On February 8, 1725, Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, dies and is succeeded by his wife, Catherine I.
By: HISTORY.com Editors
On February 8, 1725, Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, dies and is succeeded by his wife, Catherine I.
Did the Romanovs survive? Get the full story.
The reign of Peter, who became sole czar in 1696, was characterized by a series of sweeping military, political, economic, and cultural reforms based on Western European models. Russian victories in major conflicts with Persia and the Ottoman Empire greatly expanded Peter’s empire, and the defeat of Sweden in the Great Northern War won Russia direct access to the Baltic Sea. Here, Peter founded the new Russian capital of St. Petersburg, and Russia became a major European power–politically, culturally, and geographically. In 1721, Peter abandoned the traditional Russian title of czar in favor of the European-influenced title of emperor. Four years later, he died.
The terrified tsarevich volunteered to relinquish his claim to the throne, but that wasn't enough to appease his powerful father.
The terrified tsarevich volunteered to relinquish his claim to the throne, but that wasn't enough to appease his powerful father.
Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on February 8th
Upon rising to power, Napoleon wasted no time in suppressing and censoring newspapers, theater and books.
This 230-foot embroidery tells the story of the Norman Conquest.
The concept of a third world war has been around for a long time—not as something that might happen, but something that <em>will</em>.
When Parisians stormed the Bastille in 1789 they weren't only looking for arms, they were on the hunt for more grain—to make bread.
HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan, Matt Mullen, Christian Zapata and Cristiana Lombardo.
We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.
Uncover fascinating moments from the past every day! Learn something new with key events in history, from the American Revolution to pop culture, crime and more.