"Encyclopedia of Death. Chronicles of Charon»

Part 2: Dictionary of Chosen Deaths

The ability to live well and die well is one and the same science.

Epicurus

PETER 1

(1672-1725) - Russian Emperor

The turbulent life of a reformer gave Peter I a bunch of illnesses by the age of 50. More than other ailments pestered him with uremia. In the last year of his life, the tsar went to mineral waters for treatment, but during the treatment he sometimes engaged in hard physical work. So, in June 1724, at the Ugodsky factories of the Mellers, he personally forged several strips of iron, in August he was present at the descent of the frigate, and then went on a long and tiring journey along the route: Shlisselburg - Olonetsk - Novgorod - Staraya Russa - Ladoga Canal.

Returning home, Peter, according to the widespread version, received evidence of adultery between his wife Ekaterina and 30-year-old Willy Mons, the brother of Peter's former favorite Anna Mons. Mons was accused of bribery and embezzlement and, by a court verdict, his head was cut off. When Catherine hinted at a pardon, Peter in anger broke a mirror of fine workmanship, in an expensive frame. "Here is the most beautiful decoration of my palace. I want it - and I will destroy it!" Catherine realized that her husband's angry words contained a hint of her own fate, but asked with restraint: "Does this make your palace better?" Nevertheless, Peter subjected his wife to a severe test - he took her to see the severed head of Mons ...

The disease worsened, and Peter spent most of the last three months of his life in bed. On days of relief, he got up and left the room. At the end of October, he took part in extinguishing a fire on Vasilevsky Island, and on November 5 he dropped in at the wedding of a German baker, where he spent several hours watching dances and foreign wedding ceremonies. In the same November, the tsar participates in the betrothal of his daughter Anna and the Duke of Holstein. The festivities on this occasion lasted two weeks, sometimes Peter also visited them. In December, he also attended two celebrations: on the 18th, the birthday of the youngest daughter, Elizabeth, was celebrated, and two days later, he participated in the election of a new "prince-pope" to replace the deceased Buturlin.

Overcoming the pain, the tsar cheered up, drew up and edited decrees and instructions. In connection with the case of Mons, on November 13, he issued a decree forbidding any kind of requests to the palace servants and issuing promises to them. The decree threatened ministers who received petitions with the death penalty. Three weeks before his death, Peter was busy compiling instructions to the leader of the Kamchatka expedition, Vitus Bering.

Nartov, who watched the king at this occupation, says that he (the king) was in a hurry to compose an instruction for such an important enterprise and, as if foreseeing his imminent death, was very pleased that he had completed the work. After that, he called Admiral Apraksin and told him: "Poor health made me stay at home. I remembered these days what I thought about for a long time and that other things prevented me from doing it, that is, about the road through the Arctic Sea to China and India. "

In mid-January, 1725, the attacks of uremia became more frequent, and then became simply terrible. Violation of kidney function led to the accumulation of nitrogenous waste in the blood, to blockage of the urinary tract. According to contemporaries, for several days Peter shouted so loudly that it could be heard far around. Then the pain became so intense that the king only moaned muffledly, biting the pillow. Peter died on January 28, 1725 in terrible agony.

His body remained unburied for forty days. And all this time, Catherine, proclaimed empress, wept twice a day over her husband's body.

The last tsar of all Rus' and the first Emperor of Russia - Peter the First- a truly great figure. No wonder this king was called Peter the Great. He sought not only to expand the borders of the Russian state, but also to make life in it similar to what he saw in Europe. He learned a lot himself and taught others.

Brief biography of Peter the Great

Peter the Great belonged to the Romanov family, he was born June 9, 1672. His father is a king Alexey Mikhailovich. His mother is the second wife of Alexei Mikhailovich, Natalia Naryshkina. Peter I was the first child from the tsar's second marriage and the fourteenth in a row.

IN 1976 the father of Peter Alekseevich died and his elder son ascended the throne - Fedor Alekseevich. He was sickly and ruled for about 6 years.

The death of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and the accession of his eldest son Fyodor (from Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna, nee Miloslavskaya) pushed Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna and her relatives, the Naryshkins, into the background.

