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The foreign policy of Peter I is brief and clear - the main and important thing. Domestic policy of Peter I (summary)

The focus of Russian diplomats was the traditional Black Sea problem and the active protection of conquests in the Baltic.

Russian-Turkish War 1768-1774.

April 1769 - the first two campaigns under the command of A.M. Golitsyn were unsuccessful, although before his departure he still took Khotin (September 10) and Iasi (September 26). Then Russian troops took Bucharest. Soon Moldova swore allegiance to Russia.

After a series of victories by I.F. Medema, Kabarda swore allegiance to Russia.

In 1770 Russia won even greater victories over Turkey. Russian troops occupied Izmail, Kiliya, Akkerman and others.

1770, June 25-26; July 7 and July 21 – victories of the Russian fleet at Chesma and P.A. Rumyantsev’s troops at Larga and Kagul.

July 1771 – Yu.V. Dolgoruky was announced about the approval eternal friendship with Russia, as a result, Russia formed its own peace conditions, which did not suit Austria.

In June 1774 Russian troops again raided the Danube. The Turks suffered several defeats at once.

§ The Crimean Khanate was declared independent;

§ The fortresses of Kerch, Yenikale and Kinburn pass to Russia;

§ The Black and Marmara Seas were declared free for merchant ships of Russian citizens;

§ Georgia is freed from the heaviest tribute by young men and women sent to Turkey;

§ Türkiye pays Russia 4.5 million rubles. for military costs.

1783 – liquidation of the Crimean Khanate, the entry of its territory into Russia. Founding of Sevastopol.

Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791.

August 21, 1787 The Turkish fleet attacked Russian patrols near Kinburn. The defeat of the Turks, the disruption of their attempt to capture Crimea from the sea and destroy Sevastopol.

1788 - the actions of the Russian army focused on the assault on the Turkish fortress of Ochakov, since the main forces of the Turkish fleet were stationed in the harbor. The Russians won the battle near Snake Island under the command of F.F. Ushakov. December - successful assault on Ochakov;

§ Türkiye ceded to Russia all the lands of the Black Sea region up to the Dniester River, gave up Ochakov;

§ Türkiye was obliged to compensate for damages for raids in the North Caucasus;

§ Moldavia, Bessarabia and Wallachia remained in the hands of the Porte, and the question of the protectorate of Georgia was not resolved.

Russian-Swedish war 1788-1790.

Summer of 1788 The Triple Alliance was created, directed against Russia (England, Prussia, Holland); finally, Prussia, England and Turkey achieved an attack on Russia by Sweden.

June 1788 - Swedish troops besieged the fortresses of Neishlot and Friedrichsgam, and the Swedish fleet entered the Gulf of Finland;

July 1788 – the battle of the island of Gogland, a Russian victory, thereby the Russians stopped Gustav III’s attempt to take possession of St. Petersburg;

1789 – Russian troops launched an offensive in Finland, Russian victory;

1772 - the first partition of Poland, according to which Russia received Eastern Belarus with borders along the Western Dvina, Druta and Dnieper.

1793 – the second partition of Poland, according to which Russia received Belarus and Right Bank Ukraine;

1794 – uprising in Poland under the leadership of T. Kosciuszko;

1795 – the third partition of Poland, according to which Russia received Western Belarus, Lithuania, Courland and part of Volyn;

Domestic policy Peter I: modernization

There are two main reasons for Peter’s reforms:

  • the systemic crisis of the Moscow state at the end of the 17th century, which was based on Russia’s growing lag behind European countries (England, France, Holland, Germany) in all social spheres: poor development industry, lack of a regular army and navy, insufficient international authority, low level of education, outdated social organization, etc.;
  • the need to acquire Russia's access to the seas (Black, Baltic), which required the reorganization of the entire inner life countries.

