Lesson Objectives:

Tutorials:

• describe the state reforms of Peter I,
• determine the purpose and results of reforming public administration.

Developing:

• develop the ability to draw conclusions,
• summarize historical material
• work with a map and a historical source.

Educational:

• development of a sense of patriotism and tolerance.

Tasks:

• to master the concepts: absolutism, Synod, Senate, colleges.

Equipment:

• multimedia projector,
• screen,
• textbook Danilov "History of Russia for students in grade 7",
• tests.

During the classes

I Class organization.

Today in the lesson we will continue to study the era of Peter I. We have already got acquainted with his transformations in the army. But even during the Northern War, Peter did not stop working on reforming the state. She will be talked about.

II Work on the topic.

1. Actualization of knowledge.

Remember, what was the system of state administration under Alexei Mikhailovich and in the early years of the reign of Peter I? (scheme of the state system) on the board

What is the disadvantage of this system?

(Could hundreds of orders, between which there was no clear delimitation of powers, become a significant help to Peter in his transformations?)

Peter needed such a control apparatus that could quickly and efficiently carry out his will, especially in the conditions of the Northern War.

2. Setting goals and objectives of the lesson.

Today in the lesson we will get acquainted with the transformations of Peter I in the field of public administration (topic recording) slide 1

During the study of the material, we must answer the question

Was the new system more efficient? slide 2

3. Work with documents and scheme.

A. Emperor.

So, back to the diagram. Name the change already known to you in this scheme (emperor since 1721) slide 3

What events led to this change?

B. Senate.

Gradually, the Boyar Duma lost its significance

Why did the Boyar Duma lose its significance? Why did Peter cease to reckon with her?

Peter decided to get rid of it and introduced a new governing body.

Read an excerpt from the work of the historian S.M. Solovyov and answer the questions.

1) What is the purpose of the Senate?

2) How were things decided in the Senate?

3) What role did the Senate play in the system of public administration?

The Prosecutor General exercised control over the activities of the Senate. The first prosecutor general was P.I. Yaguzhinsky. slide 5

Make changes to our schema. slide 6

B. Boards

The system of orders did not suit Peter either. Let's follow his actions.

Read an excerpt from the complete collection of laws of the Russian Empire, answer the questions.

1. Who is the author of this decree?
2. What is the date of establishment of colleges in Russia?
3. What facts are in the document? What conclusions can be drawn from them?
4. Who was on the boards?
5. Explain what is included in the concept of "General Regulations"?

Each board has specific responsibilities.

In 1721, the Estates Board was established - it was in charge of the lands of the nobility.

The order of secret affairs was renamed first into the Preobrazhensky order, and then into the Secret Office, which was engaged in political investigation.

In 1720, the Chief Magistrate was introduced, to whom the local magistrates were subordinate. They controlled the city population.

Make changes to the schema. Slide 9

D. Church reform.

In 1721 Another special board was created. Slide 10

You will learn about it by reading the paragraph of the textbook "Church Reform" p.118.

Answer the questions.

1) What was the name of this board?

2) Who was in it?

3) What is the role of the emperor in this college?

4) Who led the Synod?

5) What did Peter I achieve by carrying out this reform?

Make changes to the schema. slide 11

D. Regional reform.

In the conditions of the Northern War, unfortunately, the system of local government was the first to fail. The counties of that time covered huge spaces equal to several modern regions. Peter I decides to form provinces. Read about it in the textbook p. 117.

Complete the Local Control Chart. slide 12

In essence, Peter carried out the decentralization of management. The new leaders of the provinces, they were the closest associates of the king, concentrated in their hands enormous power over some of the old counties.

E. Table of ranks.

Remember the principle by which officials were appointed to the service in pre-Petrine times.

What is the disadvantage of this system?

The implementation of reforms required many talented people. Peter tried to attract such people to public service. To strengthen their position in society and the state, they were adopted in 1714. Decree on single inheritance and 1722. Table of ranks.

Let's study these documents and find out what opportunities opened up for the service man.

On page 121, read an excerpt from the decree on single inheritance.

What was the purpose of this decree?

What would be the consequences of keeping family estates in the hands of one heir?

What provision did the rest of the children receive?

In whose interests was the decree adopted? Who could be unhappy?

Consider the Table of Ranks.

Appendix 5 Slide 14-15

What is this document about?

