On January 24, 1720, Peter I signed a manifesto on the introduction of the “Charter of the Sea on everything related to good governance when the fleet was at sea”
Russia owes the appearance of a full-fledged navy to its first emperor, Peter I. But there is a considerable amount of figurativeness in this statement: after all, the tsar did not build every new warship with his own hands! But in the words that our country owes him and the first naval charter, there is no exaggeration. Peter I worked on this document 14 hours a day and was in fact its main author.

It cannot be said that before Peter the Great Russia did not make efforts to build a navy - just like attempts to create a Russian maritime charter. The first experience of both was the actions of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. By his order, the first Russian warship, the famous Eagle, was built at a shipyard specially created for this purpose on the Oka, and its first captain, the Dutchman David Butler, compiled a Letter to the Shipbuilding. The document submitted to the Posolsky Prikaz, written by a Dutchman, was in fact a short but very capacious version of the maritime charter - one that was quite suitable for a single ship. In fact, this "Letter" was an extract from the Dutch naval charter and dealt almost exclusively with the combat readiness of the ship and combat. For a real navy, which was supposed to become a serious force for Russia, such a document was clearly not enough. As well as the other two: the “Decree on the galleys on the order of naval service” written again by Peter I (1696) and the “Rules for Service on Ships” created on his order by Vice Admiral Cornelius Kruys (1698). In 1710, on the basis of the charter of Kruys, "Instructions and military articles for the Russian fleet" appeared. But this document, which actually played the role of a maritime charter, was not fully so, since it did not cover all the important issues of maritime service. And only ten years later, Russia acquired its first real maritime charter.

On the title page of the first edition of the Charter of the Sea was the inscription “The Book of the Charter of the Sea, in Russian and Gallan, about everything related to good management when the fleet was at sea. Printed by the command of the royal majesty in the St. Petersburg Printing House of the Summer of the Lord 1720, April on the 13th day. And Peter’s January Manifesto opened the publication, which said that “Before this matter is necessary for the State (according to this proverb: that every Potentate, which has one land army, has one hand, and which the fleet has, has both hands) , for this, for the sake of this military maritime charter, they committed it, so that everyone knew their position and no one would excuse themselves with ignorance ... Everything was done and accomplished through our own work in St. Petersburg, 1720, on the 13th day of Genvara.

The tsar's manifesto, in which, as Peter the Great often succeeded in doing, the goals and objectives, as well as the need for the creation and introduction of the Naval Charter in Russia, were formulated clearly and precisely, followed by the "Preface to the Joyful Reader", in which, in great detail, with numerous digressions and quotations from Holy Scripture spoke about the formation of the Russian army and the need to create a Russian navy.

Edition of the first maritime charter. Photo: polki.mirpeterburga.ru

After the preface, which occupied a dozen pages - from the second to the eleventh - the actual text of the Charter of the Sea, consisting of five parts, or books, began. The first of them opened with an indication that “Everyone, both above and below, in our fleet, who enters the service, must first take an oath of allegiance properly: and when he does this, then he will be accepted into our service.” Below was the text of the oath for those entering the naval service, which was preceded by a clarification, “how to repair the oath or promise”: “Put your left hand on the Gospel, and raise your right hand up with outstretched two thumbs” (that is, the index and middle fingers ).

Behind the text of the oath was a brief explanation “On the fleet”, beginning with the words “The fleet is a French word. This word means a lot of water vessels going together, or standing, both military and merchant. The same explanation spoke about the composition of the navy, introduced the concepts of squadron commanders of various flags, and also signed the report card for completing ships of various classes - depending on the number of guns on each. This painting was called "Regulations made according to the ranks of ships, how many ranks of people should be on a ship of what rank." It is noteworthy that, according to this table, captains - and this word here meant rank, not position - could only serve on ships that had at least 50 guns. 32-guns were commanded by captain-lieutenants, and 16- and 14-guns were commanded by lieutenants. Ships with a smaller number of guns in the timesheet were not provided at all.

After the explanation “On the Fleet” and the “Regulations”, there were the main provisions of the first book of the charter - “On the Admiral General and every chief commander”, on the ranks of his headquarters, as well as articles defining the tactics of the squadron. The second book was divided into four chapters and contained resolutions on the seniority of ranks, on honors and external distinctions of ships, "on flags and pennants, on lanterns, on salutes and merchant flags ...". It was in this second book that the famous norm was contained, which the followers of Peter I interpreted and interpret as a direct ban on lowering the Russian naval flag in front of anyone: “All Russian military ships should not lower flags, wimpels and Marseilles, under the penalty of deprivation of the stomach.

