The period of palace coups 1725-1762 briefly. Educational portal - everything for the student of law

GIM. Room 23. The era of palace coups, continued. Previous report in the article.

According to the figurative expression of V.O. Klyuchevsky, the period of Russian history after the death of Peter I until the accession of Empress Catherine II was called the “epoch of palace coups”. For 37 years, six rulers have changed on the Russian throne. After Peter I, his second wife, Catherine I, ruled. After her death, the grandson of Peter I, Peter II, ascended the throne. He was replaced by the niece of the first emperor, Anna Ioannovna, followed by the great-nephew of Anna Ioannovna, Ioann Antonovich. Then the "daughter of Petrov" - Elizabeth Petrovna - reigned, she was inherited by the grandson of Peter I - Peter III. Finally, in 1762, Catherine II ascended the throne.

On the right side of the hall there is a row of portraits representing a succession of Russian emperors and their favorites from the second quarter of the 18th century.

The gallery opens with a portrait of Catherine the Great.


Next to her is His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov.




Next - a portrait of the young Emperor Peter II.




On the opposite wall from the window, after Osterman and Biron, we will see a portrait of the niece of Peter I, Empress Anna Ioannovna.


In conclusion, let's pay attention to the portrait of Peter's daughter, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

Showcases 1 - 3. The era of palace coups. Fight for the throne

Catherine I

(Showcase 1, to the right of the hall entrance).

After the death of Peter I, with the support of Menshikov and the guards, Catherine I takes the throne. She rules for two years from 1725 until her death in 1727. Her kingdom was not marked by anything special. The first showcase contains a portrait of the Empress with a pedigree.

The era of palace coups. A.D. Menshikov

(Showcase 2).


In 1727, with the support of the old aristocratic families, Peter II came to the throne. He was a boy, for three years there was a struggle for influence on the young sovereign. In this struggle, A.D. Menshikov is defeated, he is sent into exile in Berezov, depriving him of all ranks, orders and wealth. Icon "Sign" - relic. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov blessed his son with this icon.


This is the only surviving item associated with the name of Menshikov in Moscow. (Some items are exhibited in St. Petersburg). They buried the Most Serene Prince on the banks of the river, the grave was washed away during the flood.

The era of palace coups. Peter II

Among the favorites at the court of Peter II, the main place is occupied by the princes Dolgoruky. It is believed that Ivan Dolgoruky began to introduce the young emperor to entertainment establishments too early. Obviously, at the age of 15, a boy does not want to study, but wants to have fun, so Dolgoruky was in favor. Young Pyotr Alekseevich died unexpectedly, falling ill with smallpox. In February, during the blessing of water, he went to the cut down Jordan in a light uniform, without warm clothes. He caught a cold, caught smallpox and “burned out” in two weeks, on the eve of his wedding.

His unexpected death put Russia in a strange difficult position - who will rule? There are no direct descendants in the male line from the Romanov dynasty. Only women's remained. Then they turned to the line of the brother of Peter I, Tsar John Alekseevich.

The era of palace coups. Anna Ioannovna. History of the call to the kingdom

(Showcase 3).

The co-ruler of Peter, Ivan, had two daughters - Catherine and Anna. Catherine was married to the Duke of Mecklenburg. At first, as a married, European lady, they wanted to invite Ekaterina Ioannovna. But then they remembered that her husband, the Duke of Mecklenburg, had a habit of interfering in all matters when he was asked and not asked. Fearing that the entire Duchy of Mecklenburg would come to Russia with Catherine, they did not call her. They turned to the second daughter of Ivan Alekseevich, Dowager Duchess Anna Ioannovna. She lived in distant Courland (part of modern Latvia).

Her fate was sad. Peter married his niece to the Duke of Courland. But on the way to the duchy, the husband died from heavy drinking. Anna Ioannovna left St. Petersburg as a relatively happy young wife. She came to Courland as a widow. Her uncle, Peter I, did not allow her to return to Russia, and she spent over 15 years in very cramped circumstances. She didn't even have enough money to lead a decent life. The local nobility did not like the Russian duchess and she was a hostage in political games.

But in 1730, fate from a poor state brought her to the Russian throne. Anna Ioannovna was invited to Russia as an empress. But with reservations, that is, conditions, the so-called "conditions", in which the nobility limited her rights. For the first time in Russian history, it was decided not just to invite, but to limit the rights of the autocrat to the throne.

The era of palace coups. Conditions

At the head of the conspiracy was Dmitry Mikhailovich Golitsyn and the Supreme Privy Council. D. M. Golitsyn is an outstanding figure in Russian history. A man of great intelligence, education, a relative of Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn, a reformer, adviser to Sofia Alekseevna. They secretly came up with the famous conditions, which soon became known to many. The Moscow nobility intervened in the matter. When the Moscow nobles heard that the Empress was being invited and her rights to the throne were being restricted, they were indignant. The nobles were divided into two parties - one believed that it was necessary to preserve the monarchy in its original form. Others (also for the first time in Russian history) said - well, the empress was limited in her rights, but they did not consult with us. We also want to put forward our conditions. Thus, for the first time in history, the Russian nobility creates its own projects to limit power.

Several condition projects have been created. Studying the history of conditions is like reading a detective novel - everyone tried to send their messenger to Mitava, get ahead of their rival, tell Anna Ioannovna to sign one thing and not another, etc.