Imagine yourself as a service person. You are a soldier, private of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. You are smart, diligent in service, show ingenuity and initiative. The commander has noticed you. What career advancement opportunities are open to you?

Now the old and the new aristocracy were equal in official position. According to the new law, anyone who received the rank of 8th class became a hereditary nobleman. Ranks from 9 to 14 gave personal nobility without the right to be inherited. For their service, officials received land and peasants, as well as a monetary allowance.

The historical significance of the Table of Ranks was the systematization of the administrative service. All strata of society, including the highest, were placed at the service of the state. The report card fixed the separation of military service from civilian.

G. Analysis

In general, these are all the main changes in the system of public administration.

Prove that this system of public administration will work more efficiently than the previous one. slide 16

Determine the form of government.

Autocracy - page 55 of the textbook.

Absolutism is a state system in which the power of the monarch is not limited by any institutions.

What is the significance of Peter the Great's reforms of state administration?

IV Consolidation of the studied.

Read the text and fill in the missing words.

1. Instead of the Boyar Duma, ............. was formed, which became the highest government institution. He had not only legislative, but also administrative powers.

2. Instead of several cumbersome orders, .............. were created, the work of which was more efficient.

3. Instead of the patriarch, he was in charge of the affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church ............... .

4. The country was divided into 8 .................., which, in turn, were divided into provinces.

5. With the adoption in 1722............................., all strata of society, including the highest, were put at the service the state. She secured the separation of military service from civilian.

Mutual verification. Answers on slide 17

1. Governing Senate

2. Boards

3. emperor (king)

4. Table of ranks.

V Reflection

What was difficult?

What is easy?

Overall assessment of the work of the class in the lesson.

S. Kirillov "Thoughts about Russia"

Speaking about the reforming activities of Peter I, we must not forget that all his activities were not only his personal whims or quirks of character - they were due to all the previous development of Russia.

According to the historian S. Solovyov, in the life of every state, as in the life of every person, there is a transition from one age to another. And this transition is not always smooth and problem-free, more often it is the other way around. Solovyov notes that the pre-Petrine time was for Russia a time when feeling prevails. Peter I ascended the throne at a time when Russia was moving into an age dominated by thought.

Another thing is that Peter perceived the need for reforms for the country as a personal matter, which is why they were carried out by force. But what is certain is that they were necessary. Under a lying stone, as you know, water does not flow.

The scheme of administrative reforms of Peter I

IN. Klyuchevsky wrote: “The transformation of management is perhaps the most ostentatious, facade side of Peter's transformative activity; for it especially willingly appreciated all this activity. It should be noted that Klyuchevsky was rather critical of Peter's activities, believing that the management reforms were carried out by Peter hastily, unsystematically, the main purpose of their implementation was a more effective withdrawal of money from the people for ever-growing military spending, because. Peter himself called money the artery of war. As one American researcher said, "Peter not only dressed like a soldier, but also acted and thought like a soldier." But if Peter's commands were clear and precise, then their execution did not correspond to this characteristic: often the establishments and orders were nullified by constant changes in state institutions, sometimes the same functions were duplicated by different institutions, many institutions and positions changed only their names: old Russian to European, but in essence they remained the same, because the people in them worked according to the same principle, and the tsar, although he was Peter I, could not personally follow everything.

Abolition of the Boyar Duma

But the style and methods of management gradually changed: instead of the Boyar Duma, decisions began to be made by a team made up of the closest associates of Peter I. At first, Prince Fedor Romodanovsky, whom his contemporaries characterized as "an evil tyrant, drunk all day," was Peter's chief adviser.

In 1699, a special department of cities was created. Decrees introduced self-government for the city merchants, as well as for the population of Pomeranian cities. The power of governors was abolished - elected burmisters began to be in charge of court and tax collection. The Moscow City Hall, which was chosen by the merchants of Moscow, was placed at the head of the new bodies. The City Hall was in charge of state revenues from cities and general supervision of the actions of self-government bodies. The chief inspector of the town hall board headed the Town Hall (the former butler of Sheremetev Alexei Kurbatov was the first to hold this position). But soon Peter loses confidence in the Town Hall and comes to the decision to transfer most of the management to the field, because. “It is difficult for a man to understand and rule everything with his eyes.”

