Peter 1

7 sites The Domostroy (a 16th-century collection of rules) assigned women the role of housewife, caregiver, and helper to their husbands. Absolute obedience, fidelity, frugal housekeeping, and care for the family were expected of them. The text prescribed a strict division of labor, silence, and the protection of family honor.

Culture.RF +1 Key responsibilities and norms for women included the following aspects: Obedience and Husband's Authority: A wife is obligated to consult her husband in everything, submit to his will, and honor him as the head of the family. She must remain faithful and avoid "evil thoughts."

Culture.RF +2 Housekeeping: The woman managed the home, kept it clean and well-stocked, and supervised the servants. She was expected to be thrifty, a skilled craftswoman, knowledgeable in cooking, and able to prepare food.

bibliobel.ru +2 Piety and modesty: It was prescribed to observe all religious fasts, pray regularly, avoid idleness, foul language, boasting and drinking alcohol.

Culture.RF +2 Raising children: The mother was responsible for the moral education of the children, teaching them prayers and rules of politeness, and was also expected to personally teach her daughters needlework.

Historical Museum Blog +1 Rules of appearance and behavior: A woman's clothing should be neat and appropriate to her status. Fidgety behavior, idle conversation with strangers (especially men), and excessive adornment were discouraged. For more information on how the institution of family and everyday life functioned in the pre-Petrine era, see the article on the specifics of marital relations in Rus' on the Rodina portal, or learn about traditional norms of family life in the article on the Kultura.RF resource.

The Domostroy code placed full responsibility for the well-being, security, and spiritual salvation of the entire family on the man. In pre-Petrine Rus', men wielded absolute power, but also bore a strict burden of duty to God, the state, and their household. Key rules and responsibilities for a man: Head of the family and judge: Men

The "Domostroy" placed full responsibility for the well-being, security, and spiritual salvation of the entire family on the man. In pre-Petrine Rus', men wielded absolute power, but also bore a strict burden of duty to God, the state, and their household. Key rules and responsibilities for men: Head of the family and judge: The man was the unquestioned authority. He was obligated to manage the home "in the fear of God," guide his wife, children, and servants on the true path, and prevent any violations of order. Financial support: The husband was responsible for financial stability. He was required to earn an honest living, provide the family with food, clothing, housing, and stockpile provisions in case of famine or crisis. Education and punishment: The father was personally responsible for training his sons in a trade or service. The text prescribed a strict upbringing, not sparing the "rod" for misdeeds, in order to protect their souls from sin. Spiritual mentor: The man organized religious life at home. He ensured that all household members prayed regularly, observed fasts, attended church, and knew the basics of the faith. Protecting the family's honor: The husband was obligated to protect the family's reputation from disgrace, monitor the behavior of his wife and children in public, and prevent gossip and debauchery within the home. If you're interested, we can examine specific aspects of the male role in more detail. Let us know if you'd like to learn about: the rules for disciplining household members (what the text actually prescribed)? the requirements for financial literacy and budgeting? how a man was supposed to choose grooms and brides for his children?

The "Domostroy" (a 16th-century collection of rules) assigned women the role of homemaker, nurturer, and helper to their husbands. Absolute obedience, fidelity, frugal housekeeping, and care for the family were expected of them. The text prescribed a strict division of labor, silence, and the protection of family honor. Key duties and norms for women included the following: Obedience and authority of the husband: The wife is obliged to consult with her husband in everything, submit to his will, and honor him as the head of the family. She must remain faithful and avoid "evil thoughts." Housekeeping: The woman managed the home, monitored cleanliness and supplies, and supervised the servants. She was expected to be thrifty, a skilled needlewoman, knowledgeable in cooking, and able to prepare food. Piety and modesty: It was prescribed to observe all religious fasts, pray regularly, and avoid idleness, foul language, bragging, and alcohol consumption. Child rearing: The mother was responsible for the moral upbringing of her children, teaching them prayers and the rules of politeness, and was also expected to personally teach her daughters needlework. Rules of appearance and behavior: A woman's clothing should be neat and appropriate to her status. Vanity, idle conversations with strangers (especially men), and excessive adornment were discouraged. For more information on how the institution of family and everyday life functioned in the pre-Petrine era, please read the article on the peculiarities of marital relations in Rus' on the Rodina portal, or learn about traditional norms of family life in the article on the Kultura.RF resource.