Book Three revealed the organization of the warship and the duties of the officials on it. It opened with the chapter "About the Captain" (commander of the ship), and ended with the chapter "About the Prof", which was the 21st. Between them were the chapters that determined the rights and obligations of the vast majority of ship ranks, who had in their responsibility something more than just following the orders of their superiors - from the lieutenant commander to the cupor and carpenter, from the ship's doctor to the ship's priest. Defining their duties, the charter also determined the tactics of the ship in battle, and not in single combat, but as part of a squadron, primarily in line with other ships.

The fourth book consisted of six chapters: “On good behavior on the ship”, “On officer servants, how much one should have”, “On the distribution of provisions on the ship”, “On rewarding” (“So that every employee in the fleet knew and was trustworthy than for which service he will be awarded”), as well as “On the division of spoils” and “On the division of spoils from non-military prizes”. The fifth book was called "On fines" and consisted of 20 chapters, representing the judicial and disciplinary charters under one cover.

Two years later, on April 16 (April 5, old style) in St. Petersburg, the “Part Two of the Maritime Regulations was published, which defines everything related to good management when the fleet was in the port, as well as the maintenance of ports and raids”, supplementing the original text of the Charter marine. Both parts remained in force from 1720 to 1797 undividedly, and until 1853 - along with the "Charter of the Navy" adopted at the end of the 18th century. During this time, the charter was reprinted 15 times: twice - in 1720, then in 1722 (together with the second part), in 1723, 1724, 1746, 1763, 1771, 1778, 1780, 1785, 1791, 1795, 1804 and finally in 1850, when "Part Two of the Maritime Regulations" was published separately. All these editions were printed in the printing house of the Naval Cadet Corps and the Academy of Sciences.

So we can safely say that the Peter's Naval Charter determined the fate and actions of the Russian fleet for a century and a half ahead: up to the infamous Crimean War. That is, the whole history of the sailing fleet of Russia is the history of the Charter of the Sea, written by its creator, Peter the Great.

Initiating the Charter of the military land, now with the help of God, we proceed to the Sea, which was the same before this was begun: namely, with blessed and eternally worthy memory, His Majesty the Sovereign our father, for navigation on the Caspian Sea; but then why not be fulfilled for the sake of it, and the will of the Most High Ruler deigned to place this burden on Us, we leave it to His incomprehensible fates. And since this matter is necessary for the sovereign (according to this proverb: that every potentate, which has a single land army, has one hand, and which the fleet has, has both hands), for the sake of this Military Naval Charter they committed, so that everyone knows his own position, and no one would answer with guidance. Which is chosen from the five maritime regulations, and to that a contented part was added that it is necessary, all through our own work. Our work was done and completed in St. Petersburg, January 1720 on the 13th day.

Marine charter

Part 1. Separation 1

About everything that concerns good governance, when the fleet was at sea

Everyone, both above and below in Our fleet, who comes to serve, must first take an oath of allegiance properly: and when he does this, then he will be accepted into Our service.

How to make an oath or a promise

Put your left hand on the Gospel, and raise your right hand up with outstretched two large fingers.

Oath or promise of any military rank to people

I (imrek) promise Almighty God to faithfully serve His Majesty Peter the Great, Tsar and Autocrat of All Russia, and so on, and so on, and so on; and his heirs with all zeal, not sparing life and property with the utmost strength. And I must fulfill all the statutes and decrees, composed or henceforth composed from His Majesty, or commanders above us, committed in the cause of His Majesty and his state. And everywhere and in all cases, the interest of His Majesty and the state must guard and protect and notify that I will hear the opposite, and turn away everything harmful. And to the enemies of His Majesty and his state, riding any convenient possible harm, adventuring, declaring atrocities and looking for them. And everything else that is for the benefit of His Majesty and his state, to repair according to a good Christian conscience, without deceit and guile, as a good, honest and faithful person should: how he should give an answer on the day of judgment. In what way may the Lord God Almighty help me.

Fleet is a French word. This word means a lot of water vessels going together, or standing, both military and merchant. The military fleet, and even a large number of ships, is divided into three main or general squadrons; the first corps de battalion, the second vanguard, the third rearguard: and these packs are divided, each into three particular divisions, as follows.