Peter the First

1707 - the beginning of a new reform: provinces are created, which are divided into provinces. In total, 8 provinces were formed: Moscow, Ingermanland (later St. Petersburg), Kyiv, Smolensk, Arkhangelsk, Kazan, Azov and Siberian. Governor-generals were appointed at the head of the border provinces, and governors at the head of the rest. Governors were at the head of the provinces. Under the governors and governors were zemstvo offices. Since 1710, governors began to be called district commandants.

The governors had as assistants a deputy (vice-governor), a landrichter (judicial clerk), a food master, and other officials.

In 1710, a household census was carried out and a special payment unit was established, providing one "share" of funds to cover military expenses.

But this reform did not live up to expectations: the Northern War dragged on, there was not enough money, and this always creates fertile ground for fraud. In addition, an incomprehensible situation arose with the capital: Petersburg had not yet become one, and Moscow had already ceased to be one, and power was still concentrated in the hands of the Peter's team, which he called either the nearest chancellery or the "council of ministers."

Establishment of the Senate

Finally, by the Decree of March 2, 1711, a new body of state power was created - the Senate. Initially, the Senate consisted of 9 closest employees of Peter. It was the highest state authority.

To control management in 1711, Peter creates a system of fiscals, who are subordinate to the chief fiscal. Their duties are to report to the Senate and the Tsar about the abuses and dishonest actions of officials. Fiscals received half of the property of the guilty, if their denunciation was confirmed.

This is where the legs of modern corruption grow from!

A. Tolyander "Peter I"

But in 1722 the post of prosecutor general was introduced - to lead the fiscals. The Prosecutor General was supposed to oversee the Senate, thereby reducing the role of the Senate.

As a model for the reform of public administration, Peter took the Swedish state system, which was built on the principles of cameralism (organization of an institution based on collegiality, regulation of the activities of officials, uniformity of states and salaries). But never someone else's experience can be completely transferred to another soil. Peter also made changes, due to the peculiarities of Russia, by Decree of April 28, 1718: “Now, on the basis of the Swedish charter, it is necessary for all collegiums to compose in all matters and procedures point by point, and which points in the Swedish regulations are inconvenient, or are dissimilar to the situation of this state and put them according to your own reasoning. And, putting about them, report whether they are so.

Creation of boards

In 1712, Peter created the Swedish model colleges: Foreign Affairs, Admiralty, Military, Chamber College and Commerce College. Peter defined their competencies, staffed and appointed presidents and vice-presidents of the colleges.

Thus, many of the surviving orders ceased to exist, but some became part of the new institutions: the Justice College included seven orders. In the collegial system, the delimitation of activities became clearer, and an advisory order of doing business was carried out. Peter noted: “In the college, the proposed need is analyzed by many minds, and what one does not comprehend, the other will comprehend, and what this one does not see, he will see.”

In 1722, the Berg and Manufactory Collegium was divided into the Berg Collegium and the Manufactory Collegium, and the Little Russian Collegium was formed to improve the management of Ukraine.

In 1720, with the adoption of the General Regulations, the functions and competences of the collegiums were finally delimited. The collegiate system lasted almost a hundred years - until 1802.

Formation of the Synod

In 1721 The Spiritual College was formed - the Synod, which was removed from the subordination of the Senate. The patriarchate was abolished. The chief prosecutor became the head of the Holy Synod.

Local government reform

Following the Swedish model, Peter also reformed local self-government. The provinces were now divided into provinces, and the provinces into districts, at the head of the districts were zemstvo commissars, who were appointed by the Chamber Collegium.

The townspeople were divided into three guilds: the 1st guild (wealthy merchants, owners of handicraft workshops), the 2nd guild (small merchants, wealthy artisans) and the "mean people". The body of city self-government was called a magistrate. Only members of the guilds had the right to choose a magistrate. The activities of city magistrates were controlled by the Chief Magistrate, created in 1720.

Transformations were also carried out in relation to the non-serf population: it was united with the state peasants. Serfdom was eliminated by merging it with the serfs.

Thus, a powerful noble-bureaucratic apparatus was formed in Russia.

Introduction to the Table of Ranks

Original Table of Ranks

The result of the administrative reform was the adoption in 1722 of the Table of Ranks. This is a set of laws on the order of public service. All nobles were obliged to serve, the service was declared the only way to obtain a state rank. She opened the possibility of promotion, including people from the "mean people." Peter said: “For this reason, we do not allow anyone any rank until they show us and the fatherland any services and do not receive character for them.”

