The goals of organizing a great embassy. The Great Embassy: Aims and Objectives. Diplomatic preparation of the Great Northern War What city did Peter call a cursed place

Russian diplomacy is considered the time of the reign of Peter I, whose reforms strengthened the Russian state and created conditions for the independent political and economic development of Russia. The successful overcoming of the decisive resistance of Europe (including the so-called allies) to the rise of Russia, the destruction of all attempts to form an anti-Russian military-political coalition is the greatest achievement of Peter's diplomacy. This, in particular, was expressed in the fact that Peter I conquered the Baltic coast over a huge stretch, and then forced Europe to recognize these just and justified acquisitions.

But unlike such his contemporaries as Louis XIV, Charles XII, George I, he was not a conqueror. The whole history of Peter the Great's diplomacy speaks of this with irresistible convincingness. Territorial annexation under Peter was justified by the vital security interests of Russia. And in the last analysis, they responded to Peter's constant concern for the establishment of "general silence in Europe", or, in modern language, his desire to ensure European security. The essence of Peter's diplomacy is accurately conveyed by the Pushkin image: "Russia entered Europe like a launched ship - with the clatter of an ax and the thunder of cannons." Geographically, Russia has always been a part of Europe, and only an unfortunate historical fate temporarily divided the development of the western and eastern parts of one continent. The significance of the Peter's reforms lies in the fact that they made international relations on our continent truly pan-European, corresponding to the geographical framework of Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals. This world-historical event has acquired enormous importance for the entire subsequent three-century history of Europe, right up to the present day.

This was largely due to Peter's brilliant idea to send the Great Russian Embassy to Western Europe exactly 320 years ago. In the history of diplomacy, it is difficult to find such a significant enterprise as it turned out. From the point of view of achieving specific foreign policy tasks assigned to this embassy, ​​it ended in failure. However, in terms of its real practical consequences, the Grand Embassy had a truly historic significance, primarily for relations between Russia and European countries, and later for the fate of all of Europe.

American historian R. Massey notes: “The consequences of this 18-month journey turned out to be extremely important, even if Peter's goals seemed narrow. He traveled to Europe with the determination to lead his country along the western path. For centuries, the isolated and closed old Muscovy now had to catch up with Europe and open itself to Europe. In a sense, the effect was mutual: the West influenced Peter, the tsar had a huge impact on Russia, and the modernized and reborn Russia had, in turn, a new, huge impact on Europe. Consequently, for all three - Peter, Russia and Europe - the Great Embassy was a turning point. "

EXPAND THE ANTI-TURKISH LEAGUE. BUT NOT ONLY

The Grand Embassy was sent by Peter I to the Emperor of Austria, the Kings of England and Denmark, the Pope, the Dutch states, the Elector of Brandenburg and Venice. The decree on the Great Embassy and its tasks was signed on December 16, 1696. The main goal was set before him - to expand and strengthen the anti-Turkish league, "to confirm the ancient friendship and love, for common to all Christianity, to weaken the enemies of the cross of the Lord - the Saltan of Tur, the Crimean Khan and all Busurman hordes, to the increasing increment of Christian sovereigns." At the same time, the Grand Embassy was supposed to look for experienced sailors and gunners, purchase equipment and materials for shipbuilding, and also take care of arranging "volunteers" abroad to teach crafts and military sciences. Thus, the Grand Embassy performed simultaneously the tasks of the diplomatic, military-diplomatic and consular services.

The main goals of the Grand Embassy, ​​writes Vasily Osipovich Klyuchevsky, were as follows: "With its numerous retinue, under the guise of a diplomatic assignment, it headed west with the aim of looking out for everything there, finding out, adopting masters, and enticing a European master." But, I think, not only the masters were going to "lure" the diplomats. The fact that the embassy was headed by one of the most experienced Russian military men of that time speaks volumes. It can be assumed that Peter then already conceived of "recapturing" the Baltic Sea, and therefore, along with the search for masters of warships, training in the construction of the latter, he collected and carefully studied all the information related to the state of the armed forces of Western Europe. This assumption is confirmed by the entire development of the situation related to the Great Embassy.

“The fifth Tsar Romanov had many ideas, inspired by the fresh wind from the West, but, as they say, it is better to see once than hear a hundred times. Peter equipped the Great Embassy of more than two hundred people, which included doctors, priests, scribes, translators, bodyguards; He also included his friends and young noblemen in it, so that they would learn the work as well, ”V.G. Grigoriev in the book "Tsar's Fates".

Officially, the diplomatic mission was headed by three "great ambassadors": General-Admiral Franz Yakovlevich Lefort (first ambassador), General-Kriegskommissar Boyar Fyodor Alekseevich Golovin (second ambassador) and Duma clerk Prokofiy Bogdanovich Voznitsyn (third ambassador). The ambassadors' retinue consisted of 20 nobles. 35 "volunteers" were sent to the embassy to go to the "science". Among the latter was Peter I himself under the name of Peter Mikhailov. Incognito gave him the opportunity to avoid lavish receptions and use travel abroad to get acquainted with European countries and study various crafts, at the same time taking a direct part in the affairs of the Grand Embassy.

