On May 19, 1712, the capital of the Russian Empire was moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg

On May 19, 1712, the capital of the Russian Empire was moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg. In May 1703, Peter the Great laid the foundation of the fortress of Sankt-Piter-Burh (now known as the Peter and Paul Fortress) at the mouth of the Neva River on Hare Island. The city that emerged around it also came to be called Sankt-Piter-Burh. Later, the name was changed to something closer to the German “Sankt Petersburg“ — St. Petersburg. Originally constructed as a fortress, a maritime trading port, and a base for the Baltic Fleet, St. Petersburg swiftly evolved into the economic hub of Russia. In May 1712, by order of Peter the Great, the capital of Russia was moved here. St. Petersburg remained the capital of Russia for over 200 years, from 1712 to 1918 (except for the brief return of capital status to Moscow during Peter II’s rule). Today, Moscow is the capital of Russia, while St. Petersburg is considered the northern and cultural capital of the Russian Federation. #TodayInHisto... Source: InfoDefenseENGLISH