Saint Petersburg - one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, is deservedly called the Northern Palmyra.You can write whole volumes, telling you how to create this second capital of the state.No less interesting is the whole history of St. Petersburg.Briefly we try to consider it.
Northern War
war with the Swedish king feces XII, later received the name of the North, according to the Peter I had to open the exit of Russia to the Baltic Sea, which means "open a window to Europe", which was so eager to make a king-reformer.
During this protracted campaign has won many great victories, which is still proud of the Russians: Narva, Shlisselburg and, of course, Poltava.In the end, Peter was able to win the final victory in the war in 1721 and to achieve the output of Russia to the Baltic Sea.
As these events connected with the history of creation of St. Petersburg?Briefly it will be discussed further.
plans to build a new capital
Tsar Peter I realized that Russia needs fundamental reforms, and in almost all areas ranging from management and ending with the production technology.But he could not understand and that is surrounded by the boyars in their old nest, Moscow, he will be unable to break the chains of old foundations.Therefore, at the beginning of the reign he conceived the idea of building the new capital, where he will have to manage not Russian kingdom and the Russian empire.
Later, Peter went to Holland and imbued with European culture, so wanted to be the new capital was just at the western borders of the state.
In 1703 Peter I was able to fight off a piece of an ancient Russian land once occupied by the Swedes.By the time this land has already called on the German style - Ingermanlandia.
It is here that Peter decided to build his new capital.Thus began a thirteen-year history of St. Petersburg.Briefly about this later.
City
As mentioned earlier, Peter I in his youth traveled to Holland, where skillfully learned to build ships, learned the local language and, above all, imbued with European culture.He was fascinated by Europe, so much so that in Russia all tried to get a European style, introducing new laws forced the boyars shave beards.No wonder that his new capital, he tried to do similar to Amsterdam - Dutch market town.
The town was named in honor of the patron saint of the king - the Apostle Peter.Naturally, he gave the name of its capital to the Dutch style - St. Peter-Burj.It is with this name until 1914 was connected with the history of St. Petersburg.Briefly about what happened and why the name has changed, you'll learn about later.
of St. Petersburg
Thirteen years have passed from the laying of the first stone of the fort, which was named St. Peter-Burj, in 1704 and until 1717, when the fortress turned into a real full-fledged city.During this period, the construction was carried out mainly ordinary working people.He took part in the construction and Peter himself, because he was still a youth, joined the operation with an ax, helping to build ships for its fleet, later became invincible.
Meanwhile, the city is swelled, and Peter scored one victory after another, both in war and in the building.But the real gem it was just St. Petersburg.The city's history will tell us briefly below.
capital of the empire
Thus, St. Petersburg has grown from a small fort in the city, is truly worthy to become the capital of the empire.In 1712 he was made an official transfer of the capital city.From Moscow began to gradually move to St. Petersburg various official agencies, foreign embassies and the royal court.
When, in 1717, when the construction works were completed in total, with the decoration of the capital came from the real masters of their craft, invited, of course, in Europe.St. Petersburg all prettier.In 1725 there was inaugurated the Academy of Sciences, which made the city not only the state but also the cultural capital of the empire.
After the death of Peter I St. Petersburg did not stop to develop as a world center, eclipsing its beauty, many European cities.And it is not surprising, because the city were doing such great sculptors and architects as Rastrelli, Bazhenov, Velten and many other geniuses from around the world.
In the XIX century, the city flourished in all its glory.But this does not stop the history of St. Petersburg.Briefly about what happened next, will be the next story.
Petrograd: the loss of empire
In 1914, the First World War.Russian Empire with Great Britain and France joined in the fight against Germany and Austria-Hungary.On the wave of patriotism was a question about why the name of the Russian capital pronounced in the German manner.So it was decided to rename St. Petersburg to Petrograd.
But the new name did not stick for long.In 1917 there was the October Revolution, which destroyed the Russian Empire.On its ruins a new state, the Soviet Union.Because of the proximity of the front, the Soviet government feared to be in Petrograd, so in 1918 it was decided to move the capital back to Moscow.
But this does not end the history of St. Petersburg.Briefly on how to rename this city again, you will learn more.
Leningrad and St. Petersburg again
In 1924, the city had another name change.The reason it was simultaneously with the death of Lenin, the Soviet leadership's desire to perpetuate his memory, and with the general policy of renaming cities, bearing royal names.So Petrograd was renamed Leningrad.A similar fate awaited Aleksandrovsk, Ekaterinograd, Ekaterinburg, Ekaterinodar and other cities bearing the names of the Romanovs.
During the Soviet period the city lost the capital status, but still remained the second largest and most important settlement in the USSR.It evolved Soviet-style architecture, open cultural institutions, construction of new high-rise residential neighborhoods.
Although Leningrad knew and bitter years.Especially tragic fate of the inhabitants of the city has developed during the siege of 1941-1944.
Finally, in 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed.This has given rise to a new wave of renaming the country.But this time, the "top" nobody imposed it, as it should be called a city.The name chosen by the inhabitants offered.And in the referendum more than 50% of Leningrad decided to return the original name of the city - St. Petersburg.Milestones we briefly covered in this review.But the important thing is that the city continues to live in it are born new people, build buildings, infrastructure development.
