failed: the archers themselves handed over Shaklovity to Peter, and he, having named many of his associates under torture, was executed along with them. Sophia was imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent. This was the beginning of his sole reign. Ivan's reign was nominal, and after his death in 1696, Peter became autocrat.

Streltsy rebellion

1697 - the tsar, as part of the Great Embassy of fifty people, under the guise of an officer of the Preobrazhensky regiment, Peter Mikhailov, went abroad. The purpose of the trip is an alliance against the Turks. In Holland and England, working as a carpenter in shipyards, Peter was engaged in the development of shipbuilding. On the way back, in Vienna, he was caught by the news of a new rebellion of archers. The tsar hurried to Russia, but on the way he received news that the rebellion was suppressed, 57 instigators were executed, and 4,000 archers were exiled. Upon his return, considering that the “seed” of Miloslavsky had not been exterminated, Peter gave the order to resume the investigation. Already exiled archers were returned to Moscow. Peter personally took part in torture and executions. He chopped off the heads of archers with his own hands, forcing his confidants and courtiers to do it.

Many archers were executed in a new way - they were wheeled. Peter's revenge on the Miloslavsky family was boundless. He gave the order to dig up the coffin with the body of Miloslavsky, bring him on pigs to the place of execution and place him near the chopping block in such a way that the blood of the executed would pour on the remains of Miloslavsky. In total, more than 1000 archers were executed. Their bodies were dumped into a pit where the corpses of animals were dumped. 195 archers were hanged at the gates of the Novodevichy Convent, and three - near the very windows of Sophia, and for five months the corpses hung at the place of execution. In this terrible case, and in many others, the tsar surpassed his idol Ivan the Terrible in cruelty.

Reforms Peter 1

At the same time, Peter began to reform, intending to transform Russia along the Western European model, to make the country an absolutist police state. He wanted everything at once. With his reforms, Peter 1 put Russia on its hind legs, but how many people went on the rack, on the chopping block, on the gallows! How many were beaten, tortured… It all started with cultural innovations. It became obligatory for everyone, with the exception of the peasants and the clergy, to wear foreign dresses, the army was dressed in uniforms according to the European model, and everyone, again, except the peasants and the clergy, were obliged to shave their beards, while in Preobrazhensky the tsar cut off his beards with his own hands boyars. 1705 - a tax was introduced on beards: from servicemen and clerks, merchants and townspeople, 60 rubles each. per person per year; hundreds of rich merchants from the living room - 100 rubles each; from people of lower rank, boyar people, coachmen - 30 rubles each; from the peasants - 2 money every time they entered the city or left it.

Other innovations have also been introduced. They encouraged learning crafts, created numerous workshops, sent young men from noble families to study abroad, reorganized the city administration, carried out a calendar reform, established the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and opened the Navigation School. To strengthen the centralization of state administration, boards and the Senate were created instead of orders. All these transformations were carried out by violent methods. A special place was occupied by the relationship of the king with the clergy. Day after day he led the attack on the independence of the church. After the death of his mother, the king no longer took part in religious processions. The patriarch was no longer an adviser to Peter, he was expelled from the royal Duma, and after his death in 1700, the management of church affairs was transferred to a specially created Synod.

The temper of the king

And all these and other transformations were superimposed by the unbridled temper of the king. According to the historian Valishevsky: “In everything that Peter did, he brought a lot of swiftness, a lot of personal rudeness, and especially, a lot of passion. He hit right and left. And therefore, by correcting, he spoiled everything. Peter's fury, reaching the fury, his mockery of people knew no restraint.

He could attack Generalissimo Shein with wild abuse, and at the same time inflict severe wounds on the people close to him, Romodanovsky and Zotov, who were trying to appease him: one had severed fingers, the other had wounds on his head; he could beat his friend Menshikov for not taking off his sword at the assembly during the dances; could kill a servant with a stick for taking off his hat too slowly; he could give the order that the 80-year-old boyar M. Golovin was forced to sit naked, in a jester's cap for a whole hour, on the Neva ice because he refused, dressed as a devil, to participate in the jester's procession. After that, Golovin fell ill and quickly died. So Peter behaved not only at home: in the Copenhagen Museum, the tsar mutilated the mummy, because he was refused to sell it for the Kunstkamera. And many such examples could be cited.

