FRANÇOIS LEFORT, A GENEVA NATIVE IN THE TSAR’S SERVICE

François Lefort was born in Geneva in 1656, the son of merchant traders. However, when the time came, Lefort turned his back on the business world and chose instead to fight as a mercenary, first in the French and Dutch armies and later in the Russian ranks. He would come to play an important role in the latter country’s history...

It all started in 1675 when he was made captain of the Tsar Alexis’ army. The tsar died soon after, leaving Lefort unemployed. Thus, the Geneva native decided to settle in Moscow, in the neighbourhood reserved for foreigners, and subsequently participated in a number of Russian military operations against the Turks and the Tatars.Around the year 1680, Lefort’s life was forever altered by the friendship that grew between him and Peter the Ist (1672-1675), later to become Peter the Great. The young tsar was fascinated by Europe and would frequently sneak out of the palace grounds to go roam in the immigrant neighbourhoods of the city. The two men’s friendship was based largely on their common love of parties and excess.Lefort was promoted to colonel and took part in campaigns in the Crimea in 1687 and 1689. Having supported the tsar in his struggle for power against his sister, he was rewarded by being made a lieutenant and in 1695 he was bestowed the title of admiral.He also led the Russian fleet in the Azov siege of 1695-1696.In 1697, Peter the Great made him head of his “Grand Embassy”, the first official Russian diplomatic mission to Europe.Peter himself took part in this delegation, but anonymously.The Grand Embassy lasted almost two years and was invited to the most important European royal courts. The tsar took advantage of this opportunity to improve his knowledge of naval construction. He sought out European specialists in the matter, notably in England and in Holland.Unrest in Moscow forced the delegation to return to Russia. Lefort fought alongside the Tsar to suppress the city’s rebellion and was seriously injured in the fighting. He died a few days later on the 12th of March 1699 at the age of 43.Peter the Great was very affected by the loss of his friend. On the 27th of May 1703, he began the construction of the city of Saint Petersburg atop swampland bordering the Gulf of Finland. He thusly opened a “window to Europe” which facilitated not only commerce, but also the exchange of ideas between both worlds. The city became a hub for architects and scholars, invited by various tsars and coming from all across Europe; they contributed to the construction of the city and turned it into the architectural and cultural jewel which it is known as today.Francois Lefort knew nothing of Saint Petersburg and the extravagance of its court, nor of the reforms introduced throughout the Russian empire by Peter I in the 18th century. One can nonetheless affirm that the Geneva admiral was a crucial source of inspiration for Peter I and played a major role in the assimilation of European culture and techniques by the Russian tsar.