Etiquette of the 17th and 18th centuries marks an era of theatricality, strict hierarchy, and the emergence of modern rules of decency. During this period, the French court style, modeled on the Versailles court, dominated, while in Russia, traditions underwent a radical shift thanks to the reforms of Peter the Great. Below are the key features and rules of behavior of that era, divided into categories. European Court Etiquette (The Cult of Versailles): Absolute hierarchy. Every step of a courtier depended on their status. A special privilege in France was the right to sit in the king's presence (on a chair, stool, or cushion). Cult of the monarch. Even intimate processes were public. The king's morning raising (levée) and bedtime (couchée) turned into grandiose ceremonies, where nobles competed for the right to offer the monarch a shirt or hold a candle. The language of fans and beauty spots: In the 18th century, flirting became strictly codified. The movement of a fan or the placement of a beauty mark (an artificial mole) on a woman's face could signify consent to a date, refusal, or an expression of disdain. Bows and curtsies. Men performed complex bows, removing their hats and gracefully moving their legs. Women's curtsies required perfect posture and fluid movements, despite heavy, framed skirts (panniers). Russian Etiquette: From Domostroy to "The Honest Mirror of Youth." In the 17th century, patriarchal norms were in effect in Rus'. In the 18th century, Peter the Great forcibly Europeanized the country, publishing the famous textbook of etiquette, "The Honest Mirror of Youth," in 1717. Introduction of Assemblies. Peter the Great obliged nobles to attend public gatherings (assemblies), to which women were openly admitted for the first time. Before this, women in Russia lived in isolation in terems. Former habits were prohibited. The textbook strictly forbade spitting on the floor in the middle of the room, blowing one's nose on the tablecloth, scratching oneself at the table, gnawing bones, and smacking one's lips. Respect for elders. Young people were instructed not to interrupt their elders, not to speak without permission, to stand in their presence, and to obey their parents unquestioningly. Appearance. Nobles were required to shave their beards.

Peter the Great's attitude toward Moscow was complex and ambivalent: he disliked it for its dominance by conservative boyars and patriarchal traditions, yet he actively developed and rebuilt it. Here are the main aspects of his attitude toward the city: Symbol of the Past: As a child, the tsar experienced the Streltsy rebellions and the humiliation of the royal family here, so the city was strongly associated with stagnation, obscurantism, and resistance to his reforms. Loss of Capital Status: Constant travel and the construction of St. Petersburg in 1703 led to Moscow losing its status as the country's capital. Modernization of the city: Despite his hostility, the tsar actively intervened in urban development. Under his orders, stone buildings were erected, and the first secular schools and military hospitals were founded. Practical use: Peter I frequently visited the ancient capital for military purposes (for example, for triumphs after victories), and used it as a major economic and industrial center to supply the army.

Amazing physiology. Unusual proportions: Despite his gigantic height (around 204 cm), Peter had very narrow shoulders, a disproportionately small head, and a miniature shoe size 38. Incredible strength: The Tsar could easily bend a horseshoe with his bare hands or roll a silver plate into a tube. Reforms and inventions. Habit of skating: It was Peter who brought the prototype of modern skates from Europe, having the idea of ​​attaching their blades directly to shoes. New Year in winter: The winter holiday we are accustomed to, from December 31 to January 1, was introduced by his decree in 1699 (previously, New Year was celebrated on September 1). Unusual prohibitions: During his reign, the Tsar issued about 4,000 decrees. Among them were the ban on hiring "red-haired and crooked" people for government service, as well as the infamous beard tax. Personal Habits: Dentist and surgeon: Peter was fascinated with medicine and anatomy, personally extracting teeth for his courtiers and amassing a collection of medical instruments, which can be seen in the Kunstkamera collection. Coffee lover: The Tsar developed a passion for coffee in Holland and made the drink a mandatory treat at his assemblies.

Peter I's relationship with his family was complex and dramatic: it was built on a power struggle, the Tsar's desire for reform, and absolute intolerance for those who did not share his views. The details of the Tsar's family conflicts and personal life were as follows: Mother (Natalya Naryshkina): She adored her son and married him early (choosing Evdokia Lopukhina) to settle him down, but her overprotectiveness during his childhood left Peter with a distrust of traditional ways. First wife (Evdokia Lopukhina): The marriage was forced upon him by his mother. Peter disliked his wife, soon grew cold toward her due to her adherence to the old order, and a few years after the wedding, he forcibly sent her to a convent.

11. Became the first Russian emperor

On November 2, 1721, Peter I assumed the title of Russian Emperor. The Senate proposed the title of "Father of the Fatherland, Peter the Great, Emperor of All the Russias" in honor of his victory over the Swedes in the Northern War. Peter the Great was elevated to the same level as European rulers, although they did not immediately accept his new status. Prussia and Holland immediately approved, while England and France, for example, did not do so until the 1740s. 12. Increased Russia's international prestige

Peter the Great entered Russian and world history as a talented military leader and naval commander. At the age of 24, he waged war against the Ottoman Empire and captured Azov, giving Russia access to the southern seas for the first time. At 25, he conducted diplomatic negotiations with European politicians during the Grand Embassy, ​​and by the beginning of his major war, he had joined the Northern Alliance, which included Poland, Saxony, and Denmark.

