Peter I, often known as Peter the Great, reigned as Tsar of Russia from 1682 to 1725, and as Emperor from 1721 until his death. Born Pyotr Alekseyevich in Moscow on June 9 (May 30 Old Style), 1672, and passing away in St. Petersburg on February 8 (January 28 Old Style), 1725, Tsar Peter I was a transformative figure in Russian history. He inherited a nation lagging behind Western Europe and, through relentless effort and sweeping reforms, propelled Russia onto the world stage as a major power. His reign is marked by significant advancements in the Russian economy, trade, education, science, culture, and foreign policy, solidifying his legacy as one of Russia’s most influential rulers.
Early Life and Ascent to Co-Tsar
Peter’s lineage was deeply rooted in Russian royalty. He was the son of Tsar Alexis and his second wife, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. Unlike his half-brothers from his father’s first marriage, Peter was a robust and curious child. His mother’s upbringing under Artamon Sergeyevich Matveyev, who fostered an environment receptive to Western ideas, likely played a crucial role in shaping Peter’s progressive outlook.
When Tsar Alexis died in 1676, the young Peter was only four years old. His frail elder half-brother, Fyodor III, ascended the throne. However, real power rested with the Miloslavsky family, relatives of Fyodor’s mother, who deliberately marginalized Peter and the Naryshkin faction. Upon Fyodor’s death without an heir in 1682, a power struggle erupted between the Miloslavskys and the Naryshkins. The Miloslavskys advocated for Fyodor’s brother, the weak-minded Ivan V, while the Naryshkins championed the vigorous and intelligent Peter.
Representatives from various societal ranks gathered in the Kremlin and declared their support for Peter, proclaiming him Tsar. However, the Miloslavsky faction incited a revolt by the Moscow streltsy, the Tsar’s musketeers, resulting in the deaths of some of Peter’s supporters, including Matveyev. Ultimately, Ivan and Peter were declared joint Tsars. Due to Ivan’s poor health and Peter’s youth, Sophia, Ivan’s capable 25-year-old sister, was appointed regent. Sophia effectively governed, excluding Peter from state affairs, forcing him and his mother to reside in Preobrazhenskoye village near Moscow, where they often felt insecure. These formative experiences deeply impacted the young Tsar Peter I, fostering a lasting distrust of the streltsy.
An Unconventional Upbringing
Sophia’s exclusion of Tsar Peter I from governance inadvertently led to an unconventional upbringing, deviating from the traditional education of a Russian Tsar. Instead of palace confinement, Peter experienced a more liberated environment. His initial tutor, Nikita Zotov, a former church clerk, provided limited academic stimulation for Peter’s inquisitive mind. However, Peter thrived in outdoor activities and showed a keen interest in military matters, indulging in toy weaponry. He also developed practical skills in carpentry, joinery, blacksmithing, and even printing.
Preobrazhenskoye’s proximity to the nemetskaya sloboda, or “German colony,” where foreigners resided, broadened young Tsar Peter I’s horizons. Interactions with its inhabitants sparked his fascination with foreign cultures. The discovery of an old English sailboat ignited his lifelong passion for seafaring. Mathematics, fortification, and navigation became his favored subjects. A model fortress was constructed for his amusement, and he established his first “play” regiments, which by 1687 evolved into the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky Guards regiments – the precursors of the modern Russian Army.
In early 1689, Natalya Naryshkina orchestrated Peter’s marriage to Eudoxia Lopukhina, a move intended to signal the 17-year-old Tsar Peter I’s maturity and right to rule independently. However, the marriage was short-lived. Peter soon neglected Eudoxia, and in 1698, he confined her to a convent.
August 1689 witnessed another streltsy uprising. Sophia and her supporters attempted to exploit it for another coup, but this time, events favored Peter. He removed Sophia from power, banishing her to the Novodevichy Convent, where she was forced to become a nun following a subsequent streltsy rebellion in 1698. Although Ivan V remained nominally co-tsar with Tsar Peter I, governance largely shifted to Peter’s Naryshkin relatives until Ivan’s death in 1696. During this period, Peter continued his military and naval pursuits, launching Russia’s first seagoing vessels. These “games” proved to be invaluable preparation for the challenges that lay ahead for Tsar Peter I.
Foreign Policy and the Azov Campaigns
At the dawn of Tsar Peter I’s reign, Russia was a vast landmass but geographically isolated, lacking access to the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Baltic Sea. Securing access to these bodies of water became the cornerstone of his foreign policy.
The initial strategic move was the Azov campaigns of 1695–96, aimed at seizing Azov from the Crimean Tatars, Ottoman vassals. These campaigns served multiple purposes: fulfilling Russia’s obligations to the anti-Turkish Holy League of 1684 (comprising Austria, Poland, and Venice), securing Russia’s southern border against Tatar incursions, and advancing towards the coveted Black Sea. The 1695 campaign ended in defeat. However, Tsar Peter I, undeterred, promptly established a shipyard at Voronezh to construct a fleet for navigating the Don River. In 1696, Azov was successfully captured. To solidify this victory, Taganrog was founded on the Don estuary’s northern coast, and Tsar Peter I initiated the construction of a formidable Russian navy.
Conclusion
Tsar Peter I’s early life, marked by political intrigue and an unconventional education, shaped him into a determined and forward-thinking leader. His focus on military and naval development, coupled with his ambition to expand Russia’s access to the sea, set the stage for his transformative reign. The Azov campaigns were just the beginning of Tsar Peter I’s ambitious project to modernize Russia and establish it as a major European power, a legacy that continues to resonate in Russian history.
