320 years ago, on October 30, 1696, at the suggestion of Tsar Peter I, the Boyar Duma adopted a resolution "There will be ships …". This became the first law on the fleet and the official date of its foundation.
The first regular formation of the Russian Navy was the Azov Flotilla. It was created by Peter I to fight the Ottoman Empire for access to the Azov and Black Seas. In a short time, from November 1665 to May 1699, in Voronezh, Kozlov and other cities located along the banks of the rivers flowing into the Sea of Azov, several ships, galleys, fire ships, planes, sea boats were built, which made up the Azov flotilla.
This date is conditional, since long before that the Russians knew how to build river-sea class ships. So, the Slavic Russians have long mastered the Baltic (Varangian, Venedian Sea). The Varangians-Rus controlled it long before the heyday of the German Hansa (and the Hansa was created on the basis of Slavic cities and their trade ties). Their heirs were Novgorodians, ushkuyniks, who made campaigns up to the Urals and beyond. Russian princes equipped huge flotillas that sailed along the Black Sea, which were not in vain then called the Russian Sea. The Russian fleet showed its strength to Constantinople. The Rus also walked along the Caspian Sea. Later, the Cossacks continued this tradition, walked both the seas and rivers, attacked the Persians, Ottomans, Crimean Tatars, etc.
Background
At the turn of the 17th-18th centuries, navies began to play an increasing role. All great powers had powerful fleets. Hundreds and thousands of ships were already cutting across the sea and ocean spaces, new sea routes were being mastered, the flow of goods increased, new ports, sea fortresses and shipyards appeared. International trade went beyond the sea basins - the Mediterranean, Baltic and North Seas. With the help of fleets, huge colonial empires were created.
During this period, the first places in the strength of the fleets were occupied by England and Holland. In these countries, revolutions cleared the way for capitalist development. Spain, Portugal, France, Venice, the Ottoman Empire, Denmark and Sweden had strong fleets. All these states had extensive sea coasts and long-standing traditions of navigation. Some states have already created their colonial empires - Spain, Portugal, others were building them at full speed - England, Holland and France. The resources of the plundered territories made it possible for the elite to over-consume, as well as for the accumulation of capital.
Russia, which had ancient traditions of navigation, during this period was cut off from the seas, which in antiquity largely mastered and controlled - the Russian (Black) and Varangian (Baltic) seas. After the collapse of the empire of Rurikovich, our country was significantly weakened, lost many lands. In the course of a series of wars and territorial conquests, the Russians were pushed back into the interior of the continent. In the northwest, the main enemy of Russia was Sweden, which seized Russian lands in the Baltic. The Kingdom of Sweden at that time was a first-class great power with a professional army and a strong navy. The Swedes seized Russian lands along the shores of the Gulf of Finland, controlled a significant part of the southern Baltic, turning the Baltic Sea into a "Swedish lake". Only on the coast of the White Sea (hundreds of kilometers from the main economic centers of Russia) did we have the port of Arkhangelsk. It provided limited opportunities for sea trade - it was remote, and in winter shipping was interrupted due to the severity of the climate.
The access to the Black Sea was closed by the Crimean Khanate (vassal of Ports) and the Ottoman Empire. The Turks and Crimean Tatars held in their hands the entire Northern Black Sea region, with the mouths of the Danube, Dniester, Southern Bug, Dnieper, Don and Kuban. Moreover, Russia had historical rights to many of these territories - they were part of the Old Russian state. The lack of access to the sea constrained the economic development of Russia.
The situation was aggravated by the fact that the Ottoman Empire, the Crimean Khanate, Sweden were states hostile to Russia. The sea coast in the south and northwest was a convenient springboard for a further offensive on Russian lands. Sweden and Porta created powerful strategic fortresses in the north and south, which not only blocked Russia's access to the seas, but also served as bases for a further offensive against the Russian state. Relying on the military power of Turkey, the Crimean Tatars continued their predatory raids. On the southern borders, there was an almost continuous battle with the hordes of the Crimean Khanate and other predators, if there were no major campaigns, then small raids, raids of enemy detachments were commonplace. The Turkish fleet dominated the Black Sea, and the Swedish fleet dominated the Baltic.
