Document – Peter the Great, "Decree on the Invitation to Foreigners" (1702)

Abstract and Keywords

Peter I (1672–1725) of Russia was one of the most extraordinary rulers of eighteenth-century Europe. He came to power in a country with a deeply established traditional culture that was changing rapidly in the face of increased contact and competition with western and northern European powers. Under Peter, Russia defeated Sweden to become the single greatest power in eastern Europe. He also instituted an entire range of social, economic, cultural, intellectual, and political changes. Peter developed a completely different political idea that was an amalgam of Russian doctrines about the personal, autocratic power of the tsar and western ideas about rational, secular rule in service of an abstract, impersonal state. In addition, Peter imported selected parts of western culture and learning, and he imposed them on an often resistant nobility. The most visible sign of Peter’s western orientation was the new capital of St. Petersburg that he ordered built.

The first source offered here is an imperial edict that invites foreigners to come to Russia and enter Russian government service. It also provides Peter’s overall goals. The second set of sources—the decree on building restrictions and the description of a ban on kneeling in the tsar’s presence in St. Petersburg—involve Peter’s use of “rational” legislation for the public good. Following this, the third set of documents present Peter’s view of the ruler’s role as first servant of the state and his understanding of the proper behavior of his subjects. The final set of texts present two Russian opinions of Peter.

“Decree on the Invitation to Foreigners” (1702), in Peter the Great, ed. L. Jay Oliva. (Prentice-Hall, 1970): 44. Reprinted by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Account given by John Hosy, the emperor’s First Surgeon, in Original Anecdotes of Peter the Great, ed. Jakob von Staehlin (New York: Arno Press, 1920), 99–100.

Peter the Great, “Order to the Army Before the Battle of Poltava,” June 27, 1709, in A Source Book for Russian History from Early Times to 1917, Vol. 2, ed. George Vernadsky, et al., 365. Copyright © 1972 Yale University Press. Reprinted with permission.

In Eugene Schuyler, Peter the Great, Vol. 2 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1884), 153–54.

Document

“Decree on the Invitation to Foreigners” (1702)

It is sufficiently known in all the lands which the Almighty has placed under our rule, that since our accession to the throne all our efforts and intentions have tended to govern this realm in such a way that all of our subjects should, through our care for the general good, become more and more prosperous. For this end we have always tried to maintain internal order, to defend the State against invasion, and in every possible way to improve and to extend trade. With this purpose we have been compelled to make some necessary and salutary changes in the administration, in order that our subjects might more easily gain a knowledge of matters of which they were before ignorant, and become more skillful in their commercial relations. We have therefore given orders, made dispositions, and founded institutions indispensable for increasing our trade with foreigners, and shall do the same in future. Nevertheless we fear that matters are not in such a good condition as we desire, and that our subjects cannot in perfect quietness enjoy the fruits of our labours, and we have therefore considered still other means to protect our frontier from the invasion of the enemy, and to preserve the rights and privileges of our State, and the general peace of all Christians, as is incumbent on a Christian monarch to do. To attain these worthy aims, we have endeavoured to improve our military forces, which are the protection of our State, so that our troops may consist of well-drilled men, maintained in perfect order and discipline. In order to obtain greater improvement in this respect, and to encourage foreigners, who are able to assist us in this way, as well as artists and artisans profitable to the State, to come in numbers to our country, we have issued this manifesto, and have ordered printed copies of it to be sent throughout Europe. And as in our residence of Moscow, the free exercise of religion of all other sects, although not agreeing with our church, is already allowed, so shall this be hereby confirmed anew in such wise that we, by the power granted to us by the Almighty, shall exercise no compulsion over the consciences of men, and shall gladly allow every Christian to care for his own salvation at his own risk.

“Decrees on the Building of ST. Petersburg” (1714)

1. On the City Island and the Admiralty Island in Saint Petersburg, as likewise on the banks of the greater Neva and its more important arms, wooden buildings are forbidden, only adobe houses being allowed. The two above-mentioned islands and the embankments excepted, wood may be used for buildings, the plans to be obtained from the architect Trezzini. The roofs are to be covered either with two thicknesses of turf laid on rafters with cross-ribs (not on laths or boards), or with tiles. No other roof covering is allowed under penalty of severe fines. The streets should be bordered directly by the houses, not with fences or stables.

2. The most illustrious and mighty Peter the Great, Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia, has commanded his imperial decree to be proclaimed to people of all ranks. Whereas stone construction here is advancing very slowly, it being difficult to obtain stone-masons and other artisans of this craft even for good pay; for this reason all stone buildings of any description are forbidden in the whole state for a few years, until construction has sufficiently progressed here, under penalty of confiscation of the offender’s property and exile. This decree is to be announced in all the cities and districts of the Saint Petersburg province, except this city, so that none may plead ignorance as an excuse.

“Prohibition on Kneeling”

Some years after the city of Petersburg was built few streets were paved, and, on the smallest fall of rain, they were very wet and muddy; yet, when the czar appeared in public, every one fell on their knees, according to an ancient custom of the nation. It is easy to conceive the situation of his subjects on rising. The sovereign, little desirous of such useless respect, always made a sign to the people to abstain, and declared several times that this ceremony was by no means flattering to him. But as this declaration had no effect, and as the old custom continued to be kept up, he at last issued a proclamation, forbidding, under penalty of the knout,ⁱ any person to kneel before him in the streets, or to cover himself with mud in honor of his sovereign.

“Order to the Army Before the Battle of Poltava” (1709)

Let the Russian soldiers know that the hour has come in which the very existence of the whole fatherland is placed in their hands: either Russia will perish completely, or she will be reborn for the better. They must think that they have been armed and drawn up in battle array, not for the sake of Peter, but for the sake of the state entrusted to Peter, for the sake of their kin and of the whole of the Russian people, which until now, has been protected by their arms, and which today is awaiting from them the final decision of its fortunes. Neither let them be disturbed by the glory of the enemy reputed to be invincible, for they themselves have repeatedly given the lie to this report. In the action to come let them keep only this before their mental eye— that God himself and Justice are fighting with us, of which fact, the Lord, who gives strength in battles, has already given them testimony by his aid in many combats: let them rely upon him alone. And as for Peter, let them know for certain that his life is not dear to him, if only Russia and Russian piety, glory, and prosperity survive.

“Peter’s Conception of Imperial Authority”

Peter the Great, conversing in the turner’s shop with Bruce and Osterman, told them vehemently, “The foreigners say that I order servitors around like slaves. I order them like subjects who obey my decrees. These decrees contain good and not harm for the state. English freedom is not relevant here, like a blank wall. One must know the people to rule them. He who sees the bad and thinks up the good can speak to me directly without fear. You are witnesses to that. I am glad to hear something useful from the least subject; hands, feet, and tongues are not bridled. Access to me is open—if only they do not burden me merely with trifles and do not vainly take up my time each hour of which is dear to me. Ill-wishers and miscreants to me and to the Fatherland cannot be content: their bridle is the law. He is free who does not do evil and obeys the good.”

Notes

Review

1. On the basis of all of these documents, what were Peter’s goals as leader of Russia? In general, are they goals a leader should strive for?
2. What methods did Peter use to attain his goals? Identify places, if there are any, where his methods were not consistent with his goals and explain why.
3. How does Peter’s understanding of leadership and what is good for his country compare with that of the other leaders discussed in this chapter? How do these sources compare with the types of sources used for the other leaders?

Notes:

(ⁱ) A knotted-rope whip.