Peter’s Manifesto

The average pleb in Russia could be subject to conscription, and for quite some time so too could the lofty nobles (this is not to say that the standing of nobles and commoners would have been the same in the military). Often when we, the layperson, think of nobility we think of resplendent clothing, and vast wealth, but not necessarily of mandatory military service. But with the issue of a certain manifesto by Peter III, this mandatory service was not longer a threat to the aristocrats of Russia.

The entire introduction of the Manifesto is one long homage to Peter I, speaking at length to the virtues that his decision has brought about for Russia and the nobility. Despite all of this, after he is done proclaiming the good, Peter III goes on to state he is overturning Peter I’s law and sets out all of the details.

We can look with pride at everything that has occurred, and every true son of the country will agree that great advantages have resulted from all this. Manners have been improved; knowledge has replaced illiteracy; devotion and zeal for military affairs resulted in the appearance of many experienced and brave generals; civil and political concerns have attracted many intelligent people; in a word, noble thoughts have penetrated the hearts of all true Russian patriots who have revealed toward Us their unlimited devotion… Because of all these reasons We judge it to be no longer necessary to compel the nobles into service…

Thinking in the context of our class, it is especially insightful to look at the introductory portion of the text, as it speaks a great deal of Peter I. At the beginning of our class it was discussed that many if not all rulers of Russia since Peter I’s time have had to frame at least some of their decisions in relation to Peter, with this document being a prime example of that very practice. The rules that Peter III sets out in his nine points are interesting, but the most compelling is his explanation and his continuing need to live up to the specter of Peter I.