At the outset of the war, Russia lacked a strong navy and secure ports on the Baltic. Peter understood that in order to build a modern navy and develop trade, Russia needed a warm-water port that would provide direct access to Europe.
The capture of the area around the Neva River delta, which lay at the eastern end of the Gulf of Finland, became a crucial military and strategic objective. The site was swampy and difficult terrain but had immense potential as a naval and commercial hub if developed properly.
May 16, 1703: The Founding of Saint Petersburg
Following the decisive Battle of Nyenskans, Peter’s forces captured the Swedish fortress of Nyenschantz on May 16, 1703. On the very same day, Peter laid the foundation of a new fortress, which he named the Peter and Paul Fortress. This fortress was to serve as the nucleus around which the new city would grow.
The city itself was named “Saint Petersburg” in honor of Saint Peter, the apostle, and also as a personal tribute to the Tsar himself, whose Christian name was Peter. The founding of Saint Petersburg marked the birth of a new capital city that would symbolize Russia’s new European orientation and naval ambitions.
Peter’s vision was ambitious: he wanted to create a “window to the West” — a city built in the Western architectural style, with canals, grand buildings, and wide streets, contrasting sharply with the traditional Russian cities of the time. shutdown123