St Petersburg and the Russian Court, 1703–1761

This book focuses on the city of St Petersburg, the capital of the Russian empire from the early eighteenth century until the fall of the Romanov dynasty in 1917. It uses the Russian court as a prism through which to view the various cultural changes that were introduced in the city during the eighteenth century. "As capital of the Russian empire from the early eighteenth century until the fall of the Romanov dynasty in 1917, St Petersburg has often been seen as Russia's 'window onto Europe'. From its origins as an isolated military settlement at its foundation, St Petersburg grew rapidly to become a major European capital under Catherine the Great. This book examines the city's development in the crucial period before Catherine's accession and its development as a suitable seat for the Russian imperial court. The court played a leading role in fostering the various cultural changes that were introduced in Russia during the eighteenth century. In exploring the ceremonial and social life of St Petersburg during this period, the foundation for the glittering courts of the later Romanov rulers, the book highlights another important aspect of the relationship between Russia and Europe"-- Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-11 Location: Situating the City....Pages 12-34 Regulation: Policing the City....Pages 35-58 Organisation: the Court and its Celebrations....Pages 59-91 Interaction: the City’s Social Life....Pages 92-124 Instruction: Fashioning an Audience....Pages 125-155 Conclusion....Pages 156-160 Back Matter....Pages 161-232