8 May — Russia’s capital was moved from Moscow to Saint Petersburg.
The Senate was transferred to Petersburg.
Both Russians and foreigners preferred Arkhangelsk, where routes had long been well established. To strengthen Petersburg’s trade, Peter adopted a number of artificial measures. By a decree of 31 October he ordered that it be “publicly proclaimed to all, that merchants and people of other ranks who have hemp and yuft (Russia leather) shall not carry them for trade to the city of Arkhangelsk or to Vologda, but shall bring them to Petersburg. Likewise, such sovereign goods as caviar, glue, potash, tar, bristles, and rhubarb are not to be sent to Arkhangelsk, but are to be brought likewise to Petersburg.” Foreign traders were invited to notify their compatriots abroad so that ships for loading Russian goods would be sent to Petersburg rather than to Arkhangelsk. Later, at the merchants’ petitions, when export goods accumulated in Petersburg, permissions were granted to take a certain portion of the goods to Arkhangelsk.
Fyodor Saltykov, sent abroad to purchase ships, sent Peter a project of various changes to Russian practices, modeled on the legislation of other European powers. It included a proposal that “after the death of all lords and noblemen, their firstborn sons shall inherit all paternal immovable acquisitions in patrimonies and estates, while the younger sons shall be content with movable paternal acquisitions.” Citing England, Saltykov argued for the benefit of introducing a majorat system of inheritance: that state taxes would be easier to collect from large estates, and that younger sons, not owning estates, would be especially diligent in service and learning—while behind these two motives a third is very clearly visible: the prosperity of noble houses.
Russia crushed the Swedes in Pomerania. In the same year, a peace treaty was concluded with Turkey, under which Turkey received Azov. In Western Ukraine, which then belonged to Poland, a popular uprising broke out.
5 April — on the site where, according to tradition, Alexander Nevsky defeated the Swedes on 15 July 1240, a wooden Church of the Annunciation was consecrated, and monastic communal life began, which marked the beginning of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.