аÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û

Peter the Great: 15 Facts About the Tsar Who Changed Russia

One of the most significant individuals in Russian history was Peter the Great. He was a strong and contentious leader who contributed to modernizing Russia and elevating it to a significant European power. Peter the Great was born in 1672 in Moscow. He was the child of Natalya Naryshkina and Tsar Alexis I. At an early age, Peter the Great was intrigued by Western science and culture. He introduced many Western items and ideas to Russia after his trip to Europe. A number of changes were started by Peter the Great to modernize the nation. The Tsar Who Transformed Russia: here are the fascinating 15 facts.

1. His original name was Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Peter the Great’s first name was Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov. He was born in Moscow, Russia, on June 9, 1672. Due to his numerous successes, Peter the Great earned the moniker “the Great.” He modernized Russia, elevating it to a significant European power. Both the Russian Navy and Saint Petersburg were formed by him. As a result of the battles his army won, Russia’s boundaries were also widened.

2. He was born on June 9, 1672, in Moscow, Russia

On June 9, 1672, Peter the Great was born in Moscow, Russia. However, as the old Russian calendar was in use at the time, his real birthday, as shown by the Gregorian calendar, is May 30, 1672. This is the calendar that is currently utilized across the world on the initiative of Pope Gregory XIII. Therefore, his birthday is officially commemorated on June 9.

Check out these top 15 most famous Russian people

3. His father was Tsar Alexis I and his mother was Natalya Naryshkina

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Tsar Alexis I was Peter the Great’s father. Natalya Naryshkina was his mother. Russia was ruled by Tsar Alexis I from 1645 to 1676. He belonged to the Romanov family, which controlled Russia for more than three centuries. The Naryshkin family, a prominent nobility at the time in Russia, is the family from which Natalya Naryshkina hailed from. She was a determined individual who had a big impact on Peter the Great’s life. She had a crucial role in ensuring that he succeeded his father as the ruler of Russia.

4. He had two half-brothers, Ivan V and Feodor III

Tsar Alexis I and his first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya, had the youngest son named Ivan V. He was mentally impaired and was born in 1666. Down syndrome is thought to be the source of the mental dysfunction. He and his brother shared overall control of the country. Born in 1661, Feodor III was frail and ill. From 1676 to 1682, he ruled Russia alone. He succeeded his father as king at age fifteen in 1676. He was noble in character and very smart.

5. He was not the eldest son, but he was the favorite of his father

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite not being the first son of Tsar Alexis I, Peter the Great was his favorite. There were several reasons for this. First off, unlike his half-brothers Ivan V and Feodor III, Peter the Great was a robust and active child. Secondly, his father recognized that he was eager to learn about Western culture and technology. Since he was favored by his father, this led him to getting a good education. At a young age, he was also given permission to take part in governmental issues.

Click to read the 20 fascinating facts about Russia

6. He was interested in Western technology and culture from a young age

At an early age, Peter the Great was intrigued by Western science and culture. The ships and cannons he saw on Dutch and English commerce ships that visited Moscow captivated him. He was also interested in Western military strategy and engineering. Peter the Great visited Western Europe covertly for about a year in 1697. He traveled to Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and England. He gained knowledge of engineering, military strategy, and shipbuilding.

7. In 1697, he traveled incognito to for close to a year

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1697, Peter the Great secretly visited Western Europe. He used the alias Peter Mikhailov and claimed to be a 25-year-old carpenter. He traveled to Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and England. Furthermore, he gained knowledge in a lot of areas like engineering and military strategy. Also, he brought many Western artifacts and concepts back to Russia. The Grand Embassy was the name given to his journey. In Peter the Great’s life, the journey marked a significant turning point.