Streltsy rebellion

After the death of Fedor III, the question arose: who will rule next? Peter's older brother Ivan was a sickly child (he was also called weak-minded) and it was decided to put Peter on the throne.

However, the relatives of the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich did not like it - Miloslavsky. Enlisting the support of 20 thousand archers, who showed discontent at that time, the Miloslavsky staged a riot in 1682.

The consequence of this streltsy rebellion was the proclamation of Peter's sister, Sophia, as regent until Ivan and Peter grow up. Subsequently, Peter and Ivan were considered dual rulers of the Russian state until Ivan's death in 1686.

Tsarina Natalya was forced to go to the village of Preobrazhenskoye near Moscow with Peter.

"Amusing" troops of Peter

In the villages Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Peter was engaged in far from children's games - he formed from his peers "fun" troops and learned to fight. Foreign officers helped him to master military literacy.

Later, from these two battalions were formed Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments- the basis of Peter's guard.

Beginning of independent government

In 1689 On the advice of his mother, Peter married. The daughter of a Moscow boyar was chosen for him as a bride Evdokia Lopukhin. After the marriage, 17-year-old Peter was considered an adult and could claim independent rule.

Suppression of the rebellion

Princess Sophia immediately realized what danger she was in. Not wanting to lose power, she persuaded the archers stand up to Peter. Young Peter managed to gather an army loyal to him, and together with him he moved to Moscow.

The uprising was brutally suppressed, the instigators were executed, they were hanged, flogged with a whip, burned with a red-hot iron. Sofia was sent to Novodevichy Convent.

Capture of Azov

Since 1696, after the death of Tsar Ivan V, Peter became sole ruler of Russia. He turned his gaze a year earlier to the map. Advisers, among them the beloved Swiss Lefort, suggested that Russia needed access to the sea, it was necessary to build a fleet, it was necessary to move south.

The Azov campaigns began. Peter himself participated in the battles, gained combat experience. On the second attempt, they captured Azov, in a convenient bay of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, Peter laid the city Taganrog.

Trip to Europe

Peter went "incognito", he was called the volunteer Petr Mikhailov,
sometimes captain of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.

In England Peter the Great studied maritime affairs, in Germany- artillery, in Holland worked as a simple carpenter. But he had to return to Moscow prematurely - he received information about a new rebellion of archers. After the brutal massacre of the archers and executions, Peter began to prepare for the war with Sweden.

Peter's war with Sweden

On the allies of Russia - Poland and Denmark- the young Swedish king began to attack CharlesXII who decided to conquer all of northern Europe. Peter I decided to go to war against Sweden.

Battle of Narva

First battle near Narva in 1700 was unsuccessful for the Russian troops. Having a multiple advantage over the Swedish army, the Russians failed to take the fortress of Narva, and they had to retreat.

decisive action

Having attacked Poland, Charles XII got bogged down in the war for a long time. Taking advantage of the respite, Peter announced a set of recruits. He issued a decree according to which they began to collect money for the war against Sweden, bells from churches melted down into cannons, strengthened old fortresses, erected new ones.

St. Petersburg - the new capital of Russia

Peter the First personally participated in a sortie with two regiments of soldiers against the Swedish ships that blocked the exit to the Baltic Sea. The attack was successful, the ships were captured, the exit to the sea became free.

On the banks of the Neva, Peter ordered the construction of a fortress in honor of Saints Peter and Paul, later named Petropavlovskaya. It was around this fortress that the city was formed. Saint Petersburg is the new capital of Russia.

Battle of Poltava

The news of Peter's successful sortie on the Neva forced the Swedish king to move his troops to Russia. He chose the south, where he was waiting for help from Turk and where is ukrainian Hetman Mazepa promised him to give the Cossacks.

The battle near Poltava, where the Swedes and Russians pulled their troops, did not last long.

Charles XII left the Cossacks brought by Mazepa in the wagon train, they were not sufficiently trained and equipped. The Turks never came. Numerical superiority in the troops was on the side of the Russians. And no matter how hard the Swedes tried to break through the ranks of the Russian troops, no matter how they rebuilt their regiments, they failed to turn the tide of the battle in their favor.

