Tsar Peter I: 'Peter the Great'

When Peter Romanov becomes ruler, Tsar, of Russia in 1682, his power is very limited. His half-brother is declared joint Tsar, and his half-sister, Sophia, rules on the brothers’ behalf, since they are still young. As regent, Sophia makes the important decisions. She even whispers to Peter through a hole in the back of his throne exactly what to say! But over the next few years, Peter’s family members lose their power.

No longer overshadowed, Peter is set to become a different kind of ruler: the formidable Peter the Great. Peter is fascinated by Western Europe. In 1697, he sets off to experience life there first hand. Impressed by the Dutch’s advanced engineering skills, he takes notes on their canal systems and architecture. In England, he studies drawings of state-of-the-art naval ships.

Bursting with ideas, Peter vows he will transform Russia into a modernised, westernised land! But while Peter is away, a band of Russian soldiers called the Streltsy rises up against his rule. They are fed up with their lack of food, lack of horses, the hard conditions they work in while their Tsar is wandering Europe. The Streltsy wants to bring former Regent, Sophia, back to power. Peter orders the rebellion crushed.

Hundreds of soldiers are tortured, exiled or executed. On his return from Western Europe, Peter begins building a new, stronger military, including Russia’s first navy. Peter conscripts 45000 troops from peasant families, builds fleets of new ships, and improves the army’s weapons until Russia’s military is one of the largest and best-equipped in Europe. Peter’s investments pay off. In 1708, Swedish troops arrive in Russia; Sweden’s powerful King Charles XII wants to take back land that used to belong to the Swedes.

Peter sends his rebuilt army to confront the invaders. They battle in the Ukranian town of Poltava, where the Swedish army has travelled to escape the harsh Russian winter. Russian troops outnumber the Swedish nearly three to one, and gain victory. The Battle of Poltava is a turning point for Russia. No longer threatened by Sweden, it can become the great European power Peter has dreamed of.

Peter’s determination to show Russia’s supremacy isn’t limited to warfare — at home, another project is underway. On a boggy group of islands by the Gulf of Finland, Peter orders the construction of a new Russian city. It shall be called St. Petersburg. Peter drafts thousands of workers for the task: peasants, soldiers, even Swedish prisoners of war.

The workers dig canals to connect the marshy lands. Often without tools, they use their bare hands. In summer they contend with Malaria and mud. In winter, they battle ice and scurvy. Workers die by the thousands, but Peter is undeterred: St.

Petersburg is to become not just a new city, but the foundation of a new society. He orders the construction of libraries, universities and stately government buildings. Russia’s first hospitals and museums are established. And Peter commands his upper class subjects to build lavish houses, where they are to host extravagant parties. Peter also sees his new city as a backdrop for transforming the role of women in society.

He decrees that women are to leave seclusion and appear at public events. And they should do so in modern dress, no longer wearing a veil. From the outside, St. Petersburg is a picture of prosperity and progress. But while Peter’s reign has brought education, empowerment and culture to some, others have suffered war and forced labour under his ruthless rule… and St.

Petersburg will come to be known as the “city built on bones”.