Peter I

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Peter I's relationship with his first wife, Evdokia Lopukhina, was a classic example of a forced marriage that ended in personal and political tragedy. A Loveless Wedding: In 1689, when Peter was only 16, his mother, Natalia Kirillovna, decided it was time for her son to settle down. Marriage at the time was considered a sign of adulthood—a married tsar no longer needed the guardianship of his sister, Sophia. The mother's choice: Evdokia was chosen because the Lopukhin family was numerous and conservative. The mother hoped that a beautiful wife would bind Peter to home and the "old order." Peter's reaction: At the wedding, Peter seemed indifferent. Young Evdokia (she was three years older) was raised in the strict traditions of the "Domostroy" (house rule). She was meek, pious, and limited in her interests. For the ebullient Peter, who was already raving about ships and the German settlement, she was a “living monument” to boring antiquity. Why did the hostility arise? The breakup was inevitable for several reasons: Different worlds: Peter adored everything foreign, noisy assemblies, the smell of tobacco, and manual labor. Evdokia hated everything German, feared change, and considered her husband's hobbies "demonic."

The relationship between Peter the Great and Alexander Menshikov is the story of the most dazzling career in Russian history. If Peter was the "architect" of the empire, Menshikov was his "right hand," his foreman, and his most devoted (albeit thieving) friend. From Pie-Seller to Serene Prince: Legend has it that Menshikov started out selling pies on the streets of Moscow. Peter the Great noticed the lively boy, recruited him as a "toy" soldier, and from then on they were inseparable. Alexashka (as the Tsar called him) possessed a unique quality: he understood Peter perfectly, possessed a frenzied energy, and was unafraid of any task. He was the only one the Tsar allowed practically everything. Why did Peter value him? Personal loyalty: Menshikov saved the tsar in battle (for example, at Poltava, three horses were killed under him) and exposed conspiracies. Talent for execution: Whether it was necessary to build a city on a swamp, drill a regiment, or supply the army with provisions, Menshikov would bend over backwards to carry out orders. Unity of souls: They drank together, built ships together, and "cut windows" to Europe together. Menshikov was by his side during the most difficult moments, including the execution of Tsarevich Alexei.

Peter and Sophia: The Battle for Power Sophia Alekseyevna was a woman of rare intelligence and authority. She ruled Russia as regent for seven years and had no intention of handing over power to her younger brother. Rivalry: Sophia embodied old, traditional Russia, though she herself was highly educated. Peter, on the other hand, embodied a new, rebellious force. The older Peter became, the more Sophia feared him. The denouement (1689): Peter turned 17, married (which meant he was coming of age), and Sophia's regency was about to end. Rumors swept through Moscow that Sophia was once again training her Streltsy to assassinate Peter. Flight to the Lavra: That night, wearing only a shirt, Peter, terrified, leaped onto his horse and galloped off to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, protected by its walls and his "amusement palaces." Loyal troops and boyars began to flock to him. Sophia was left alone—her supporters realized that the young tsar was now in control. Peter's Revenge Peter did not forgive his sister for her fear and attempt to seize power: Monastery: Sophia was forcibly tonsured as a nun and imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent. A harsh lesson: After another Streltsy rebellion in 1698, Peter ordered three conspirators hanged right in front of the windows of Sophia's cell. They hung there for several months, and petitions to the princess were placed in their hands. Result: The conflict with Sophia taught Peter the main rule of his life: the old world will not give up without a fight; it must either be broken or locked behind monastery walls.

Character: Energy and angerPeter's character was a mixture of incredible efficiency and despotic cruelty. Bubbling energy: He couldn't sit still. Contemporaries complained that it was impossible to keep up with him—he was always running somewhere or building something. Peter mastered about 14 crafts, from shipbuilding to dentistry (he loved to personally extract bad teeth from courtiers). Simplicity and democracy: He disdained ceremony. He could visit an ordinary merchant, sit down at the table, and eat simple porridge. He was straightforward in communication, disliked flattery, and valued intelligence and business acumen above all else. Peter's temper and cruelty were terrifying. He could strike anyone with his famous truncheon, regardless of rank (even his favorite, Menshikov). He was absolutely merciless to those who opposed his will or stole from the treasury. Curiosity: Peter possessed an omnivorous mind. He was interested in everything from the structure of a microscope to the principles of navigation. This thirst for knowledge led him to essentially bring Europe to Russia. Sacrifice: Despite all his cruelty, he sincerely considered himself "the first servant of the Fatherland." He spared neither his subjects, nor himself, nor his own son, Alexei, if he believed it was necessary for the good of the state. Interesting fact: Peter suffered from severe hydrophobia (not to be confused with rabies) – he was afraid to cross bridges and wide rivers in his youth, until he overcame this fear, becoming a fan of the sea and navy.

Peter I had an appearance and character that fully corresponded to the scale of his reforms - he was impulsive, energetic and in many ways frightening to his contemporaries. Appearance: "The Giant King" His appearance was extremely unusual for that time and was imprinted in the memory of everyone who saw him: Height: Peter was a true giant – about 203–204 cm. In the 18th century, with the average height for men being 160–165 cm, he seemed incredibly huge to those around him. Build: Despite his height, he was narrow-shouldered and wore a relatively small shoe size (38–39). Because of this, he walked with very long strides and a slight sway. Face: He had round features, a high forehead, and large brown eyes. When angry or overly excited, his left eye and facial muscles would twitch (a consequence of severe stress in childhood, likely following the Streltsy rebellion). Style: Peter hated luxury. He often wore a worn caftan, worn-out shoes, and the simple, calloused hands of a "craftsman." He was often mistaken for an ordinary skipper or carpenter.