Peter the Great

Peter I, Alexievitch, Tsar of Russia, generally denominated Peter the Great, was the son of Tsar Alexei Mikailovitch, by his second wife, Natalia Naryskina, and was born at Moscow, on the 9^th of June, 1672. Up to Peter’s coronation, his education had been greatly neglected, but after this he became acquainted with Lieutenant Franz Timmerman, a native of Strasburg, who gave him lessons in the military art and in mathematics; after which he had the good fortune to fall under the guidance of Lefort, a Genoese, who initiated him into the sciences and arts of civilization, and, by showing him how much Muscovy was, in these respects, behind the rest of Europe, influenced the whole of his future career.

Having ruled jointly with his brother Ivan V from 1682, Peter was officially declared Sovereign of all Russia when Ivan died in 1696. Peter inherited a nation that was severely underdeveloped compared to the culturally prosperous European countries. While the Renaissance and the Reformation swept through Europe, Russia rejected westernization and remained isolated from modernization.

During his reign, Peter undertook extensive reforms in an attempt to reestablish Russia as a great nation. Peter overcame opposition from the country’s medieval aristocracy and initiated a series of changes that affected all areas of Russian life. He created a strong navy, reorganized his army according to Western standards, secularized schools, administered greater control over the reactionary Orthodox Church, and introduced new administrative and territorial divisions of the country.

Peter focused on the development of science and recruited several experts to educate his people about technological advancements. He concentrated on developing commerce and industry and created a gentrified bourgeoisie population. Mirroring Western culture, he modernized the Russian alphabet, introduced the Julian calendar, and established the first Russian newspaper.

Peter was a far-sighted and skillful diplomat who abolished Russia’s archaic form of government and appointed a viable Senate, which regulated all branches of administration, as well as making, groundbreaking accomplishments in Russia’s foreign policy.

Peter acquired territory in Estonia, Latvia and Finland; and through several wars with Turkey in the south, he secured access to the Black Sea. In 1709, he defeated the Swedish army by purposely directing their troops to the city of Poltva, in the midst of an unbearable Russian winter. In 1712, Peter established the city of St. Petersburg on the Neva River and moved the capital there from its former location in Moscow. Shortly after, St. Petersburg was deemed Russia’s “window to Europe.”

Under Peter’s rule, Russia became a great European nation. In 1721, he proclaimed Russia an empire and was accorded the title of Emperor of All Russia, Great Father of the Fatherland, and “the Great”. Although he proved to be an effective leader, Peter was also known to be cruel and tyrannical. The high taxes that often accompanied his various reforms led to revolts among citizens, which were immediately suppressed by the imposing ruler. Peter, a daunting 6 1/2 feet tall, was a handsome man who drank excessively and harbored violent tendencies.

He married twice and had 11 children, many of whom died in infancy. The eldest son from his first marriage, Alexis, was convicted of high treason by his father and secretly executed in 1718. Peter died on February 8, 1725, without nominating a heir. He was buried in the Cathedral of St. Peter in St. Petersburg.

Exercise 4. Decide whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Lieutenant Franz Timmerman gave Peter I lessons in the military art and in history. 2. Peter I ruled jointly with his brother Ivan V from 1668. 3. Peter made a lot of reforms in an attempt to reestablish Russia as a great nation. 4. Peter was a cruel and tyrannical diplomat who abolished Russia’s archaic form of government. 5. Peter won Estonia, Latvia and Finland.

Exercise 5. Answer the following questions.

1. How is Peter I denominated? 2. When was Peter born? 3. Who initiated Peter into the sciences and arts of civilization? 4. When was Peter declared Sovereign of all Russia? 5. What did Peter do to reestablish Russia as a great nation? 6. How did Peter mirror Western culture? 7. What did Peter do as a far-sighted and skillful diplomat? 8. What did Peter establish in 1712? 9. Did Peter acquire any territories during his reign? 10. What was Russia proclaimed in 1721?

Exercise 6. Now read and translate the text about John, King of England. Use the dictionary when necessary.