Thus, access to the Baltic and Black Seas was important for the Russian state from the point of view of the military-strategic necessity - to ensure security from the southern and northwestern directions. Russia had to go to the natural lines of defense. It was necessary to restore historical justice, to return their lands. The economic factor must also not be forgotten. Isolation from the main sea trade routes of Europe (Baltic - North Sea - Atlantic, Black Sea - Mediterranean - Atlantic) adversely affected the economic development of the state. Therefore, the struggle for access to the seas was of paramount importance for the future of Russia.
Taking Azov
At the time of the overthrow of Princess Sophia (1689), Russia was at war with the Ottoman Empire. Russia in 1686 joined the anti-Turkish Holy League, created in 1684. This union included the Holy Roman Empire, the Venetian Republic and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1687 and 1689, under the leadership of Prince Vasily Golitsyn, campaigns were undertaken against the Crimean Khanate, but they did not bring success. The hostilities were ended, but Russia and the Ottoman Empire did not conclude peace.
The continuation of the war with the Porta became a priority of Peter's foreign policy activities. The allies in the anti-Turkish alliance demanded that the Russian tsar continue military operations. In addition, the war with Turkey seemed to be an easier task than the conflict with Sweden, which was blocking access to the Baltic. Russia had allies, Turkey fought on other fronts and could not send significant forces to the war with Russia. The Russian command decided not to strike at the Crimea, but to attack Azov, a strategic Turkish fortress located at the confluence of the Don River into the Sea of Azov. This was supposed to protect the southern borders of Russia from the raids of the Crimean Tatars and become the first step on the way to entering the Black Sea.
The campaign in 1695 was unsuccessful. Affected by the errors of the command, the lack of one-man command, poor organization, underestimation of the importance of the Turkish fleet, which during the siege supplied the fortress with everything necessary and brought up reinforcements. The 1696 campaign was much better prepared. Peter realized that it was necessary to blockade the fortress from the sea, that is, it was necessary to create a flotilla. The construction of a "sea caravan" (military and transport ships and vessels) began.
In January 1696, at the shipyards of Voronezh and in Preobrazhenskoye (a village near Moscow on the banks of the Yauza, there was the residence of Peter's father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich), a large-scale construction of ships and vessels was launched. The galleys built in Preobrazhenskoye were dismantled, transported to Voronezh, reassembled there and launched on the Don. Peter ordered to make 1,300 plows, 30 sea boats, 100 rafts by the spring. For this they mobilized carpenters, blacksmiths, working people. The Voronezh region was not chosen by chance; for the local population, the construction of river vessels has been a common trade for more than one generation. In total, over 25 thousand people were mobilized. From all over the country, not only foremen and workers were traveling, but also carrying materials - timber, hemp, resin, iron, etc. Work proceeded quickly, and by the beginning of the campaign the plows had built even more than planned.
The task of building warships was solved in Preobrazhensky (on the Yauza River). The main type of ships under construction were galleys - rowing ships with 30-38 oars, they were armed with 4-6 guns, 2 masts, 130-200 crew (plus they could carry significant troops). This type of ship met the conditions of a theater of military operations, galleys with their shallow draft, maneuverability, could successfully operate on the river, shallow waters of the lower Don, the coastal waters of the Sea of Azov. The experience of shipbuilding was used in the construction of ships: for example, in Nizhny Novgorod in 1636 the ship "Frederick" was built, in 1668 in the village of Dedinovo on the Oka - the ship "Oryol". In addition, in 1688-1692 on Lake Pereyaslavskoye and in 1693 in Arkhangelsk, with the participation of Peter, several ships were built. Soldiers of the Semyonovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments, peasants, artisans who were summoned from settlements where shipbuilding was developed (Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Nizhny Novgorod, etc.) were widely involved in the construction of ships in Preobrazhensky. Among the craftsmen, the Vologda carpenter Osip Scheka and the Nizhny Novgorod carpenter Yakim Ivanov enjoyed universal respect.
