Peter’s Marine Charter in the Presidential Library’s collection

The Presidential Library continues researches on the history of the formation and development of the Russian Navy. They will be presented in September on the traditional Day of Naval Knowledge. Materials that tell about the personality of Peter I and the importance of St. Petersburg for the Navy reflect a strong relationship between the city that celebrates its 310th anniversary and the Navy.

293 years ago, 13 (24) January 1720 Peter I approved the first Russian Marine Charter, which laid down the basic laws of the Navy. Regulations relating to major aspects of naval life were compiled into one document. Many of its provisions and resolutions continue to be relevant. The library’s web site is featuring rare books: "The project of the Marine Charter with links and explanations" (St. Petersburg, 1853), "The Marine Charter" (St. Petersburg, 1885), and others. They emphasize the historical role and significance of St. Petersburg as a city associated with the Navy. And the new stage in history confirms the validity and non-randomness of reinstallation of the High Command of the Russian Navy at the Admiralty in 2012.

Development of the Marine Charter was conducted for a few years with the active participation of the emperor. It traced the history of creation of the naval armada. The Charter of Peter I consisted of five books. The first contained provisions on the high command of the Navy and articles defining the tactics of the squadron. The second included decrees on precedence of ranks, honors and external differences of ships, "... on flags and pennants, lights, fireworks and trade flags...".The third book covered the organization of a warship and responsibilities assigned to its officers. Book four consisted of six chapters, which regulated the rules of conduct on the ship, the number of officers' servants according to rank, the order of distribution of provisions, methods of determining compensation for the seizure of enemy ships, for battle wounds and seniority, as well as methods of sharing loot after the capture of enemy ships. The fifth book - "On penalty" - was a naval judicial and disciplinary regulations. Also attached to the Marine Charter were: ship reporting forms, book of signals and patrol service rules.

The Marine Charter of 1720 also prescribed social welfare of seafarers. Emergence in Russia of the Marine Charter was due to the new stage in the history of the country. During the struggle for access to the Baltic Sea, a strong navy was rapidly created, which allowed Russia to become a maritime power. Already by 1725 the Russian fleet was one of the strongest in the Baltic Sea. It was composed of 48 battleships and frigates, 787 galleys and other vessels. The total number of crew members reached 28, 000 men.

The Charter of 1720 was the most important legal document of the Russian fleet. By completeness of the content and depth of presentation, it was the most complete set of laws of the time. After the revision, the Marine Charter of Peter I was reissued in 1724 and with some minor changes had been in force until 1797, when it was replaced by a new one where the perceptions about how to wage the battle were considered.

The Presidential Library’s collections include a lot of books and documents on the development of the Navy - from the time of Peter the Great to the present. Cooperation is being developed with the Central Naval Archives and the Archives of the Navy in Gatchina. In the materials of many scientists, university professors, students, historians are used unique documents from the national digital library of Russian on the history of development of the domestic fleet.