On May, 26 1722 a group of people sailed from their city towards a long-waited for fleet coming from the North. On the board of one of the ships they saw an energetic, modernly dressed old man whose arrival was the reason of everybody’s excitement. Last time the man saw the red walls of this rich fortress he was a young 23 year old Tsar full of ambitions and plans, unruly antichrist, as he was called among people, and now he stood there as The First Emperor of Russia, Peter I The Great, almost 50 years old but still enthusiastic and willing to bring glory to his Empire.
That was the time of his Persian company when Russian forces came down the stream of Volga to The Black Sea. Nizhny Novgorod was chosen to be the starting point of this route. Citizens provided Emperor’s fleet with 245 ships. Peter decided to stay in the city for two days.
On the first day, Sunday, ruler stayed a liturgy in Kremlin Cathedral. Peter I paid great respect to Kozma Minin, savior of Russian tsardom, who was buried in Nizhny Novgorod as the city’s honoured townsman. Emperor asked citizens about Minin and listened to stories and legends surrounding this man. It is truly remarkable how a simple man from a province town became one of the reasons he, Peter I The Great, stood there as an all-mighty emperor a hundred years after Minin’s death. Peter was the first monarch of Romanov dynasty to visit Nizhny Novgorod.
Second day of Peter’s stay coincided with his 50th and Nizhny Novgorod’s 500th birthdays. Everything about that celebration was grandiose. Most of the day was spent by the Emperor in different churches, serving liturgies and other ritual prayers. Celebratory dinner was so great that people stood up from the table much later than it was expected. That same day Peter ordered to build a shipyard in the city. Despite a long day, Emperor was full of energy, so later at night he and his fleet left to Makariev.
It is unknown for modern historians where Peter stayed during his visit. It is known though he did not live in the house he used during his first stop in Nizhny Novgorod in 1695 which is now known as “House of Peter”.
As we can see, Tsar’s stay was not very long; however, it became important for the city’s life. That visit is connected with several social and charity events and deeds, reconstruction of Minin’s grave and construction of a shipyard in Nizhny Novgorod. Because of Peter’s influence city began to develop as a river port and place for building and repairing ships which later served an important role in city’s history.
Every visit of a ruler was important for people who lived in towns, cities and villages. Even if they were short and, seemingly, uneventful, they could give a push for changes and raise the spirit of people worshiping their Emperor. Peter I The Great was an active man craving reforms in his country and Nizhny Novgorod was lucky enough to welcome him twice.