Throughout the winter in Preobrazhensky, the main parts of the ships were made: keels (the base of the hull), frames ("ribs" of the ship), stringers (longitudinal beams going from bow to stern), beams (transverse beams between the frames), pillers (vertical struts supporting the deck), planks, planking of decks, masts, oars, etc. In February 1696, parts were prepared for 22 galleys and 4 fire-ships (a ship filled with flammable substances to set fire to enemy ships). In March, ships were transported to Voronezh. Each galley was delivered in 15-20 carts. On April 2, the first galleys were launched, their crews were formed from the Semyonovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments.
The first large three-masted ships (2 units), with rather strong artillery weapons, were also laid in Voronezh. They demanded a large complex of shipbuilding work. It was decided to install 36 guns on each of them. By the beginning of May, the first ship was built - the 36-gun sailing and rowing frigate Apostol Peter. The ship was built with the help of the Danish master August (Gustav) Meyer (he became the commander of the second ship - the 36-gun "Apostle Paul"). The length of the rowing-sailing frigate was 34.4 m, the width was 7.6 m, the ship was flat-bottomed, so that it could get out of the river into the sea. The ships were intended for the sea, and they were built away from it. The fairway of the Don's tributaries, even in high water, excluded the advance of ships with a deep draft. In addition, the frigate had 15 pairs of oars in case of calm and for maneuver.
Thus, in Russia, far from the seas, a "naval military caravan" - a military transport flotilla - was created in an extremely short time. At the same time, the process of strengthening the army was under way.
The flotilla acquired its first combat experience. In May 1796, the Russian flotilla entered the Sea of Azov and cut off the fortress from supply sources across the sea. Russian ships took up positions across the Gulf of Azov. When a Turkish squadron approached about a month later, the Ottomans did not dare to break through and retreated. The enemy fleet gave up trying to help the besieged garrison. This played an important role - the fortress was cut off from the supply of food, ammunition, reinforcements, in addition, the Turkish garrison realized that there would be no help, which undermined its morale. On July 19, the Azov fortress capitulated.
Sea vessels should be …
As a result, the Azov campaigns in practice showed the importance of the fleet for the conduct of war. The capture of Azov was only the first step on a difficult and long road. The war with the Ottoman Empire continued. The fleet and army of Turkey, the Crimean Khanate still posed a significant threat to the southern borders of Russia. A strong standing fleet was needed to resist a powerful enemy, maintain an outlet to the sea and achieve the conclusion of a profitable peace. Tsar Peter made the right conclusions from this, he could not be denied organizational skills and strategic thinking. On October 20, 1696, the Boyar Duma proclaimed "There will be ships …". An extensive program of military shipbuilding of 52 (later 77) ships was approved.
The construction of the fleet was a task of great complexity, which could only be solved by a strong and developed power, with great attention from the government. It was necessary to create virtually a whole huge industry and infrastructure, build new shipyards, bases and ports, enterprises, workshops, ships, produce weapons, various equipment and materials. A huge number of workers were needed. It was necessary to create a whole system of training naval personnel - sailors, navigators, navigators, officers, artillerymen, etc. In addition to creating a production base, maritime infrastructure, and a specialized education system, colossal financial investments were needed. And yet the navy was created.
Tsar Peter I introduced a special ship duty, which was extended to landowners, merchants and traders. The duty included the supply of ships, fully prepared and armed. All landowners who had over 100 peasant households were to take part in the construction of the fleet. Secular landowners (the class of boyars and nobles) were obliged to build one ship from every 10 thousand households (that is, together). Spiritual landowners (monasteries, the highest church hierarchy) had to build a ship with 8 thousand yards. Merchants and merchants of Russia had to jointly lay down and build 12 ships. Landowners with less than 100 peasant households were exempted from construction, but they were obliged to pay monetary contributions - 50 kopecks from each household. These funds were called "half a dollar".
