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THE REIGN OF PETER I - THE "GRAND EMBASSY" |
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As
he took the reign in his hands, Peter spent another five years
on military "games", training and manoeuvres on
land, and then on River Yauza and Lake Pereyaslavskoye
(north-east to Moscow). "Game" regiments had
eventually formed the core of the new army - Preobrazhenski
and Semyonovski Regiments, in the future the best regiments of
guards, famous from many military campaigns. Creation of the
new model army was greatly influenced by the foreigners from
so-called German Colony near Moscow, where after all lived not
only the Germans, but also the Dutch, French and Scots. The
young czar bestowed the biggest trust on a Scot, Patrick
Gordon (1635-1699), who has spent many years in Russian
service, and a Swiss, Franz Lefort (1655-1699), who put great
efforts in building of the Russian army and navy.
At that time Peter proved to be a restless
worker, first of all in the military sphere, but |
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not only there: with the inborn drive for
knowledge, especially the technical one, he studied
mathematics and engineering, showed big interest in natural
sciences, and did not hesitate to ask for detailed
explanations from his tutors and advisers. Peter liked
physical work and was not afraid of fatigue, particularly
because he was healthy, strong and well-built. Peter mastered
many crafts, and items he made personally still make honours
to many museum collections. In young age he learnt the Dutch
and the German languages and spoke them fluently for the rest
of his life. In general, he advanced many Germans, who during
Sophia's reign rendered invaluable services to him; since then
had been dated the growth of the influence of the German
element in Russia. Later, as he introduced many reforms, Peter
also introduced German nomenclature in various areas of the
state affairs. Temperament and working activity did not allow
Peter to stay long in one place, so he travelled a lot, and
already in the beginning of his reign frequently ferried
between Moscow and Archangel, where the first shipyard was
erected by his decree of 1693. Originally, he did not pay much
attention to state affairs, leaving them to his mother and
closest boyars. Then started impressive careers of many
friends of Peter's childhood, even those, who originated from
lower social classes. Alexander Menshikov (born 1673), who
used to sell pies in the streets of Moscow, exercised the
biggest influence during Peter's reign. Simultaneously with
his great and invaluable for Russia merits, Peter I was also a
harsh and merciless ruler; he would always make a short shrift
with anybody, who would get in his way.
In 1695 Peter decided to retake Azov. He collected a big army
for the First Azov Expedition, but was not able to prevent the
Turks from bringing reinforcements and supplies by the sea.
The unsuccessful siége of Azov had to be lifted. However,
that did not discourage him, but quite contrary - made him to
launch with even greater energy the building of the riverine
fleet. Within remarkably short time in many places were
produced assembly parts for galleys, which were finished and
launched in Voronezh. In a year a powerful fleet was ready and
the Second Azov Expedition (1696) brought the coveted victory.
In order to consolidate the success in the Sea of Azov, Peter
immediately started building of a new fortress in Taganrog, as
well as of a sea fleet. The funds for those projects had to be
collected through the taxes that were equally imposed on the
boyars, gentry, clergy and merchants. The scale of the
enterprise was such that an urgent need in a big number of
qualified specialists occurred, and so several dozens of boyar
sons were sent to study abroad. Peter also became the first of the Russian czars, who
travelled abroad. In 1697 Moscow sent the so-called
"Grand Embassy" to travel to European countries and
conduct negotiations concerning a possible conclusion of a
broad coalition against Turkey; to the young czar it was an
opportunity to become personally acquainted with the
achievements of the European sciences and technics. In van of
the embassy were Lefort and Fyodor Golovin; peter himself
travelled incognito under the assumed name Peter Mikhailov,
which, of course, had no practical meaning and can be only
attributed to his ever-lasting love for theatrical gestures.
The travel started from Riga, then under the Swedish rule, and
then to Courland. In Konigsberg Peter met the Prussian elector
Frederick III (since 1700 the king of Prussia as Frederick I),
and then Peter, ahead of the embassy, made for Holland, where
within several months he worked as an ordinary worker in the
shipyards. He also visited England and William III, the
king of England and stadholder of the Netherlands. Peter used
to visit whatever was of any interest: shipyards,
manufactures, printing houses, state institutions and musea.
He conducted political talks everywhere, including Vienna,
where he arrived in the mid-1698. But he did not achieve any
results, chiefly because at that time the Turkish question did
not play any big role. Diplomats of England, France and
Austria were preoccupied with another question: their eyes
were turned on Spain, and their minds were already
anticipating the moves in the coming contest for the
succession after the last of the Spanish Habsburgs, Charles
II. Their interest was not groundless, as in 1700 Charles
died, and immediately after his death West Europe plunged into
the chaos of the terrible and destructive Spanish Succession
War. Peter also planned to visit Venice, but that trip had to be
postponed, since the couriers coming to Vienna brought news
about a new streltsi revolt in Moscow. On the way back to
Russia he met the king of Saxony and Poland, Augustus II
Strong, in Rawa Russka. Both monarchs discussed the question
of an alliance against Sweden, where at that time ruled 16
years old Charles XII. Russia had a vested interest in a war
with Sweden: possibility to recover lands lost by Ivan the
Terrible and the access to the Baltic Sea. Apparently that
thought came to Peter's mind during his voyage throughout
Europe, and Augustus II consolidated it, as he drew the
perspective of a broad anti-Swedish coalition, in which would
participate Prussia, and especially Denmark - Sweden's main
rival in the Baltic Sea. Before the czar arrived to Moscow, his associates suppressed
the new streltsi revolt, so at that time no new domestic
troubles were looming. Nevertheless, Peter ordered to
investigate into the matter of the streltsi revolt once again,
and with applying cruel tortures. One thousand of streltsi
were executed in the Red Square, and Sophia, who was
confronted with the proofs of her instigation to the revolt,
was forced to take the veil and immured in a convent. But
before that she had to witness the executions of her
co-conspirators. Simultaneously Peter started introducing first reforms,
especially in the sphere of habits. So, the access to the
court was granted only to the persons in Western attire and
cleanly shaven - the latter was to be followed
unconditionally. It used to happen that the czar personally
shaved beards of the most stubborn boyars, and cut excessively
long sleeves and flaps of their attire. The question of the
beards was straightforward and unequivocal: they were allowed
only to the clergy and lower classes. Merchants could retain
beards if they paid a special, "beard" tax. Peter
was right when he declared war on beards, that sign of the old
order - ancient habits had to be abandoned, as the new life,
needs and tasks demanded new, higher paces, which were out of
question in old times, which had nothing in common with hurry.
Quite contrary - high pace of the life was not possible due to
many factors, even as little as heavy and long garments, as
well as awkward beards. Nevertheless, broad social masses had
met those innovations with hostility, as they saw in them a
sacrilege against centuries-old habits, and so, Peter's
reforms since the beginning encountered growing resistance. |
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