EUROPE MEETS CHALLENGES

As the Russian state calendar says, "The Great Embassy of Tsar Peter I departed for Western Europe on March 9/22, 1697 ...". (By the way, the solemn ceremony of his return took place in Moscow on October 20, 1698. - V.V.). From the very beginning, it encountered significant difficulties in fulfilling its main task. At the center of Western European politics was at that time the forthcoming struggle for the Spanish inheritance and for the shores of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, even those states of Western Europe, which had already fought with Turkey, sought to end this war as soon as possible in order to free their forces. True, shortly before the departure of the Great Embassy from Moscow, in February 1697, the Russian envoy in Vienna Kozma Nefimonov managed to conclude a triple agreement with Austria and Venice against Turkey, but further this strengthening of the alliance against the Turks did not move.

First, the Grand Embassy went through Livonia and Courland to Königsberg, to the court of the Elector of Brandenburg. The first stop was made in Riga. And there it left an indelible impression on itself. So, the governor of the city, the Swede Dahlberg, noted: "Some Russians allowed themselves to walk around the city, climb high places and thus study its location, others went down into the ditches, examined their depth and sketched out plans of the main fortifications with a pencil."

Concerned about the actions of the Russians, the governor demanded from the first ambassador, Lefort, that he "cannot allow more than six Russians to be suddenly in the fortress, and there will be a guard going after them for greater safety." Even Peter (it would be more correct to say Peter Mikhailov, the sergeant of the Preobrazhensky regiment) did not make any indulgences: “And when the tsarist majesty, for his pleasure, deigned to go to the city with some persons from his retinue, then although he was truly known, but he was the same guard, as it is written above, they set them up and acted wickedly than with others, and gave less time to be in the city. "

Peter had no choice but to sit out in the local "hotel". There, however, he got the opportunity to compose a detailed letter sent to Moscow to clerk Andrei Vinius, who was in charge of the tsar's correspondence and summarizing all the observations made by the tsar abroad: “We drove through the city and the castle, where soldiers stood in five places, which were less than 1000 people , but they say that everyone was. The city is much fortified, only unfinished. " In the same letter, Peter in a separate line notes, as if by chance: "From now on I will write in secret ink - hold it on the fire and read it ... otherwise the local people are extremely curious."

Such a precaution was not unnecessary: ​​from the huge flow of information that literally fell upon the participants of the Great Embassy from the very first day, it was decided to focus on the main thing - the search for the shortest path to strengthening the military power of Russia and especially the creation of its own fleet. And there was no need to share the secrets received with the enemy, to inform the whole of Europe about our "white spots" in naval affairs.

POLISH QUESTION

The first in the business of obtaining information was the king himself. “While the companions of Peter I, burdened with ceremonial events, were on the move to Königsberg, the tsar, who arrived there a week earlier, managed to undergo a short course of artillery fire and received a certificate in which it testified that“ Mr. bombs both in the theory of science and in practice, a careful and skilful artist of fire. "

The Königsberg Treaty concluded with Brandenburg already outlined new paths in Russia's foreign policy, which soon led it to the Northern War. However, Peter I still intended to continue the war with Turkey.

While in Königsberg, he actively supported the candidacy of Frederick Augustus of Saxony in the elections of the king taking place in Poland at that time. He sent a special letter to the Diet, in which he strongly recommended the election of this candidate as opposed to the French protege Prince Conti, whose accession would have drawn Poland into the orbit of French politics and would have torn it away from an alliance with Russia against Turkey. At the same time, an impressive Russian army was moved to the Polish border. Thus, the election of the Saxon Elector, the future ally of Russia in the Northern War, was ensured.

No sooner had the gun barrels in Königsberg cooled down, as with a small retinue, Pyotr Mikhailov continued to move, almost without stopping, on the postal checkpoints in front of the entire Grand Embassy, ​​cities flashed one after another: Berlin, Brandenburg, Holberstadt. We stopped only at the famous factories of Ilsenburg, where the inquisitive Peter got acquainted with "the production of cast iron, the boiling of iron in pots, the forging of gun barrels, the production of pistols, sabers, and horseshoes." In Germany, Peter left several soldiers of the Preobrazhensky regiment, before whom he set the task of learning everything that the Germans know about artillery. One of the Transfigurations, Sergeant Korchmin, in his letters to the tsar listed everything that had already been comprehended and summed up: "And now we are learning trigonometry."

In his reply, Peter asked with amazement: how is the transfiguration S. Buzheninov "mastering the subtleties of mathematics, being completely illiterate." Korchmin said with dignity: "And I don't know about that, but God also enlightens the blind."

