Peter the Great
tsar and 1st Emperor, founder of the Russian Empire / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peter the Great (Russian: Пётр Вели́кий, tr. Pyotr Velikiy, IPA: [ˈpʲɵtr vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj]), Peter I (Russian: Пётр Первый, tr. Pyotr Pyerviy, IPA: [ˈpʲɵtr ˈpʲɛrvɨj]) or Pyotr Alekseevich (Russian: Пётр Алексе́евич, IPA: [ˈpʲɵtr ɐlʲɪˈksʲejɪvʲɪtɕ]; 9 June [O.S. 30 May] 1672 – 8 February [O.S. 28 January] 1725)[lower-alpha 2] was a czar of Russia. He transformed Russia from an isolated kingdom into a transcontinental superpower.
Peter I | |||||
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Tsar / Emperor of All Russia[lower-alpha 1] | |||||
Reign | 7 May 1682 – 8 February 1725 | ||||
Coronation | 25 June 1682 | ||||
Predecessor | Feodor III | ||||
Successor | Catherine I | ||||
Co-monarch | Ivan V (1682–1696) | ||||
Regent | Sophia Alekseyevna (1682–1689) | ||||
Born | (1672-05-30)30 May 1672 Moscow, Tsardom of Russia | ||||
Died | 28 January 1725(1725-01-28) (aged 52) Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire | ||||
Burial | Peter and Paul Cathedral | ||||
Consort |
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Issue among others |
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House | Romanov | ||||
Father | Alexis of Russia | ||||
Mother | Natalya Naryshkina | ||||
Religion | Russian Orthodoxy | ||||
Signature |
He became czar of Russia in 1682, after his sister Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia lost a war. In 1697 he visited Western Europe and decided Russia must have access to the sea. He built the city and seaport of St. Petersburg which became the capital of Russia in 1711. He changed Russia's society, by making new laws so it would be modern like the European countries of the new Age of Enlightenment. Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was a close friend of the emperor but was later disgraced due to embezzlement of national funds.