Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Yeltsin sacked two prime ministers in quick succession, politically unknown Putin
was offered the inauspicious post. On New Year's Eve that year Yeltsin finally
resigned and Putin was appointed acting president. Putin went on to win two presid-
ential elections, before resigning to become Prime Minister in 2008, due to constitu-
tionally mandated term limits. Since then fellow Petersburger Dmitry Medvedev has
been the president of Russia, though it's likely that Putin will have returned to the
presidency by the time you read this.
TIMELINE
1672
Peter Alexeyevich Romanov is born in Moscow to Alexey Mikhailovich and his second wife Natalya
Naryshkina. He grows up to be known as Peter the Great.
1703
On 27 May Peter the Great establishes the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy Island, thus founding
the new city of Sankt Pieter Burkh, Russia's 'window to the West.
1709
A decisive win by Peter's forces at the Battle of Poltava, the main battle of the Great Northern War,
marks Russia's ascendancy as the great power in the Baltic, while Sweden begins its decline.
1712-14
At the behest of Peter I, government institutions begin to move from Moscow, and St Petersburg as-
sumes the administrative and ceremonial role as the Russian capital.
1718
Peter the Great's son Alexey dies under torture in the Peter and Paul Fortress, where his father has
him interrogated about his purported plan to depose him and reverse his reforms.
1721
Russia and Sweden sign Treaty of Nystad, ending years of competition for control of the Baltic. Rus-
sia is on its way to becoming a major world power and entering the modern world.