LEARNED TO BUILD SHIPS

From Brandenburg, the Grand Embassy went to Holland. In The Hague, where it arrived in September 1697, despite lively diplomatic activity (four conferences were held), it was not possible to achieve success, since the Netherlands made peace with France at that time and did not dare to provide material support to Russia in the fight against Turkey, an ally France. The Grand Embassy stayed in Amsterdam, where it was engaged in the hiring of sailors and engineers, as well as the procurement of materials and tools. “The Russian side expressed a wish, as soon as possible, to receive assistance with ships, weapons, cannons and artillery balls. The ambassadors asked the Netherlands to build seventy warships and over a hundred galleys for Russia. " This request "was not respected and was communicated to the ambassadors in a softened to the last degree of courtesy form."

The Russians spent nine months in Holland, the hosts negotiated slowly, and the guests were engaged not only in official diplomacy, but also in other matters, traveling around the country, they were interested in everything - from growing tulips to building ships and so on. In particular, Peter himself worked for four months as a ship's carpenter at one of the Dutch shipyards.

“His insatiable greed,” wrote S.M. Soloviev, - to see and know everything brought the Dutch escorts to despair: no excuses helped, only one could hear: this is what I have to see! "

After hospitable Holland on January 10 (23), 1698, Tsar Peter, accompanied by Jacob Bruce and Peter Postnikov, went to England, where he stayed for about two months. The stay of the tsar in England is evidenced by "Jurnal (magazine) in 205" and the records of the stay of the Russian autocrat, which later became historical relics. Most of all, Peter I stayed in Deptford, working at the shipyard (today one of the city streets is called Czar Street in his honor. - V.V.). In addition, he visited the main base of the English fleet Portsmouth, Oxford University, Greenwich Observatory, the Mint, the famous artillery arsenal and the Woolwich foundry, participated as an observer in a major naval exercise, and met Isaac Newton. Peter also visited the English parliament, where he said: "It's fun to hear when the sons of the fatherland tell the king clearly the truth, this must learn from the British", attended a meeting of the English Royal Society, had a meeting with the English king.

A trade agreement was signed in London, under which a monopoly on the tobacco trade in Russia was sold to Lord Carmarthen. When he was noticed that the Russians consider smoking a great sin, the tsar replied: "I will remake them in my own way when I return home!"

One of Peter's English impressions may have formed the basis for the idea of ​​creating a Pillar of Triumph in honor of victory in the Northern War: in 1698 in London, the tsar was "on a pillar" from which you can see all of London ", that is, probably on a column erected Christopher Wren after the London fire of 1666.

According to the Russian state calendar, during a trip to England, the tsar and his assistants managed to attract many British people to work in Russia: military, engineers, doctors, builders, even one architect, who then worked near Azov.

After England, the embassy was again on the continent, its path lay in Vienna. In 1698, Austria, mediated by England, began peace negotiations with Turkey. Peter, accompanied by the Grand Embassy, ​​went to Vienna, but he failed to prevent the conclusion of peace. During negotiations with the Austrian Chancellor, Count Kinsky, Peter insisted that the peace treaty ensure that Russia also receives Kerch in addition to Azov. This demand was not supported by the Austrians. The entire course of negotiations with them convinced Peter that Austria's withdrawal from the bilateral union had become a reality.

TIME FOR REFORM

The Grand Embassy was about to go further to Venice, when news came from Moscow that the archers took up arms for the second time: "They raised a riot, urging not to let the tsar into Moscow because he" believed "in the Germans and got along with them." ... Peter I was informed about the "theft of rioters-archers", which took place in the Toropets district and consisted in the fact that the four rifle regiments stationed there, heading for the Lithuanian border, refused to go there and, having replaced commanders, moved to Moscow. This message forced Peter to cancel his trip to Venice and return to his homeland.

Leaving P. Voznitsyn in Vienna as a representative for negotiations at the upcoming Karlovytsky Congress, Peter with the rest of the ambassadors left for Moscow. He regretted only one thing: his trip to Venice, where the embassy intended to get acquainted with the construction of galleys widely used in naval affairs, did not take place. A long-planned trip to Rome and Sweden also failed. In Rava-Ruska, he had a meeting with the Polish Augustus II. Here, on August 3, 1698, a verbal agreement was concluded about the war against Sweden.

According to the researchers, the main thing has been done. The tsar received tremendous information, visually sensed where the Moscow state was lagging behind and which path should be taken in the large-scale construction of its fleet and army. Literally from the first days of his return to Moscow, he began to carry out major, including military, reforms that caused a huge resonance both in Russia and abroad. Mikhail Venevitinov wrote: "The fruits of the Tsar's stay in Holland and the beneficial consequences of his first trip abroad were reflected in three ways in Russia, namely, on her civilization, on the creation of her sea power and on the spread of her dominion."