Among historians, the following concept is considered recognized, explaining the course of Peter's reforms. The main goal for Peter remained the solution of foreign policy problems, so domestic policy was completely aimed at creating conditions for successful foreign policy. It turns out a whole chain of reforms, each of which is caused by the previous one:

  • To successfully wage a war, you need a powerful, combat-ready army ( military reform and the creation of a fleet) and a solid economic foundation (monetary and tax reforms);
  • to create an army and its material support, a clear organization of life of the country's population is needed, which caused two reforms - political (reform of the state administration system) and social (formation of estates);
  • To create combat-ready troops and govern the country, specialists (engineers, officials, etc.) are needed, which caused a reform of culture and education.

Peter solved the assigned problems using specific methods. His ideas about how to reign were formed under the influence of Western European models and thinkers (T. Hobbes, G. Grotius, S. Puffendorf) and boiled down to the following:

  • orientation towards European experience, since Europe is at a higher high level development than Russia (Western European models need to be transferred to Russian soil);
  • deification of the state (only what is good for the state is good), the idea of ​​the need to subordinate the individual to the state (the first model for the state is a mechanism within which each person is its “cog”), the idea of ​​the absolute power of the ruler, the idea of ​​regulation and control over the individual and actions people (the second model for the state is a military barracks);
  • rationalism, pragmatism, practicalism (the state and all life can be transformed on reasonable principles);
  • secularism (the church must be subordinate to the state).

The main internal reforms of Peter I are as follows.

  1. Political reform (reform of the state administration system), as a result of which the absolute monarchy, based on the noble-bureaucratic centralized apparatus:
  • reform of central government bodies:
  • the liquidation of the Boyar Duma, it was replaced in 1711 by the Governing Senate, which was the highest executive body, an advisory body under the monarch and the highest court of appeal;
  • 1717-1721 - elimination of the outdated system of orders and replacing them with collegiums that were senior levels public administration (after a century they will be replaced by ministries). There are two main differences between boards and orders: the principle of management (orders are based on sectoral and territorial principles, and collegiums are only based on industry ones) and the principle of decision-making (orders - the decision is made personally by the head of the order, collegiums - the decision is made collectively, jointly, that is by a majority vote of the “presence” of the board). At first, 11 boards were created (the main ones were Foreign Affairs, the Military and the Admiralty in charge of the fleet), then two more were added;
  • creation of a system of control over citizens and government bodies, which included: fiscals (secret supervision over the activities of government agencies without the right to interfere in decisions), prosecutors (public supervision with the right to interfere in decisions), police (monitoring the preservation of public order, including the cleanliness of the streets), as well as bodies with the functions of political police - the Preobrazhensky Prikaz in Moscow and the Secret Chancellery in St. Petersburg. The state encouraged denunciation; even the secret of confession under Peter was supposed to be violated in the interests of the investigation;

An attempt to combat bribery (introducing fines and the death penalty for this crime);

Local administrative reforms:

Creation of a system of clear administrative-territorial division of the country from three links: provinces (headed by a governor appointed from the center), provinces (headed by governors) and districts, or counties (headed by a zemstvo commissar from local nobles);

Introduction of city self-government (urban reform): cities received the right to independently elect their burmister or zemstvo huts (city halls and magistrates), which performed the functions of a court, tax collection and urban improvement. For the use of this right, the city was forced to pay double taxes;

Reform of the monarchy: in 1712, the capital of Russia was officially moved to St. Petersburg, founded by Peter I during Northern War in 1703. In 1721, at the end of the Northern War, Russia was declared an empire, and Peter received the title “Father of the Fatherland.” In 1722, after the “case of Tsarevich Alexei,” Peter issued a decree on succession to the throne, according to which the monarch himself could appoint an heir at will (and his choice was not limited in any way).

