Peter the Great

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Peter the Great

• Kendall Carroll

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The Basics

• June 9,1672-February 8, 1725
• Tsar that ruled Russia from 1282 until death
• Best known for westernization of Russia into an
  European power
• No extensive education

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Early Life

• Born in Moscow inside the Kremlin
• Feodor III, the current tsar and Peters half
  brother, died when Peter was ten. His
  half-brother was next in line to the throne, but
  was ill. Peter took over as tsar at age ten.
• Some of his friends and family were murdered
  after he was chosen by Sophia supporters who
  thought she should have been elected.
• Sophia ruled as an autocrat behind Peters throne
  for 7 years
• Enjoyed shipbuilding, sailing, and staging
  battles with his toy army

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Lifetime Monuments

• Peter married Eudoxia Lopukhina in 1689, but
  forced her to become a nun ten years later ending
  the union.
• Overthrew Sophias control in 1689 and ruled with
  his half-brother Ivan V until he became sole
  ruler in 1696
• Died of a chill in 1725 without nominating a
  heir

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Issue 1

• Westernization-number 1 policy for Russia
• Once visited Europe in disguise to discover their
  secrets.
• Forced officials to shave beards to western
  styles and adopt clothing styles of Western
  Europeans.

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Issue 2

• Rebellions- very common in Russia during his
  rule.
• Most rebellions were against modernization
• All were brutally suppressed
• Included Sreltsy, Bashkirs, Astrakhan,and the
  most powerfully one the Bulavin

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Issue 3

• Maritime outlets- wanted a warm water port to
  become competitive with other Europeans.
• Could not keep hold of a port on the Black Sea
• In the Great Northern War (1700-1721) Swedish
  control of the Baltic Sea was broken establishing
  contact with Europe
• Peter was thought of as a celebrity.

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St. Petersburg

• Built on land captured from Sweden in the Great
  Northern War.
• Became capital in 1712
• Used to show Europeans Russias sophistication
• Upper-class Russian women were no longer secluded
  here.
• The power of the boyars were also broken here.

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Policy of Autocracy

• The theory Peter used to justify strong,
  centralized rule.
• The goal of westernization was to strengthen the
  Russian state not political liberalization like
  other Europeans countries.
• Decree in 1716 stated the tsar is not obliged to
  answer to anyone in the world for his doings, but
  possesses power and authority over his kingdom
  and land, to rule them at this will and pleasure
  as a Christian ruler.

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Sculptures
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Effectiveness of Rule

• His eagerness to learn Western European ways made
  him a star in Western Europe.
• He was effective in that he did build a powerful
  navy and took down Sweden in the Great Northern
  War.
• He also established connections with Western
  Europe
• Unfortunately, he did suppress some of his own
  people

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Quotes

• I have conquered an empire but I have not been
  able to conquer myself.
• It is my great desire to reform my subjects, and
  yet I am ashamed to confess that I am unable to
  reform myself.

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Poor Peter.

• Peter the Great was nearly 7 feet tall but his
  body was not proportional.
• He had a small head, small feet, small hands, and
  narrow shoulders.
• He may have also had epilepsy
• Gave himself the name Peter the Great

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Works Cited

• http//www.historylearningsite.co.uk/peter_the_gre
  at.htm
• http//www2.sptimes.com/Treasures/TC.2.3.6.html
• http//www.saint-petersburg.com/history/peter1st.a
  sp
• http//www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.158