From the very beginning of the 18th century, Russia "is actively being drawn into the whirlpool of international politics", its ties with the Western European powers are being tied. In 1700, Russia begins a war for access to the Baltic (which went down in history as the Northern, which lasted twenty-one long years. - V.V.). More than ever, reliable information was important at this time - both political and military. Without them, both the state apparatus and the army are as if without hands. (This was soon convinced in the course of the tragic events for the Russian army near Narva, where Peter's troops suffered a crushing defeat. And one of the reasons for the latter is the lack of accurate data on the Swedish army, on the number of guns the enemy had, on the movement of cavalry. - V.V. .)

But literally the next day after Narva, the Russians again rushed "into battle": they began to create a new army, navy, poured cannons, and erected factories. Not the least attention was also paid to intelligence and counterintelligence in order to try to avoid the shame like the Narva beatings.

Carrying out his trips abroad, Peter I was in active correspondence with all Russian ambassadors and official residents at European courts. From these documents, as well as from the correspondence with Moscow, one can judge about the active leadership of Peter I in the foreign policy of Russia and the activities of all parts of the state apparatus, including the diplomatic one.

Peter I no longer gives instructions in his orders to “seek providence in deeds as God instructs”. Now he is well versed in the complex international situation in Europe at the end of the 17th century and, accordingly, sends his residents down to the smallest detail instructions (orders). Interesting is the instruction drawn up by the embassy and edited by Peter himself, to the captain of the Lefortov regiment G. Ostrovsky dated October 2, 1697. Ostrovsky followed with the Grand Embassy as an interpreter (translator) of Latin, Italian and Polish. He was ordered to go to the Slavic lands to study them, as well as to select officers and sailors.

Of course, now such a mandate raises a smile today, since part of the information required in it can be obtained from a geography textbook on Western European countries. But in those days, such textbooks did not exist. On September 4, 1697, by order of Peter I, a book-atlas with a description and with drawings of all states was purchased in Amsterdam "For knowledge of the ways." But, apparently, the atlas did not satisfy Peter I, and it was impossible to find concrete answers to the questions posed in the mandate in it.

Thus, the Grand Embassy played a great role in the great deeds of Peter I. It also turned out to be the beginning of Peter's diplomacy, a historic milestone, after which the transformation of Russia and the process of its all-round, primarily diplomatic, rapprochement with Western Europe begins. Today you can find many similarities in our relations with Europe at the turn of the 17th – 18th centuries. It is not for nothing that they say that history moves in a spiral and new events - to one degree or another - are a repetition of previous ones. 320 years ago Peter the Great solved this problem successfully. Will we be able to repeat his successes on a new round of the historical spiral?

Already Peter's contemporaries had different opinions about the goals of the Great Embassy. Over the 300 years that have passed since then, there has been no consensus among historians. But if we analyze all the options, then it can be noted that the goals and objectives of the king’s journey are similar, but they are ranked differently in order of importance.

Nevertheless, if you look at the events that preceded the Grand Embassy (the war with Turkey, the capture of Azov), then we can safely assume that the main task facing Russia at the end of the 17th century was access to the Black Sea, which was prevented by Turkey ... And the search for allies in such an important matter was the primary issue of Russia's foreign policy. This is exactly what it was planned to do during the foreign diplomatic trip. But traditionally, such issues were resolved without the direct participation of the tsar by officials of the Ambassadorial Prikaz.

In this regard, it can be assumed that Peter also had personal reasons for the trip. This is evidenced by the structure of the Grand Embassy and the nature of its activities. The fact that Peter rode under the name of the sergeant Peter Mikhailov, without advertising his royal position, speaks of his plans to gain knowledge and experience in the field of organizing the army and navy. And he was interested in this question from childhood, from the time of playing in the "amusing shelves".

The third goal can be considered the need to recruit specialists, as well as the acquisition of those types of weapons and technical innovations and scientific rarities that could become the foundation for the military-technical modernization of Russia.

And the way Peter actively communicated with various representatives of the Western world, how eagerly he absorbed various manifestations of the European spirit, may be proof of the fourth goal of the Grand Embassy - getting to know the life of European society.

Composition of the Great Embassy

F.Ya. Lefort. Formally, he headed it, but in fact, the entire leadership was in the hands of an experienced diplomat F.A.Golovin. The role of Lefort was purely representative and boiled down mainly to the translation of the tsar's speeches. However, he surpassed other ambassadors in the splendor of his retinue and furnishings.

Ranked second, Ambassador F.A. Golovin, played the main role. He was a professional diplomat, some time after returning from Europe, who headed the Ambassadorial order. Being a close associate of Peter, he exerted a tremendous influence on foreign policy.

The third was P.B. Voznitsyn. A restrained, cautious, uncommunicative man, he possessed a quality that Peter I greatly appreciated. Over the course of 30 years of diplomatic service, Voznitsyn went from being a lower official of the diplomatic service - a clerk to a clerk of the Duma.

