The correct answer to the question "Why is Petersburg so named?"

At first glance, the question "Why is St. Petersburg so named?" - sounds, at least, strange. How can a city founded by Peter I, which, in the current language, be a "Westerner", can be called? Passing training in Europe, which was already becoming an industrial path of development, the great king did not bow before it, but wanted to transfer all achievements to the land of Russia.

Traditional answers

Why is St. Petersburg so named? Because for 22 years - from the date of the foundation of the first brick of the Peter and Paul Fortress and until the day of his death - Peter I was engaged in the construction of his paradise, his "paradise", the city of his dreams. Before the fortress was laid for three days, with the participation of the sovereign himself, the Dutch architect and several soldiers, from May 12 to the 15th, the "Peter's Lodge", the summer royal residence, was built.

Why is St. Petersburg so named? Because thanks to the iron will of this man in the deserted marshy swamps, at the cost of the lives of thousands of people, the city strategically necessary for Russia - the new "sea gate" was built. Because the first bridge over the sleeve of the Neva was erected by Peter and named after his name, the first passenger boat-yard was launched by him, the first trade caravan on which he himself was a pilot, moored at his "house", which he also erected.

So in honor of whom is St. Petersburg named? People who studied in Soviet schools who still remember poems about Napoleon's vain waiting for the kneeling inhabitants of Moscow with keys from the Kremlin, and the idea that one can not know to whom and to what the lines are dedicated: "... there will be a city laid ... "Strange is also because the Internet provides an opportunity to make a step-by-step tour of historical places.

The fault of all is Soviet ideology

The fact is that it was not customary in the USSR to emphasize the importance of religion in the life of pre-revolutionary Russia. Never even the thought that the erection of Leningrad, the "city of revolutionary glory," could originally have been dedicated to an apostle, never drew attention to why St. Petersburg was so named. It was only acknowledged that it was founded by Peter. Hence the questions that arise in the youth, which is not very familiar with the meaning of all the renaming. Especially since the city was conceived initially as a major educational center, where immediately immediately in parallel with the churches and temples, educational centers were erected and the best teachers of Europe signed out for big money. And all this was done under the personal supervision of the king. How can the question arise, Why is St. Petersburg so named? The answer lies on the surface: because Peter built it, sometimes even with his own hand, to lift the spirit of the builders, driven from all over the country.

The true state of things

Another thing is that the name of the city was given by the great reformer himself, devoting his child to the apostle Peter, the elder brother of Andrew the First-Called, the patron of fishermen and seafarers. Who, if not him, the beloved disciple of Jesus, could be dedicated to the fortress built at the outlet to the Baltic Sea, especially since the apostle was the guardian angel of the king himself. Thus, the "city of St. Peter" was built and erected. That is why St. Petersburg was so named. Simply this is more acceptable to the ear of European merchants translation of the Russian name. Designed as a "window to Europe", the city was to become the most attractive for trade, designed to encourage the development of manufacturing industries in Russia, which previously had no access to the northern seas.

The historical necessity of a city

In October 1702, the Swedish fortress of Notenburgh was taken, and by May 1 of the same year the Nienstantz fortress had fallen - the way to the Baltic Sea was opened. But the North, or Twenty Years War, begun in 1700, lasted until 1721. Russia acted on the side of the coalition of states that fought with the hegemony of Sweden. Open the way to the countries of Northern Europe - a little, it was necessary to gain a foothold on the Baltic shores.

Peter and Paul Fortress, erected on the Hare Island, at the junction of two large Neva arms, was conceived as an object of strategic purpose. The city, being built around, was declared as the northern and cultural capital of Russia. World history knows few examples when the ruler in the conquered territories in such a short time built such a fabulous city, where every stone and air are imbued with the name of the great Russian emperor. It is a fact that the northern capital is dedicated and named in honor of the holy apostle, but when the question arises why the city of St. Petersburg was so named, the first thought that comes to mind is connected only with the image of Great Peter.