The cannonball hit Karl's stretcher, he lost consciousness, and panic began among the Swedes. After the victorious battle, Peter arranged a feast at which treated the captured Swedish generals and thanked them for the science.

Internal reforms of Peter the Great

Peter the Great actively, in addition to wars with other states, was engaged in reforms within the country. He demanded that the courtiers take off their caftans and put on European clothes, that they shave their beards, go to balls arranged for them.

Important reforms of Peter

Instead of the Boyar Duma, he established Senate, who dealt with the solution of important state issues, introduced a special Table of ranks, which defined the classes of military and civilian officials.

Petersburg began to operate Marine Academy, opened in Moscow math school. Under him, the country began to publish first Russian newspaper. For Peter, there were no titles and awards. If he saw a capable person, albeit of low birth, then he sent him to study abroad.

Reform Opponents

Many innovations of Peter did not like- starting from the highest ranks, ending with serfs. The church called him a heretic, the schismatics - the Antichrist, sent all sorts of blasphemy against him.

The peasants were completely dependent on the landowners and the state. Increasing tax burden 1.5-2 times, for many it turned out to be unbearable. Major uprisings took place in Astrakhan, on the Don, in Ukraine, the Volga region.

Breaking the old way of life caused a negative reaction among the nobles. Peter's son, his heir Alexei, became an opponent of reforms and went against his father. He was accused of conspiracy and in 1718 sentenced to death.

Last year of reign

In the last years of the reign of Peter was very sick He had kidney problems. In the summer of 1724, his illness intensified, in September he felt better, but after a while the attacks intensified.

On January 28, 1725, he had such a bad time that he ordered a camp church to be built in the room next to his bedroom, and on February 2 he confessed. Forces began to leave the sick, he no longer screamed, as before, from severe pain, but only moaned.

On February 7, all those sentenced to death or hard labor were amnestied (excluding murderers and those convicted of repeated robbery). On the same day, at the end of the second hour, Peter demanded paper, began to write, but the pen fell out of his hands, only two words could be made out of what was written: "Give it all...".

At the beginning of the sixth hour in the morning February 8, 1725 Peter the Great "The Great" died in terrible agony in his Winter Palace near the Winter Canal, according to the official version, from pneumonia. He was buried in Cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

