Pereslavl-Zalessky, located on the shores of Lake Pleshcheyevo, has played an important role since the 13th century as a key point on the route from the central part of Russia to the north. The "royal road" ran here, transporting furs to the capital.

In the late 17th century, the lands around the lake became a favorite retreat for the royal family, who came here for pilgrimage. In the Fish Sloboda, fishermen lived who caught vendace for the royal table, and royal hunts were held in the surrounding forests.

In 1688, the young Tsar Peter I began constructing a playful fleet on Lake Pleshcheyevo. His entourage did not take this passion seriously, but Peter continued to build skiffs and small galleys, actively participating in the process. He monitored the progress of the work, controlled the quality of materials, and facilitated the training of shipbuilding masters.

In 1692, the fleet was launched, and a ceremonial review took place to celebrate this event, where the ships demonstrated various maneuvers and combat techniques.

In 1722, Emperor Peter I issued a decree to preserve the remains of the ships and yachts built for Lake Pleshcheyevo, immortalizing the memory of the first combat fleet of Russia. However, in 1783, a fire destroyed most of the ships. Miraculously, only the boat "Fortuna" survived, which is still kept in the museum "Botik of Peter I" in Pereslavl-Zalessky.