Nick Tartaglia

Peter the Great was born in

Moscow on June 9,1672. He is the

son of Czar Alexis I, who ruled Russia

from 1645 until 1676.

Peter’s education ended at age 10. As a child, Peter enjoyed playing

games. Peter learned Dutch and was very

fluent at it. Peter started as a tsar

at age 10.

Peter the Great married twice; His first wife’s name was Eudoxia. He

had eleven children. Many,

however, died at birth.

Peter wanted a strong, educated

army and navy. He had a large desire to expand Russia. He

tried to make Russia modern like Europe. He also shared rule of Russia with his

half brother Ivan V at the start of his reign.

Peter went to Europe for a tour in 1697. He was amazed with the

technology of Western Europe. He then wanted to make Russia

more like Europe.

A large part of Peter’s reign was spent

involved in the Great Northern War. After winning the war with Sweden, Russia was called an empire and Peter the Great was

named the emperor. He also gained access to the Baltic Sea and

the Baltic trade.

During the Great Northern War, Peter built a new

capitol, Saint Petersburg, in the early 1700s. Saint

Petersburg was like a European city with elegant places, public squares, and canals. It was founded on May 16, 1703. It was the capitol of Russia for more

than 200 years. It is Russia’s second largest

city.

In 1724, Peter jumped into the

Gulf of Finland to save a soldier who’s ship had been stuck on a

sandbar. He caught a cold,

and became very ill. Peter then

died on February 8, 1725.