2. Church reforms, the most important of which is the abolition of the patriarchate and the subordination of the church to the state. After the death of the patriarch

Adrian Peter forbade convening a church council to elect a new patriarch, and in 1721 he created the Spiritual College (soon renamed the Holy Governing Synod), to which the church was subordinated (the church became part of the state mechanism). The Synod was headed by a chief prosecutor appointed by the monarch. Under Peter, partial secularization was also carried out (the state seized a significant part of the church's income), the creation of new monasteries was prohibited and the number of monks in existing ones was limited; monasteries were supposed to become the founders of schools. Religious tolerance was proclaimed (in order to attract foreign specialists to Russian service), and the persecution of Old Believers was stopped (for this they had to pay double taxes). The life and work of the famous church figure Feofan Prokopovich dates back to the era of Peter, who was an ardent supporter of Peter’s ideas, substantiated the superiority of secular power over spiritual power, as well as the divinity of royal power.

  1. Economic reforms:
  • two main principles of Peter’s policy in the field of industry and trade:
  • protectionism is a state policy of encouraging the development of domestic industry: the state itself created a lot of manufactories (using treasury funds, and then transferred some of them to private hands) and encouraged the creation of private manufactories with various benefits;
  • mercantilism is part of protectionist policy in the sphere foreign trade, providing an advantage for exports over imports due to customs tariffs. The personification of the policy of mercantilism - customs regulations 1724, which established high duties on the import (import) of foreign industrial goods and low duties on the import (import) of industrial raw materials and export (export) of domestic industrial goods;
  • monetary reform, as a result of which a full-fledged monetary system was created, but the content of silver and copper in coins was significantly reduced;

Tax reform of 1718-1724, the main content of which was the replacement of household taxation with poll tax (poll tax). For this, in 1718-1724. A census (audit) of the population was carried out, during which all intermediate categories (“walking people”, doormats, slaves, etc.) were combined into a new category - state peasants. As a result, the number of taxpayers increased significantly, and in 1724, compared to 1680, state revenues tripled, which solved the problem of financing the Northern War (Peter managed to do without foreign loans). Also, about 70 types of various sophisticated taxes were introduced (on oak coffins, baths, barges, fishing, beehive, beard, etc.).

4. Peter’s policy regarding the estates boiled down to the following:

Measures regarding the nobility. In 1714, it was forbidden for noble minors (who had not received an education) to marry. In the same year, a decree on single inheritance was adopted, according to which, firstly, a nobleman can inherit land, real estate and peasants to only one of their sons (the rest are forced to support themselves at the expense of government service), and secondly, the estates finally merged with estates (the land and peasants became the full property of the landowner, but at the same time all nobles were obliged to bear public service). In 1722, the Table of Ranks was published, which introduced the obligation of service for all nobles, new order(a career ladder of 14 ranks) of military and civil (official) service and finally replaced the principle of birth with the principle of seniority. Moreover, non-nobles who entered the service could receive nobility: personal nobility (not inherited) - from the 14th rank in the civil service and hereditary - from the 8th rank in the civil service and from the 14th rank in military service 1. The consequences of these reforms were the transformation of the nobility into the service class and the emergence under Peter new nobility- people from the very bottom who advanced thanks to their abilities, which were noticed by the emperor (A. D. Menshikov, P. A. Tolstoy, G. I. Golovkin, F. M. Apraksin, A. I. Osterman, etc.);

