Passion or Profession: Emperor

Period: 1672–1725

Peter began his rule at age ten as a co-ruler with his sickly half-brother Ivan I. When his brother died, he became sole ruler. Peter wanted to modernize Russia and make it more like Europe. He introduced Western technology, modernized the government and military, and established the government in St. Petersburg. He is praised for his accomplishments bur criticized for abandoning Russian traditions.