Naval vessels should be!

Isolation of Russia from sea routes hindered its further economic development. The country surrounded with seas possessed by the end of the 17th century only one port - Arkhangelsk though which it fulfilled business and trading contacts with other countries. That is why the task to return coast territories was the most acute for Russia. The most valuable merit of the czar the reformer Peter Alekseevich was in his persuasion that independence and welfare of the state could be achieved only if Russia possessed regular navy and open exit to seas.

Portret of Peter I G. Neller

Peter was inclined to seafaring from the early age when he made fun with the sailing boat that he being a child found in a shed in the settlement of Izmailovskoye. The famous boat of Peter I saved till today was brought to Russia from England by the grand-grandfather of the emperor the boyar Nikita Pomanov. Managing this boat, a precursor, the grandfather of the Russian Navy Peter learned to manage a ship on the river Yauza and the lake of Pereyaslavl. Growing up the future reformer more and more inclined to the thought that Russia needed powerful fleet. In Solombala, at the White sea the young czar began to build military vessels and in August 1693 made his first cruise on board the yacht with twelve cannons St.Peter. In a year he accepted in Arkhangelsk a military vessel of 44 cannons constructed at one of the shipyards in Holland.

According to the treaty with Poland Peter was to begin the war with powerful at that time Turkey. Using the situation he directed his attention to Azov which actually was the key to the Black sea. Desiring to have an exit to the Azov, the Black amd the Mediterranean seas the Russian czar tried to subjugate the mouths of the Don and the Dnieper. But the first attempt to capture the Turkish fortress Azov in spring of 1695 entirely failed: Turkish ships supplied the sieged with armament and food in time. The failure didn't confuse Peter. He persuaded that the fortress could be captured only from the sea that was why he needed fleet. Hurriedly he started construction of ships in Voronezh. By the end of 1696 the 36-cannnon-vessel Apostle Peter, four fire-ships, twenty-three galleys, about 1500 of boats and rafts were put to water. The new flotilla started the cruise immediately. Successful actions of Russian sailors frustrated the attempts of the Turkish to support the defenders of the fortress. On July, 19, 1696 Azov was taken in the storm.

In autumn 1696 according to the edict of Peter I the Boyar Duma made the resolution: "Sea vessels should be:". This year significant for Russia can be considered the birth year of the regular fleet.

In March 1697 Peter I undertook a diplomatic mission to Western Europe. The objective of the Great embassy was consolidation and expansion of the alliance of Russia with England, Denmark, Prussia, Austria and Venus, foundation of the coalition against Turkey. Besides political tasks Peter wanted to get acquainted with the state of naval affairs in foremost European countries and purchase armament. There was one more important task - to invite ship-builders, sailors, engineers and architects to Russian service. Those were specialists which the czar needed for fulfillment of his enormous plans. Simulteneously Peter wanted to teach his compatriots, simple masters, the art of ship-building, and the most capable were to be sent abroad for studying navigation.

Azov fortress capture. 1696. A. Tron

Admiral Y. Lefort (1656 -1699) The first Russian admiral - Participated in the Azov's campaign. Unknown painter

As the result about one thousand specialists were hired abroad, 22 cannons, five thousand guns, three thousand and two hundred bayonets, many different instruments and equipment for ship being built were purchased. In the foremost naval countries of the world Peter I saw the flourishing of ship-building art, cognized the role and significance of the Navy for defense of sea borders and for development of trade. Possibly it happened then that he found evident "every state possessing the army has got one hand, and possessing the Navy - has got two hands". Having returned from abroad Peter I started to fulfill his old dream to capture from the Swedes the exit to the Baltic sea back.

In August 1700 the war with Sweden began which is unknown as the Northern war. The beginning of the war was not very successful. The Russian troops failed at Narva. However after the first failure success came. At first - the victory at the settlement of Erestfer in Estland, then the Russians captured Swedish fortresses at the Neva. On October, 11, 1702 the fortress Noteburg fell, and in May 1703 the garrison of the fortress Nienshants situated at the confluence of the river Ohta to the Neva, capitulated.

Tsar's Yaht "Transport Royal", was a gift for Peter I from the king of England William III. Unknown painter

Soon the first water victory happened. On May,2 the Swedish squadron came to the mouth of the Neva. Not knowing about the capture of the fortress by the Russians, the Swedish admiral Numers directed two boats Astrild and Gedan to the mouth of the Neva. The enemy could not suppose that the ambush laid by Peter I was watching attentively every movement of the Swedes. Not possessing the necessary number of ships Peter could not attack the squadron. But when he knew about two ships got detached from the vanguard he decided to attack them. Having embarked two companies of soldiers of Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments he unexpectedly attacked the Swedish ships in the darkness at night on May,6-7. The boarding fight was severe. Armed with naval artillery the Swedes awfully repulsed the storm of simple fishing boats. Nevertheless the struggle finished to the Russians' credit. Two Swedish ships were their trophy. That was the way how the unusual victory which played a very significant role in development of the Russian Navy was won. This day is considered the birthday of the Baltic Navy. In honor of the victory all the participants got medals with the signature "Unprecedented happen", and Peter I and his associate A.Menshikov became the bearers of the order of St.George. The capture of the fortresses and liberation of the Neva mouth stimulated the return of the ancient sea route "from the Varangian to the Greek" to Russia. To achieve further success in subjugation of the Baltic coast and not to lose the won position the czar needed a regular and powerful Navy which could withstand the Swedish squadron.

The Baltic navy vessels near Kotlin island summer 1705 . A. Tron

To protect from the seaside the city being constructed on the Neva the Russian monarch found an unusual decision. Not far from the island of Kotlin situated in the gulf of Finland opposite the Neva mouth he creates the first artificial fort Kronshlot and a powerful battery on the island itself. So the main fairway was closed. Any enemy ship could be met with cannon shots from the fort and the island. This was the beginning of construction of the first naval fortress in the Baltic sea - Kronstadt, the town which was fated to glorify the Russian Navy with outstanding scientific and geographical discoveries, wonderful events in the field of ship-building and ship-armament. So it was no mere chance that the theme of Kronstadt, the Mekka of the Russian Navy, takes a great place.

In 2004 the town and the fortress Kronstadt will celebrate the 300th jubilee. Since Peter the Great not any conqueror stepped on the island. Peter's order to consider the defense of the Navy and of this place the most important task and to protect it to the last drop of blood has been fulfilled firmly.

Some time passed and military ships were put to water. They opened remarkable pages in the chronicle of the Russian Navy. On July, 27, 1714 the Russian won a victory in the battle at Gangut, on May, 24, 1719 won the fight at the island of Esel, on July, 27, 1720 - at Grengam. The Russian Navy already possessing hundreds of ships becomes the host in the Baltic sea. And the leading sea powers recognized this superiority. That is why the Russian czar was charged with the command by the united Russian, English, Danish and Dutch Navy at the island of Bornholm in August 1716.

On August, 30, 1721 the Northern war finished. In the town of Neustadt the peace treaty was signed by Russia and Sweden according to which Russia got not only new territories but also the long-awaited exit to the Baltic sea.

All these events didn't remain without artists' attention who saved them for centuries in works of art.