In addition, the number of the Embassy, ​​in addition to ambassadors, included up to 20 nobles and up to 35 volunteers. The nobles constantly had to constantly be around the ambassadors, accompany them during ceremonial trips, at receptions, "vacation" audiences, and carry out various assignments. In addition, the ambassadors were accompanied by pages, all sorts of their own servants and the servants of the nobles traveling with them. The number of accompanying persons exceeded 80 people. The total number of the embassy has not been precisely determined. According to the information available to the French historian Voltaire, the number reached 200 people, John Frederick Joachim, a German lawyer and historian, spoke of 300 people.

Introduction. 2

Chapter 1. Prerequisites for the creation of the Great Embassy of Peter I 4

1.1. Reasons for the creation of the Great Embassy of Peter I 4

1.2. Boyar Duma and decision making. 5

Chapter 2. The Great Embassy 1697-1698. 6

2.1. Goals, composition, route. 6

Chapter 3. Significance of the Great Embassy of Peter I 11

3.1. Significance of the Great Embassy for Peter I 11

3.2. Transformations of Russia into a European state. 12

Conclusion. 13

List of used literature .. 14

Introduction

The 18th century for historians is one of the most difficult to study in comparison with previous centuries. At the turn of the 17th-18th centuries, attempts were made in Russia to overcome the cultural, economic and political backwardness from Western European countries. Significant changes began with the coming to power of Tsar Peter I. Beginning in 1700, Russia embarked on the path of great reforms, after which Muscovite Rus turned into the Russian Empire. Huge changes have affected the economy, the political system, the structure of the authorities, administration and courts, the organization of the army, culture and in the very class structure of the population.

The reforms of Peter I brought the country to dawn and a new era of development. One of the most important events of his reign was the organization of the Great Embassy of Peter I. Subsequently, Peter I entered history as a reformer tsar who “opened a window to Europe”.

In 1998, Russia celebrated the 300th anniversary of the "Great Embassy", which for Peter I was an academy for carrying out internal and external reforms.

Using this historical event as an example, I would like to show separately taken aspects of the development of Russia as a civilized European state.

Chapter 1. Prerequisites for the creation of the Great Embassy of Peter I

1.1. Reasons for the creation of the Great Embassy of Peter I

There are some circumstances that prompted Peter I to create the Great Embassy.

In 1965, the first siege of Azov was carried out, which ended with the need to retreat, and the failures of the Crimean campaigns more and more pushed Peter I to start building a military fleet.

This strategically important business began on the Voronezh River. Here in a fairly short period of time, about less than a year, 2 ships, 23 galleys and 1300 plows were built. In this fleet, 40 thousand Russian soldiers in 1969 again laid siege to the Turkish fortress of Azov. On July 19, 1969, the Turks left the fortress and she capitulated.

In connection with this event, Peter I thought about building a strong and strong military fleet that would help him win victories at sea.

The tsar, having thought it over, on October 20, 1969, convenes a meeting of the Boyar Duma in the Preobrazhensky Selo for, as he put it, "sitting with the boyars about business." For a successful outcome of the business planned by the tsar, he needed to enlist the support of the noble nobility, so that they would finance shipbuilding and approve the sending of Russian young people, volunteers, to study shipbuilding abroad. Peter I personally wrote a note to the Boyar Duma, in which all the details of the organization of the ship companies were set out.

Peter I also gave the idea to expand this duty into merchant auctions and peasant households, information about which was in the household extracts from customs and census books.

The tsar's proposals fully described the methods and principles of organizing and building a new strong fleet. These proposals were subsequently reflected in the Moscow regulations.

1.2. Boyar Duma and decision making

The Boyar Duma, following Peter's suggestions, passed the following verdict: “... There will be sea vessels. And how many, about how to inquire on the number of peasant households. Write out and report. " The next meeting of the Duma took place in the presence of foreigners, who were invited as consultants on the equipment and technical arrangement of ships, as well as to organize training in naval skills for Russian volunteers in Western countries.

The Boyar Duma also passed a verdict on the material side of the company. The clergy and patriarchate, together with 8 thousand peasant households, ensured the construction of one ship. Servicemen and boyars with 10 thousand peasant households provided the construction of one ship. Also, trade and townspeople were subject to taxation. This decision of the Boyar Duma became the basis for the creation of companies or "godparents", as they were called at that time.

All the affairs of the shipbuilding companies were under the jurisdiction of the Vladimir court order, the manager of which was appointed okolnich Protasyev, who, after his appointment, became known as the Admiralty.

For the successful implementation of the companies, the office of the Vladimir order was created, which, after the verdict of the Boyar Duma, first of all developed 2 basic instructions. The first one contained a "list of the composition", which was more like a staffing table, and regulations for the distribution of timber. The second instruction contained the duties of the admiralty himself.

Chapter 2. The Great Embassy 1697-1698

2.1. Goals, composition, route

Historians to this day argue about the goals of the first journey of Peter I. Some believe that his journey was due to the fact that he needed the experience of the reign, while others believe that he wanted to master the secrets of shipbuilding. Nevertheless, by common efforts, after numerous disputes, the goals of Peter I's travel were formed:

1. See the political life of Europe, as Peter and his ancestors never saw it.
2. Using the example of European countries to arrange their own state in a military and political order.
3. By his example, show his subjects the need to travel to foreign lands for the perception of good manners and the study of foreign languages.