PETER I ALEKSEEVICH (GREAT)(05/30/1672-28/01/1725) - tsar since 1682, the first Russian emperor since 1721
Peter I was the youngest son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from his second marriage to N.K. Naryshkina.
At the end of April 1682, after the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, ten-year-old Peter was declared king. After the Streltsy uprising in May 1682, during which several relatives of the young tsar died, two tsars ascended the throne at the same time - Peter and his older brother Ivan, the son of Alexei Mikhailovich from his first marriage to M. Miloslavskaya. But the state in 1682-1689. in fact, their elder sister, Princess Sofya Alekseevna, ruled. The Miloslavskys were bosses in the Kremlin and young Peter and his mother survived from there to the village of Preobrazhenskoye near Moscow. The young king devoted all his time to "military fun." In Preobrazhensky and in the neighboring village of Semenovsky, he created two "amusing" regiments. Later, the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments became the first guard units in Russia.
Peter made friends with many foreigners who lived in the German Quarter, not far from Preobrazhensky. Communicating with the Germans, the British, the French, the Swedes, the Danes, Peter was more and more asserted in the opinion that Russia was significantly behind Western Europe. He saw that in his homeland sciences and education were not so developed, there was no strong army, there was no navy. The Russian state, huge in its territory, had almost no influence on the life of Europe.
In January 1689, the wedding of Peter and Evdokia Lopukhina took place, in 1690 a son, Alexei Petrovich, was born in this marriage. In the summer of 1689, the archers began to prepare a new uprising against Peter I. The young tsar fled in fear to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, but it turned out that most of the troops went over to his side. The instigators of the uprising were executed, and Princess Sophia was removed from power. Peter and Ivan became independent rulers. The sickly Ivan almost did not take part in state activities, and in 1696, after his death, Peter I became the sovereign tsar.
Peter received his first baptism of fire in the war with Turkey in 1695-1696. during the Azov campaigns. Then Azov was taken - the stronghold of Turkey on the Black Sea. In a more convenient and deeper bay, Peter laid the new harbor of Taganrog.
In 1697-1698. with the Great Embassy, ​​under the name of Peter Mikhailov, the tsar first visited Europe. He studied shipbuilding in Holland, met with the sovereigns of various European powers, hired many specialists for service in Russia.
In the summer of 1698, when Peter was in England, a new streltsy uprising broke out. Peter urgently returned from abroad and brutally cracked down on the archers. He and his associates personally chopped off the heads of the archers.
Over time, from a hot-tempered young man, Peter turned into an adult man. He was over two meters tall. Constant physical labor further developed his natural strength, and he became a real strong man. Peter was an educated person. He had a deep knowledge of history, geography, shipbuilding, fortification, and artillery. He was very fond of making things with his own hands. No wonder he was called the "king carpenter." Already in his youth, he knew up to fourteen crafts, and over the years he acquired a lot of technical knowledge.
Peter loved fun, jokes, feasts and feasts, sometimes lasting for several days. In moments of reflection, he preferred a quiet study and a pipe to tobacco. Even in adulthood, Peter remained very mobile, impulsive and restless. His companions could barely keep up with him, skipping. But the turbulent events of his life, the upheavals of his childhood and youth, affected Peter's health. At the age of twenty, his head began to shake, and during the excitement, convulsions passed over his face. He often had nervous attacks and bouts of unjustified anger. In a good mood, Peter presented his favorites with the richest gifts. But his mood in a few seconds could change dramatically. And then he became uncontrollable, could not only scream, but also use his fists or a club. Since the 1690s Peter began to carry out reforms in all areas of Russian life. He used the experience of Western European countries in the development of industry, trade and culture. Peter emphasized that his main concern was "the benefit of the Fatherland." His words, spoken to the soldiers on the eve of the Poltava battle, became famous: " Here comes the hour that will decide the fate of the Fatherland. And so you should not think that you are fighting for Peter, but for the state handed over to Peter, for your family, for the Fatherland, for the Orthodox faith and the church ... And know about Peter that life is not dear to him, if only Russia would live in blessedness and glory, for your well-being".
Peter sought to create a new, powerful Russian Empire, which would become one of the strongest, richest and most enlightened states in Europe. In the 1st quarter 18th century Peter changed the system of state administration: instead of the Boyar Duma, the Senate was created, in 1708-1715. provincial reform was carried out, in 1718-1721. orders are replaced by colleges. A regular army and navy were created, recruitment and compulsory military service for the nobles were introduced. By the end of Peter's reign, about a hundred plants and factories were operating, and Russia began to export manufactured goods: iron, copper and linen. Peter took care of the development of culture and education: many educational institutions were opened, the civil alphabet was adopted, the Academy of Sciences was founded (1725), theaters appeared, new printing houses were equipped, in which more and more new books were printed. In 1703 the first Russian newspaper Vedomosti was published. Foreign specialists were invited from Europe: engineers, craftsmen, doctors, officers. Peter sent Russian youths abroad to study sciences and crafts. In 1722, the Table of Ranks was adopted - a legislative act that brought all state ranks into the system. The service became the only way to obtain a state rank.
