For about one century Russia was isolated from any outlet to the Baltic Sea.

Noteburg, Shlisselburg, Oreshek, Petrokrepost - Neva river view (May, 2004)

For about one century Russia was isolated from any outlet to the Baltic Sea.



In the first half of the 17th century Sweden occupied two Baltic Lands (Liflyandia and Estlandia), both Ezel and Gotland Islands and a considerable territory in Northern Germany including the mouth of navigable rivers (Oder and Elbe), a part of maritime lands of Russia, and as a matter of fact turned the Baltic Sea into a "Swedish Lake" by the end of the century. The Swedish Navy, being considerably superior to the Russian one both in the number and armaments of the ships, ruled over the Baltics. Forty-two battleships, twelve frigates, about thirteen-thousand officers and sailors were impressive powers, that had to be taken into account by her neighbours.



Starting the war against Sweden that has gone down in history as the Northern War (1700 - 1721) in August 1700, Peter the First, in fact, started a struggle for returning the primordial Russian lands.



The capture of the Noteburg fortress on October 11, 1702 was the first successful operation carried out by the Russians.



The Noteburg fortress (Oreshek in ancient times) had been built by the Novgorodians in 1323 to defend their lands from the Swedes. It was situated on an island near the source of the Neva from Ladoga Lake being of vital importance as a barrier on the way to the sea. Over a long period of time the fortress was in the hands of the Swedes under the Stolbov treaty of 1617. The fortress was impregnable.



The Russian troops under the command of General Field-Marshal B.P.Sheremetyev gathered together in the mouth of the Volkhov and launched an assault resolutely. About fifty boats were portaged through specially hewed down cuttings from Ladoga Lake to the Neva, so as to block up the garrison on the sea. Two Russian small frigates "Svyatoy Dookh" ("Holy Spirit") and "Courier" were portaged from the White Sea to Onega Lake to use them in the seize of Noteburg.

Noteburg, Shlisselburg, Oreshek, Petrokrepost - Ladoga lake view (May, 2004)

After a continuous cannonade of ten days and thirteen-hours-long fighting, the Russian troops succeeded in capturing Noteburg on October 11,1702. In commemoration of the victory, Peter the First ordered the renaming of Noteburg as Shlisselburg (Key-Town). Better skilled workmen had cast a special medal in commemoration of the event.



Half a year later one more victory brought Peter closer to the long-wished purpose: gaining an outlet to the sea. Every year, with the beginning of a summer campaign, a detachment of Swedish battleships came to the mouth of the Neva to replenish their supplies and ammunition and to strengthen the garrisons of their fortresses. In 1703 the squadron headed by Vice-Admiral Numers arrived in the waters of the Gulf of Finland. The Swedish Admiral did not know that the Russians had decided to win back the outlets to the sea and already succeeded in capturing both the Noteburg fortress (on October 11, 1702) and the Nienshants fortress (on April 26, 1703) and becoming the owners on the Neva. Without any suspicions, the Admiral sent two battle ships — the "Astrild" shnyava and the "Gedan" boat to the Neva on May, 6. An ambush that had been laid by Peter I carefully watched the movements of the Swedish ships. Peter lacked the power sufficient to attack the Swedish squadron but as soon as he learned that two ships had been separated from it, he decided to seize them.



For this purpose, Peter ordered thirty common fishing boats to be fitted and to embark two riffle companies of two regiments (Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky). Under the cover of night from 6th to 7th of May, the boats approached the Neva mouth and attacked after a conventional sign the Swedish ships from two sides. The soldiers, headed by Peter himself and his associate A.D.Menshikov, started the boarding. The battle was cruel but successful. Both Swedish ships became war trophies of the Russian soldiers.



In commemoration of the first water victory over the Swedes, all the participants of the battle received the memorial medal with the legend: "Vain Dreams are Achievable". That day, May 7,1703, became the birth day of the Baltic Navy.



Peter the First who held the rank of Bombardier Captain and A.D.Menshikov who was Bombardier Lieutenant became the holders of the "St. Andrey Pervozvanny" Order. General-Admiral Count F.A.Golovin, the first holder of that Order, invested them with that highest award. After a public prayer in the courtyards church, all the holders of the Order gathered together at the festival table, where toasts were proposed to them under the salvo of guns. The actions devoted to the Order were carried out during one day according to the ceremonial. The decorated people wore a blue ribbon over the right shoulder. The two-headed eagle with three crowns was struck on the blue cross representing the crucified St.Apostle Andrey. All the holders received a silver star in the middle of which the blue smooth cross of St.Andrey was reproduced on the golden field. In addition to the Order sign, a medal was struck in memory of the Baltic Naval creation.

Noteburg, Shlisselburg, Oreshek, Petrokrepost (May, 2004)

On May, 16 1703, having released the mouth of the Neva from the enemy, Peter, founded there a city which would become the naval capital of the Russian State. The city was called St.Petersburg.



The same year the first foreign merchant ship put into the city under construction. The ship was flying under the Dutch flag. Peter cordially welcomed Dutch seamen, providing them with a free trade right. The ship called "St.Petersburg" was sailed for a long time from Amsterdam to the city on the Neva.



The outlet of Russia to the Baltic Sea as well as the birth of the Navy generated a need for the creation of a powerful fortified region, to be taken to the Gulf side, so as to bar the way to the capital against the enemy. The first Russian fortification, fort "Kronshlot" that would mark the beginning of the future naval fortress Kronshtadt, was built about one verst (3 500 feet) from the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland on Kotlin Island in spring, 1704. Peter himself delivered guns to the fort by the "Velkom" fleita.



The Kronshlot Fort was constructed during the winter 1703-1704 after the model made by Peter himself directed by A.D.Menshikov, the Russian Tsar's associate. Shortly afterwards, Kronshtadt became a powerful fortress on the Baltics, when the canal and the harbour as well as the docks and fortifications were put into operation. The Governor of Kronstadt A.D.Menshickov left in the memory of himself not only powerful defensive works but also splendid palaces.



St. Petersburg was created as the naval capital of Russia. On August, 30, 1724 the burial took place of the remains of Alexander Nevsky in the Alexander Nevsky monastery. The holy relicts became one more event symbolizing the transformation of St. Petersburg into a capital. The best architects and masters from the European countries as well as Russian skilled workmen created the unique buildings. I.F.Zubov and A.I.Rostovtsev and many other engravers and painters imprinted St.Petersburg of the Peterine time in their works. And either a battleship or a trade vessel was available on almost every picture or engraving of that distant epoch.

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