Cordebatalia of the white flag, vanguard of the white flag, rearguard of the white flag. Cordebatalia of the blue flag, vanguard of the blue flag, rearguard of the blue flag. Cordebatalia of the red flag, vanguard of the red flag, rearguard of the red flag. If there are fewer ships, then the squadron is smaller. The commanders are the following in the fleet: general admiral, admiral from the blue flag, admiral from the red flag, vice admirals, shoutbeinakhts, captains commanders.

And then we have three flags, for the sake of commanding they have this: Admiral General of the entire fleet and particular corps de battles.

There are three particular divisions in his squadron: the first of his corps de battalions, the second vice admiral from the white flag, like his vanguard, the third shautbeinakht from the white flag, like his rear guard. If when this rank of admiral general is not there, then the admiral from the white flag has this place.

The admiral from the blue flag, has to command the vanguard, also divided into three particular divisions, having in the same places a vice admiral, and a shautbeinakht from the blue flag.

The admiral from the red flag has to command the rear guard into as many divisions divided, also having a vice admiral and a shautbeinakht from the red flag.

Captains commanders, with a full number of flagships, do not have squadrons, except with what part they will be sent. In the absence of flagships, instead of them, squadrons are commanded.

Regulations

Committed according to the ranks of ships, how many ranks of people should be on a ship of what rank;

Ranks of ships Ranks of officers and other naval servants of the joint venture hch

66 50 32 16 14 L 1 3 1

Captains

Lieutenant Commanders Lieutenants

Artillery lieutenants Ship secretaries 13*

195 Non-commissioned lieutenants

Non-commissioned lieutenants of artillery

Ship commissars

Subhealers

Medicine students

Navigators

constapeli

Subskipores

Sub-Styurmans

Boatswain mats

Shkhiman mats

Quartermasters

Sergeants from the gunners

Subconstapeli

Corporals from gunners

Gunners

cabins and dec cabin boys guard soldiers trumpeters

carpenter's foremen

Good Carpenters

Carpenters

Unter cups

Caulkers

Sailing students

Total 3 3 3 i 2 i 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 k! i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 I 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 6 6 5 4 4 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 I 1 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 10 9 8 8 7 6 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 60 50 40 40 35 30 20 12 8 410 323 272 241 228 160 79 20 8 206 160 136 121 114 80 40 9 5 18 16 14 2 2 14 20 20 18 16 13 8 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 I 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 I 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 800 650 550 500 470 350 200 80 60

On January 13 (24), 1720, Peter I approved the first Russian Naval Charter, the development of which was carried out for several years with the active participation of the emperor himself. In the introduction to the charter, which replaced the previously existing disparate documents that regulated certain aspects of naval life, the reasons for its appearance were explained. “... After all, this matter is necessary for the State (according to this proverb: that every Potentate, which has a single land army, has one hand. And who has a fleet, has both hands) for the sake of this Military Naval Charter, they did it, so that everyone knew his position, and ignorance would not excuse anyone.

Three months later, on April 13 (24), 1720, with the same goal of bringing the provisions of the new document to all sailors, the Naval Charter was published by royal decree in a separate book.

The charter of Peter I consisted of five books. The first contained provisions on the highest commanding staff of the navy and articles that determined the tactics of the squadron. The second included decrees on the seniority of ranks, on honors and external distinctions of ships, "on flags and pennants, on lanterns, on salutes and merchant flags ...". The third book revealed the organization of the warship and the duties of the officials assigned to it. The fourth book consisted of six chapters, which regulated the rules of conduct on the ship, the number of officer servants according to ranks, the procedure for distributing provisions, methods for determining rewards for taking enemy ships, battle wounds and length of service, as well as methods for dividing booty when capturing enemy ships. The fifth book - "On Fines" - was a naval judicial and disciplinary charter. Also attached to the Maritime Charter were forms of ship's reporting sheets, a book of signals and the rules of sentinel service.

The appearance in Russia of the Maritime Charter was associated with a new stage in the history of the country. In the course of the struggle for access to the sea in the shortest possible time, a strong navy was created in the Baltic, which allowed Russia to turn into a maritime power. By 1725 the Russian fleet was one of the strongest in the Baltic. It consisted of 48 battleships and frigates, 787 galleys and other ships. The total number of teams reached 28 thousand people.

The charter of 1720 became the most important legislative document of the Russian fleet. In terms of completeness of content and depth of presentation, it was the most perfect for the first half of the 18th century. After revision, the Naval Charter of Peter I was reissued in 1724 and was valid with minor changes until 1797, when it was replaced by a new one that took into account the change in ideas about the methods of warfare.