  • serfdom policy towards the peasantry. Since 1713, peasants were supposed to be whipped for disobedience to the landowner, and since 1722, landowners became collectors of poll taxes on their estates. In 1724, a passport system was introduced for peasants: from now on, they were allowed to go further than 30 miles from their permanent place of residence only with the written permission of the landowner. Peasants were prohibited from starting factories. Two new categories of peasants appear: state-owned (personally free, paying taxes to the state) and possessional (peasants purchased by manufacturers who were not considered their property, but were assigned to the enterprise and were not sold separately from it);
  • townspeople were allowed to establish self-government, and in 1722 the guild principle of organizing crafts was established.
  1. Military reform (the most important for Peter I), after which the combat effectiveness of the army significantly increased, which ensured victory in the Northern War:
  • Instead of the liquidated Streltsy army and local noble militia, a new principle of army formation was introduced in 1699 - conscription. Recruits were recruited from tax-paying categories of the population, served for life (only in 1793, instead of a life sentence, a term of 25 years was established) and moved along with their families into a special soldier class. This is how the first regular army in Russia was created;
  • creation of a military fleet (Azov, then Baltic and Caspian);
  • the adoption of the Naval (1716) and Military (1720) regulations, which introduced strict discipline and clear chain of command;
  • rearmament of the army in a European manner (including the creation of powerful artillery thanks to the development of the domestic arms industry), the introduction of a uniform uniform and auxiliary infrastructure in the army (rear service, convoys, medical support);
  • creation of a system of professional military education (artillery, military engineering, garrison and other schools, Naval Academy in St. Petersburg).
  1. Reforms in the field of culture and life were based on the principle of “Europeanization”. On January 1, 1700, the European Gregorian calendar and the chronology is not from the “creation of the world” (5508 BC), but from the birth of Jesus Christ. A system of secular special educational institutions, textbooks have been published for them. Many volunteers were sent to European countries to study shipbuilding, painting, architecture, medicine, etc. In 1719, the first museum in Russia was opened - the Kunstkamera, and in 1725 (after the death of Peter) - the Academy of Sciences. Since 1703, the first began to appear printed newspaper"Vedomosti". A new order of urban planning was introduced - a regular city (geometric principles of development according to a pre-developed plan). European clothing was introduced, the custom of shaving beards was instilled, and assemblies were created for courtiers with the obligatory presence of women and conversations in foreign languages.

The main directions of the foreign policy of Peter 1:

European

· The struggle for access to Europe through the Baltic Sea - the Northern War of 1700-1721.

· Strengthening Russia's position in Europe. Foreign trips of Peter I. The beginning of dynastic ties with the German states

Asian

· Fight with Turkey for the Black Sea. Azov campaigns 1695-1696

· Prut campaign 1710-1711 – second war with Turkey. Peter, along with his entire army, was surrounded and forced to conclude a peace treaty, abandoning all previous conquests in the south.

· Persian campaign 1723-1724 - Baku and Derbent captured

Azov campaigns. Grand Embassy

Even during the reign of Sophia under the leadership of V.V. Golitsyn, Russian troops, in accordance with Eternal peace with Poland were undertaken in 1687 and 1689. two unsuccessful campaigns against the Crimean Khanate. Having become the de facto ruler of the state, Peter I continued the fight against Turkey and the Crimean Khanate. In 1695, the Turkish fortress of Azov was besieged, but Russian troops were unable to take it. The second Azov campaign, undertaken in the same 1696, ended with the capture of Azov and the founding of the Taganrog fortress. The outbreak of war with Turkey raised the question of allies, the need for cash loans and the purchase of weapons abroad. For this purpose, in 1697, the Great Embassy went to Europe, which included Peter, who was listed as one of the foremen of the volunteer detachment. During the Grand Embassy, ​​it turned out that Austria and Venice, Russia’s allies in the anti-Turkish coalition, do not intend to provide assistance to Russia in the war with Turkey.

