Czar Peter I

1 7.9

A ruler of Russia from 1682 to 1725 who made the army and government more modern and founded St Petersburg

proper noun
/zɑr ˈpiːtər ɪ/

: zar Pedro I

The city of St. Petersburg was founded by Czar Peter I as part of his westernizing reforms.

Examples

Many historians credit Czar Peter I with transforming Russia into a major European power.
The reign of Czar Peter I was marked by significant reforms.
Czar Peter I is remembered for drastically modernizing the Russian military and government.
Did Czar Peter I really modernize the Russian military?
Czar Peter I is remembered for drastically modernizing the Russian military and government.
Many historians credit Czar Peter I with transforming Russia into a major European power.
The city of St. Petersburg was founded by Czar Peter I as part of his westernizing reforms.

Synonyms

Peter the Great

vsCzar Peter I

3 6.0

Ruler of Russia who modernized the country and founded St Petersburg

is the neutral historical label using a numeral rather than an epithet

Peter I

vsCzar Peter I

1 7.0

Russian ruler who modernized the country, expanded its land, and founded St Petersburg

is the more familiar title using an honorific descriptive phrase

Surface Forms

Czar Peter I main

Morphology

czar + Peter + I

The phrase is a straightforward composition of title + name + regnal numeral: 'czar' (Russian emperor) + 'Peter' + 'I' (the first), so a learner who knows the parts can infer it refers to a specific ruler, Peter the First. While historical details (dates, reforms) are not derivable from the constituents, the core referential meaning is fully predictable and follows common cross-linguistic naming conventions.

Etymology

Czar Peter I is often called 'Peter the Great' because he made very big changes to modernize Russia and bring it closer to Western Europe. He even cut his beard, wore European clothes and built the new city of St. Petersburg as a 'window to Europe', so his name now makes people think of a ruler who brings big, modern changes.