In accordance with the Table, all positions were divided into six parts: military (ground, artillery, guards, naval), civil and courtiers, and into 14 classes, or ranks.

The table of ranks existed with numerous changes until the 1917 revolution.

Peter the First. Mosaic portrait made by M. Lomonosov at the Ust-Ruditskaya factory

Changing the system of succession

In February 1722, Peter I signed a decree on succession to the throne. It abolished the ancient custom of passing the throne to direct descendants in the male line and provided for the appointment of an heir to the throne at the will of the monarch. The decree on succession to the throne appeared in connection with the struggle of Peter I with his son, Tsarevich Alexei, who grouped the opposition around him. After the death of Tsarevich Alexei (1718), Peter did not want to transfer power to his grandson Peter Alekseevich, because. he feared that opponents of the reforms would come to power, hoping to resolve the issue of succession in the spirit of absolutism. The situation of the struggle for the throne and, later, palace coups are connected with this decree of Peter.

The decree on succession to the throne was canceled by Emperor Paul I in 1797.

There is no unambiguous attitude to all Peter's reforms, especially administrative reforms. Historian V.Ya. Ulanov writes: "All these transformations, which followed one after another in a continuous stream ... not only did not lead the population to material and moral prosperity, but were oppression, not much inferior to the war of Peter the Great."

Convenient article navigation:

Reforms of public administration of Emperor Peter 1

Historians call the Petrine reforms of the central administration the large-scale transformations of the state apparatus that took place during the reign of Peter the Great. The main innovations of the ruler are the creation of the Governing Senate, as well as the complete replacement of the system of orders by Collegia, the formation of the royal Secret Office of the Holy Synod.

During the formation of Peter on the throne, the nobles acted as a key post of state administration, who received their rank by the right of their surname and origin. Peter, who came to power, understood that the established system of government was one of the weak links. What exactly is it that hinders the country in its development.

Traveling around Europe from 1697 to 1698, the king as part of the Great Embassy allowed him to get acquainted with the system of administrative bodies in European states. Based on them, he decides to carry out reforms in Russia.

With the beginning of Peter's power, the Boyar Duma began to lose its power and subsequently turned into an ordinary bureaucratic department. From 1701, all its work was delegated to a new body called the "Concil of Ministers", which was a council of chiefs of the most important government bodies. At the same time, it included many of the same boyars.

Two years before this, the Near Office is created, which controls the financial transactions of each order and makes administrative decisions. All royal advisers were required to sign the most important documents and register these events in a special book of nominal decrees.

Establishment of the Senate

On March 2, 1711, Peter the Great formed the so-called Governing Senate, which is the highest body of administrative, judicial and legislative power. The tsar assigned all his duties to this body during his absence, because frequent trips due to the Northern War could not stop the development of the state. At the same time, this administrative body was completely subordinate to the royal will and had a collegiate structure, the members of which were personally selected by Peter. On February 22, 1711, a new additional post of fiscal was created, which was supposed to carry out additional supervision during the absence of the king for officials.

The formation and development of colleges takes place in the period from 1718 to 1726. In them, the king saw an organ capable of replacing the outdated system of slow orders, which, for the most part, only duplicated each other's functions.

Appearing, the colleges completely absorbed orders, and in the period from 1718 to 1720, the presidents of the educated Colleges are even senators and personally sit in the Senate. It should be noted that later only the main Colleges remained in the Senate:

• Foreign Affairs;
• Admiralty;
• Military.

The formation of the above-described system of boards completes the process of bureaucratization and centralization of the state apparatus of Russia. The division of departmental functions, as well as the general norms of activity regulated by the General Regulations, is the main difference between the updated Petrine apparatus and the previous management system.

General Regulations

By royal decree of May 9, 1718, the presidents of the three colleges were instructed to begin the development of a document called the General Regulations, which would be a system of office work and be based on the Swedish charter. This system later became known as "college". In fact, the regulation approved a collegial way of discussing and resolving cases, as well as organizing office work and regulating relations with self-government bodies and the Senate.

On March 10, 1720, this document was approved and signed by the ruler of Russia, Peter the Great. The charter included an introduction, as well as fifty-six chapters with general principles for the operation of the apparatus of each state institution and various appendices for the interpretation of new foreign words that were in the text of the General Regulations.