Northern War

Denmark, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Saxony (Northern Alliance) became Russia's allies in this war. On August 13, 1700, Russia made peace with Turkey, and on July 14 declared war on Sweden, and on September 23, Russian regiments began the siege of the Narva fortress. In August 1700, the Swedish king Charles XII forced Denmark to withdraw from the war. The battle between Swedish and Russian troops took place on November 19, 1700 and ended in complete victory for the Swedes. Charles XII did not continue military operations against Russia, but sent an army to Poland against Augustus II, where, according to Peter I, he was stuck for a long time. At this time, Peter is actively creating regular army, restores artillery. In Arkhangelsk, warships are built, which are transported through Karelia to Lake Ladoga. In 1702, with the help of these ships, the Russians took the Noteburg fortress (Russian city of Oreshek). In the spring of 1703, the Nyenschanz fortress was taken at the mouth of the Neva, and in May of the same year the city of St. Petersburg was founded. In 1704, the Russian army took Narva and Dorpat. The protege of Charles XII, Stanislav Leszczynski, became the King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1706, Augustus II renounced the Polish crown. Charles XII with the main forces moved towards Moscow. Charles XII lacked food, ammunition, and artillery. On September 28, 1708, the Russians attacked the Swedes near the village of Desnoy near the town of Propoisk. Levenhaupt's corps was defeated, losing 8,000 people and the entire convoy. Hetman of Ukraine Ivan Mazepa went over to the side of Charles XII, promising him artillery, 50 thousand Cossacks, and food. But the Swedish king did not receive any of this. On November 2, 1708, A.D. Menshikov’s detachment took Baturin, Mazepa’s residence. Attempts by Charles XII to march towards Moscow along the Muravsky Way were repulsed by Russian troops. Then the Swedes decided to besiege Poltava. The Poltava fortress, thanks to it, withstood a 3-month siege that began in April 1709, until Peter I and his main forces approached Poltava. On June 27, 1709, the Battle of Poltava took place, ending in the complete defeat of the Swedes. Charles XII and Mazepa fled to Turkey. Having lost its land army, Sweden retained a powerful fleet in the Baltic and continued the war. In 1710, Türkiye declared war on Russia. Thanks to the diplomatic skill of Peter I's associate Shafirov, it was possible to sign peace with Turkey on July 12, 1711. Russia gave Azov to Turkey and liquidated Taganrog. In the northwest, Russia was preparing for naval battles with Sweden. The Baltic Fleet was being created, and combat training of its personnel was intensively carried out. On July 25-27, 1714, the Swedish fleet was defeated in the battle of Cape Gangut. At the beginning of 1720, Russian sailors M.M. Golitsyn defeated the Swedish fleet of Vice Admiral Sheblat off the island of Grengam. On August 30, 1721 it was concluded Nystadt Peace between Russia and Sweden. Estland, Livonia, Ingria with St. Petersburg and part of Karelia went to Russia. Russia gained access to the Baltic Sea and became a great maritime power. Among Peter's other foreign policy activities, the Persian Campaign of 1722-1723 should be mentioned. Russia received the western shore of the Caspian Sea, but later it had to abandon its acquisitions.

Foreign policy results:
¾ Russia, as a result of a long and painful war, took the most important place in Europe, gaining the status of a great power.
¾ Output to Baltic Sea, the annexation of new lands contributed to its economic and cultural development.
¾ During the war, Russia created a powerful regular army and began to turn into an empire.
¾ Russia’s foreign policy successes required enormous human sacrifices and material costs. The greatness of Russia has become the heaviest burden for the entire Russian people.

The sage avoids all extremes.

Lao Tzu

The reforms of Peter 1 are his main and key activities, which were aimed at changing not only political, but also social life Russian society. According to Pyotr Alekseevich, Russia was very far behind in its development. Western countries. This confidence of the king was further strengthened after he conducted the great embassy. Trying to transform the country, Peter 1 changed almost all aspects of the life of the Russian state, which had developed over centuries.

What was the central government reform?

The reform of central government was one of Peter's first reforms. It should be noted that this reformation continued long time, since it was based on the need to completely restructure the work of Russian authorities.

Peter I's reforms in the field of central government began back in 1699. On initial stage this change affected only the Boyar Duma, which was renamed the Near Chancellery. With this step, the Russian Tsar alienated the boyars from power and allowed power to be concentrated in a chancellery that was more pliable and loyal to him. It was important step, which required priority implementation, since it allowed the centralization of government of the country.

Senate and its functions

At the next stage, the king organized the Senate as the main government body in the country. This happened in 1711. The Senate has become one of the key bodies in governing the country, with the broadest powers, which include the following:

  • Legislative activity
  • Administrative activities
  • Judicial functions in the country
  • Control functions over other bodies

The Senate consisted of 9 people. These were representatives of noble families, or people whom Peter himself elevated. In this form, the Senate existed until 1722, when the emperor approved the position of prosecutor general, who controlled the legality of the activities of the Senate. Before this, this body was independent and did not bear any responsibility.

