The Shtandart was the Flagship of Tsar Peter the Great of Russia (1672-1725) who saw himself as a resolute modernizer of the army and administration who created a new global power of the underdeveloped Russian empire. In this light the appellation of “Great” was very much warranted. When Peter assumed the throne Russia possessed no northern or western port. The ability of a great nation to project its interests (both military and commercial) via the sea was of the utmost importance. Realizing that he would never succeed in establishing Russia as a significant modern nation and empire without a developed western port or navy Peter set out to create both. In 1698 Peter the Great sailed to Deptford, England with his Great Embassy to learn how to organize a navy and build warships. This coincided with construction of a new capitol city, St. Petersburg on the gulf of Finland. By 1707 Peter possessed a rapidly growing port with shipyards in St. Petersburg and a navy which he augmented with his new flagship, the frigate Shtandart which was built by 200 men under the command of a Danish master builder. The proud 28-cannon frigate received its name from a new royal pennant which was carried on the ship and symbolized the imperial command of Russia. The Shtandart serviced as a flagship for 16 years before it was decommissioned in 1719 and, due to its bad condition, was scrapped in 1728. Katharina I, Peters successor on the tsar throne, planned an immediate construction of a new Shtandart, however it took more than 250 years to take place. In 1994 a young Russian engineer initiated a facsimile reproduction of the frigate. Due to the great commitment of all those involved and numerous donations, the replica was able to be lowered into the Neva River in St. Petersburg in September 1999.