It is clear that ship duty and the introduction of "half a dollar" were met with hostility by many landowners and merchants. Some wealthy merchants and large landowners were even ready to buy off the ship duty, so as not to burden themselves with such a problem. But the king demanded the fulfillment of the duty. When part of the merchant class filed a petition with a request to "dismiss them from the ship business," they were punished by ordering to build two more ships. For the construction of ships, landowners were divided into "kumpanstva" (companies). Each company must build and arm one ship. For example, the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, which possessed 24 thousand households, had to build 3 ships. Smaller monasteries were formed together to form one Kumpanate. The secular cumpanates usually included 2-3 large landowners and 10-30 medium-sized nobles. The Posad and Black-Nos population was not divided into Kumpansta. Posad people of cities and black-sowed peasants of Pomorie, as well as guests and merchants of the living room and cloth of hundreds, made up a single Kumpanstvo.
According to the original program, it was planned to build 52 ships: 19 ships - secular landowners, 19 ships - clergy and 14 ships - merchants. The Kumpans were supposed to independently organize the entire complex of preparatory and construction work, including the maintenance of workers and foremen, the purchase of all materials and weapons. For the construction of shipyards, places were allocated in Voronezh, Strupinskaya pier, in a number of settlements along the Voronezh and Don rivers.
The fourth builder of the fleet was the treasury. The Admiralty built ships with money collected from secular and spiritual feudal lords with estates of less than a hundred peasants. At first, the Admiralty had to build 6 ships and 40 brigantines, but then this rate was raised twice, so that in the end it had to put 16 ships and 60 brigantines on the water. However, the government also raised the rates for private kumpans, in 1698 they were ordered to build 6 more ships. The guests (merchants) still managed to evade the obligation to build ships: instead of ships, the treasury agreed to accept money (12 thousand rubles per ship).
From the spring of 1697, shipbuilding work was in full swing. Thousands of people flocked to Voronezh and other settlements where shipyards were created. As soon as one ship was launched into the water, another was immediately laid. Two- and three-masted warships were built with 25-40 guns on board. Voronezh became a real "cradle" of the Peter's fleet. With each passing year, the pace grew, and by 1699 the construction of most of the ships was completed.
With the conquest of Azov and the construction of the fleet, the introduction of a new labor service was associated: carpenters were driven from all over the country to the shipyard and to the construction of the Trinity Fortress and the harbor in Taganrog. It is worth noting that this construction was carried out in extremely difficult conditions: without housing in autumn and winter conditions, with scarce food supplies, peasants felled forests for months, sawed boards, built roads, deepened the river channel, and built ships. From a third to a half of the people, unable to withstand the harsh working conditions, fled. It happened that whole teams ran, to a single person. When news of the heavy share of workers in the shipyards penetrated the counties where workers were being recruited, the population hid in the forests. The population in the regions adjacent to Voronezh was especially in a difficult situation.
A heavy burden also fell on the serf peasantry, on which the landowners placed the burden of ship duty. They had to ensure the supply of everything necessary for the construction of ships, working at the expense of agriculture and other occupations that provided them with life. There were significant losses in horses - they were withdrawn for transportation. As a result, the flight of people to Don, Khoper and other lands increased significantly.
Thus, the Voronezh shipbuilding and the construction of the harbor, the fortress in Taganrog laid the foundation for extraordinary taxes and labor duties in the era of Peter.
Frigate "Apostle Peter"
Development of the shipbuilding program
The first experience in shipbuilding revealed serious shortcomings. Some of the Kumpans were in no hurry to work, intending to evade duty or delay the delivery of the ships. The tsar had to use reprisals: for refusing to participate in the program, he ordered to write off estates and estates in favor of the treasury.
Many landowners, in order to save money or because of the lack of shipbuilding experience, treated the program formally (just to do it). They often did not pay attention to the choice of wood, other materials, and the quality of work. The quality of construction was also affected by the abuse of contractors, the inexperience of a number of craftsmen. One of the most pernicious results of the haste was the fact that the ships were built from damp, undried wood. In addition, there were no covered slipways at the shipyards and the ships were immediately exposed to bad weather, due to the lack of iron, instead of iron fasteners, wooden ones were used.
Peter's hopes for foreign specialists, who had been invited to Russia since 1696, did not come true either. A significant part of foreigners came to Russia for profits, having no experience in shipbuilding or poorly understanding this issue. In addition, craftsmen of different nationalities (English, Dutch, Italians, etc.) had different shipbuilding techniques, which led to various conflicts and problems. As a result, many built ships were fragile or insufficiently stable on the water, quickly deteriorated, required many improvements, often immediately overhaul and repair.
