ABSTRACT
Civil reforms were enacted to facilitate military reforms. In 1717 Peter created a bureaucratic system of government organized into Colleges, which were then topped by a body called the Senate. In 1722 he established a system of state service called the Table of Ranks, whereby all governmental officials were able to obtain promotion according to talent rather than noble ancestry. Peter himself set a standard for state service by adopting the Western tide of “emperor,” a reform that symbolized his belief that the ruler is merely a servant (albeit the highest) of the state. In return, he expected complete devotion from his subjects. Peter's military victories and administrative reforms were generally successful in elevating Russia's status within Europe. After defeating the Swedish army at Poltava in 1709, Russia acquired valuable new territories along the Baltic Sea that allowed it to expand trade with the West and put an end to centuries of isolation.