Holy Synod

Before the end of the Northern War, Peter the Great begins to plan his church transformations. He orders Bishop Feofan Prokopovich to start developing the Spiritual Regulations, and on February 5, 1721, the Tsar approves and signs the establishment of the Spiritual College, which will later become known as the "Holy Governing Synod."

Each member of this body was required to personally swear allegiance to the king. On May 11, 1722, the post of chief prosecutor appeared, supervising the activities of the Synod and reporting all the news to the ruler.

Having created the Synod, the sovereign introduced the church into the mechanism of the state, in fact likening it to one of the many existing administrative institutions at that time, endowed with certain functions and responsibilities.

Scheme of government under Peter I

Table: reforms of Peter I in the field of public administration

Scheme: local self-government after the management reforms of Peter I

Video lecture: Reforms of Peter I in the field of management

Military reform was a continuation of the changes initiated by Alexei Mikhailovich. But, while under Alexei Mikhailovich such changes were adjusted to Russian conditions, Peter's reforms drove the Russian army into Western forms, without taking into account their acceptability for Russians. Rogues from all over the world flocked to serve in the Russian army.

civil reform was to create a completely new system of government. Instead of a Duma, a “Senate” was set up; instead of orders - "collegia"; The country was divided into 8 "provinces". Everything became similar to the Western system.

Estate reform radically changed the whole old device. Since Peter fought a lot, military service or work in the production of weapons began to play a dominant role. A soldier who distinguished himself in the war became an officer. Peter also sent Russians to study abroad.

Peasant reform led to the complete enslavement of the Russian peasants. Peter did this for the convenience of governing the country: instead of dealing with millions of citizens, he had to deal with a limited number of landowners who received complete power over the peasants. With the weakening of the influence of the church, the treatment of the peasants worsened and frequent peasant uprisings soon began.

financial reform was needed to increase fees for military needs and in order to force the Russian people to quickly accept Western customs. Under Peter, many taxes were introduced: on baths (in the west at that time they didn’t wash at all!), beards (in the west they shaved), mills, cellars, bees, schismatics, cabbies, etc. Tax collection was carried out strictly and the treasury under Peter was constantly replenished .

Sign of payment of duty for a beard

The purpose of education began to give students as much scientific and military knowledge as possible. that is, education departs from traditional Russian spirituality and a passion for materialistic humanism begins. All higher schools settled down in the Western way, where there is no longer any talk of God. Under Peter, a new, simplified civil type was also introduced for printing all books, except for church ones. This further accelerates the “separation of church and state” fashionable in the West.

The letters of the new civil font were chosen by Peter I, the strikethrough letters were not accepted.

As a kind of education, Peter forced people to arrange evening dance meetings (“assemblies”), where guests, violating church rules, had to come with their wives and daughters. This was also done to make Russian society look more like Western society.

In addition to these major reforms, Peter made many other smaller changes.

Under Peter, all Russian life changed and began to look like a European one. Even the name "Muscovite State" did not like Peter and Russia began to be called "empire", and Peter began to call himself "emperor". This change in name, like many other Peter's innovations, was not well thought out: the term empire implies the forcible seizure of people and lands under the rule of the emperor - that is, exactly what Russia has never done.

All these changes, especially the abolition of the patriarch, the weakening of the church, the demands to abandon their native way of life and the enslavement of the peasants were alien to the Russian people.

Explanations for the scheme:

1) The king (since 1721 the emperor) was at the head of the state and still had full power.

2) Near Office(in 1699-1711) replaced the Boyar Duma, then took its place Senate (1711).

3) Judicial, administrative and partially legislative power was concentrated in the Senate. He supervised all institutions in the state. The decisions of the Senate were collegial.

4) Attorney General and his deputy chief prosecutor controlled the work of the Senate. They obeyed fiscals, who exercised control over all central and local administrative institutions.

5) The place of several dozen old Moscow orders was taken by colleges- central government bodies - there were only 11 of them. Synod- the central governing body of the Church (it was attended by church hierarchs, who were appointed by the tsar himself), as well as Chief Magistrate, ruled all the cities of the empire. Preobrazhensky order was in charge of political investigation.

The territory of Russia was divided into provinces (in 1708-1710 - 8. From 1719 - 11), which were divided into 50 provinces, and those, in turn, into discrits.