The government took these mistakes into account. They abandoned the construction of ships by the Kumpans. In September 1698, some kumpanas were allowed to pay a ransom to the treasury instead of building on their own - 10 thousand rubles per ship. Soon, this practice was extended to all kumpanstvos. With the funds received, as well as with "half a dollar", they launched a wider construction at state-owned shipyards. Back in 1696, the "Admiralty Dvor" was established in Voronezh. Already in 1697, 7 large ships and 60 brigantines were laid there (a small one- or two-masted sailing-rowing vessel for transporting goods and troops in coastal areas). On April 27, 1700, at the shipyard of the Voronezh Admiralty, Peter personally launched a 58-gun ship (“Goto Predestination”, in Latin means “God's Foresight”).
At the same time, the process of creating the foundations of the military organization of the fleet and its combat control was under way. In 1700, the "Order of Admiralty Affairs" was established, which was later transformed into the Admiralty Collegium. It was the central state body for the management of the construction, supply and maintenance of the fleet. Admirals and officers were appointed to all important positions by tsarist decrees. The first head of the "Admiralty", who was in charge of construction, was the steward A. P. Protasiev, then he was replaced by the Arkhangelsk voivode, one of the tsar's closest associates - Fedor Matveyevich Apraksin.
The appearance of the Russian fleet was one of the factors that forced Turkey to make peace with Russia. In the summer of 1699 from Azov to Taganrog came the Russian ships "Scorpion", "The Opened Gates", "Power", "Fortress", "Good Connection" and several galleys. The head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz E. Ukraintsev boarded the "Fortress". On August 4, the "sea caravan" of General-Admiral F. A. Golovin weighed anchor. The first cruise of the Azov fleet began. In total, 10 large ships were sent: the 62-gun "Scorpion" under the flag of General-Admiral Fyodor Golovin, "Good Beginning" (Vice-Admiral K. Cruis was holding the flag on it), "Color of War" (on it was holding the flag of Rear-Admiral von Rez), "The Gates Opened", "The Apostle Peter", "Strength", "Fearlessness", "Connection", "Mercury", "Fortress". Most of the ships of the squadron had 26-44 guns in service.
On August 18, near Kerch, quite unexpectedly for the Turkish governor of the city and the commander of the Turkish squadron, Admiral Hasan Pasha (a Turkish squadron was stationed near Kerch), the ships of the Russian squadron appeared. Vice-Admiral Cornelius Cruis, deputy commander of the Russian squadron, described the impression that the arrival of the ships of the Azov fleet made on the Turkish commanders: “The Turkish horror could be seen from their faces about this unexpected visit with such a fairly armed squadron; and they had a lot of work for the Turks to believe that these ships were built in Russia and that Russian people were on them. And when the Turks heard that His Majesty ordered his ambassador to take his own ships to Istanbul to take him, the Turks were even more horrified. This was an unpleasant surprise for Porta.
On September 7, the "Fortress" with the Russian envoy arrived at the Sultan's palace in Istanbul. In the Turkish capital, they were stunned by the appearance of a Russian ship, and even more surprise was caused by the news of a visit to Kerch by a Russian squadron. On September 8, the vizier examined the "Fortress" from the outside, and the next day the Ottoman sultan himself made the same inspection.
The negotiations were difficult. The ambassadors of England and Holland tried to disrupt them, but in the end they signed a peace agreement. The peace treaty was signed in July 1700, and its duration was determined for 30 years. Azov with the region withdrew to the Russian state. Newly built towns remained behind Russia - Taganrog, Pavlovsky city, Miyus. In addition, Moscow was freed from the long-standing custom of paying an annual tribute ("gifts") to the Crimean Khan. But it was not possible to agree on the free navigation of Russian ships in the Black Sea. Russia also renounced its claims to Kerch. The part of the Dnieper region occupied by Russian troops was returned to the Ottoman Empire. The Peace of Constantinople allowed Peter to start a war with Sweden without worrying about the southern direction.
