Anna Petrovna of Russia

Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna of Russia was the eldest daughter of Emperor Peter I of Russia and Empress Catherine I. Her younger sister, Empress Elizabeth, ruled between 1741 and 1762 and her son Peter III became Emperor in 1762, succeeding Elizabeth. She was Duchess Consort of Holstein-Gottorp by marriage. She was born in Moscow and died in Kiel in her youth at the age of 20.

European dress reforms

Following reforms, men adopted caftans, knee-length breeches, and stockings, while women transitioned from concealing sarafans to dresses with low necklines and short sleeves.

Fines for traditional Russian clothing

People wearing traditional Russian clothing in public faced a fine of 13 altyn and 2 denga for pedestrians and 2 rubles for those on horseback.

Instruments and singing in royal life

Military and celebratory music frequently featured brass and percussion, such as trumpets, drums, and oboes, which were played during formal processions and ceremonial toasts. Peter the Great himself was known to play the drum and would occasionally sing with church choristers during services.

New ballroom dances at assemblies

At social gatherings like the Petrine assemblies, dancing became a structured activity where participants performed dances such as the polonaise, minuet, and various English-style dances. These assemblies were a significant shift for the nobility, requiring both men and women to participate in public dancing.

Slow travel speeds in 18th-century Russia

In the 18th century, travelers moved at a slow average speed of only seven versts per hour in summer and five in winter. Consequently, a journey from Moscow to Kiev took about two weeks, while Moscow to Smolensk required three days.

The postal relay and private travel systems

Travelers often used the postal relay system, which required an official document called a podorozhnaya to secure fresh horses at relay stations. Private travel using one's own horses was also common but required frequent stops to rest the animals.

Founding of Secular Schools

By a 1714 decree, secular numeric schools were established to provide free education for children, though some students had to be forcefully recruited or were punished with rods for attempting to flee.

Traditional Izba Dwellings

Ordinary Russian homes, known as izbas, were log cabins with shuttered windows often covered with bull's bladder instead of glass, and they relied on splinter torches for lighting.

Summer beer storage method

To keep beer fresh during the hot summer, people built ice cellars without roofs, layering barrels with snow and ice, then covering them with straw and boards.

Traditional hangover cure dish

To cure a hangover or feeling unwell, people ate a dish called pokhmelye, made from cold roast mutton, cucumbers, vinegar, and cucumber brine served as a spoon-eaten salad.

Annual wages for Moscow factory workers

In the first quarter of the 18th century, a skilled weaver at a Moscow textile factory earned up to 24 rubles per year, while unskilled workers earned between 6 and 12 rubles per year.

Cost of footwear

In the late 17th century, a pair of fine morocco leather boots cost 1 ruble, while simpler leather shoes were significantly cheaper.

Strict discipline and the role of fiscals

Discipline was strictly enforced; workers caught being late were penalized with salary deductions or punished with birch rods. To prevent absenteeism, officials known as fiscals were employed to monitor workers and report any unauthorized absences to authorities.

The grueling 16-hour workday

In the early 18th century, a standard working day was 16 hours long during the warmer seasons, starting at 5 a.m. with only two short breaks. During winter, the workday remained long and was regulated by cannon fire signals from the fortress.

The birth of regular postal routes

Ordinary mail delivery began to be officially organized between St. Petersburg and Moscow in 1716, requiring riders to travel at an average speed of eight versts per hour.