Peter the Great and Catherine the Great Test

Tsar Mikhail I

Became the tsar in 1613, started the Romanov dynasty (1613-1917) was a distant relative of Ivan IV’s wife Anastasia, because of these relations he was chosen to rule at the age of 16, helped stabilize the country after the Time of Trouble

Tsar Alexis I

Tsar Mikhail’s son, ruled Russia from 1645-1675, passed the 1649 law code which created serfdom (peasants would be bound to the land) this would have a huge impact on Russian history with peasant uprising and unrest, Russia started this policy when in the West it was dying

Treaty of Pereyaslav

(1654) Led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky, was a revolt against Polish rule, Khmelnytsky signed an agreement with Russia for protection, and Ukraine pledged their loyalty to the tsar.

Impact: part of Ukraine breaks away from Polish rule (left bank)

First was a degree of autonomy but soon became fully incorporated into the Russian empire for 300+ years

The Bronze Horseman

Statue in St. Petersburg of Peter the Great, commissioned by Catherine the Great to honor his legacy, this statue inspired Alexander Pushkin to write his poem “The Bronze Horseman”

Alexander Pushkin

Considered one of Russia’s greatest poets, he wrote in the 19th century, had Ethiopian ancestry on his father’s side and died in a duel

1649 Law Code

created serfdom (peasants would be bound to the land) this would have a huge impact on Russian history with peasant uprising and unrest, Russia started this policy when in the West it was dying

Peterhof Palace

Famous palace in St. Petersburg, building started under Peter the Great, has been called the “Russian Versailles,” was destroyed during WWII but restored today

Table of Ranks

system for promotion in the civil service and military- created by Peter the Great, has 14 levels, higher rank as you go up, between each level has in increase in merit and greater competency.

Peter the Great

Peter Romanov, was not the first in line for the crown as a boy but after his brother Feodor died and he sent his step sister, Sophia, to a convent, he obtained the title. Tried westernizing Russia with changes in fashion (cutting kaftans shorter), appearance (beard tax), and quest for a warm water port.

Regent Sophia

Peter the Great’s step sister, became regent when Ivan and Peter were too young to rule as Co-Tsars. Had Peter’s relatives killed by the streltsy because there was a rumor that someone had poisoned Feodor- Sophia’s brother and ruling Tsar. Was sent to a nunnery/covent by Peter the Great when he was 17 and of age to take the title of Tsar.

Charles XII

King of Sweden who controlled most of the Baltic coast, undermined Russia after their crushing victory at the battle of Narva but soon falls once Peter creates a navy and takes over what is now St. Petersburg

Prince Alexei

Peter the Great’s son, did not want to become tsar, fled Russia but was sent back and he was sent to the dungeon and soon died and was beaten severely

Time of Troubles

a period of political crisis in the Tsardom of Russia which began in 1598 with the death of Feodor I, the last of the Rurik dynasty, and ended in 1613 with the accession of Mikhail I of the House of Romanov.

Romanov Dynasty

dynasty started by Mikhail I in 1613 and ended with the deaths of Tsar Nicolas II’s family in 1917 with the Bolshevik revolution

Streltsy

Palace guards, elite soldiers who dressed in bright colors within the Kremlin. Revolted against Peter and were either killed or banished to Siberia

Warm water port

a port that does not freeze during the winter, includes Peter the Great’s quest to be on the Baltic, as it does not freeze and has lots of economic opportunities.

Great Northern War

War between Russia and Sweden, consisted of Peter the Great’s conquest for warm water ports. Russia failed at the battle of Narva but later declared themselves a great European power with access to the Baltic after the battle of Poltova.

Narva

early battle in the Great Northern War. A Swedish relief army under Charles XII of Sweden defeated a Russian siege force three to four times its size. Made Charles XIV undermine the Russian force, consequently creating their loss at the battle of Poltava.