Peter introduced a new, more consistent than before, territorial division of the state. At the head of the main territorial unit - the province - was the governor, who concentrated in his hands all the power - administrative, police, judicial and financial. As a result of the state reforms of Peter I in Russia, the state power was modernized according to the Western model. Peter tried to build a regular state in Russia, based on a predetermined plan - on the principles of rationality, with a single and identical system of government in its parts. An important principle in management has become the principle of collegiality - collective responsibility for decisions made in collegiums. In 1720, the General Regulations were published, which consolidated this principle and determined the basis for the functioning of the colleges.

Poll taxation introduced (for peasants and townspeople). Nobles and clergy did not pay taxes. In 1680-1724. tripling government revenues.

At the kaz on the succession to the throne (1722) will be the cause of the era of palace coups.

Features of the reforms: 1) were carried out according to the European model; 2) had a hard course and a fast pace; 3) there was no system in their implementation; 4) took place on the basis of the state system of serfdom; 5) covered all spheres of activity and life of society; 6) depended on foreign policy.
The reformation of Russia under Peter I was distinguished by a certain feverishness and even inconsistency. This was largely due to the tense war with Sweden. The reforms largely served to strengthen the absolute power of the monarch. At the end of the reign of Peter I, the state structure was already strikingly different from the structure of Muscovite Russia, largely following Western European models. In Russia, an absolute monarchy is finally taking shape - a system of power in which its entirety belongs indefinitely to one person at the head of the state - the tsar (emperor, king).

The attitude towards Peter and his reforms was ambiguous even during his lifetime. Some consider him a Westerner and a modernizer, while others consider him a tyrant and despot. Some see the reforms as a break with the previous national tradition, others consider them only a slightly improved preservation of these traditions.

Notes of the Danish envoy Just Yul about Peter I (Extract)

The king is very tall, wears his own short curly brown hair and rather large mustaches, is simple in dress and outward receptions, but very shrewd and intelligent. At dinner at the chief commandant's, the tsar had with him a sword taken from Field Marshal Reinshild in the Battle of Poltava. ... On December 15, 1709, in the afternoon, I went to the Admiralty Shipyard to be present at the lifting of the stems on a 50-gun ship, but that day one stem was raised, since the arrows (goats) were too weak to lift the stern. The king, as the chief shipmaster (a position for which he received a salary), disposed of everything, participated with others in the work and, where necessary, chopped with an ax, which he owned more skillfully than all the other carpenters present there. The officers and other people who were at the shipyard were drinking and shouting every minute. There was no shortage of boyars turned into jesters, on the contrary, a large number of them gathered here. It is noteworthy that, having made all the necessary orders to raise the stem, the tsar took off his hat in front of the Admiral General who was standing there, asked him whether to start, and only after receiving an affirmative answer put it on again, and then set to work. The tsar shows such respect and obedience not only to the admiral, but also to all senior persons in the service, for for the time being he himself is only a shautbenacht. Perhaps this may seem ridiculous, but, in my opinion, this course of action is based on a sound principle: the tsar, by his own example, wants to show other Russians how, in official matters, they should be respectful and obedient towards their boss.
From the shipyard, the king went to visit one of his ship's carpenters for the evening.
... The tsar often entertains himself with turning and, when traveling, carries the machine behind him. In this skill, he is not inferior to the most skillful turner and even reached the point that he can carve portraits and figures. When I visited, he got up from time to time from the bench, walked up and down the room, made fun of the faces standing around and drank with them, and also sometimes talked to this or that, among other things, about the most important matters, about what is most convenient to talk with the king in such cases. When the tsar again sat down at the machine, he began to work with such zeal and attention that he did not hear what was said to him and did not answer, but continued his work with great perseverance, as if he worked for money and earned his livelihood with this labor. In such cases, everyone stands around him and watches how he works. Everyone stays with him as long as he wants and leaves when he pleases, without saying goodbye.

Personalities of the late 17th - first quarter of the 18th centuries.

Alexey Petrovich(1690-1718) - Tsarevich, son of Peter I and Evdokia Lopukhina. He was hostile to his father's reforms. In 1711 he married Princess Sophia Charlotte of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, the sister of the Austrian emperor, who died in 1715. From this marriage were born a daughter, Natalia, and a son, Peter (future Emperor Peter II). Fearing persecution by his father, in 1716 Alexei secretly left for Vienna under the protection of his brother-in-law, the Austrian Emperor Charles VI, but was returned to Russia in 1718, where he was immediately arrested, imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress on charges of treason and sentenced to death. He died in his cell on the eve of his execution. According to some reports, he was strangled by the close associates of Peter I; according to other sources, died after sentencing.

