305 years ago Russia became an empire. On October 22 (November 2, new style), 1721, Tsar Peter received the imperial title. It happened in the Trinity Cathedral of the new capital - St. Petersburg, right after the thanksgiving ceremony for the peace of Nichtdet. The peace itself was signed more than a month and a half earlier. But they waited for the return of the soldiers from Finland with celebrations. The long Northern War, from 1700 to 1721, ended. Russia defeated Sweden, which had previously seemed invincible, secured access to the Baltic Sea and finally entered the circle of major powers in Europe. The country acquired a new status. Now it had to be official. In fact, the very word "king" goes back to the Latin "Caesar" and the Greek "Caesar" - this was the name given to the emperors of Rome and Byzantium. And in the West, Russian sovereigns were sometimes called emperors several centuries before Peter. But still, "the king" sounds exotic to the European ear - something like "Sultan" or "Mikado". And "Emperor" was an obvious title in the European system. However, the word "king" has not gone anywhere. The title of the Russian kings now began thus: "Emperor and autocrat of all Russia, Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod; Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan... Behind these words was an idea formulated two centuries before Peter: Russia is the third Rome. Let me remind you that the Roman ruler was officially called "Caesar", then came the name and other titles. The connection with Rome was then directly emphasized. The Senate, which turned to Peter with a request to receive a new title, referred to an ancient custom: "As usual, from the Roman Senate, for the noble deeds of their emperors, such titles were publicly presented to them as a gift." And Peter himself remembered the second Rome - Byzantium. According to his contemporaries, in his response speech he excitedly warned: It is impossible, "In the hope of peace,... To weaken in military affairs, so as not to receive the portion of the Greek monarchy." We won the victory, but Russia must not repeat the fate of the lost Byzantine Empire.

305 years ago Russia became an empire. On October 22 (November 2, new style), 1721, Tsar Peter received the imperial title. It happened in the Trinity Cathedral of the new capital - St. Petersburg, right after the thanksgiving ceremony for the peace of Nichtdet. The peace itself was signed more than a month and a half earlier. But they waited for the return of the soldiers from Finland with celebrations. The long Northern War, from 1700 to 1721, ended. Russia defeated Sweden, which had previously seemed invincible, secured access to the Baltic Sea and finally entered the circle of major powers in Europe. The country acquired a new status. Now it had to be official. In fact, the very word "king" goes back to the Latin "Caesar" and the Greek "Caesar" - this was the name given to the emperors of Rome and Byzantium. And in the West, Russian sovereigns were sometimes called emperors several centuries before Peter. But still, "the king" sounds exotic to the European ear - something like "Sultan" or "Mikado". And "Emperor" was an obvious title in the European system. However, the word "king" has not gone anywhere. The title of the Russian kings now began thus: "Emperor and autocrat of all Russia, Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod; Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan... Behind these words was an idea formulated two centuries before Peter: Russia is the third Rome. Let me remind you that the Roman ruler was officially called "Caesar", then came the name and other titles. The connection with Rome was then directly emphasized. The Senate, which turned to Peter with a request to receive a new title, referred to an ancient custom: "As usual, from the Roman Senate, for the noble deeds of their emperors, such titles were publicly presented to them as a gift." And Peter himself remembered the second Rome - Byzantium. According to his contemporaries, in his response speech he excitedly warned: It is impossible, "In the hope of peace,... To weaken in military affairs, so as not to receive the portion of the Greek monarchy." We won the victory, but Russia must not repeat the fate of the lost Byzantine Empire.