Personality of Peter 1 on the right is one of the dominant place in the history of the Russian state.And it was not that this man founded the Empire as such, but the fact that during the reign of Peter the Russian had a completely new vector of development.Written thousands of historical and biographical books, creating a portrait of Peter 1, but clearly describe the activities of the human scientists and historians can not to this day.Some of them deify the first Russian emperor, describing his innovations in the public system and foreign policy.Others, on the contrary, trying to show him a tyrant and a despot, referring to the excessive harshness and cruelty towards his subjects.But the portrait of Peter 1 photo, which is shown below, depicts a man motivated and educated.
criticism of the first emperor and ill-considered innovations aimed, according to historians, the eradication of all Russian, replacing its Western values.However, they both agree on one thing clear: it was really controversial, symbolic and a great figure in the history of the Russian state.
Judge not, that ye be not judged
If you carefully study the historical portrait of Peter 1, created by the authors of countless works, we can come to a simple conclusion: such a large-scale identity can not be judged one-sidedly.Strict delimitation of the type of "black and white" are not acceptable here.In addition to criticism or, on the contrary, praise is necessary to clearly understand the then existing laws and practices.And what seems at times wild and scary to our contemporaries, was a mere commonplace for different layers of the population of Russia beginning of the XVIII century.
portrait of Peter the Great can not create, using modern moral values.Such an approach would be "flat" and emotional.He hurt a sober assessment of the historical reality of the Muscovite state, and then the Russian Empire of the XVIII century.
So you just need to try to focus objectively on neutral biography of the first Russian emperor and everything connected with it.After all, such persons tend to leave a mark not only in politics and government.
Education - the foundation for future identity
Peter A. Romanov was born on May 30, 1672.Like all the royal offspring, the future emperor received only home education.And you have to admit that, even in these times, it was not bad.Educators have identified the boy a greater propensity for foreign languages and science.In other words, the future emperor from childhood were combined human and technical endeavor.Although the preference he still gave the practical sciences.
youngest son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and Natalia Naryshkin, little Peter, grew remarkably agile and strong child.In addition to his penchant for science, he was happy to climb the fence, fought a noble peers of the inner circle, and committed other pranks characteristic of this age.
Craft - an occupation worthy of kings
special surprise each and every biographer has always been the king's son hobby crafts simple workers, which he has expressed interest in a very young age.None of the historical portrait of Peter 1 is complete without a description of how he could spend hours watching the work of a lathe or pleasure breathing hot vapors palace forge.
Interest king's son did not go unnoticed.We have been allocated special craftsmen, who began to teach the basics of Peter the easiest crafts: turning business and forging.It is necessary to take into account that it did not go at the expense of core training schedule of the young heir.Exact science, language, basics of military affairs has not been canceled.From early childhood, the future emperor received multilateral and quality education (contrary to some Western historians that home schooled Russia of those years differed sided and unprofessional).
However, the "simpleton" the Emperor would not be called, looking like a portrait painted by Antropov Peter 1: royal regalia, posture and say look great and powerful man.And though at the time the picture of the emperor was dead for almost 50 years, the author has depicted it very reliable.
Coronation and link
political portrait of Peter 1 we start writing since 1682.After the death of the childless Tsar Feodor Alekseevich Romanov youngest was built on the throne.However, it was bypassing his elder brother Ivan, than not fail to take advantage Miloslavskys Party (relatives older sister Petra - Sofia) for the organization of a palace coup.Miloslavsky successfully used a Royal excitement, and as a result Naryshkin clan to which belonged to the mother of Peter, was almost destroyed."Senior" the king was appointed Ivan and Sophia became regent regent.
Streletsky revolt and outright brutal murder very seriously affected the personality of Peter the Great.Many historians associate it with these events further, not always balanced, the actions of the king.
Sophia, becoming the sole mistress of the country, virtually exiled king in small Transfiguration - a small suburban estate patrimony.It was here that Peter gathered noble greenhorns near environment, created the famous "funny shelves."Military education had this form, officers and soldiers, and the army subordinate to this discipline.Peter, of course, was the commander in chief.For entertainment, the young king was built "comic Fortress", which, honing his "combat skills", the army stormed amusing.However, very few people then knew that it was this child's play boys running around with wooden rifles and sabers, mark the beginning of Peter's famous and formidable guard.