Peter I began the Great Northern War against the Swedish King Charles XII in 1700 with the "Narva Confusion," when the Russian army was routed near the city of Narva. However, the Battle of Poltava in 1708 and the naval Battle of Gangut in 1714 (now celebrated as Russia's Days of Military Glory) demonstrated that Russia was a formidable adversary. The war ended in 1721 with the Treaty of Nystad, giving the country access to the Baltic Sea, along a coastal strip stretching from Vyborg to Riga.

During the Persian campaign over the next three years, the Russian Empire gained a foothold on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, acquiring the Iranian provinces with the cities of Derbent, Baku, and Rasht.

As a result, Russia became one of the great powers, without whose participation no military campaign or diplomatic conference could take place in Europe. Author: Tatyana Grigorieva Layout: Yulia Davydova

Main photo: Andrey Kuznetsov / Lori photo bank / portraits of Peter the Great

The following illustrations were used in the design of the material: Mikhail Bochkov. Illustration for Alexander Pushkin's poem "The Bronze Horseman." Image: Azbuka Publishing House. Illustration for Alexander Pushkin's novel "The Blackamoor of Peter the Great".

Founded the Academy of Sciences

On February 8, 1724, Peter the Great founded the Russian Academy of Sciences—today celebrated as Russian Science Day. By then, the monarch was already a member of the French Academy and was familiar with the structure of European scientific communities. Therefore, he decided to unite his personal library and the Kunstkamera under the Academy.

Peter the Great wanted the Academy members to "make inventions," deliver "reports and advice," and systematize scientific knowledge in Russia—a considerable amount had accumulated by that time. For example, by 1699, Vladimir Atlasov had compiled a description of Kamchatka; in 1719, Mikhail Serdyukov had devised a design for Russia's first artificial water system; and by 1722, Lev Izmailov's embassy to China had concluded, bringing back ethnographic finds, ship and rope models, fireworks, and porcelain.

The Emperor appointed his personal physician, Laurentiy Blumentrost, as president of the Russian Academy and invited foreigners to Russia to work with him: mathematician Christian Goldbach, physicist Georg Bilfinger, physiologist Daniel Bernoulli, astronomer Joseph-Nicolas Delisle, historian Gottlieb Bayer, and others. However, Peter I did not live to see the first meeting, in November 1725.

Built factories all over Russia

Peter I spent 24 of his 29 years as a monarch at war. Their success depended entirely on industrial development. In the early 18th century, the tsar began massively constructing ironworks, such as those in Tula and Sestroretsk, and metallurgical plants, such as the Nevyansk and Kamensk plants in the Urals. Russia stopped importing rifles, cannons, cannonballs, and anchors and rose to third place in Europe in ferrous metal production.

New iron ore deposits were discovered not only by government officials but also by private individuals—thus the industrial dynasties of the Demidovs and Stroganovs arose. At the same time, considerations for landscape preservation began for the first time: permits for the construction of factories were issued only by the Mining Collegium. Miners were required to send interesting fossil finds to the Kunstkamera. The first environmental laws were also enacted: in 1703, logging was prohibited within 50 miles of large rivers and 20 miles of small rivers. 10. Founded the Academy of Sciences

On February 8, 1724, Peter the Great founded the Russian Academy of Sciences—today celebrated as Russian Science Day. By then, the monarch was already a member of the French Academy and was familiar with the structure of European scientific communities. Therefore, he decided to unite his personal library and the Kunstkamera under the Academy.

Peter the Great wanted the Academy members to "make inventions," deliver "reports and advice," and systematize scientific knowledge in Russia—a considerable amount had accumulated by that time. For example, by 1699, Vladimir Atlasov had compiled a description of Kamchatka; in 1719, Mikhail Serdyukov had devised a design for Russia's first artificial water system; and by 1722, Lev Izmailov's embassy to China had concluded, bringing back ethnographic finds, ship and rope models, fireworks, and porcelain.

