The Foundation of St. Petersburg

Undaunted by early defeats during the Northern War, Peter proceeded to renovate old fortifications, replenish the armed forces and create an artillery unit for scratch. During November 1702 and after a 30 hour assault, Noteburg (Oreshek) fell to the Russians. Peter renamed the fort Schlusselburg (Key Castle), a name of significance to the Swedes. The Russian forces gradually moved down the Neva River to the Swedish fortress of Niensants, and after an 8-day siege the Russians took control on 1st May 1703. Peter now controlled the entire length of the Neva River and needed a fortress to protect the land. With the fortress of Niensants being too small and badly damaged, Peter searched for a new and more reliable stronghold, choosing the Island of Enisaari (Hare’s Island). On the 16th May 1703, Peter founded the new Russian fortress, which he named Saint Peter Burgh. Several days later the first residential building was built, the wooden ‘Cabin of Peter the Great’.

By the end of the summer of 1703, the original clay walls and bastions of the fortress were complete. That autumn, over 120 canons were installed on its bastions. The builders, mainly peasants and soldiers, worked in very primitive conditions with food being in short supply. With the war still raging the fortress had to be completed as soon as possible, so work carried on from dusk until dawn with many workers dying.

In August 1703 the new settlers experienced the infamous St Petersburg floods. Although the area was considered unhealthy for a town, construction continued despite huge losses and extra expenditure due to it tremendous strategic importance. During the early years St Petersburg was limited to a small town that had grown up around the fortress, but by 1712 it had grown enough to become Russia’s new capital.

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