Peter's era

The Petrine era is a time of constant wars. Azov campaigns of 1695–1696, Northern War of 1700–1721, Prut campaign of 1711, campaign to the Caspian Sea of ​​1722. All this required a huge amount of both people and money. A huge army and navy were created. Recruits were often brought into cities in chains. Many lands were depopulated. In general, during the reign of Peter 1, Russia lost almost a third of the population. Throughout the state, it was forbidden to cut down large trees, and for felling an oak, they were generally executed. For the maintenance of the army, new requisitions were introduced: recruitment, dragoon, ship, household and stamp paper. New dues were introduced: for fishing, domestic baths, mills, inns. The sale of salt and tobacco passed into the hands of the treasury. Even oak coffins were transferred to the treasury and then sold at four times the price. But money was still not enough.

Personal life of Peter 1

The heavy character of the king was reflected in his family life. Even at the age of 16, his mother, in order to ward off the German settlement, married him to Evdokia Lopukhina, whom he never loved. Evdokia bore him two sons: Alexander, who died in infancy, and Alexei. After the death of Natalya Kirillovna, relations between the spouses deteriorated sharply. The tsar even wanted to execute his wife, but limited himself only to forcibly tonsure her as a nun in the Intercession Monastery in Suzdal. The 26-year-old queen was not given a penny for maintenance, and she was forced to ask her relatives for money. At the same time, the tsar had two mistresses in the German settlement: the daughter of the silversmith Betticher and the daughter of the wine merchant Mons - Anna, who became the first titled mistress of Peter. He gave her palaces, estates, but when her love affair with the Saxon envoy Keyserling surfaced, the vengeful king took almost everything donated, and even kept her in prison for some time.

A vindictive but not inconsolable lover, he quickly found a replacement for her. Among his favorites were at one time Anisya Tolstaya, and Varvara Arsenyeva, and a number of other representatives of noble families. Often, Peter's choice also stopped at simple maids. 1703 - another woman appeared who played a special role in the life of Peter - Marta Skavronskaya, who later became the wife of the tsar under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna. After the occupation of Marienburg by the Russian army, she was a servant and mistress of Field Marshal B. Sheremetev, then A. Menshikov, who introduced her to Peter. Martha converted to Orthodoxy, bore Peter three daughters and a son, Peter Petrovich, who died in 1719. But only in 1724 the king crowned her. At the same time, a scandal broke out: Peter became aware of the love affair between Catherine and Willem Mons, the brother of the former favorite. Mons was executed, and his head in a jar of alcohol, on the orders of Peter, was in his wife's bedroom for several days.

Tsarevich Alexei

Against the background of these events, the tragedy of Peter's son, Alexei, stands out clearly. His fear of his father reached the point that, on the advice of friends, he even wanted to renounce the inheritance. The king saw this as a conspiracy and gave the order to send his son to a monastery. The prince fled and hid with his mistress, first in Vienna, and then in Naples. But they were found and lured to Russia. Peter promised his son forgiveness if he gave out the names of his accomplices. But instead of forgiveness, the tsar sent him to the casemate of the Peter and Paul Fortress and ordered an investigation to begin. Alexei was tortured 5 times in a week. My father also took part in this. To end the torment, Alexei slandered himself: they say, he wanted to win the throne with the help of the troops of the Austrian emperor. 1718, June 24 - a court of 127 people unanimously sentenced the prince to death. The choice of execution was left to the discretion of Peter. Little is known about how Alexei died: either from poison, or from suffocation, or they cut off his head, or he died under torture.

And the participants in the investigation were awarded titles, villages. The next day, the tsar celebrated the ninth anniversary of the Battle of Poltava with grandeur.

With the end of the Northern War in 1721, Russia was proclaimed an empire, and the Senate awarded Peter the titles "Father of the Fatherland", "Emperor" and "Great".

Last years. Death

The turbulent life of Peter "gave" him a bouquet of diseases by the age of 50, but most of all he suffered from uremia. Mineral water did not help either. For the last three months, Peter spent most of his time in bed, although on the days of relief he took part in the festivities. By mid-January, the attacks of the disease became more frequent. Kidney dysfunction led to blockage of the urinary tract. The operation performed did nothing. Blood poisoning has begun. The question of succession to the throne arose sharply, because by this time the sons of Peter were not alive.