The Emperor appointed his personal physician, Lavrenty Blumentrost, as president of the Russian Academy, and invited foreigners to Russia to work: mathematician Christian Goldbach, physicist Georg Bilfinger, physiologist Daniel Bernoulli, astronomer Joseph

Opened the first museum in the country

In 1714, Peter the Great gathered all his collections of books, "naturalia," and curiosities in one place—the People's Chambers of the Summer Palace in St. Petersburg. He invited the Scotsman Robert Areskine and the Alsatian Johann Schumacher to organize them. Even during the years of the Grand Embassy, ​​the Tsar had been amazed by the scale of collecting in Europe. He dreamed of designing his treasury in the image of the Kunstkamera of the Saxon Elector Augustus II the Strong. He even named it the "Cabinet of Antiquities" in the same way.

Four years later, the collection, along with Peter I's personal library, was moved to a separate building—the Kikin Chambers—and was first displayed to the public in 1719. Among the exhibits were "curious objects" purchased by Peter I in Amsterdam: a collection of reptiles from South America assembled by the pharmacist Albert Seba, stuffed animals, and alcohol preparations of human organs made by the anatomist Frederik Ruysch. Entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian painted watercolors of insects and plants from Suriname.

Guests viewed the exhibits free of charge, and if they came in groups, they were treated to coffee or vodka on Peter the Great's personal orders. At the same time, construction began on a dedicated building for the Kunstkamera on the Spit of Vasilievsky Island; a large museum opened there in 1728. Questions about the era of Peter the Great Who started it first? collect paintings in Russia? Is it true that Petra I was replaced during a trip to Europe? When did you first start? celebrate New Year in Russia? 9. Built factories all over Russia

Peter I spent 24 of his 29 years as a monarch at war. Their success depended entirely on industrial development. In the early 18th century, the tsar began massively constructing ironworks, such as those in Tula and Sestroretsk, and metallurgical plants, such as the Nevyansk and Kamensk plants in the Urals. Russia stopped importing rifles, cannons, cannonballs, and anchors and rose to third place in Europe in ferrous metal production.

In January 1714, numeral schools opened in the provinces, where children of all classes, except serfs, could learn literacy and arithmetic. The teachers were graduates of the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences—Russia's first secular and military educational institution. The students studied using domestic textbooks: Leonty Magnitsky's "Arithmetic" and Fyodor Polikarpov-Orlov's "ABC Book." Peter the Great was especially strict with the children of nobles—in December 1714, he even issued a decree forbidding "ignoramuses" from marrying until they mastered "numerals and geometry."

Peter the Great launched vocational education in the country: educational institutions began to open, leading directly to employment. For example, as an interpreter—a school for translators opened at the Ambassadorial Prikaz in the 1700s. Future doctors were trained at the first hospital school in Moscow, and miners at the mining school that opened in 1716 at the Olonetsky Works in Karelia.

The Tsar strongly encouraged his subjects to become educated. For example, they should attend plays—in 1702, a public theater opened on Red Square, featuring German, French, and Spanish plays. They should also read more—that same year, the first Russian printed newspaper, Vedomosti, began publication, followed six years later by annual calendars with dream interpretations and notes on astronomy and agronomy. In 1708, a standard printed font was introduced to replace the difficult-to-read Church Slavonic.

But most importantly, Peter the Great demonstrated that education was the key to a future career. In 1722, Peter the Great issued the Table of Ranks, which included 14 levels of military, civil, and court ranks. Positions were now awarded not based on birth, but on personal ability and knowledge—with exceptional perseverance, any Russian could become a nobleman.

Divided the country into regions

In 1708, Peter the Great launched the first regional reform, dividing the country into counties and provinces. There were eight provinces: St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Smolensk, Kiev, Moscow, Kazan, Azov, and Siberia. In 1713, three more were added: Nizhny Novgorod, Astrakhan, and Riga. During the second reform, 50 provinces were created within the provinces, following the Swedish model, and districts were introduced in place of counties. This made it possible to govern the country vertically: Tsar – Governor – Voivode – Zemsky Commissar.

Peter the Great made the administrative system less cumbersome. In place of the Boyar Duma, he created the Governing Senate, which drafted new laws and oversaw the country's finances and justice. For the first time, senators began taking an oath, promising to "honestly and purely, not flatteringly, but rather zealously fulfill their duties," and their work was overseen by the Prosecutor General, the "eye of the sovereign."

Between 1717 and 1721, instead of 44 prikazy (central governing bodies), Peter I created 11 collegiums, which Alexander I would replace with ministries 85 years later. The first to be established were the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, the Military Collegium, and the Admiralty Collegium—they oversaw diplomacy, army, and navy affairs. The Spiritual Collegium later became the Holy Synod, which administered church affairs.