None portrait of Peter 1 is complete without mention of Alexander Menshikov.They met in the same place, in the Transfiguration.The son of the groom in the following years became the right hand of the emperor and one of the most powerful men in the empire.
coup Miloslavskys
weakness and soreness "senior" Tsar Ivan the regent Sophia constantly forced to think about the full autocracy in the country.Surrounded by the nobles of the strong clan Miloslavskys, the ruler was in full confidence that it will be able to usurp power.However, on the way to the throne was Peter.He was anointed by God and a full king.
in August 1689 Sofia decided on a coup that aimed to eliminate Peter and seized the throne.However, the faithful people warned the young king, and he had to leave the Transfiguration, hidden in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery.The monastery was not chosen by chance.Thick walls, trenches and tunnels represented an insurmountable obstacle for hiking musketeers Sophia.On the assault by all the rules of military science at Sophia it had neither the time nor the means.In addition, the elite command musketeer of the revelations hesitated, not knowing which side to choose.
Whose decision to withdraw it in the Trinity-Sergius?This does not mention a historical portrait of Peter 1. In short, this place turned out to be fatal for Sofia, and a very good one for the king.Nobles was supported by Peter.Combat troops aristocratic cavalry and infantry "amusing" and true musketeers surrounded Moscow.Sophia was convicted and imprisoned in a monastery, and all followers of the clan Miloslavskys were executed or exiled.
After the death of Tsar Ivan Peter became the sole owner of the Moscow throne.Maybe that described events prompted him to serious reorganization of all the Russian way of life.After representatives of the "good old days" in the face of archers and Miloslavskys constantly trying to physically remove the young emperor, inspired him with a subconscious fear that, as claimed by his contemporaries, depicting the psychological portrait of Peter 1, reflected on his face and pursued in the shower almost until his death.Even painters notice and recreate an unusually strong, but at the same time extremely tired face of the king.Artist Nikitin, a portrait of Peter 1 which is amazing in its simplicity and lack of imperial paraphernalia, just passed this strong-willed and powerful but deeply sincere person.However, critics tend to "take away" of the glory Nikitin, referring to the uncharacteristic of the century drawing style.
Window to Europe - the German suburb
Against the background of these events look quite natural desire of a young king to everything European.It is impossible not to note the role of the Kukui - German Colony, which he loved to visit the Emperor.The friendly Germans and tidy life dramatically different with that seen in the rest of Peter the same Moscow.But, of course, not in neat houses.The Emperor was filled by the way of life of this small piece of Europe.
Many historians believe that this visit formed part Kukui historical portrait of Peter 1. In short, the future pro-Western views.We should not forget about dating, zavedёnnyh king in the German reservation.There he met a retired Swiss officer Franz Lefort, who became the principal military adviser and charming Anna Mons - a favorite of the future first emperor.Both of these men played an important role in the history of Russia.
Access to the sea - a strategic task
Peter more interested in the fleet.Specially hired Dutch and English masters teach him the tricks and tricks of building ships.Later, when the Russian flag will go mnogopushechnye battleships and frigates, Peter, not once, not twice useful knowledge of the nuances of shipbuilding.All defects and marriage in the construction, he defined himself.No wonder it was called King-carpenter.1 Peter could really build the ship from bow to stern with his own hands.
However, during his youth Muscovy had only one exit to the sea - in the city of Arkhangelsk.European ships certainly came into this port, but geographically the place was too unfortunate for serious trade relations (due to the long and expensive delivery of the goods into Russia).This idea is visited, of course, not only Poroshenko.For access to the sea and its predecessors have fought, mostly unsuccessfully.
Peter decided to continue the Azov campaigns.Especially that started in 1686 continued the war with Turkey.The army, he trained in the European manner, already was a formidable force.It made several military campaigns against the city of Azov sea.But only the latter was a success.However, the victory came at a price.A small but built at the time the latest engineering fortress claimed many Russian lives.
