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How St. Petersburg was founded

The Northern War of Russia with Sweden for access toThe Baltic Sea lasted from 1700 to 1721. It began with the defeat of the Russians in the Battle of Narva, and ended with the conclusion of the Nystadt Peace and the assertion of Russia on the shores of the Baltic.

During the Northern War with the Swedes in December 1701the enemy's troops suffered the first crushing defeat from the Russians. During the years 1701-1704, when Charles XII fought in Poland, the Russian army took over the fortresses throughout the Neva, took Narva and Dorpat. Choosing a convenient place to strengthen, Peter I stopped on one of the islands in the mouth of the Neva. The terrain was wild and stern: around the forest, on mossy and marshy swamps, the poor huts of the Chukhont people were occasionally blackened. But before the tsar a wide and beautiful river was sweeping, and an outlet to the sea opened. On this island, it was decided to lay a fortress, and on May 16, 1703, Peter himself cut down the birch, made a cross out of it and confirmed it in the ground with the words that a fortress and a church in honor of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul will be built on this site. This was the foundation of the fortress, which received the name of Peter and Paul. She laid the foundation of St. Petersburg - the city of St. Peter.

"Beautify, hail Petrov"

To build a city in a low swampy place wasincredibly difficult. Piotr collected tens of thousands of workers from all provinces of the Russian state for the construction of the new city. Carpenters, bricklayers, bricklayers and blacksmiths worked continuously. Because of frequent floods, it was necessary to lift the soil in bulk, so that water from the sea would not flood the city. Workers helped the soldiers. Lived builders in the huts and huts, food was delivered with interruptions, so they often starved. Work had to be done in inhuman conditions for a mere penny. For their hard work, workers received 50 kopecks a month, and qualified builders - 1 ruble each.

In the house of Peter the Great there is a table and a wardrobe made by the king with his own hand.

Supervised the work of Peter I. Setting an example to subjects, the tsar himself performed carpentry. For Peter was built a small wooden house in two rooms, separated by a passageway, with a kitchen and a front. This house of Peter the Great is still intact today, one of its rooms is kept in its original form; in it are exhibited some personal belongings of the king. Less than 10 years on the banks of a deserted river, among marshes and forests, grew a city. At first, it was built on a temporary basis. The streets were not paved, and houses were cut from small boards and logs. This was due to the proximity of the Swedish troops, who could at any time capture the city under construction. However, in 1709 the situation changed. After the defeat of the Swedish army near Poltava it became clear that the Baltic coast and the lands along the Neva were finally returned to Russia, so St. Petersburg began to build fundamentally, out of stone. In 1712, St. Petersburg became the capital of Russia and stayed with it (with a short break) until 1918. The majestic image of the city was given to strict straight streets, "dressed" in granite embankments, spacious gardens and parks, numerous canals and bridges, architectural ensembles, monumental and decorative sculptures.