Since 1700, a new chronology from the Nativity of Christ and the celebration of the New Year on January 1, adopted in Western Europe, were introduced in Russia. On May 16, 1703, on one of the islands at the mouth of the Neva River, Peter I founded the fortress of St. Petersburg. In 1712 St. Petersburg officially became the new capital of Russia.
Stone houses were built in it, and the streets for the first time in Russia began to be paved with stones.
Peter began to pursue a policy of limiting church power, church possessions were transferred to the state. Since 1701, property issues were withdrawn from the jurisdiction of the church. In 1721, the power of the patriarch was replaced by the power of the Synod, a collegiate body that headed the church administration. The synod reported directly to the sovereign.
After the conclusion of peace with Turkey in 1700 in the field of foreign policy, Peter I considered the struggle with Sweden for access to the Baltic Sea to be the main task. In the summer of 1700, Russia entered the war, called the Northern. During the years of the Northern War (1700-1721), Peter proved himself to be a talented commander and an excellent strategist. He beat the Swedish army several times - the best in Europe at that time.
The king repeatedly showed personal courage. On May 7, 1703, near the Nyenschanz fortress, Russian soldiers under his command in thirty boats captured two Swedish ships. For this feat, Peter was awarded the highest order in the Russian state - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. On June 27, 1709, during the Battle of Poltava, the tsar personally led one of the battalions of the Novgorod regiment and did not allow the Swedish troops to break through. The Northern War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Nystadt between Sweden and Russia. All the Baltic lands she conquered (Estland, Livonia, Courland, Ingermanland) and the opportunity to have a fleet in the Baltic Sea remained behind Russia. The victory in the Northern War turned Russia into a powerful state with borders from the Baltic Sea to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Now all European states had to reckon with it.
In 1710-1713. Russia participated in the war with Turkey. In 1711, Peter I led the Prut campaign, which ended in failure. Russia ceded the city of Azov to Turkey, and also promised to tear down the fortresses of Taganrog, Bogoroditsk and Kamenny Zaton. As a result of the Persian campaign of 1722-1723. Russia acquired land on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea.
On October 22, 1721, the Senate presented Peter I with the title of Emperor of All Russia, the title of "Great" and "Father of the Fatherland". Since then, all Russian sovereigns began to be called emperors, and Russia turned into the Russian Empire.
Peter's reforms had not only positive consequences. In the 1st quarter 18th century a powerful bureaucratic system of government was formed, subordinate only to the will of the king. For many years, the dominance of foreigners was established in the Russian state apparatus, whom the tsar often trusted more than Russian subjects.
Peter's reforms and long-term wars exhausted the country's economy and laid a heavy burden on the working population of Russia. The peasants were forced to work more and more on the corvee, and the workers of the manufactories were forever attached to the factories. Thousands of ordinary peasants and working people died of starvation, disease, under the whip of overseers in shipyards, in the construction of new fortresses and cities.
In 1718-1724. a tax reform was carried out, which increased the tax burden by 1.5-2 times. In addition, this reform led to even greater enslavement of the peasants. During the reign of Peter there were several major popular uprisings: in Astrakhan (1705-1706), on the Don, Sloboda Ukraine, the Volga region (1707-1708), in Bashkiria (1705-1711). The church policy of Peter I is also ambiguous. The complete subordination of the church to the state, the weakening of the role of the Orthodox clergy led to the destruction of traditional spiritual values. Petrovsky acts caused a negative reaction in the upper strata of Russian society. Peter abruptly broke the habitual life of the Russian people, especially the nobles. They hardly got used to the assemblies, refused to shave their beards and go to the theater. The tsar's son and heir, Alexei Petrovich, did not accept Peter's reforms. Accused of plotting against the tsar, in 1718 he was deprived of the throne and sentenced to death.
The tsar's first wife, Evdokia Lopukhina, was sent to a monastery. From 1703, a simple peasant woman, Marta Skavronskaya, became the wife of the tsar, who received the name of Catherine in Orthodox baptism. But the official wedding took place only in 1712. Several children were born in this marriage, but the sons died in infancy, two daughters survived - Anna (the mother of the future Emperor Peter III) and Elizabeth, the future Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. In 1724, in the Assumption Cathedral, Peter I placed the imperial crown on the head of his wife.
In 1722, Peter I, who by that time had no male heirs, adopted a decree on the succession to the throne: the heir was appointed at the will of the "ruling sovereign", and the sovereign, having appointed the heir, could change his mind if he found that the heir did not justify hopes. This decree laid the foundation for the palace revolutions of the 18th century. and became the reason for the preparation of forged wills of sovereigns. In 1797, Paul I canceled the decree.
In the last months of his life, Peter was very ill and spent most of his time in bed. Before his death, the emperor did not have time to draw up a will and transfer power to his successor. On January 28, 1725, as a result of illness, Peter I died. He was buried in the Petrovsky Cathedral.

autocratic hand
He boldly sowed enlightenment,
He did not despise his native country:
He knew her purpose.

Now an academician, then a hero,
Now a navigator, now a carpenter,
He is an all-encompassing soul
On the throne was an eternal worker.

Pushkin A. S. "Stans", 1826