Particular attention was paid to the choice of the route and the composition of the Grand Embassy. It was not so easy to choose a specific and specific route. They planned to go to Vienna through Mitava and Riga, then visit Rome and Venice, after - England, Denmark and Holland. The journey was to end with a visit to the Brandenburg Elector.

There were no less difficulties in choosing the composition of the Grand Embassy. It is worth noting that the king himself went to Europe, however unofficially. He went to mulberries with the rank of the Preobrazhensky regiment sergeant Peter Mikhailov.

The embassy itself was headed by three great ambassadors: General and Admiral, Governor of Novgorod Franz Yakovlevich Lefort; general and commissar, governor of Siberia Fyodor Alekseevich Golovin and duma clerk, governor of Belevsky Prokofy Bogdanovich Voznitsyn. The embassy was accompanied by numerous service personnel, namely: priests, translators, healers, bakers, etc. The total number, together with the guards, was 250 people, and the train consisted of 1000 sledges. Since the composition of the embassy was huge, it was decided to leave in several detachments.

Peter I entrusted the administration of the country to Prince Romodanovsky and boyar Tikhon Sershnev.

The route was kept to Holland through Courland, Brandenburg and Germany.

In early August 1967, the embassy arrived in Holland, the city of Saardam, which at that time was considered the center of shipbuilding. The time spent in this city is only a week, but the king managed to buy tools, inspect sawmills and paper mills, change into Dutch clothes and work with an ax at sawmills.

On August 16, 1967, the embassy entered Amsterdam, where an agreement was signed that volunteers would work at the East India Company shipyard. The entire end of August and the beginning of September were devoted to mastering the intricacies of shipbuilding. The result was the frigate Peter and Pavel, which was launched in mid-November.

However, the king was not satisfied with only one practice, he wanted to master the theory. To do this, he decides to go to England, where the embassy arrives in January 1968. There, Peter I himself personally works at the shipyards, and also visits the sights of London. He managed to visit London enterprises, Oxford University, and also visited the Mint and Greenwich Observatory several times.

However, despite all the achievements and knowledge, only one goal of the Great Embassy was fulfilled - to comprehend the science of shipbuilding. The purchase of weapons and the hiring of specialists constituted a huge amount of work. However, 10,000 rifles, 5,000 muskets, 3,200 bayonets, ship supplies and more were bought. Lock masters, boatswains and 350 sailors were hired to serve in Russia.

However, the main task of the embassy was not fulfilled - Holland refused to join the war with Turkey on the side of Russia.

After visiting England, the embassy decides to head back to Holland. In May 1968, the king decides to go to Vienna in order to prevent the possibility of a separate peace between the Ottomans and the Austrians, but they did not have time. Austria already at that time began negotiations with the Ottoman Empire for peace.

However, Peter did not lose hope. He hoped to persuade Venice to war with the Turks, however, this hope was not realized. From Moscow, on his way to Venice, Peter receives disturbing news about the riot of the archers and returns to Russia.

2.2. Documenting the "Great Embassy"

Peter I, in addition to building a fleet, began to organize the "Great Embassy", which had practical and diplomatic goals.

The purpose of this embassy was to assure the heads of neighboring states of friendship, as well as to inform them that the enemy of the cross of the Lord - "the Turkish sultan, the Crimean khan and all the Basurman hordes" weakened, which places great hopes on the conclusion of agreements on strengthening the positions for fight against a common enemy between countries.

Peter I issues a decree of December 6, 1969 on equipping the "Great Embassy" to European courts. This decree also appointed plenipotentiary and grand ambassadors to the Caesar in Poland, to the kings of Denmark and England, to the Dutch states, to the Pope, to the Elector of Brandenburg and to Venice. To provide the ambassadors with the necessary powers, credentials and plenipotentiaries were prepared in the office. The documentary registration of the diplomatic mission of the "Great Embassy" was carried out.

For a detailed planning of the mission, all external relations of Russia for the previous period were studied and analyzed.

Peter I took an active part in the preparation of the mission of the "great embassy". He carried on an active protocol correspondence with the clerks of the Ambassador Prikaz. He sent instructions and orders there, and in response received formal replies or certificates of the appropriate content about the work done. So, in the course of this correspondence, the duties of stewards and roundabouts were formed, whose work was to organize meetings of Russian ambassadors with representatives of foreign states, and also standards of documents for upcoming negotiations were developed, the first instructions on the intricacies of diplomacy and business etiquette after the revision of diplomatic acts of European countries ...

The end of 1969 was marked by the creation of the “Great Embassy” office, consisting of 6 clerks, 2 translators and 2 interpreters for interpretation. They developed the main documents of the embassy: sovereign letters, decrees, article lists, extracts, reports, petitions, etc.

