Image of Peter I in Newspaper Materials of “Tobolsk Gubernskiye Vedomosti” (1857—1909)

Abstract

The issue of reconstructing the image of Peter I on the pages of “Tobolsk Gubernskiye Vedomosti” is considered. The newspaper materials selected for the study reflect public opinion about the personality and transformations of Peter I and at the same time represent the source of Peter I image formation in the mass consciousness of the “Tobolsk Gubernskiye Vedomosti” readers. The purpose of the research is to study examples of the construction of the image of Peter I on the pages of the newspaper “Tobolsk Gubernskie Vedomosti”. Literary and comparative-historical approaches to the study of this problem are used. The analysis of the texts of newspaper materials published from 1857 to 1909 is carried out, and cases of mentioning the name of Peter the Great in the context of the events of all-Russian and local history are described. The authors concluded that the newspaper participated in the preservation and consolidation of the name of the tsar and the events of his reign in the historical memory of Siberians. Examples of the formation of the image of an ideal ruler through various news reports of the newspaper “Tobolsk Gubernskiye Vedomosti” is considered in the study. It is proved that the newspaper supported the myth of Peter I as an idol, an enlightened autocrat, under whose reign Russia achieved prosperity and power. The publications of various genres reflect a positive attitude towards the tsar, as this corresponded to the policy of the official printed organ — the strengthening of monarchical ideals in the mass conscious-ness.