The actual relocation began in 1710 with the move of high-ranking officials and senators to Saint Petersburg. In 1711, embassies of Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Prussia appeared in the city. And in the following year, the royal court settled in the new capital.
Emperor Peter the First, while implementing fundamental reforms in all areas of government, hoped to achieve several goals by relocating the capital. Firstly, its location on the Baltic Sea provided the opportunity for unlimited influence in northern Europe. Back in 1703, the Peter and Paul Fortress was founded, marking the beginning of Saint Petersburg's history. Secondly, the new capital became a necessary seaport, which the country desperately needed. Through maritime routes, Russia would import finished industrial goods and trade exported raw materials (such as timber, hemp, flax, grain, and furs) with European powers.
The relocation of the capital to the new city also had symbolic significance: a new era began in Russian history, an era of integration into Western culture. And Saint Petersburg, built according to European standards, was perfectly suited to serve as the administrative center of the state.
On March 12, 1918, by decision of the Soviet government, the capital of Russia was moved back to Moscow. In 1922, Moscow, while remaining the capital of the RSFSR, also became the capital of the Soviet Union.