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Russia Engages the World, 1453-1825
1453 Through the Reign of Ivan the Terrible (1533-1584) The Time of Troubles to the First Romanovs (1598-1682) Peter the Great and His Legacy (1682-1762) The Age of Catherine the Great (1762-1801) The Reign of Emperor Alexander I (1801-1825)

This chronology is not comprehensive but rather provides reference points for the history presented in Russia Engages the World, 1453–1825.

From the Fall of Constantinople (1453) through the Reign of Ivan the Terrible (1533–1584)

The Time of Troubles to the First Romanovs (1598–1682)

Peter the Great and his Legacy (1682–1762)

The Age of Catherine the Great (1762–1801)

The Reign of Emperor Alexander I (1801–1825)

The Rulers of Russia, 1425–1823

Russia's Globalization: A Key

Events marked Russia Symbol are specific to Muscovy/Russia's internal development. 
Those marked World Symbol are important world historical or cultural events.
Engagement Symbol indicates specific points of sociocultural or military engagement between Muscovy/Russia and foreign powers or individuals.


1682 Russia Symbol Ivan V and Peter I become co-Tsars (1682–96), under the regency of Ivan's sister (Peter's half sister), Sofiia (regent 1682–89).
1689 Engagement Symbol The Treaty of Nerchinsk between Russia and China establishes recognized borders between the Muscovite Tsardom and the Qing dynasty in China.
1695–96 Engagement Symbol Successful campaigns to acquire Azov expand Russia's southern border with the defeat of the Turkish forces; in 1709, Peter loses Azov to the Ottoman Empire.
1696 Russia Symbol Ivan V, co-Tsar with Peter I, dies.
1697 World Symbol Charles XII (r. 1697–1718) becomes King of Sweden.
1697–98 Engagement Symbol Peter’s Grand Embassy to western Europe; Peter meets with Sir Isaac Newton, one of the fathers of the Scientific Revolution.
1700 Engagement Symbol The Swedes defeat the Russians at Narva.
1703 Russia Symbol On May 16, the Russian city of St. Petersburg is founded. Russia’s first newspaper, Sanktpeterburgskii vedomosti [The St. Petersburg Times], is published.
1711   Russia Symbol Peter establishes the Senate.
1721 Engagement Symbol The Treaty of Nystad ends the Great Northern War with Sweden (1700–21), and Russia acquires the Baltic areas of Lifland, Kurland, and Estland.
1721 Russia Symbol Peter replaces the Patriarchate in Russia with the Holy Synod.
1724  Russia Symbol The Russian Academy of Sciences is founded.
1725 Russia Symbol Peter's second wife, Catherine I (r. 1725–1727) becomes Empress after her husband's death.
1725–43  Engagement Symbol Vitus Bering, a Dane in the service of Russia, leads two expeditions to the North Pacific and Siberia. The land portions of his expedition are termed the Great Northern Expedition.  Expeditions by other explorers take place in 1765–66, 1783–84, and 1785–87.
1727 Engagement Symbol The Treaty of Kiakhta between China and Russia sets the boundary line between Mongolia and Siberia.
1730 Engagement Symbol Anna Ioannovna (r. 1730–40), daughter of Peter's half brother Ivan V, becomes Empress.
1740 World Symbol Frederick II, "the Great" (r. 1740–86), becomes King of Prussia; Maria Theresa (r. 1740–80) becomes Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary.
1741 Russia Symbol Peter the Great's daughter, Elizabeth (r. 1741–61) becomes Empress.
1755 World Symbol Moscow University is founded on the European model.
1755 World Symbol Rousseau publishes his Discourse on the Origin of Inequality.
1756    Engagement Symbol Russia joins Austria and France against Great Britain and Prussia in the Seven Years’ War (1756–63), fought on several continents.
1761 Russia Symbol

Peter III (r. 1761–62), Peter's grandson, becomes Emperor.  In 1745 he had married Princess Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst, who, as the future Catherine II, "the Great" (r. 1762–96), becomes Empress after a coup. He will rule for only six months.