Peter the Great of Russia

Peter the Great of Russia was born in 1672 in the largest and capital city of Russia, Moscow to Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov or known as Alexi I of Russia who was the ruler of Russia in the mid-17th century, and second wife, Nataliya Kyrillovna Naryshkina. When his father died on the 29th of January 1676 Peter become an emperor at the age of 10 together with his half-brother Ivan V as co-ruler and half sister Sophia as regent.

Peter became the sole ruler when Ivan died in 1696.Peter founded the city of St. Petersburg which is the second largest in Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. He masterplanned the building of the Peterhof and the series of palaces at the Eastern end which is famous for their beautiful and breathtaking water fountains. He also built the Kronstadt, a Russian seaport town, located on Kotlin Island, thirty kilometers west of Saint Petersburg.

Peter opened Russia to the West. He invited the best European engineers, shipbuilders, architects, craftsmen and merchants to come to Russia. Hundreds of Russians were sent to Europe to get the best education and learn different arts and crafts. Peter constructed the Monplaisir ("my pleasure") Palace, which is his summer residence from which he could see Kronstadt Island to the left and St. Petersburg to the right. This is based on his own sketches of the palace and wanted it close to the shoreline.

He engaged in such pastimes as shipbuilding and sailing. His interests clearly indicate that he has a great passion for nature. His great love for the sea is manifested by the water wall fountains in the Peterhof palace, the great empire of St. Petersburg near Neva River and his summer home close to the. Peter was an experienced army officer and navy admiral, a skilful shipbuilder and an amazingly energetic personality. Nevertheless, the scale of Peter's personality and massive reforms have inspired generations of historians, writers and ordinary Russian people.