Peter I

Images

Oil painting of Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, shown from the waist up wearing armor and a sash, with one hand resting on a cane, against a dark background.

Portrait of Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina wearing a dark headdress and cloak, with an ornate garment visible underneath.

Map showing the territorial expansion of Russia from 1300 to 1796, with regions color-coded by the ruler or period of acquisition. The map highlights the principality of Moscow around 1300, its growth by 1462, and subsequent expansions under rulers such as Ivan III, Ivan IV, Peter the Great, and Catherine the Great, extending Russian territory across Eastern Europe and into Siberia. Major rivers, neighboring countries, and cities are labeled for geographic context.

equestrian statue of Peter I

The Bronze Horseman statue in Saint Petersburg, Russia, depicts Peter the Great on a rearing horse atop a large stone pedestal.

At a Glance

Oil painting of Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, shown from the waist up wearing armor and a sash, with one hand resting on a cane, against a dark background.

Peter I summary

Peter I: Media

emperor of Russia

Images

Oil painting of Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, shown from the waist up wearing armor and a sash, with one hand resting on a cane, against a dark background.

Peter I

Peter I.

Courtesy of the Rijksmuseum; object no. SK-A-116

Alexis

Alexis

Tsar Alexis, detail of a portrait by an unknown artist, c. 1670; in the State Historical...

Courtesy of the State Historical Museum, Moscow

Portrait of Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina wearing a dark headdress and cloak, with an ornate garment visible underneath.

Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina

Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina.

© mikroman6—iStock/Getty Images

Map showing the territorial expansion of Russia from 1300 to 1796, with regions color-coded by the ruler or period of acquisition. The map highlights the principality of Moscow around 1300, its growth by 1462, and subsequent expansions under rulers such as Ivan III, Ivan IV, Peter the Great, and Catherine the Great, extending Russian territory across Eastern Europe and into Siberia. Major rivers, neighboring countries, and cities are labeled for geographic context.

Expansion of Russia, 1300–1796

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Peter I

Peter I

Peter I, disguised as a carpenter while traveling in western Europe (1697–98).

© Photos.com/Getty Images

Alexis

Alexis

Alexis, detail of an engraving by Christian Albrecht Wortmann, c. 1740.

© Fine Art Images—Heritage Images/Getty Images

equestrian statue of Peter I

equestrian statue of Peter I

Peter I, statue in St. Petersburg.

AdstockRF

Peter I

Peter I

Peter I.

© Photos.com/Thinkstock

The Bronze Horseman statue in Saint Petersburg, Russia, depicts Peter the Great on a rearing horse atop a large stone pedestal.

Bronze Horseman

The Bronze Horseman, monument to Peter the Great, St. Petersburg.

© Dmitry Nikolaev/Shutterstock.com

Baltiysk

Baltiysk

Peter I monument, with the lighthouse (center right), Baltiysk, Russia.

Fastboy

Portrait painting of Peter I the Great by Aert de Gelder, showing him in armor with a blue sash, one hand on his hip and the other resting on a cane, against a dark background.

Peter I the Great

Peter I the Great, portrait by Aert de Gelder (1645–1727); in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (object no. SK-A-116)

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