Creation of boards

The reform of central government continued in 1718. It took the reformer tsar three whole years (1718-1720) to get rid of the last legacy of his predecessors - orders. All orders in the country were abolished and collegiums took their place. There was no actual difference between the boards and orders, but in order to radically change the administrative apparatus, Peter went through this transformation. In total, the following bodies were created:

  • Collegium of Foreign Affairs. She was in charge of the state's foreign policy.
  • Military Collegium. She was engaged in ground forces.
  • Admiralty College. Controlled navy Russia.
  • Office of Justice. She handled litigation matters, including civil and criminal cases.
  • Berg College. It controlled the country's mining industry, as well as factories for this industry.
  • Manufactory Collegium. She was involved in the entire manufacturing industry of Russia.

In fact, only one difference between boards and orders can be distinguished. If in latest decision Always made by one person, after the reform all decisions were made collectively. Of course, not many people made decisions, but the leader always had several advisers. They helped take the right decision. After the introduction of the new system, it was developed special system, supervising the activities of the boards. For these purposes, the General Regulations were created. It was not general, but was published for each board in accordance with its specific work.

Secret Chancery

Peter created a secret office in the country that dealt with state crimes. This office replaced the Preobrazhensky order, which dealt with the same issues. It was specific government agency, who did not obey anyone except Peter the Great. In fact, with the help of the secret chancellery, the emperor maintained order in the country.

Decree on unity of inheritance. Table of ranks.

The decree on unified inheritance was signed by the Russian Tsar in 1714. Its essence boiled down, among other things, to the fact that the courtyards that belonged to the boyar and noble estates were completely equalized. Thus, Peter pursued one single goal - to equalize the nobility of all levels that were represented in the country. This ruler is known for the fact that he could bring a person without a family closer to him. After signing this law, he could give each of them what they deserved.

This reform continued in 1722. Peter introduced the Table of Ranks. In fact, this document equalized rights in public service for aristocrats of any origin. This Table divided the entire public service into two large categories: civil and military. Regardless of the type of service, all government ranks were divided into 14 ranks (classes). They included all key positions, from simple performers to managers.

All ranks were divided into the following categories:

  • 14-9 levels. An official who was in these ranks received the nobility and peasants into his possession. The only restriction was that such a nobleman could use the property, but not dispose of it as property. In addition, the estate could not be inherited.
  • 8 – 1 level. This was the highest administration, which not only became the nobility and received full control of the estates, as well as serfs, but also received the opportunity to transfer their property by inheritance.

Regional reform

The reforms of Peter 1 affected many areas of the life of the state, including the work of local government bodies. The regional reform of Russia had been planned for a long time, but was carried out by Peter in 1708. It completely changed the work of the local government apparatus. The whole country was divided into separate provinces, of which there were 8 in total:

  • Moscow
  • Ingermanlandskaya (later renamed Petersburgskaya)
  • Smolenskaya
  • Kyiv
  • Azovskaya
  • Kazanskaya
  • Arkhangelogorodskaya
  • Simbirskaya

Each province was governed by a governor. He was appointed personally by the king. All administrative, judicial and military power was concentrated in the hands of the governor. Since the provinces were quite large in size, they were divided into districts. Later the counties were renamed provinces.

The total number of provinces in Russia in 1719 was 50. The provinces were governed by voivodes, who directed military power. As a result, the governor's power was somewhat curtailed, since the new regional reform took away all military power from them.

City government reform

Changes at the local government level prompted the king to reorganize the system of government in the cities. It was important question, as the urban population increased annually. For example, by the end of Peter’s life, there were already 350 thousand people living in cities, who belonged to different classes and estates. This required the creation of bodies that would work with each class in the city. As a result, a reform of city government was carried out.

Special attention in this reform was paid to the townspeople. Previously, their affairs were handled by governors. The new reform transferred power over this class into the hands of the Chamber of Burmisters. It was an elected body of power located in Moscow, and locally this chamber was represented by individual mayors. Only in 1720 was the Chief Magistrate created, which was responsible for control functions regarding the activities of the mayors.

