Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 07.djvu/261

LEFT PETER 205 PETER part of New Testament Scripture (iii: 15-16). The evidence for its authenticity is much less strong than that for the first epistle. PETER I., ALEXEIEVITCH, usually styled Peter the Great, Czar of Rus- sia; born in 1672; and in 1689 he ob- tained the sole authority, on the re- tirement of his brother Ivan, with whom he had been before associated in the government of the empire. After having suppressed a conspiracy of the Strelitzes against his life, he traveled in foreign countries, not in the character of czar, but as a member of an embassy. At Amsterdam he worked, incognito, in a shipyard, went to the village of Saar- dam, where he caused himself to be en- rolled among the workmen, under the name of Peter Michaeloff. Induced by his love for the sea to accept the invita- tion of William III. to visit London, he PETER THE GREAT spent some weeks there, keenly observing and learning all that he could of trade, manufactures, and the arts. Having proceeded to Vienna, he there received intelligence of a new rebellion of the Strelitzes, on which he returned home, crushed the insurrection, and visited the rebels with fearful severity. In 1700 he entered upon a war with Sweden. He was defeated by his great rival, Charles XII., at the battle of Narva, and the war went on with various results till 1709, when he completely defeated Charles at Pultawa. In the following year the Sultan declared war on him, and he narrowly escaped capture by the Turks in the campaign of 1711. This war ended in 1713. Not satisfied with Vol. VII— Cyc his immense power as czar, Peter had suppressed the patriarchate, and made himself head of the Church as well as of the State. In 1703 he founded St. Pe- tersburg, and began the fortifications of Cronstadt. Three years later he pri- vately married Catharine, a girl of low origin and immoral character; married her publicly in 1710, and had her crowned in 1722. Peter extended the limits of the empire both in Europe and Asia; changed the face of Russia by his zeal- ous promotion of trade, navigation, man- ufactures, and education; and after a conclusion of peace with Sweden, re- ceived the title of Emperor of all the Russias, and Father of his Country. Reforming others, he failed to reform himself, but remained to the last an ig- norant, coarse, brutal savage. His state policy has been adhered to by his succes- sors. Peter I. died in St. Petersburg, after very severe suffering, Jan. 28, 1725. PETER II., Emperor of Russia; born in 1714; the son of Alexis and grandson of Peter the Great. He succeeded, in 1727, the Empress Catharine, who had declared him Grand-Duke of Russia the year preceding. The most remarkable event of his reign was the disgrace of the prime minister Menschikoffj who was banished to Siberia. He died in 1730. PETER III., Emperor of Russia; the son of Anne, eldest daughter of Peter the Great; born in 1728, and succeeded Eliza- beth in 1762. He married the Princess Sophia Augusta of Anhalt, whose name he changed to Catharine, and, being in- spired with grand and martial thoughts, attempted to govern his empii-e on the model of Frederick the Great; but, want- ing capacity, energy, and courage, he signally failed. His empress, being ap- prised of his intention of divorcing her and bastardizing his son, Paul, antici- pated his design, and, exciting a revolu- tion, took him prisoner, and compelled him to sign a most humiliating abdica- tion. After this, being sent to the fort- ress of Robscha, he there mysteriously disappeared in 1762. PETER I., KARAGEORGEVITCH, King of Serbia; born in Belgrade in 1846, a grandson of George Petrovitch, sur- named "Black George," (Kara-george), a peasant leader of the people who led a successful revolution against Turkish sovereignty, and was recognized by the Sultan as Prince of Serbia in 1812. His son, Alexander, father of Peter, was de- posed in 1858, and left the country with his son. Peter was educated in Hun- gary, but later became a cadet at the French _ military school at St. Cyr. Graduating, he received a commission in li