8. He visited the leaders of England, the Netherlands, Austria, and Italy

In 1967, Peter the Great made trips to Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, and England. He visited with King William III and Queen Mary II in England. He also went to the Deptford and Woolwich Royal Navy shipyards. In order to learn about Dutch shipbuilding methods, he also visited the Zaandam shipyards. Peter the Great met Emperor Leopold I of Austria. He also went to Vienna’s Imperial Arsenal. He made a point to explore Rome and Venice in Italy. Italian art and architecture piqued his curiosity in particular.

9. Peter the Great learned many things in his lifetime 

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout the course of his Grand Embassy to Western Europe, Peter the Great gained a lot of knowledge about engineering, shipbuilding, and military strategy. In addition to meeting with top authorities in these sectors, he visited shipyards in England, the Netherlands, and Austria. He watched military drills and learned about the most recent tools and strategies. He was able to update the Russian military and navy thanks to this expertise. Likewise, he started brand-new schools and shipyards.

10. He also brought back many Western artifacts and ideas to Russia

Peter the Great returned to Russia with artwork, sculptures, and architectural drawings. He established the first Russian Academy of Arts. Also, he returned with ships, weapons, and equipment. He established new factories and schools to aid in modernizing Russia. Further, he introduced Western concepts of governing, education, and warfare. The Russian military and administration were improved thanks to him.

Find out more about the 10 notorious Russian gangsters and mobsters

11. He began a series of reforms to modernize the country

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

With his return from his Grand Embassy in 1698, Peter the Great started a series of modernization measures in Russia. These changes were made to help Russia become a stronger European country. The creation of the Russian Navy was one of Peter the Great’s most significant innovations. It was founded in 1696. In addition to importing Western technology and specialists, he established a new shipyard in Saint Petersburg. A series of conflicts saw Russia destroy the Ottoman Empire thanks to the development of one of the most potent navies, the Russian Navy.

12. Peter the Great founded the city of Saint Petersburg in 1703

In 1703, Peter the Great established the city of Saint Petersburg. He picked this spot because it offered Moscow access to Western Europe and was near the Baltic Sea. Russia’s new capital, Saint Petersburg, contributed to the nation’s modernization. Peter the Great gave the city its name in honor of Saint Peter, one of Jesus Christ’s Twelve Apostles. He thought Saint Petersburg would give Russia a fresh “window to Europe.”

13. He established the Russian Navy and made Russia a European power

Peter the Great Photo by Paul Delaroche /

The Russian Navy was founded in 1696 by Peter the Great. He brought Western technology and specialists to Saint Petersburg and developed a new shipyard there. The Russian Navy grew to be among the most potent and contributed to Russia’s victories over the Ottoman Empire. To become a significant European force, Peter the Great’s vision required the Russian Navy. Russia was able to trade with Western Europe and project its power throughout the region thanks to the navy’s access to the Baltic Sea.

These are the top 15 facts about the Russian painter Kandisky

14. He died on February 8, 1725, in Saint Petersburg

In Saint Petersburg, Peter the Great passed away on February 8, 1725. He had 52 years on him. Although his exact cause of death is uncertain, a stroke is thought to have been the reason. Russian history was significantly affected by Peter the Great’s passing. His passing left a power vacuum in Russia, since he was a strong and contentious leader. Although his wife Catherine I succeeded him, her rule was brief. The legacy of Peter the Great is one to be remembered.

15. He was succeeded by his wife, Catherine I

Catherine I, Peter the Great’s wife, took over as ruler. During the Great Northern War, the Russians had captured Catherine, a German princess. She wedded Peter the Great in 1712, and in 1725 she was crowned Empress of Russia. The rule of Catherine I was brief. Her grandson Peter II succeeded her after her death in 1727. Peter II was a weak monarch who had just turned 12 years old. In 1730, he was deposed and killed, and a new dynasty of emperors was installed.

Peter the Great was a complicated and controversial person. Although he was a brutal and autocratic monarch, he did make important changes that advanced Russia’s modernization. He was without a doubt one of the most significant individuals in Russian history to date.