It should be noted that the reforms of Peter 1 in the field of urban management introduced clear distinctions between ordinary citizens, who were divided into “regular” and “vile”. The former belonged to the highest inhabitants of the city, and the latter to the lower classes. These categories were not clear cut. For example, “regular townspeople” were divided into: rich merchants (doctors, pharmacists and others), as well as ordinary artisans and traders. All “regulars” enjoyed great support from the state, which provided them with various benefits.

The urban reform was quite effective, but it had a clear bias towards wealthy citizens who received maximum state support. Thus, the king created a situation in which life became somewhat easier for the cities, and in response, the most influential and wealthy citizens supported the government.

Church reform

The reforms of Peter 1 did not bypass the church. In fact, the new transformations finally subordinated the church to the state. This reform actually began in 1700, with the death of Patriarch Adrian. Peter forbade holding elections for a new patriarch. The reason was quite convincing - Russia entered the Northern War, which means that electoral and church affairs can wait for better times. Stefan Yavorsky was appointed to temporarily fulfill the duties of Patriarch of Moscow.

The most significant changes in the life of the church began after the end of the war with Sweden in 1721. The reform of the church came down to the following main steps:

  • The institution of the patriarchate was completely eliminated; from now on there should be no such position in the church
  • The Church was losing its independence. From now on, all its affairs were managed by the Spiritual College, created specifically for these purposes.

The ecclesiastical college existed less than a year. It was replaced by a new organ state power– Most Holy Governing Synod. It consisted of clergy who were personally appointed by the Emperor of Russia. In fact, from that time on, the church was finally subordinated to the state, and its management was actually carried out by the emperor himself through the Synod. To carry out control functions over the activities of the synod, the position of chief prosecutor was introduced. This was an official whom the emperor himself also appointed.

Peter saw the role of the church in the life of the state in the fact that it had to teach the peasants to respect and honor the tsar (emperor). As a result, laws were even developed that obliged priests to conduct special conversations with peasants, convincing them to obey their ruler in everything.

The significance of Peter's reforms

The reforms of Peter 1 actually completely changed the order of life in Russia. Some of the reforms actually brought a positive effect, while others created negative preconditions. For example, local government reform has led to sharp increase number of officials, as a result of which corruption and embezzlement in the country literally went off scale.

In general, the reforms of Peter 1 had next value:

  • The power of the state was strengthened.
  • The upper classes of society were actually equal in opportunities and rights. Thus, the boundaries between classes were erased.
  • Complete subordination of the church to state power.

The results of the reforms cannot be clearly identified, since they had many negative aspects, but you can learn about this from our special material.

The table lists the events of Russian foreign policy history for the period independent reign of Peter I. The era of Peter's childhood (the reign of Princess Sophia) is not included here.

1695 – The first (unsuccessful) campaign of Peter I to Azov. At the beginning of Peter's reign, the main direction for Russian foreign policy remained the southern direction.

1696 – The second campaign of Peter I to Azov and its capture.

1697 – “Great Embassy” to Europe with the participation of Peter to search for allies against the Turks (1697-1698). A decree on the construction of a fleet of fifty ships by the “kumpanstvo”. Conquest of Kamchatka by Atlas (1697-1699) – last act in the Russian development of Siberia.

1699 – Having found no desire in Europe to continue the war against the Ottomans, Peter I entered into an alliance with Poland and Denmark against the Swedes. Decree on the recruitment of new conscript divisions.

1700 – Beginning of the Northern War (1700-1721). Battle of Narva.

1701 – Victory over Schlippenbach at Erestfer.

1702 – Victory at Schlippenbach at Hummelshof. Capture of Oreshek (Noteburg) by the Russians.

1703 – Capture of Nyenshanets, Yama and Koporye by the troops of Peter I. Founding of St. Petersburg.

1704 – Capture of Narva and Dorpat by the armies of Peter I. Charles XII arranges the election of Stanislav Leszczynski, hostile to Russia, as the Polish king.