Although the fact of the capture of Azov in Europe was perceived rather skeptical (because of the loss ratio), it was the first real strategic victory of the young king.And most importantly - Russia finally gained access to the sea.
Northern War
Despite the frank skepticism of European politicians, Peter 1 starts to think about the Baltic Sea.The ruling elite was at that time seriously concerned about the growing ambitions of another young strategist - Swedish King Karl XII.This is partly why the Europeans supported the Moscow tsar in his quest to get a piece of coastal land for the opening of the Baltic shipyards and ports there.It seems that having two or three ports it is possible to allow Russia and the imminent war for the Baltic Sea seriously weaken Sweden, which, though weak Russian win, but seriously bogged down in mainland wild Muscovy.
Thus began a long Northern War.It lasted from 1700 to 1721 and ended with the unexpected defeat of the Swedish army at Poltava, as well as the approval of the Russian presence in the Baltic Sea.
Reformer
course, without serious economic and political changes in Russia Peter 1 does not cut through to the famous "window to Europe".Reformers virtually all lifestyle Muscovy.If we talk about the army, its formation it has received it in the Northern War.Peter found the resources for its modernization and organization of the European model.And if at the beginning of hostilities Swedes had to deal with unorganized, often untrained and poorly armed units, at the end of the war it was already a powerful European army, able to win.
But not only the personality of Peter the Great, has a remarkable talent commander allowed him to win a great victory.The professionalism of his closest generals and ascetics - a topic for a long and meaningful conversations.On the simple heroism of the Russian soldier composed whole legend.Of course, no army could not win without a serious rear.That military ambitions spurred the economy of the old Russia, and brought it to another level entirely.After all, the old traditions are no longer able to fully meet the needs of the growing army and navy.Almost every lifetime portrait of Peter 1 depicts his military armor or military paraphernalia.Artists gave tribute to the emperor.
Not a single army
Portrait of Peter 1 is complete, if we restrict ourselves only to the economic and military victories.Emperor should pay tribute to the development and implementation of reforms in the area of governance.First of all, the institution of the Senate and the boards instead of obsolete and working on the principle of the caste of the Boyar Duma and orders.
Designed by Peter the "Table of Ranks" spawned the emergence of so-called social mobility.In other words, the Report Card gave the opportunity to receive good and nobility solely on merit.The changes were made and diplomacy.Instead of old fur coats and hats highborn boyars, who represented Russia, embassy diplomats were already European level.
Description portrait of Peter 1 would be incomplete if we talk about it only in superlatives.It is worth noting that the general increase in geopolitical Russia, the lives of ordinary people in the country have not changed, and in some cases (such as compulsory military service) became worse.Life is simple serf was worth less than the life of the horse.This was particularly noticeable in the "global" Peter's construction sites.Thousands of people died while building beautiful European cities - St. Petersburg.Nobody thought of the dead, and in the construction of the Ladoga Canal ... And a lot of young men did not become soldiers, dying under the sticks officers, introducing discipline in military units.
It is a complete disregard for human life and criticized the first emperor, was imputed to him senseless violence and a huge number of unsubstantiated victims.In addition, we are confronted everywhere with striking facts of inhuman activities of Peter 1.
In defense of this man, you can say only one thing.The first emperor of Russia has never distanced himself from his people to those distances, which allowed itself subsequent rulers.A thousand times an enemy kernel could tear him apart.Dozens of times Peter A. Romanov could just drown in the imperfect ships.And during the global construction projects he slept in the same barracks with patients builders, risking to catch ailments, from which at the time was not drugs.
course, guarded by enemy bullets Emperor better than the ordinary soldier, he was treated with good doctors and not likely to die from the flu he had much more than an ordinary peasant.However, let's finish the description of a portrait of Peter the 1 memory the reason for his death.The emperor died of pneumonia, which was to save from the cold water over the banks of the Neva a simple guard soldier.The fact is, maybe, not so remarkable in comparison with the acts of his life, but saying a lot.Hardly any of today's "powers that be" capable of such an act ...