Bulavin Kondraty Afanasyevich(1660-1708) - Don Cossack, son of the stanitsa ataman. The leader of the uprising on the Don in 1707-1708. In 1707 Russia waged the Northern War with Sweden. To recruit recruits and search for runaway peasants, a military detachment was sent to the Don, headed by Prince V.V. Dolgorukovs. The old Cossack rule “No extradition from the Don” became the reason for the uprising. After the capture of Cherkassk - the capital of the Don army - Bulavin was declared a military chieftain. But after a series of unsuccessful battles, unrest began among the rebels, part of the Cossacks separated and tried to capture Bulavin. In a brutal shootout, he was killed.

Golitsyn Vasily Vasilievich(1643-1714) - prince, military and statesman of Russia, boyar (since 1676). Moved forward under Tsar Fedor Alekseevich. Headed a number of orders. Participated in the defense of the southern borders of the country in the 70-80s. 17th century He headed the commission that worked out the decision to abolish mestnichestvo. In 1686, he obtained from Poland the conclusion of the Eternal Peace, according to which she recognized the entry of Ukraine into Russia. He led the Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689, which turned out to be unsuccessful. A supporter of rapprochement with the West, using the experience of Europe in reforming Russia. In the reign of Sofya Alekseevna - her favorite and the actual ruler of the state. After her fall, he was deprived of the boyar title, property and exiled with his family.

Dolgorukovs - princes, associates of Peter I: Vasily Lukich (1670-1739) - diplomat, member of the Supreme Privy Council, executed; Grigory Fedorovich (1656-1723) - diplomat, ambassador to Poland 1701-1721; Yakov Fedorovich (1639-1720) - confidant of Peter I, in 1700-1711. in Swedish captivity; from 1712 - senator, from 1717 - president of the Auditing Board.

Ivan V Alekseevich(1666-1696) - Russian Tsar, son of Alexei Mikhailovich from marriage with M. Miloslavskaya. After the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich in 1682, the Naryshkins proclaimed the younger Tsarevich Peter the tsar, removing their older brother Ivan, who was sickly and incapable of state affairs. However, during the Streltsy uprising, Ivan was placed on the throne, and then approved by the Zemsky Sobor as the first king, and his younger brother Peter began to be considered the second king. The reign of Ivan V was nominal: until 1689, Princess Sofya Alekseevna actually ruled, then Peter I.

Lefort Franz Yakovlevich(1656-1699) - military leader, a native of Switzerland. In 1678 he entered the military service in the Russian army, participated in the Russian-Turkish war (1676–1681) and the Crimean campaigns (1687 and 1689). Became close to Peter I, which contributed to his rapid career; from 1691 - lieutenant general, from 1695 - admiral. In the Azov campaigns he commanded the Russian fleet. In 1697–1698 formally headed the Grand Embassy to Western Europe.

Lopukhina Evdokia Fedorovna(1670–1731) – Empress, first wife of Peter I, mother of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, in 1698 she was tonsured a nun. In 1718, after the trial of Tsarevich Alexei, she was transferred from Suzdal to the Ladoga Assumption Monastery, in 1725 to the Shlisselburg Fortress. After the accession of her grandson Peter II, she lived in the Moscow Ascension Monastery, enjoyed royal honors.

Mazepa Ivan Stepanovich(1640-1709) - Hetman of the Left-Bank Ukraine (1687-1708). One of the largest landowners in Ukraine. In an effort to separate Ukraine from Russia, he went over to the side of Charles XII after the Swedes invaded Ukraine. In the Battle of Poltava he fought on the side of the Swedes. After the defeat, he fled with Charles XII to the Turkish fortress of Bendery, where he died.

