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Peter the Great

Moscow, 9 Jun 1672 – Saint Petersburg, 8 Feb 1725

15 facts3 sources

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About Peter

Peter the Great: From Tsar to Emperor

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records Peter the Great’s birth in Moscow in 1672. He was the son of Russia’s Tsar Alexei I and Natalya Naryshkina. 123

Peter held the title Tsar of All Russia from 1682 to 1721, when he became Emperor of all the Russias. He ruled jointly with his brother Ivan V from 1682 until Ivan’s death in 1696, and remained emperor until his own death in Saint Petersburg in 1725. 4567

The collection associates his reign with the Great Northern War, the Battle of Poltava, the Battle of Gangut, the Siege of Vyborg, and the Treaty of Nystad. These entries place his rule within the military and diplomatic history of the era. 89101112

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born9 Jun 1672, Moscownot verified1 source
  • TitleTsar of All Russia, 1682–1721or Emperor of all the Russias, 1721–1725not verified1 source
  • TitleEmperor of all the Russias, 1721–1725or Tsar of All Russia, 1682–1721not verified1 source
  • EventTreaty of Nystador Great Northern War · Battle of Poltava · Battle of Gangut · Siege of Vyborgnot verified1 source
  • EventBattle of Gangutor Great Northern War · Battle of Poltava · Treaty of Nystad · Siege of Vyborgnot verified1 source
  • EventSiege of Vyborgor Great Northern War · Battle of Poltava · Treaty of Nystad · Battle of Gangutnot verified1 source
  • EventGreat Northern Waror Battle of Poltava · Treaty of Nystad · Battle of Gangut · Siege of Vyborgnot verified1 source
  • EventBattle of Poltavaor Great Northern War · Treaty of Nystad · Battle of Gangut · Siege of Vyborgnot verified1 source
  • Died8 Feb 1725, Saint Petersburgnot verified1 source
  • MotherNatalya Naryshkinanot verified1 source
  • FatherAlexei I of Russianot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 9 Jun 1672

    Born in Moscow

  2. 1682–1721

    Tsar of All Russia

  3. 1690–1718

    11 children are born

  4. 1721–1725

    Emperor of all the Russias

  5. 8 Feb 1725

    Dies in Saint Petersburg, aged 52

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 11

During his lifetime

He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Moscow.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1670s · Peter is born in Moscow

In the news1670–1671

1670-1671 Stepan Razin's major uprising

The Cossack-led uprising of Stepan Razin, which challenged the state and landlords, peaked between 1670 and 1671 before the leader was captured and executed.

At the table

Daily diet of cabbage, porridge, and bread

Ordinary families relied heavily on cabbage soup (shchi), porridge, and black rye bread, often supplemented by seasonal mushrooms, berries, and vegetables like turnips or cucumbers. Meat was consumed less frequently due to numerous religious fasts, and the pungent aroma of garlic and onion was characteristic of their daily meals.

What people wore

Footwear and Winter Warmth

Peasant footwear was typically made from natural materials like tree bark or vine twigs, though some people used leather soles tied with belts. During winter, both men and women relied on sheepskin or hare fur coats to stay warm.

Getting around

Animal-drawn transport in 17th-century Russia

In the 17th century, there were no railways or steamships, so travelers relied on horses and animal-drawn transport such as carriages, carts, and sledges. During the winter, sledges were the preferred vehicle for travel, even for weddings or social visits.

What it cost

Monthly earnings and subsistence in 17th-century Moscow

In mid-17th century Moscow, a worker such as a mason or carpenter earned roughly 20 to 40 kopecks per month, while 11 silver kopecks served as the monthly subsistence minimum.

Music

Church ban on musical instruments

The Russian Orthodox Church strictly forbade the use of musical instruments in churches, teaching that objects without souls could not praise God. Musical instruments were considered appropriate only for secular settings and private feasts, rather than religious worship.

Daily life

Chimney-less huts and smoky interiors

Ordinary homes were chimney-less huts where smoke exited through a small hole, sometimes shared with poultry and young livestock during winter. Lighting was provided by splinter torches, and windows were often small, shuttered, or covered with bull's bladder.