How a descendant of a Scottish king helped build the Russian Empire

"A man of the utmost integrity and learning," remarked British ambassador Sir Charles Whitworth of him.

The House of Bruce was one of the most distinguished in Scotland, the lineage from which the renowned King Robert I hailed. Nevertheless, in the mid-17th century, a branch of the noble family decided to seek their fortune in distant Muscovy. Jacob’s grandfather and father served the Russian tsars faithfully, and he himself was no exception.

In the lead-up to the Great Northern War (1700–1721) against powerful Sweden, Peter the Great set about modernizing his army, entrusting the artillery to the Scotsman. He handled the task brilliantly. Thanks to his efforts, the military began receiving powerful, reliable, long-range and mobile canons manufactured according to standardized specifications, which proved highly effective during the assault on enemy fortresses.

Bruce successfully commanded the artillery on the battlefields and, in 1721, proved himself as a diplomat. He played a key role in the negotiation of the Treaty of Nystad, which granted Russia the status of an empire and enabled it to join the ranks of Europe’s great powers.

The talented Yakov did not limit himself to military affairs; he also engaged in the development of industry, book printing and coinage. This tireless Scotsman even found time for further self-education, translating foreign literature into Russian and compiling textbooks and dictionaries. His personal library contained approximately 1,500 volumes covering a wide range of scientific subjects.

Bruce set up an observatory in Moscow’s Sukharev Tower – a structure that no longer exists today. Some superstitious townspeople believed that this mysterious foreigner was practicing sorcery and alchemy there and that, at night, he would fly over the city on an "iron bird". However, most people held Bruce in high regard. "Through his impeccable conduct in all matters, he earned universal love and respect," noted the Spanish ambassador de Liria.

Following Peter’s death in 1725, Yakov chose not to participate in the ensuing power struggle. He retired to his estate near Moscow to devote himself to scientific pursuits, where he passed away peacefully 10 years later. 

Artifacts related to the life of this outstanding Scotsman, as well as the original Treaty of Nystad bearing his signature and seal, will be on display in the ‘James Bruce: The Scottish Genius of the Petrine Era’ exhibition at the Moscow Kremlin Museums from November 13, 2026, to February 28, 2027.