On March 10, 1967, after lengthy preparations, the Grand Embassy left Moscow. The first city it visited was Riga, where the corresponding honors were given to the embassy. The king, who traveled incognito, inspected all the military fortifications of the city.

In Kenisberg, Peter I concludes a new trade agreement and gets acquainted with the artillery business. In Prussia, he also established diplomatic relations, which would later bring considerable benefit to his country. Also important for Russia was Peter I's visit to civilized Germany, which entailed the development of the state.

For a more successful implementation of the mission, Peter I decides to get ahead of the embassy. He reached Amsterdam along the Rhine, where he began to master the basics of shipbuilding, calling himself an ordinary volunteer carpenter. After four months of painstaking work and mastering a new science, the first frigate was launched. A year later, Peter I decides to go to England to improve his skills and to study military crafts.

After England, the tsar decided to go to Vienna in order to sign an agreement with Chancellor Kinsky to strengthen his positions in the fight against the common enemy - Turkey, but disturbing news from Moscow overtook him, and he was forced to return to Russia.

Chapter 3. Significance of the Great Embassy of Peter I

3.1. The significance of the Great Embassy for Peter I

What was the significance of the Great Embassy? For the state, this is a rapprochement with the states of Western Europe, the establishment of trade and diplomatic relations. For Peter I, this is the final confirmation of his personality and methods of government.

Peter I regarded travel abroad as an act of self-education. He wanted knowledge about shipbuilding from this trip, but got a lot of impressions and learned new sciences. For more than a year he traveled to foreign countries, he was surrounded by a variety of people, he learned a variety of cultures. Compared to their poor Russia, the rich and powerful countries of the West made an indelible impression on the tsar, he got used to their customs during this time and could no longer return to his old worldview. Peter realized the superiority of the West and made an attempt to bring his state closer to them through numerous reforms. As a reformer, Peter I was formed precisely abroad. However, his previous foundations of life in Moscow gave one-sidedness in his self-education abroad. He, being the ruler of Azov and the creator of the Russian fleet, was not very interested in the management of the state. Even while abroad, he was attracted by the navy, military affairs and culture, and not by the social structure and management itself.

When Peter I returns to Moscow, he zealously begins to carry out reforms. He breaks with old traditions, bringing with him cultural innovations and rather dramatically embodies them in life. However, he moves on to reforms in the field of state structure and management much later.

3.2. Transformations of Russia into a European state

Russian historians have different assessments of the historical value of the Great Embassy of Peter I. The positive aspects were the implementation of reforms and the training of the Russian people abroad.

The main goal of the embassy was never achieved - Russia was unable to find allies in the war against the Ottoman Empire. However, Peter I received a huge amount of new knowledge, and the embassy, ​​meanwhile, was engaged in hiring specialists and purchasing weapons and ship supplies.

In Europe, Peter I was perceived as an inquisitive savage who was interested only in crafts, applied knowledge and various curiosities. He was considered underdeveloped, as he had little interest in the essential features of European political and cultural life. Europe said that Peter I was a nervous and quick-tempered person who quickly changes plans and does not know how to control himself in moments of anger.

However, in addition to reforms in the field of culture and military affairs, Peter I also carried out administrative transformations after the mission of the Grand Embassy to Europe. He shaped completely new views of Europe on Russian society and changed the principles of state governance - from creating completely new state bodies to changing the documenting process and breaking down conservative command traditions.

Conclusion

Peter I went down in history as a great reformer, who, in terms of his scale of action and the swiftness of reforms, had no analogues either in Russian or even in European history.

The most important achievement of the tsar was the organization of a great diplomatic mission - the "Great Embassy of Peter I", which gave impetus to the implementation of reforms and overcoming Russia's lag behind European countries.

The Great Embassy of Peter I made it possible not only for the country to gain new knowledge in the field of shipbuilding and military affairs, it made it possible for the country to develop in economic, political and cultural directions.

Although the goal of the Grand Embassy was never achieved, Russia gained new trade relations with European countries, and also increased its international status.

List of used literature

1. Buganov V.I."Peter the Great and His Time" - M .: Science, 1989 - 192 p.
2. IN AND., Zyryanov P.N. ed. Sakharova A.N. "History of Russia, late 17th - 19th century", ed. 3 - M .: 1997 - 304 p.
3. comp. Voskresensky N.A."Legislative acts of Peter I" - M .: L., 1945
4. Zuev M.N."History of Russia from ancient times to the end of the XX century", ed. 2, rev. and add. - M .: Bustard, 2000 - 896 p.
5. Klyuchevsky V.O."Historical portraits", M., Publishing house "Pravda", 1991, 623 p.
6. Knyazkov S."Essays from the history of Peter the Great and his time" - M .: Culture, 1990 - 658 p.
7. Pavlenko N.I."Peter I and his time", M., Publishing house "Education", 1989, 495 p.
8. Khachaturyan V.M., ed. IN AND. Ukolovoy "History of world civilizations from ancient times to the beginning of the XX century", ed. 2. - M .: Bustard, 1998 - 400 p.
let us know.