Menshikov Alexander Danilovich(1673-1729) - statesman and military figure, generalissimo. The son of a court groom, a servant of Lefort, from 1686 he was a batman and favorite of Peter I. Accompanied the tsar in the Azov campaigns (1695–1696), in the Great Embassy, ​​supervised the construction of St. them to surrender (1709). Since 1704 - major general; since 1702 - count; since 1707 - the most serene prince, promoted to field marshal; since 1718 - President of the Military Collegium. After the death of Peter I, relying on the guards, he enthroned Catherine I and became the de facto ruler of Russia. After her death, Peter II accused Menshikov of high treason and embezzlement of the treasury. The prince was arrested, deprived of all titles and awards, property and fortune. Exiled with his family to Berezov (now the Tyumen region), where he soon died.

Naryshkins- Russian noble family of the 16th - early 20th centuries. The rise of the family is connected with the second marriage of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich with Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina, the mother of Peter I. Lev Kirillovich Naryshkin (1664–1705) was a statesman, boyar, and uncle of Peter I. One of the largest and most influential politicians in Russia in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. In 1690–1702 headed the Ambassadorial order.

Peter I the Great(1672-1725) - Russian Tsar since 1682, Russian Emperor since 1721. Son of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov and Natalia Kirillovna Naryshkina. Proclaimed king at the age of 10. However, he received real power after the removal of the sister regent Sofya Alekseevna (1689) and the death of his half-brother co-ruler Ivan V (1696). He continued the line of his father and older half-brother Fyodor Alekseevich to overcome the backwardness of Russia by more actively introducing it to Western traditions. Peter I is an outstanding statesman of Russia, who significantly advanced its development in all areas. He considered the main task of his reign to ensure Russia's access to non-freezing seas. This was the subject of his Azov campaigns (1695 and 1696), as well as the long Northern War, which resulted in the proclamation of Russia as an empire, and Peter I as the first Russian emperor and "Father of the Fatherland". In 1703, he began the construction of St. Petersburg, and in 1713 he moved the capital there.

Peter I carried out a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the country, its political and economic life. He was married twice - to Evdokia Lopukhina and Marta Skavronskaya (Catherine I), had a son Alexei and daughters Anna and Elizabeth (children from his first marriage - Alexander and Pavel and from the second - Catherine, Maria, Margarita, Peter, Pavel, Natalya - died in infancy or childhood). Son Alexei was accused of high treason and died in prison under unclear circumstances. Peter I himself died on January 28, 1725, without having time to name the heir to the throne.

The Emperor succeeded to a large extent in solving most of the problems that faced Russia by the end of the 17th century. The country gained access to the Baltic Sea, a regular army and navy were created, a state system was formed that corresponded to European standards, and a powerful breakthrough was made in the economy and cultural development. Russia forced other European states to reckon with it. A significant role in these changes was played by Peter I, who, being an integral and selfless nature, subordinated his whole life, all his activities to the service of the Russian Empire.

Prokopovich Feofan(1681-1736) - political and church figure, writer, historian. Originally from Ukraine. From 1711 he was the rector of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. In 1716 he moved to St. Petersburg and became the closest assistant to Peter I in carrying out church reform. Since 1721 - Vice-President of the Synod. In his works “The Word of the Power and Honor of the Tsar”, “The Truth of the Will of the Monarchs”, he proved the need for a policy of “enlightened absolutism” in Russia, the further strengthening of serfdom. Author of The History of Emperor Peter the Great from His Birth to the Battle of Poltava and other works. He took part in the creation of the Academy of Sciences.

Sofia Alekseevna(1657-1704) - the ruler of Russia in 1682-1689, the daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from her marriage to M. Miloslavskaya. She was distinguished by intelligence, energy, ambition, was an educated woman. Taking advantage of the uprising of 1682, the Miloslavsky party seized power, Ivan V Alekseevich was proclaimed the first tsar, and Peter the second. Sophia became regent for the young brothers-kings. During the years of her reign, some concessions were made to the settlements and the search for fugitive peasants was weakened. In 1689, there was a gap between Sophia and the boyar-noble group that supported Peter I. Peter's party won. Sophia was imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent. During the Streltsy uprising of 1698, Sophia's supporters intended to "shout out" her to the kingdom. After the suppression of the uprising, Sophia was tonsured under the name of Susanna as a nun at the Novodevichy Convent, where she died.

Sheremetev Boris Petrovich(1652-1719) - statesman and military figure, field marshal general, diplomat, count. Associate of Peter I, participated in the Crimean and Azov campaigns. In 1697–1699 headed diplomatic missions to Poland, Austria, Italy, Malta. An active participant in the Northern War, the Battle of Poltava, the Prut campaign, etc.