Russian victories

The first charter of the military fleet appeared in Russia

In contact with

Classmates

Vladimir Laktanov

"Wind and Sea" Artist O.N. Vishnyakov

Russia owes the appearance of a full-fledged navy to its first emperor, Peter I. But there is a considerable amount of figurativeness in this statement: after all, the tsar did not build every new warship with his own hands! But in the words that our country owes him and the first naval charter, there is no exaggeration. Peter I worked on this document 14 hours a day and was in fact its main author.

It cannot be said that before Peter the Great Russia did not make efforts to build a navy - just like attempts to create a Russian maritime charter. The first experience of both was the actions of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. By his order, the first Russian warship, the famous Eagle, was built at a shipyard specially created for this purpose on the Oka, and its first captain, the Dutchman David Butler, compiled a Letter to the Shipbuilding. The document submitted to the Posolsky Prikaz, written by a Dutchman, was in fact a short but very capacious version of the maritime charter - one that was quite suitable for a single ship. In fact, this "Letter" was an extract from the Dutch naval charter and dealt almost exclusively with the combat readiness of the ship and combat. For a real navy, which was supposed to become a serious force for Russia, such a document was clearly not enough. As well as the other two: the “Decree on the galleys on the order of naval service” written again by Peter I (1696) and the “Rules for Service on Ships” created on his order by Vice Admiral Cornelius Kruys (1698). In 1710, on the basis of the charter of Kruys, "Instructions and military articles for the Russian fleet" appeared. But this document, which actually played the role of a maritime charter, was not fully so, since it did not cover all the important issues of maritime service. And only ten years later, Russia acquired its first real maritime charter.

On the title page of the first edition of the Charter of the Sea was the inscription “The Book of the Charter of the Sea, in Russian and Gallan, about everything related to good management when the fleet was at sea. Printed by the command of the royal majesty in the St. Petersburg Printing House of the Summer of the Lord 1720, April on the 13th day. And Peter’s January Manifesto opened the publication, which said that “Before this matter is necessary for the State (according to this proverb: that every Potentate, which has one land army, has one hand, and which the fleet has, has both hands) , for this, for the sake of this military maritime charter, they committed it, so that everyone knew their position and no one would excuse themselves with ignorance ... Everything was done and accomplished through our own work in St. Petersburg, 1720, on the 13th day of Genvara.

The tsar's manifesto, in which, as Peter the Great often succeeded in doing, the goals and objectives, as well as the need for the creation and introduction of the Naval Charter in Russia, were formulated clearly and precisely, followed by the "Preface to the Joyful Reader", in which, in great detail, with numerous digressions and quotations from Holy Scripture told about the history of the formation of the Russian army and the need to create a Russian navy.

First edition of the maritime charter

Edition of the first maritime charter. Photo: polki.mirpeterburga.ru

After the preface, which occupied a dozen pages - from the second to the eleventh - the actual text of the Charter of the Sea, consisting of five parts, or books, began. The first of them opened with an indication that “Everyone, both above and below, in our fleet, who enters the service, must first take an oath of allegiance properly: and when he does this, then he will be accepted into our service.” Below was the text of the oath for those entering the naval service, which was preceded by a clarification, “how to repair the oath or promise”: “Put your left hand on the Gospel, and raise your right hand up with outstretched two thumbs” (that is, the index and middle fingers ).

Behind the text of the oath was a brief explanation “On the fleet”, beginning with the words “The fleet is a French word. This word means a lot of water vessels going together, or standing, both military and merchant. The same explanation spoke about the composition of the navy, introduced the concepts of squadron commanders of various flags, and also signed the report card for completing ships of various classes - depending on the number of guns on each. This painting was called "Regulations made according to the ranks of ships, how many ranks of people should be on a ship of what rank." It is noteworthy that, according to this table, captains - and this word here meant rank, not position - could only serve on ships that had at least 50 guns. 32-guns were commanded by captain-lieutenants, and 16- and 14-guns were commanded by lieutenants. Ships with a smaller number of guns in the timesheet were not provided at all.

After the explanation “On the Fleet” and the “Regulations”, there were the main provisions of the first book of the charter - “On the Admiral General and every chief commander”, on the ranks of his headquarters, as well as articles defining the tactics of the squadron. The second book was divided into four chapters and contained resolutions on the seniority of ranks, on honors and external distinctions of ships, "on flags and pennants, on lanterns, on salutes and merchant flags ...". It was in this second book that the famous norm was contained, which the followers of Peter I interpreted and interpret as a direct ban on lowering the Russian naval flag in front of anyone: “All Russian military ships should not lower flags, wimpels and Marseilles, under the penalty of deprivation of the stomach.

