OCR Specification focus:
‘early life and upbringing of Peter at Preobrazhenskoe, his character and personality; attempted coup of Sophia 1689’
Peter the Great’s formative years and Sophia’s failed coup in 1689 shaped his character, politics, and ambitions, laying the groundwork for Russia’s transformation into a powerful empire.
Early Life and Upbringing at Preobrazhenskoe
Peter Alekseyevich Romanov, later known as Peter the Great, was born in 1672, the son of Tsar Alexis by his second wife, Natalia Naryshkina. His upbringing was unusual compared with earlier Muscovite rulers. Following the death of his father, and amidst the bitter power struggles between the Naryshkin and Miloslavsky factions of the boyars, Peter’s childhood was spent largely away from the traditional centre of Russian politics in Moscow. Instead, he grew up in the suburban estate of Preobrazhenskoe, which offered him a freer environment but also exposed him to instability and factional violence.
At Preobrazhenskoe, Peter enjoyed wide freedom to explore. He showed curiosity about military affairs and technology, particularly western innovations, and organised mock military drills with neighbourhood children and young nobles. These evolved into what became known as the ‘play regiments’, or toy armies, which he drilled with discipline and enthusiasm. In time, these regiments matured into the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Guards, the elite guard units that would serve him loyally throughout his reign.
Peter’s education was less formal and structured than that of previous rulers. He lacked advanced scholarly training but cultivated practical knowledge. He developed an interest in navigation, fortification building, and ship construction, often learning from foreigners living in Moscow’s German Quarter, where Western Europeans resided. This exposure introduced him to Western customs, military science, and craftsmanship, setting him apart from more traditional Muscovite boyars.
Raised at Preobrazhenskoe, Peter combined restless energy with practical curiosity for tools, ships and gunnery.
Peter Alekseevich as a child, painted by an unknown artist. The portrait shows the tsarevich in elite dress, reinforcing his courtly milieu and early context. Source
Character and Personality
Peter’s early years forged a character that was both energetic and volatile. Accounts describe him as physically imposing, standing over six feet tall, with boundless energy and a restless temperament. He was curious, practical, and determined, but also prone to violent outbursts and cruelty.
Personality: The combination of qualities and traits that form an individual’s character and govern their behaviour.
Peter’s character was marked by:
Pragmatism: A focus on practical solutions rather than theoretical learning.
Western orientation: Fascination with European culture and technology.
Ruthlessness: A capacity for brutality, which later manifested in his treatment of opponents.
Charisma and drive: Ability to inspire loyalty in his closest companions and military units.
These traits were both assets and liabilities, but they made him uniquely suited to push through radical reforms in later life.
Political Context and Factionalism
The accession crisis following the death of Tsar Feodor III in 1682 plunged Russia into political instability. The throne was disputed between Peter, supported by the Naryshkin family, and his half-brother Ivan V, supported by the Miloslavskys. To resolve the tension, both Peter and Ivan were declared joint tsars, with their elder sister Sophia Alekseyevna acting as regent.
Sophia, intelligent and politically astute, effectively wielded power, ruling in Peter’s minority and relying heavily on the support of the Streltsi, the Moscow garrison troops. This period of regency exposed Peter to the dangers of court politics and the entrenched divisions among the nobility.
The Streltsi, a politicised urban infantry, shaped court tensions and featured prominently in the confrontations of 1682 and 1689.
The Attempted Coup of Sophia, 1689
By the late 1680s, Peter was reaching adulthood, and his supporters sought to end Sophia’s regency. In 1689, a power struggle culminated in her attempted coup.
Key developments included:
Sophia’s declining influence: Failures in foreign policy, particularly Golitsyn’s unsuccessful campaigns against the Crimean Khanate, undermined her prestige.
Rising Naryshkin influence: Peter’s family worked to secure his independence and legitimacy as senior tsar.
Streltsi unrest: The Streltsi, dissatisfied with their conditions, were a volatile force that Sophia attempted to mobilise in her favour.
In August 1689, Sophia tried to assert her dominance by inciting the Streltsi against Peter. However, Peter, then 17 years old, escaped to the fortified Trinity Monastery of St Sergius, rallying boyar and noble support around him. His ‘play regiments’, now a disciplined military force, backed his cause. Sophia’s plans collapsed when the nobility and military shifted their allegiance to Peter.
In August 1689 Peter escaped to the Trinity Lavra of St Sergius, where he gathered supporters and issued orders in his own name.
