On January 24, 1720, Peter I signed a manifesto on the introduction of the "Charter of the sea about everything that concerns good governance while the fleet was at sea."
Russia owes the appearance of a full-fledged navy to its first emperor - Peter I. But this statement contains a considerable amount of imagery: after all, the tsar did not build each new warship with his own hands! But in the words that our country owes him the first naval charter, there is no stretch. Peter I worked on this document 14 hours a day and was actually its main author.
It cannot be said that before Peter the Great no efforts were made in Russia to build a navy, just as there were attempts to create a Russian naval charter. The first experiences of both were the actions of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. By his order, the first Russian warship, the famous "Eagle", was built at a shipyard specially created for this purpose on the Oka, and its first captain, Dutchman David Butler, compiled a "Ship's order letter". The document submitted to the Ambassadorial Prikaz, written by a Dutchman, was actually a short, but very capacious version of the naval charter - one that was quite suitable for a single ship. In fact, this "Letter" was an extract from the Dutch naval regulations and concerned almost exclusively the combat readiness of the ship and the battle. For a real navy, which was to become a serious force for Russia, such a document was clearly not enough. As well as the other two: the "Edict on galleys on the order of naval service" written again by Peter I (1696) and created by his order by Vice-Admiral Cornelius Cruis "Rules of service on ships" (1698). In 1710, on the basis of Cruis's charter, "Instructions and articles for the military to the Russian fleet" appeared. But even this document, which actually played the role of the naval charter, was not in full measure, since it did not cover all the important issues of the maritime service. And only ten years later, Russia acquired its first real naval charter.
On the title page of the first edition of the Marine Charter there was an inscription “Book of the Marine Charter, in Russian and Gaulish languages, about everything that concerns good governance when the fleet was at sea. It will be published by the order of the imperial majesty in the St. Petersburg Printing House of the Lord's Summer 1720, April 13th ". And the publication was opened by the January manifesto of Peter, in which it was said that “And even this business is necessary for the State (according to this proverb: that every Potentate, which has one land army, has one hand, and which the fleet has, has both hands), for this sake of this military naval charter was made, so that everyone knew his position and ignorance no one would dissuade … Everything through our own labor was done and accomplished in St. Petersburg, 1720, Genvar on the 13th day."
The tsarist manifesto, in which, as Peter the Great often managed to do, the goals and objectives, as well as the need for the creation and introduction of the Naval Regulations in Russia were formulated clearly and clearly, followed by the "Preface to the voluntary reader", in which in great detail, with numerous digressions and quotes from Holy Scripture told about the history of the formation of the Russian army and the need to create a Russian military fleet.
Publication of the first maritime charter. Photo: polki.mirpeterburga.ru
After the preface, which took ten pages - from the second to the eleventh, - the actual text of the Charter of the Sea, consisting of five parts, or books, began. The first of them opened with an indication that "Everyone, both the higher and the lower in our fleet, who comes to the service, must swear the oath of fidelity properly: and when he does it, then he will be accepted into our service." Below was the text of the oath for those entering the naval service, which was preceded by a clarification, "how to fix the oath or promise": "Put your left hand on the Gospel, and raise your right hand up with two thumbs outstretched" (that is, the index and middle fingers).
Behind the text of the oath was a short explanation “On the Fleet”, which began with the words “Fleet is a French word. By this word we mean a lot of ships sailing together, or standing, both military and merchant. " The same explanation spoke about the composition of the navy, introduced the concepts of squadron commanders of various flags, and also signed the list of equipment for ships of various classes - depending on the number of guns on each. This painting was called "Regulations imposed on the ranks of ships, how many of which ranks of people should be on the ship of what rank." It is noteworthy that according to this report card captains - and this word here meant rank, not position - could serve only on ships that had at least 50 guns. The 32-cannons were commanded by lieutenant captains, while the 16- and 14-cannons were commanded by lieutenants. Ships with a smaller number of guns were not provided for at all in the report card.
After the explanation of "On the Fleet" and "Regulations" came the main provisions of the first book of the charter - "About the general-admiral and every commander-in-chief", about the ranks of his staff, as well as articles defining the tactics of the squadron. The second book was divided into four chapters and contained decrees on seniority of ranks, on honors and external distinctions of ships, “on flags and pennants, on lanterns, on salutes and trade flags …”. It was in this second book that the famous norm was also contained, which the followers of Peter I interpreted and interpret as a direct ban on the descent of the Russian naval flag in front of anyone: “All Russian warships should not lower flags, wimples and Marseilles, under the penalty of belly deprivation."
Book three revealed the organization of the battleship and the duties of the officers on it. It opened with the chapter "On the Captain" (the commander of the ship), and ended with the chapter "On the Profos", which was the 21st. Between them were the chapters that determined the rights and duties of the vast majority of naval ranks, who had in their responsibility something more than just fulfilling the orders of higher superiors - from the lieutenant commander to the coupor and the carpenter, from the ship's doctor to the ship's priest. Determining their responsibilities, the charter also determined the tactics of the ship in battle, and not in single combat, but as part of a squadron, primarily in line with other ships.
Book four consisted of six chapters: "On good behavior on the ship", "On the officers' servants, how much someone should have", "On the distribution of provisions on the ship" for what service will be awarded "), as well as" On the division of spoils "and" On the division of spoils from non-military prizes. " Book Five was entitled "On Fines" and consisted of 20 chapters, representing judicial and disciplinary statutes under one cover.
Two years later, on April 16 (April 5, old style) in St. Petersburg, "Part Two of the Marine Regulations, which defines everything related to good management while the fleet was in the port, as well as the maintenance of ports and raids," was published in St. Petersburg, supplementing the original text of the Charter marine. Both parts remained in force from 1720 to 1797 undividedly, and until 1853 - along with the "Charter of the Navy" adopted at the end of the 18th century. During this time, the charter was republished 15 times: twice - in 1720, then in 1722 (together with the second part), in 1723, 1724, 1746, 1763, 1771, 1778, 1780, 1785, 1791, 1795, 1804 and finally in 1850, when Part Two of the Marine Regulations was published separately. All these reprints were published in the printing house of the Marine gentry cadet corps and the Academy of Sciences.
So we can safely say that Peter's Naval Charter determined the fate and actions of the Russian fleet for a century and a half ahead: right up to the notorious Crimean War. That is, the whole history of the sailing fleet of Russia is the history and the charter of the sea, written by its creator, Peter the Great.