Poltava

the decisive and largest battle of the Great Northern War. A Russian army under the command of Tsar Peter I defeated a Swedish army, declared Russia as a great European power, but this was not the last battle in the Great Northern War

St. Petersburg

the “city built on bones” built by Peter the Great on the marshlands near the Gulf of Finland, many workers died during construction due to sweltering heat and devastating chill. Peter the Great made it Russia’s “window to the west”

Bohdan Khmelnytsky

Ukrainian Cossack who signed an agreement with Russia for protection of Ukraine, led the rebellion against the Polish, claiming freedom and territory for the Cossacks

Azov

were two Russian military campaigns led by Peter the Great and aimed at capturing the Turkish fortress of ____ with the aim of controlling the southern mouth of the Don River gaining access to the Sea of ____ and entrance to the Black Sea Despite stubborn resistance and heavy casualties, after a failed siege in 1695 managed to capture the fort, accompanied by a naval force, in July 1696, marking the first major Russian victory against the Turks.

Catherine the Great

German born ruler of Russia who believed in Enlightenment ideas, killed Peter III to gain the throne, built the Hermitage Museum, was in correspondence with Voltaire and Diderot. Saw herself as an heir to Peter the Great but was not next in line after him, built the Bronze Horseman statue for him. Was against serfdom but did not do much to fix it. Created the Instructions that was the blueprint for a new law code for Russia.

Hermitage Museum

Art Museum built by Catherine the Great, held some of Europe’s best works of are as well as the libraries of Voltaire and Diderot. Was originally an extension to the Winter Palace but during the Bolshevik Revolution and became the entire Hermitage. Believed to be one of the greatest museums in the world.

The Instructions

Set of ideas and principles of the Enlightenment philosophers, were not a law code but guidelines to creating a modern law code. This led to very little reform though.

Pugachev Rebellion

From 1773-4, was a peasant revolution started by Emelian Pugachev. He claimed he was Peter the III and he revolted because of the terrible conditions within the peasantry. However, Catherine the Great did not address these conditions during her reign.

Emelian Pugachev

Led the Pugachev Rebellion, claimed he was Peter III, was executed by Catherine the Great.

Alexander Radishchev

Author of “A Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow” which was highly critical of serfdom. Catherine had Radishchev arrested and sent him to Siberia for trying to stir up rebellion within the serfdom.

Partition of Poland

Russia, Austria, and Prussia’s carving of Poland between them. There were three partitions in 1772, 1793, and 1795. Because of this partition, Russia had a significant Polish minority. Areas of Poland were annexed by Russia and contained a large Ukrainian population (right-bank Ukraine). This partition was a driving force for many Polish rebellions, Poland would not become an independent country until after WWI.

Peter III

Ruler of Russia, married to Catherine the Great. Had maturity problems which led to tensions rising between him and his wife. Once in power, he pulled out of the Seven Years’ War against Prussia because of his admiration for it’s ruler, Frederick the Great and alienated the country more by adopting similar uniforms to the Prussians. This was very unpopular amongst everyone in Russia. Early into his short lived rule he had already upset many people in Russia, including Gregory Orlov (Catherine’s lover) who killed him in a coup

Frederick the Great

Prussian monarch during the Seven Years’ War who Peter III admired greatly.

Gregory Potemkin

Catherine the Great’s lover and Russian statesman, he was put in charge of Russia’s southern lands (gained from the Turks) called “New Russia.” He built many new towns in southern Russia, some of these towns were nicknamed “Potemkin Villages” which meant they were a facade and only constructed to impress Catherine.

Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji

Treaty that ended the 1768-1774 war against the Turks, Russia gained important ports on the Black Sea. Crimea made an independent Tartar Republic but Russia would annex Crimea in 1783. This is very important as Russia became a major Black Sea power with warm-water ports.

Seven Years’ War

War fought between Prussia and Russia from 1756-1763, Peter III pulled out of the war because of his admiration for Prussia’s Monarch, Frederick the Great.