1706 – Siege of Grodno by Charles XII and his campaign in Saxony. Peace of Altranstadt: Russia's ally, Augustus of Saxony temporarily stops the war with the Swedes. The entry of Russian troops into Poland, Menshikov's victory at Kalisz.

1708 – Entry of the Swedes into Lithuania. Battle at Golovchin. Movement of Charles XII to Ukraine. Defeat of Levenhaupt's Swedes at Lesnaya. Mazepa's betrayal of Peter I. Menshikov's burning of the capital of the Ukrainian hetmanate, Baturyn.

1709 - Siege of Poltava by the Swedes. The Battle of Poltava dramatically changes the course of the Northern War in favor of the Russians. The defeat of Stanislaw Leszczynski in Poland. Augustus of Saxony rejects the Peace of Altranstadt and resumes war with the Swedes. The election of Skoropadsky, obedient to Peter I, as the new Little Russian hetman.

1710 – Russian capture of Riga, Revel, Kexholm and Vyborg (occupation of almost the entire Baltic region). The Turkish Sultan, under the persuasion of Charles XII, who fled to him from near Poltava, declares war on Russia.

Northern War after the Battle of Poltava. Map

1711 – Unsuccessful Prut campaign of Peter I. Return of Azov to the Ottomans. The marriage of Princess Anna Ioannovna with the Duke of Courland - Courland becomes a dependent possession of Russia.

1712 – The war between the armies of Peter I and the Swedes in northern Germany. The defeat of Stenbock's Swedish army at Frederikstadt. The Sultan's attempt to resume the war with Russia.

1713 – Russian occupation of Finland. Sequestration treaties with Swedish commanders in Pomerania.

1714 - Plan for the deposition of Charles XII and the installation of the Duke of Holstein on the Swedish throne. Capture of Nishlot. Battle of Gangut, Russian capture of the Åland Islands. Return of Charles XII from Turkey to Stralsund, entry into the war against him in alliance with Peter I of Prussia and Hanover. Entry of the English fleet into the Baltic. Transfer of the Russian capital to St. Petersburg.

1716 – Mediation of the Russian ambassador Dolgoruky in the dispute between the Polish king Augustus and the gentry (a sign of increased influence Russian politics to Poland). In connection with this conflict, Peter I introduces the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Army of Rennes into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Agreement on the withdrawal of Saxon troops from Poland. Capture of Wismar. The wedding of the Russian princess Ekaterina Ioannovna with the Duke of Mecklenburg (strengthening Russian foreign policy influence in northern Germany). Plan for an all-Union landing on Swedish territory from Copenhagen. Fear of Peter I in Europe. Intrigue against the king by his own Western allies.

1717 – Peter I’s plan to change his foreign policy line and unite with Charles XII against Russia’s former military partners. Peter's relations with the Swedes. Rumors about the king's participation in the Stuart conspiracy against the English government. Peter's trip to Holland and Swedes-friendly France. Resolutions of the Warsaw Sejm against dissidents affect the interests of Orthodox citizens of Poland.

Peter I. Portrait by P. Delaroche, 1838

1718 – Peter’s unsuccessful petitions in favor of Polish dissidents. Russian-Swedish peace negotiations on the island of Lo. Plan for a joint war between Peter I and Charles XII against Denmark, England and Poland. The death of Charles XII and the transfer of the Swedish crown to his sister Ulrike-Eleonora disrupt the project of the Russian-Swedish union.

1719 – Resumption of Russian military operations against Sweden. The devastation of the Swedish coast by Apraksin, Golitsyn and Lassi (1719-1720).

1721 – The Peace of Nystadt ends the Northern War.

1722 – Persian campaign of Peter I(1722-1723). The abolition of the Ukrainian hetmanate and the establishment of the Little Russian Collegium (the abolition of the autonomy of Ukraine within the Russian Empire).

1723 – Concession to Peter by the Persian Shah Tahmasp of the eastern and southern shores of the Caspian Sea.

1724 – A new change in the course of Peter I’s foreign policy in Europe: the Russian-Swedish alliance.