Peter I the Great Biography

Succeeds as Tsar of Russia, son of Alexis, reigns jointly with half-brother Ivan

Marries Eudoxia

Succeeds as Tsar of Russia, Assumes control of the Government & sole rule of Russia

Russia gains Azov

Suppresses a rebellion in Strelitzi

Suppresses a rebellion in Strelitzi

Suppresses a rebellion in Strelitzi

Suppresses a rebellion in Strelitzi

Traditional clothing is banned, subjects must wear traditional dress

Sets about reforming the Russian calendar

Peter I seeks access to the Baltic and challenges Sweden's dominance while Charles XII is still a young monarch.

Peter I seeks a Baltic outlet and challenges Sweden's control of the eastern Baltic.

Peter I joins Augustus II and Frederick IV in the anti-Swedish coalition.

Peter I declares war on Sweden after securing peace with the Ottoman Empire, joining the coalition against Charles XII.

Peter I coordinates with Augustus II of Poland-Saxony and Frederick IV of Denmark against Sweden.

The Treaty of Constantinople confirms Russia's possession of Azov and frees Peter I to turn against Sweden.

Peter I secures peace with the Ottoman Empire and confirmation of Russian possession of Azov.

Peter I declares war on Sweden after securing peace with the Ottoman Empire.

Peter I sends Russian forces into Swedish Ingria at the opening of the Great Northern War.

Russian forces struggle to maintain supply lines while besieging Narva.

Peter I's army begins the siege of the Swedish fortress of Narva.

Peter the Greats army of 40,000 besiege Narva

Peter I leaves the siege of Narva shortly before the Swedish relief army arrives.

Peter I & his forces are forced to flee by the Swedish. 13-19 Nov, Charles XII scatters Russian forces blocking the Swedish route to Narva

Charles XII positioned his 8,000 men (another 2,500 men were garrisoned in the city and would take part in the battle at a later stage) opposite the besieging Russian army of about 34,000 to 40,000 troops.

If Sweden had invaded Russia immediately after Narva, Peter would have been almost powerless to stop them.

The Russian surrender brought to Charles XII's army all of Peter's cannons, muskets and military supplies.

This left Russia's remaining armed forces with essentially no equipment.

Peter I's army loses artillery, muskets and supplies after the defeat at Narva.

After Narva, Peter I begins urgent efforts to rebuild and reform the Russian army.

Peter I orders new artillery production after the loss of guns at Narva.

Peter I refuses to abandon the Baltic war despite the heavy defeat at Narva.

Peter I the Great edits Russias first newspaper

Founds the new capital at Saint Petersburg

Peter authorises publication of the first issue of the Vedomosti newspaper.

Peter's forces capture the Swedish fortress of Nyenschantz.

Peter participates in the capture of two Swedish vessels at the Neva mouth.

Peter founds the Peter and Paul Fortress on Hare Island.

Peter lays the foundation of the first wooden Peter and Paul Church.

Peter marks the consecration of the new fortress and raises the naval flag.

Four years after the first Battle of Narva, Peter I marched again in an attempt to capture Narva. Marshal Boris Sheremetevs force of 20,000 capture Tartu

Four years after the first Battle of Narva, Peter I captures Narva

Four years after the first Battle of Narva, Peter I captures Narva

Peter the Great is defeated by Charles XII at Grodno, 1st time

Peter I led an army of 20,000 men in an attempt to take the Swedish town and fortress of Viborg. Unfortunately, bad roads proved impassable to his heavy siege guns. The troops, who arrived on 12 October, therefore had to abandon the siege after only a few days

Peter the Great is defeated by Charles XII at Grodno, 2nd time

The Cossacks led by Mazeppa try to break free by allying with Sweden but fail

The Cossacks led by Mazeppa try to break free by allying with Sweden but fail

Peter the Great captures Swedish supplies prior to Charles XIIs defeat at Pultava

Calls the victory at Lesnaya the mother of the Poltava victory.

Captures Poland & restores Augustus II to the throne

The Ukraine is renamed Malorossiya, Little Russia, to curb Ukrainian naionalism

Peter arrives near Poltava after suppressing opposition among Cossack supporters of Mazepa.

Peter crosses the Vorskla with the main Russian army before the battle.

Orders construction of redoubts blocking the Swedish line of advance.

Commands the Russian army from a fortified camp near Poltava.

Defeats Charles XII of Sweden and his Cossack allies at Poltava.

Victory at Poltava marks Russia's rise as a leading power in north-eastern Europe.

Victory confirms Peters rule over Russia & enables his policy of Westernization

Orders pursuit of the defeated Swedish army after Poltava.

Under the Treaty of Pruth agrees to return Charles XII to Sweden

Agrees to return Azov to the Turks under the Treaty of Pruth

Marries Catherine

Russian troops under command of Boris Sheremetev attemptto invade Moldova with the aid of Moldovan ruler Dimitrie Cantemir but are defeated by Grand Vizier Baltacþ Mehmet Pasa, in at Stanilesti

The Treaty stipulated to return Azov to the Ottomans, Taganrog and several Russian fortresses were to be demolished, while the Tsar pledged to stop interfering into the affairs of the Polishn Commonwealth

Promises in the Treaty of Pruth to withdraw from Poland & refrain from intervening in Polish affairs

Promises in the Treaty of Pruth to withdraw from Poland & refrain from intervening in Polish affairs

Russian troops under command of Boris Sheremetev attemptto invade Moldova with the aid of Moldovan ruler Dimitrie Cantemir but are defeated by Grand Vizier Baltacþ Mehmet Pasa, in at Stanilesti

Russia returns Azov to the Turks

The Treaty stipulated to return Azov to the Ottomans, Taganrog and several Russian fortresses were to be demolished, while the Tsar pledged to stop interfering into the affairs of the Polishn Commonwealth. Ends the war between Russia & Turkey. Agrees to return Azov to the Turks & Charles XII to Sweden

In response to St. Petersburgs classicism, traditionalists build the Church of the Transfiguration, on Kizhi Island in Lake Onega, with 22 domes, the most complex wooden structure ever built in Russia

Peter I begins construction of the vast Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg, to rival Versailles

Attempts to conclude a Francon Treaty after France joined the Triple Alliance

Attempts to conclude a Francon Treaty after France joined the Triple Alliance

Russia joins Prussia and France in guaranteeing the Treaty of Utrecht settlement.

Prussia, Russia & France sign a Treaty to bring the Northern War to an end

Russia joins Prussia and France in guaranteeing the Treaty of Utrecht settlement.

Succeeds as Tsar of Russia

Concludes peace with Charles XII, acquires Livonia, Estonia, Ingria & part of Karelia

Concludes peace with Charles XII, acquires Livonia, Estonia, Ingria & part of Karelia

Captures Baku

Captures Baku

Death of Peter I the Great, his widow continues to reign as Catherine I