Book Three revealed the organization of the warship and the duties of the officials on it. It opened with the chapter "About the Captain" (commander of the ship), and ended with the chapter "About the Prof", which was the 21st. Between them were the chapters that determined the rights and obligations of the vast majority of ship ranks, who had in their responsibility something more than just following the orders of their superiors - from the lieutenant commander to the cupor and carpenter, from the ship's doctor to the ship's priest. Defining their duties, the charter also determined the tactics of the ship in battle, and not in single combat, but as part of a squadron, primarily in line with other ships.

The fourth book consisted of six chapters: “On good behavior on the ship”, “On officer servants, how much one should have”, “On the distribution of provisions on the ship”, “On rewarding” (“So that every employee in the fleet knew and was trustworthy than for which service he will be awarded”), as well as “On the division of spoils” and “On the division of spoils from non-military prizes”. The fifth book was called "On fines" and consisted of 20 chapters, representing the judicial and disciplinary charters under one cover.

Two years later, on April 16 (April 5, old style) in St. Petersburg, the “Part Two of the Maritime Regulations was published, which defines everything related to good management when the fleet was in the port, as well as the maintenance of ports and raids”, supplementing the original text of the Charter marine. Both parts remained in force from 1720 to 1797 undividedly, and until 1853 - along with the "Charter of the Navy" adopted at the end of the 18th century. During this time, the charter was reprinted 15 times: twice - in 1720, then in 1722 (together with the second part), in 1723, 1724, 1746, 1763, 1771, 1778, 1780, 1785, 1791, 1795, 1804 and finally in 1850, when "Part Two of the Maritime Regulations" was published separately. All these editions were printed in the printing house of the Naval Cadet Corps and the Academy of Sciences.

So we can safely say that the Peter's Naval Charter determined the fate and actions of the Russian fleet for a century and a half ahead: up to the infamous Crimean War. That is, the whole history of the sailing fleet of Russia is the history of the Charter of the Sea, written by its creator, Peter the Great.

The first Russian Naval Charter was approved, the development of which was carried out for several years with the active participation of the emperor himself. In the introduction to the charter, which replaced the previously existing disparate documents that regulated certain aspects of naval life, the reasons for its appearance were explained. “... After all, this matter is necessary for the State (according to this proverb: that every Potentate, which has a single land army, has one hand. And who has a fleet, has both hands) for the sake of this Military Naval Charter, they did it, so that everyone knew his position, and ignorance would not excuse anyone.

Three months later, on April 13 (24), 1720, with the same goal of bringing the provisions of the new document to all sailors, the Naval Charter was published by royal decree in a separate book.

The charter of Peter I consisted of five books. The first contained provisions on the highest commanding staff of the navy and articles that determined the tactics of the squadron. The second included decrees on the seniority of ranks, on honors and external distinctions of ships, "on flags and pennants, on lanterns, on salutes and merchant flags ...". The third book revealed the organization of the warship and the duties of the officials assigned to it. The fourth book consisted of six chapters, which regulated the rules of conduct on the ship, the number of officer servants according to ranks, the procedure for distributing provisions, methods for determining rewards for taking enemy ships, battle wounds and length of service, as well as methods for dividing booty when capturing enemy ships. The fifth book - "On Fines" - was a naval judicial and disciplinary charter. Also attached to the Maritime Charter were forms of ship's reporting sheets, a book of signals and the rules of sentinel service.

The appearance in Russia of the Maritime Charter was associated with a new stage in the history of the country. In the course of the struggle for access to the sea in the shortest possible time, a strong navy was created in the Baltic, which allowed Russia to turn into a maritime power. By 1725 the Russian fleet was one of the strongest in the Baltic. It consisted of 48 battleships and frigates, 787 galleys and other ships. The total number of teams reached 28 thousand people.

The charter of 1720 became the most important legislative document of the Russian fleet. In terms of completeness of content and depth of presentation, it was the most perfect for the first half of the 18th century. After completion, the Maritime Charter of Peter I was reissued in 1724 and operated with minor changes until 1797, when it was replaced by a new one that took into account changes in ideas about the methods of warfare.

Lit.: The wisdom of the maritime charter // Dygalo V. A. The Russian fleet: three centuries in the service of the Fatherland. M., 2007.

See also in the Presidential Library:

The book Charter of the sea,: about everything that concerns good governance, when the fleet was at sea / Printed by command of the Royal Majesty. 5th embossed. SPb., 1778 ;