The Trinity Lavra of St Sergius at Sergiyev Posad, the fortified monastery to which Peter fled in 1689. Its towers symbolised sanctuary and authority during the coup. Source
Coup: A sudden and often violent attempt by a small group to overthrow an existing government or ruler.
Sophia was subsequently forced into the Novodevichy Convent, effectively removing her from power, though she remained a potential figurehead for opposition. Peter formally assumed direct rule, though Ivan V remained titular co-tsar until his death in 1696.
Significance of the 1689 Coup
The failed coup had lasting significance for Peter’s reign:
It demonstrated the volatility of the Streltsi, convincing Peter of the need to reform and eventually disband them.
It consolidated his position as legitimate ruler, ending Sophia’s regency.
It confirmed the reliability of his Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments, laying foundations for a professionalised military.
It underscored the dangers of factional boyar politics, shaping Peter’s later determination to curb the power of the nobility.
Legacy of Peter’s Early Years
The combination of a semi-rural upbringing at Preobrazhenskoe, exposure to Western influences, and the trauma of factional power struggles shaped Peter into a ruler unlike his predecessors. His fascination with military discipline, technology, and foreign expertise stemmed from his youth, while the confrontation with Sophia in 1689 instilled a deep distrust of political opponents and reinforced his reliance on military might. These formative experiences provided the foundation for his later drive to modernise and centralise Russia into a European-style empire.
FAQ
The German Quarter, a foreign enclave in Moscow, exposed Peter to Western Europeans including soldiers, shipbuilders, and artisans.
He observed demonstrations of firearms, navigation, and shipbuilding techniques that fascinated him and contrasted with Muscovite traditions. These encounters encouraged his preference for practical knowledge over scholastic learning and helped instil a curiosity about Western innovations that he would later adopt as tsar.
Sophia capitalised on factional divisions between the Miloslavsky and Naryshkin families.
She positioned herself as a stabilising figure after the violent Streltsy uprising of 1682.
She secured the loyalty of the Streltsy by providing privileges and pay.
Her partnership with Prince Vasily Golitsyn, a skilled statesman, gave her credibility in foreign and domestic policy.
This combination allowed her to dominate court politics until Peter’s supporters rallied against her in 1689.
The Streltsy, disgruntled over poor pay and conditions, were manipulated by Sophia to challenge Peter’s position.
Their threat was serious because:
They were stationed in Moscow, close to the centres of power.
They had already demonstrated their willingness to act politically during the uprising of 1682.
Their numbers and armaments gave Sophia a military force to pressure Peter.
However, divisions among the nobility and the loyalty of Peter’s play regiments ultimately neutralised their influence in 1689.
The Trinity Lavra of St Sergius was both a fortified monastery and a religious centre. By fleeing there, Peter:
Secured a defensible stronghold safe from the Streltsy.
Gained legitimacy by associating himself with a sacred Orthodox site.
Attracted noble and military support, as his presence there symbolised divine approval of his rule.
This act transformed him from a vulnerable youth into a ruler commanding respect and authority.
Although declared co-tsars in 1682, Ivan V was frail and politically passive.
Peter’s youth and vitality contrasted sharply with Ivan’s poor health and limited capacity to govern. Sophia exploited Ivan’s claim to bolster her regency, but Peter’s eventual majority and assertiveness made Ivan largely symbolic.
When Sophia’s influence collapsed in 1689, Ivan’s presence no longer obstructed Peter’s authority, though the formal co-rule persisted until Ivan’s death in 1696.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which year did Sophia attempt her coup against Peter the Great?
Mark Scheme
1689 = 2 marks
Any other date within the 1680s but not 1689 = 1 mark (partial credit for demonstrating awareness of correct decade).
Incorrect or no answer = 0 marks
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two ways in which Peter’s upbringing at Preobrazhenskoe influenced his later rule.
Mark Scheme
Up to 3 marks for each explanation (2 × 3 = 6 total).
For each way explained:
1 mark: Identifying a relevant influence (e.g. play regiments, exposure to Western ideas).
1 mark: Expanding with detail (e.g. Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments later became elite guard units).
1 mark: Linking to later rule (e.g. his reliance on disciplined military units to secure his power).
Examples of valid answers include:
The ‘play regiments’ at Preobrazhenskoe gave Peter practical military experience (1), which he used to build elite guard units (1), later forming the backbone of his army (1).
Exposure to Western customs through foreigners in Moscow’s German Quarter (1) fostered Peter’s interest in European technology (1), shaping his later reforms in shipbuilding and administration (1).
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