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Peter’s grandfather, Michael I of Russia, or Mikhail Fyodorovich Romanov, was the first Russian Tsar from the House of Romanov, which ruled Russia for more than 300 years from February 21, 1613 to March 15, 1917.
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He was born June 9, 1672, in Moscow, Russia
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After the death of Feodor, there was struggle between families of the two wives. 10-year-old Peter was proclaimed as Tsar over his elder half-brother, Ivan V, who was struggling with his mind mentally.
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Sofia was overthrown in 1689. Peter remained co-ruler with Ivan V till 1696, when the death of Ivan made him the sole emperor of Russia.
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Peter led a cultural and political revolution by creating systems which were modernized and scientific. He also took measures to end the dominance of traditionalism and religion in Russia and make it move towards modern thought. However he is also labelled as tyrannical due to his cruel executions, high taxes, violent tendencies, several revolts during his reign and his insensible measures like the beard tax on men with beards.
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In 1697, he traveled to Europe under the name of Peter Mikhailov. The 18-month journey was not a success, as European powers were occupied with the succession of the childless Spanish King Charles II. But during his time in Europe, Peter the Great studied shipbuilding and even worked as a ship’s carpenter in the yard of the Dutch East India Company. He later used his shipbuilding knowledge to strengthen the Russian navy.
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Peter realized that it was important to make Russia a military power in order to make trading with other nations easier. He wanted to create more outlets and after several wars with Turkey in the south, he secured access to the Black Sea. He officially founded the first Russian Navy base, Taganrog, in September 1698.
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Peter decided against waging war on the Ottoman Empire without European aid. He abandoned plans to push forward from Azov Sea to gain access to the Black Sea. Instead he helped form a grand alliance comprising of Russia, Saxony, and Denmark–Norway against the Swedish Empire, which blocked Russia’s route to the Baltic. This led to the Great Northern War which lasted for 21 years from 1700 to 1721
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After gaining ground in Sweden’s Baltic provinces, he founded the city of Saint Petersburg in 1703 to cement Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea. In 1712, Peter moved his capital to Saint Petersburg from its former location in Moscow
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There had been another Minstrelsy Uprising in Russia. By the time Peter returned to tackle the revolt, it had already been crushed. Nonetheless, Peter acted ruthlessly towards the mutineers. More than 1,200 rebels were tortured and executed by various cruel methods There were several rebellions during Peter’s reign including the Bulavin Rebellion of 1707–08. Peter brutally crushed all rebellions and handled the rebels with extreme cruelty
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In 1709, he defeated the Swedish army by purposely sending their troops to the city of Poltava, in the middle of an unbearable Russian winter.
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Peter first married at the age of 17 to Eudoxia Lopukhina. Peter didn’t get along with his first wife,and divorced her. Peter’s most romantic relationship was with Marta, a servant of his friend. Marta became Peter’s mistress around 1702 and changed her name to Catherine. Peter married Catherine officially at Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg on 9th February 1712. In 1724, Peter had his second wife, Catherine, crowned as Empress.
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Peter the Great’s first and oldest son from his first marriage was sentenced to death by his father and secretly executed in 1718. It was alleged that he was planning to kill his father and to seize the throne.
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Peter the Great began having problems with his urinary tract and bladder in 1723. He had a surgery in 1724 though his health started failing again.
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He died on February 8, 1725 without nominating an heir.