On January 27, Peter wanted to write an order for the succession to the throne. They gave him paper, but he could write only two words: “Give everything ...” In addition, he lost his speech. The next day he died in terrible agony. His body remained unburied for forty days. He was exhibited on a velvet bed embroidered with gold in the palace hall, upholstered with carpets that Peter received as a gift from Louis XV during his stay in Paris. His wife Ekaterina Alekseevna was proclaimed empress.

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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 Fyodor 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

Peter the Great is a rather remarkable personality, both from the side of the person and from the side of the ruler. His numerous changes in the country, decrees and an attempt to organize life in a new way were not perceived positively by everyone. However, it cannot be denied that during his reign a new impetus was given to the development of the Russian Empire of that time.

The great Peter the Great introduced innovations that made it possible to reckon with the Russian Empire at the world level. These were not only external achievements, but also internal reforms.

An extraordinary personality in the history of Russia - Tsar Peter the Great

There were a lot of outstanding sovereigns and rulers in the Russian state. Each of them contributed to its development. One of these was Tsar Peter I. His reign was marked by various innovations in various fields, as well as reforms that brought Russia to a new level.

What can be said about the time when Tsar Peter the Great ruled? Briefly, it can be described as a series of changes in the way of life of the Russian people, as well as a new direction in the development of the state itself. Peter after his trip to Europe caught fire with the idea of ​​a full-fledged navy for his country.

In his royal years, Peter the Great changed a lot in the country. He is the first ruler who gave direction to change the culture of Russia towards Europe. So many of his followers continued his undertakings, and this led to the fact that they were not forgotten.

Peter's childhood

If we now talk about whether the childhood years influenced the future fate of the tsar, his behavior in politics, then we can answer that of course. Little Peter was always developed beyond his years, and his remoteness from the royal court allowed him to look at the world in a completely different way. No one hampered him in development, and also did not forbid him to feed his craving for learning everything new and interesting.

The future Tsar Peter the Great was born on June 9, 1672. His mother was Naryshkina Natalya Kirillovna, who was the second wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Until the age of four, he lived at court, loved and spoiled by his mother, who did not have a soul in him. In 1676, his father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, died. Fedor Alekseevich, who was Peter's older half-brother, ascended the throne.

From that moment on, a new life began both in the state and in the royal family. By order of the new king (part-time half-brother), Peter began to learn to read and write. Science was given to him quite easily, he was a rather inquisitive child who was interested in a lot of things. The teacher of the future ruler was the clerk Nikita Zotov, who did not scold the restless student too much. Thanks to him, Peter read many wonderful books that Zotov brought him from the armory.

The result of all this was a further genuine interest in history, he even in the future had a dream of a book that would tell about the history of Russia. Peter was also fascinated by the art of war, was interested in geography. At an older age, he compiled a rather easy and simple alphabet to learn. However, if we talk about the systematic acquisition of knowledge, then the king did not have this.

Ascension to the throne

Peter the Great was enthroned when he was ten years old. This happened after the death of his half-brother Fyodor Alekseevich, in 1682. However, it should be noted that there were two contenders for the throne. This is Peter's older half-brother - John, who was rather painful from birth. Perhaps that is why the clergy decided that the younger, but stronger applicant should be the ruler. Due to the fact that Peter was still a minor, the king's mother, Natalya Kirillovna, ruled on his behalf.

However, this was not at all liked by the no less noble relatives of the second contender for the throne - Miloslavsky. All this discontent, and even the suspicion that Tsar John was killed by the Naryshkins, led to an uprising that happened on May 15. This event later became known as the "streltsy revolt". On this day, some boyars, who were Peter's mentors, were killed. What happened made an indelible impression on the young king.

After the Streltsy rebellion, two were married to the kingdom - John and Peter 1, the first had a dominant position. Their older sister Sophia, who was the real ruler, was appointed regent. Peter and his mother again left for Preobrazhenskoye. By the way, many of his relatives and friends were also either exiled or killed.

Life of Peter in Preobrazhensky

Peter's life after the May events of 1682 remained the same solitary. Only occasionally did he come to Moscow when there was a need for his presence at official receptions. The rest of the time he continued to live in the village of Preobrazhensky.

At this time, he became interested in the study of military affairs, which led to the formation of, for the time being, children's, amusing regiments. They recruited guys around his age who wanted to learn the art of war, since all these initial children's games grew into just that. Over time, a small military town is formed in Preobrazhensky, and children's amusing regiments grow into adults and become quite an impressive force to be reckoned with.