Set a course for European values

In 1697–1698, Peter I traveled incognito throughout Europe as part of the Grand Embassy, ​​visiting cities in Prussia, Holland, England, and the Habsburg Empire. During his eighteen months of "great apprenticeship," he studied the arts and sciences of Europe and absorbed local traditions. Upon his return, he personally began trimming the boyars' beards and cutting off long sleeves and hemlines. He ordered them to wear wigs and European dress: German attire on weekdays, and French attire on holidays. In 1700, mannequins with clothing samples were even displayed at the gates of the Kremlin.

During his second journey in 1716–1717, Peter I visited Denmark, Holland, France, and Prussia. In 1717, the first Russian etiquette textbook, "The Honest Mirror of Youth," was published. Seven years later, the tsar banned forced marriages.

In 1718, Peter the Great established Assemblies—social gatherings attended by women equally with men. They danced the polonaise, minuet, and contredanse, discussed the news, played cards and chess, and drank coffee and premium spirits. Peter the Great drew up a special ten-point regulation for the nobility—to avoid standing "like a blockhead amidst the festivities." For ordinary citizens, he organized festivities to commemorate military victories—ceremonial processions with models of fortresses and ships, "fire amusements," and refreshments.

The Tsar not only studied abroad himself but also sent students there with a pension—a tuition-covering stipend. For example, the painter Ivan Nikitin studied in Italy "on a state pension," while another pensioner, Andrei Matveyev, was paid for courses in Holland and Belgium. Later, it was they who created the first canvases of the new Russian art—not parsunas, but secular portraits. 4. Moved New Year to winter

In December 1699, Peter the Great introduced a new system of chronology and calendar. Previously, the year began on September 1st and was counted "from the Creation of the World"—a period 5,508 years behind Europe. By Peter's decree, the new year began on January 1st, 1700 AD; the old year, 7208, lasted only four months.

Created the Russian fleet

Sixteen-year-old Peter Alekseevich found the small boat "Saint Nicholas" in the barn of his uncle, Nikita Romanov, and sailed it down the Yauza River and then on Lake Pleshcheyevo. In 1693, the tsar built his first seagoing vessel, the "Saint Paul," in the port of Arkhangelsk. It set sail under a white, blue, and red flag with a golden double-headed eagle in the center. In 1705, this flag became the Russian merchant flag, and in 1991, the national symbol of Russia.

The Russian Navy's birthday was October 30, 1696. At that time, the Boyar Duma supported the Tsar's idea to create a regular fleet on the Sea of ​​Azov. Peter I personally built ships in the Voronezh forests on the Don River. And in 1699, the flag bearing the St. Andrew's Cross became the official flag of the fleet.

With the outbreak of the Northern War, Peter the Great founded the Baltic Fleet. Its first sailing frigate, the Shtandart, and the Kronstadt fort were built in 1703. In 1714, the Baltic squadron defeated the Swedes in the Battle of Cape Gangut, marking the first victory of the Russian navy.

At first, officers went to study in England, Holland, and Venice, and in 1715, the St. Petersburg Naval Academy was founded. Its graduates were called "midshipmen," from the French "garde-marine"—"marine guard." Between 1720 and 1722, the "Naval Regulations" and "Admiralty Regulations" were written for naval officers. All ranks, from sailor to admiral, were required to defend the homeland "with the utmost diligence and zeal." Foreigners could serve only on the condition that they "remain here until death."

Made the army regular

As an eleven-year-old boy, Peter Alexeevich played with "toy" regiments: initially, they recruited children from the palace villages of Preobrazhenskoye and Semyonovskoye, and later, adults. In 1683, the tsar nicknamed the groom Sergei Bukhvostov "the first Russian soldier." In the autumn of 1694, when Peter was 22, he conducted the first major military exercises in Russian history, the Kozhukhov maneuvers. And in 1695, he set out on the Azov campaigns, which exposed the weaknesses of the Russian army.

In 1699, Peter the Great decided to create a professional army on a regular basis—to replace the noble militia of Ivan III, the Streltsy of Ivan the Terrible, and the "New Order" regiments of Mikhail Feodorovich. And in 1705, he introduced conscription for all classes: peasant households contributed one soldier-conscript for lifelong military service—one man for every 20, 25, or 50 households. The core of the army became the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiments. By 1725, 53 conscriptions had been conducted, inducting over 284,000 men into the service.

A uniform was devised for soldiers: the infantry wore green caftans and black hats, while the cavalry wore blue caftans and black hats. In 1711, bands were organized for each military unit. In 1716, the rights and responsibilities of personnel were established—the "Land Military Charter." It introduced a military oath and punishments for crimes, including the death penalty. However, there was also a system of rewards: in 1698, Peter the Great established the first highest award in Russian history—the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called—and after each major battle, officers and soldiers were awarded commemorative gold and silver medals.