In 1697, on the personal order of Peter 1, the great embassy of Peter 1 was assembled in Europe, the results of which had a strong influence on the development of Russia. In total, the embassy consisted of 250 people. They were all of a prominent noble family. Peter Mikhailov, who served in the Preobrazhensky regiment, stood apart among them. It was under this pseudonym that Peter 1 himself took part in the embassy.

The results of the great embassy of 1697-1698 led Peter to the conclusion that it was necessary to reform Russia. The purpose of the embassy was to familiarize with the European character, way of life, sciences and culture. From childhood, Peter was surrounded by foreign teachers who spoke to the Russian tsar about how far science had gone in European countries. Peter wanted to see this for himself. During the period of the European embassy, ​​Courland, England, Holland, Austria and Königsberg were visited. In 1698, the embassy was interrupted, because Peter was informed that in Russia the archers were preparing a new conspiracy. They urgently needed to return to their homeland. Due to the early departure, Peter was unable to visit Rome and Venice.

The results of the great embassy of 1697-1698 predetermined both domestic and foreign policies of Russia for many years to come. Peter 1 returned from Europe with a firm understanding that for the successful development of the country, Russia needs access to the sea. This sea was supposed to be the Baltic Sea. Peter the Great understood perfectly well that it would be difficult to achieve access to the Baltic Sea, since it meant a war with the powerful Swedish king, but there was no other way out. As a result, in 1700, the Great Northern War began, which lasted almost the entire life of Peter, but nevertheless brought Russia a long-awaited exit to the Baltic. Peter did open a window to Europe. In addition, the results of the embassy in Europe led Peter to the idea that Russia needs cardinal changes. The lag behind Western countries was enormous. Therefore, Peter threw all his efforts to reduce this lag, primarily in the field of science. Peter the Great saw the many virtues of the West and wanted to strengthen Russia's ties with Western European countries. But this required access to the Baltic Sea.

As a result, the results of the great embassy of 1697-1698 led Peter the Great to the idea that in order for Russia to successfully achieve its internal and external tasks, it needs access to the Baltic Sea. Consequently, a war with the Swedes was brewing.

He believed that Russia was far behind in its development from Western European countries, the tsar openly admitted this. Wanting to adopt the European experience, modernize the country and find allies in the struggle against the Ottoman Empire, he equips the Great Embassy in Europe.

The embassy was headed by experienced diplomats Fyodor Golovin and Prokopiy Voznesensky. This event took place in 1697-1698. In the spring of 1697, an embassy of 250 departed for Europe. They were to visit England, Holland, Austria, Venice, Vatican and other European powers.

The Grand Embassy included 35 young nobles who were going to study naval affairs, among them, under the name of the bombardier Peter Mikhailov, was the tsar himself. The first major cities visited by the Russians were Riga and Konigsberg. The Governor of Riga did not allow the Russian Tsar to visit the fortress and other sights of the city. Peter, in anger, called Riga a cursed place.

Further, the path of the embassy lay in Courland, where Peter the Great received a warm welcome. This was the first foreign trip of a Russian monarch. For almost a month he stayed with the Duke of Courland, Friedrich Casimir, who showed the utmost courtesy and courtesy. Frederick tried to persuade Peter to an alliance against Sweden, but the tsar from Russia, so far, was only interested in allies in the fight against Turkey. Further, the path of the Great Embassy lay through the German states.

Peter I separated from the embassy and went to the Netherlands, to Amsterdam, where he stayed for four months. Later, he secretly enters the service in a shipyard, where he receives a certificate of carpenter-shipbuilder. The Grand Embassy also visited the Dutch Hague, where he got acquainted with the activities of the country's highest authorities - the States General.

Peter I successfully combined the activities of a diplomatic mission with visits to theaters, museums, various laboratories and manufactories, and improved his knowledge of shipbuilding. An important component of Peter's activities in the European tour was the recruitment of Western specialists in various fields for the Russian service.

In January 1698, Peter I arrives with a great embassy in England. In England, he visits shipyards, negotiates an alliance against Turkey, and also attends meetings of the British Parliament. At the end of April 1698, he urgently set off for Austria. The alliance of Russia, Poland, Austria and Venice against the Turks fell apart.

In Austria, the Russian tsar had to prevent the signing of a peace treaty. During these years, Europe was living with the problem of the "Spanish heritage" and no one really paid attention to the ideas and proposals of the young Russian tsar.

From Vienna, the Grand Embassy was supposed to go to Venice, but on the day of departure, July 15, 1698, another message came. Peter I hurried to Moscow, on the way he met with August II. August II well outlined to Peter the prospect of a war against Sweden, their expulsion from the Baltic, and the establishment of Poland and Russia in this region.