It was at this time that the future Tsar Peter the Great had the idea of ​​his own fleet. Once he discovered a broken boat in an old barn, and he got the idea of ​​fixing it. After a while, Peter found the person who fixed it. So, the boat was launched. However, the Yauza River was small for such a vessel, it was dragged to a pond near Izmailovo, which also seemed small for the future ruler.

In the end, Peter's new hobby continued on Lake Pleshchevo, near Pereyaslavl. It was here that the formation of the future fleet of the Russian Empire began. Peter himself not only commanded, but also studied various crafts (blacksmith, joiner, carpenter, studied printing).

Peter at one time did not receive a systematic education, but when the need arose to study arithmetic and geometry, he did it. This knowledge was needed in order to learn how to use the astrolabe.

During these years, when Peter received his knowledge in various fields, he had many associates. These are, for example, Prince Romodanovsky, Fedor Apraksin, Alexei Menshikov. Each of these people played a role in the character of the future reign of Peter the Great.

Peter's family life

Peter's personal life was quite complicated. He was seventeen years old when he got married. This happened at the insistence of the mother. Evdokia Lopukhina became the wife of Peter.

Between the spouses there was never mutual understanding. A year after his marriage, he became interested in Anna Mons, which led to a final quarrel. The first family history of Peter the Great ended with Evdokia Lopukhin being exiled to a monastery. This happened in 1698.

From his first marriage, the tsar had a son - Alexei (born in 1690). It has a rather tragic story. It is not known exactly for what reason, but Peter did not love his own son. Perhaps this happened because he did not at all resemble his father, and also did not at all welcome some of his reformist introductions. Be that as it may, but in 1718 Tsarevich Alexei dies. This episode itself is rather mysterious, as many spoke of torture, as a result of which the son of Peter died. By the way, hostility to Alexei extended to his son (grandson of Peter).

In 1703, Marta Skavronskaya entered the life of the tsar, who later became Catherine I. For a long time she was Peter's mistress, and in 1712 they got married. In 1724, Catherine was crowned empress. Peter the Great, whose biography of family life is truly fascinating, was very attached to his second wife. During their life together, Catherine bore him several children, but only two daughters survived - Elizabeth and Anna.

Peter treated his second wife very well, one might even say he loved her. However, this did not prevent him from sometimes having an affair on the side. Catherine herself did the same. In 1725, she was convicted of having an affair with Willem Mons, who was a chamberlain. It was a scandalous story, as a result of which the lover was executed.

The beginning of the real reign of Peter

For a long time, Peter was only second in line to the throne. Of course, these years were not in vain, he studied a lot, became a full-fledged personality. However, in 1689 a new streltsy uprising took place, which was prepared by his sister Sophia, who was ruling at that time. She did not take into account that Peter is far from being the younger brother he was before. Two personal royal regiments - Preobrazhensky and Streletsky, as well as all the patriarchs of Russia, rose to his defense. The rebellion was suppressed, and Sophia spent the rest of her days in the Novodevichy Convent.

After these events, Peter became more interested in the affairs of the state, but nevertheless shifted most of them onto the shoulders of his relatives. The real reign of Peter the Great began in 1695. In 1696, his brother John dies, and he remains the sole ruler of the country. From that time on, innovations began in the Russian Empire.

Wars of the king

There were several wars in which Peter the Great took part. The biography of the king shows how purposeful he was. This is proved by his first campaign against Azov in 1695. It ended in failure, but this did not stop the young king. After analyzing all the mistakes, Peter carried out a second assault in July 1696, which ended successfully.

After the Azov campaigns, the tsar decided that the country needed its own specialists, both in military affairs and in shipbuilding. He sent several nobles to study, and then he decided to travel around Europe himself. This lasted for a year and a half.

In 1700, Peter begins the Great Northern War, which lasted twenty-one years. The result of this war was the signed Treaty of Nystadt, which opened him access to the Baltic Sea. By the way, it was this event that led to the fact that Tsar Peter I received the title of emperor. The resulting lands formed the Russian Empire.

estate reform

Despite the conduct of the war, the emperor did not forget to pursue the domestic policy of the country. Numerous decrees of Peter the Great affected various spheres of life in Russia and not only.

One of the important reforms was a clear division and consolidation of rights and obligations between nobles, peasants and city dwellers.

