Tobolsk the Capital of Siberia

The XVIIIth century can be regarded in all respects as ‘the golden age’ for Tobolsk. In 1708 under an administrative reform Russia was divided into 8 provinces. The Tobolsk province was the largest in territory. It incorporated territories from the Ural to the Far East, and such towns as Verkhoturje, Tyumen, Tomsk, Krasnojarsk, Irkutsk, Ilymsk, Yakutsk, and a lot of other settlements scatted along the huge territories, which would enrich Russia.

The Count Gagarin, a close associate of Peter I, was appointed the first Tobolsk governor. He did a lot for Tobolsk and Siberia development. Since Peter I was a child, brick construction had been going on in Tobolsk. Peter I was apparently interested so that the most remote Russian outpost in an alien surrounding should possessed all power attributes. That explained Moscow protective attitude and support when the stone Kremlin was started up. The project required a qualified expert equally competent in architecture and in the Tobolsk landscape. This turned out to be Semen Remezov, a clerk, a cartographer and a historian.. It was he who, having learned the secrets of the Moscow architects, made a project of the Kremlin. Over the XVIIIth century buildings of outstanding architectural designs survived up to now had been completed in Tobolsk. Being the capital of Siberia, Tobolsk attracted a lot of state officials, tradesmen, and craftsmen. In 1701 the arms shops were opened in the town that supplied frontier posts of the Russian kingdom with rifles and muskets in defense against Sweden. By the beginning of the XVIIIth century Tobolsk had become a powerful spiritual center, out of which missionary activities were launched alongside immense Siberian lands. In 1703 the Bishop School was opened in Tobolsk, which is regarded as the first educational establishment in Siberia. Tobolsk was also recognized as an important cultural center of Siberia. It was here that the first theatre performances were staged, and the first books printed.