Nobles. In this estate, innovations concerned primarily the compulsory literacy education for males. Those who failed to pass the exam were not allowed to receive an officer's rank, and they were also not allowed to marry. A table of ranks was introduced, which allowed even those who by birth did not have the right to receive the nobility.

In 1714, a decree was issued that allowed only one offspring from a noble family to inherit all property.

Peasants. For this class, poll taxes were introduced, instead of household taxes. Also, those serfs who went to serve as soldiers were freed from serfdom.

City. For urban residents, the transformation consisted in the fact that they were divided into “regular” (subdivided into guilds) and “irregular” (other people). Also in 1722, workshops for crafts appeared.

Military and judicial reforms

Peter the Great carried out reforms for the army as well. It was he who began recruiting into the army every year from young people who had reached the age of fifteen. They were sent to military training. This led to the fact that the army became stronger and more experienced. A powerful fleet was created, a judicial reform was carried out. Appellate and provincial courts appeared, which were subordinate to the governors.

Administrative reform

At the time when Peter the Great ruled, the reforms also affected the administration of the state. For example, the ruling king could appoint his successor during his lifetime, which was previously impossible. It could have been absolutely anyone.

Also in 1711, by order of the king, a new state body appeared - the Governing Senate. Anyone could also enter it, it was the king's privilege to appoint its members.

In 1718, instead of Moscow orders, 12 colleges appeared, each of which covered its own field of activity (for example, military, income and expenses, etc.).

At the same time, by decree of Tsar Peter, eight provinces were created (later there were eleven). The provinces were divided into provinces, the latter into counties.

Other reforms

The time of Peter the Great is also rich in other equally important reforms. For example, they affected the Church, which lost its independence and became dependent on the state. Later, the Holy Synod was established, the members of which were appointed by the sovereign.

Great reforms took place in the culture of the Russian people. The king, after returning from a trip to Europe, ordered to cut off the beards and shave the faces of men (this did not apply only to priests). Peter also introduced the wearing of European clothes for the boyars. In addition, balls, other music, as well as tobacco for men, which the king brought from his trip, appeared for the upper class.

An important point was the change in the calendar calculation, as well as the transfer of the beginning of the new year from the first of September to the first of January. This happened in December 1699.

Culture in the country was in a special position. The sovereign founded many schools that gave knowledge about foreign languages, mathematics and other technical sciences. A lot of foreign literature was translated into Russian.

The results of the reign of Peter

Peter the Great, whose reign was full of many changes, led Russia to a new direction in its development. A fairly strong fleet appeared in the country, as well as a regular army. The economy has stabilized.

The reign of Peter the Great also had a positive impact on the social sphere. Medicine began to develop, the number of pharmacies and hospitals increased. Science and culture have reached a new level.

In addition, the state of the economy and finances in the country has improved. Russia has reached a new international level, and has also signed several important agreements.

End of reign and Peter's successor

The king's death is shrouded in mystery and speculation. It is known that he died on January 28, 1725. However, what led him to this?

Many talk about an illness from which he did not fully recover, but went on business to the Ladoga Canal. The king was returning home by sea when he saw a ship in distress. It was late cold and rainy autumn. Peter helped drowning people, but he got very wet and as a result caught a bad cold. He never recovered from all this.

All this time, while Tsar Peter was ill, prayers were held in many churches for the health of the Tsar. Everyone understood that this was indeed a great ruler who had done a lot for the country and could have done so much more.

There was another rumor that the tsar was poisoned, and it could be A. Menshikov close to Peter. Whatever it was, but after his death, Peter the Great did not leave a will. The throne is inherited by Peter's wife Catherine I. There is also a legend about this. They say that before his death, the king wanted to write his will, but he managed to write only a couple of words and died.

The personality of the king in modern cinema

The biography and history of Peter the Great is so entertaining that a dozen films have been made about him, as well as several television series. In addition, there are paintings about individual members of his family (for example, about the deceased son Alexei).

Each of the films reveals the personality of the king in its own way. For example, the television series "Testament" plays on the dying years of the king. Of course, there is truth mixed with fiction. An important point will be that Peter the Great never wrote a will, which will be described in colors in the film.

Of course, this is one of many pictures. Some were filmed based on works of art (for example, the novel by A. N. Tolstoy “Peter I”). Thus, as we see, the odious personality of Emperor Peter I excites the minds of people today. This great politician and reformer pushed Russia to develop, to learn new things, and also to enter the international arena.