Anna Ioannovna arrived in Moscow, stopped near Moscow in the village of Tainitskoye and began to understand that she had support. There are people in the court who stand up for her full rights! The newly-made empress was absolutely not going to fulfill any conditions. She decided to act in a proven way and bribed the guards. Not so much with money, but with pity - she built shelves, said that the widow was offended, they did not give all the rights, brought a glass of vodka with a silver ruble. The guards supported her and the matter ended with the fact that Anna Ioannovna tore all the conditions and reigned as a full-fledged empress.
In case 4 you can see the cuirass of 1730 (the year of Anna's accession to the throne) with the monogram of the Empress.



One of the swords bears the inscription “Vivat, Anna”.

On the exposition (showcase 3) we see a document - Anna Ioannovna's manifesto on the abolition of the Privy Council and the restoration of the Governing Senate. That is, the monarchy, as before in Russia, remained absolute.

The era of palace coups. John Antonovich - heir to the throne

(Showcase 6)


Another curious story is connected with the era of palace coups - the story of John Antonovich. Anna Ioannovna died in 1740. Since she did not have the right to remarry, she had no children. But an heir was needed. The Empress summoned her niece, Anna Leopoldovna, the daughter of Ekaterina Ivanovna's sister, married her to Anton Ulrich of Brunswick. (Portrait of Anna Leopoldovna is on the left above showcase 6).


From this marriage a boy was born, Ioann Antonovich. This boy, her great-nephew, the Empress declared heir to the throne.

Showcase 6 (in the center of the right wall)

When Anna died, the heir was only a few months old. The collection of the State Historical Museum has a unique image of Ivan Antonovich, who lies in a cradle, around him are muses, nymphs, geniuses, a solemn light overshadows him, on a blanket is the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the highest Russian order.

The boys of the royal family received this order immediately after birth.

The era of palace coups. John Antonovich - the fate of the deposed emperor

A few months later, a new palace coup changed the fate of the baby emperor. Elizaveta Petrovna came to power. For the first three years the boy lived in exile with his parents in Kholmogory. Then he was taken away from his parents and sent to the Shlisselburg Fortress. In it, he spent 21 years in complete isolation with boarded up windows. No one taught him science. It is believed that one of the commandants, out of pity, taught him to read so that he could read the Gospel and Holy Scripture - the only books that the unfortunate Ivan Antonovich was allowed to have. They even took him to the bathhouse at night.

All items associated with his name and short reign were destroyed, including the melting down of coins with his image. Documents with his names, portraits were destroyed everywhere. The museum really has a unique image. Only three or four of these have survived. Also on display are his mother's documents, coins, and seals.

By 1764, everyone forgot about Ivan Antonovich, there were only rumors about a mysterious prisoner. One of the guards, lieutenant Vasily Mirovich, decided to release him. There is a version that it was a provocation initiated by Catherine II to get rid of her rival to the throne. But while Mirovich with a small detachment stormed the fortress, the guards killed the prisoner. They had a special order to eliminate the disgraced ruler at the slightest attempt at release.

The era of palace coups. Elizaveta Petrovna

According to the canons of the 18th century, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna had no rights to the throne. She was born before the official marriage of her parents, in addition, her mother was not a royal family. Such “baggage” for a long time kept “daughter Petrova” from claiming the throne.

The exposition presents a ceremonial portrait of Elizaveta Petrovna.



Many such portraits were painted, since the portrait of the emperor had to be in every office. Sometimes there was even a throne under the portrait, that is, the emperor, as it were, was invisibly present in official places. Elizabeth is depicted in a ceremonial court dress. On the shoulders - a mantle, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

Seven Years' War. Showcases 10 and 11

Showcases 10 and 11. GIM. Hall 23

The reign of Elizabeth Petrovna was of particular importance in the history of Russia in the middle of the 18th century. Petrov's daughter continued her father's reforms, it was under her that the international authority of Russia was strengthened, especially thanks to her participation in the Seven Years' War against the Prussian King Frederick the Great.

The Seven Years' War had a pan-European significance; all of Europe watched its course. The artifacts are located in case 10, under the portrait of Elizaveta Petrovna.


In case 10 there is a snuffbox with the image of Friedrich and battle scenes.


The Prussian King Friedrich is a talented commander. Snuffbox with a portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna.


Snuff boxes with portraits testify to the popularity and interest in Europe to the personalities of Elizabeth Petrovna and Frederick the Great - the main opposing forces in the Seven Years' War.

Showcase 11 in the GIM collection is dedicated to the Seven Years' War with Prussia, where Russia won victories at first.


The exposition presents unique monuments - coins, which are both German and Russian coins. (On the one hand, the German thaler, on the other hand, the Russian ruble).


Russian coins were minted for circulation on the territory of Prussia. From 1759 to 1761, East Prussia was annexed to Russia, the population took an oath of allegiance to Elizaveta Petrovna, and such money was in circulation.

The era of palace coups. Peter III

The last deposed emperor was the grandson of Peter I and Catherine I, the son of their daughter Anna Petrovna, the nephew of the reigning Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter Fedorovich. He was orphaned very early and it is believed that his early orphanhood played a tragic role in his fate - no one was involved in his upbringing, he was left in the care of lackeys, who early taught him to drink. They brought him to Russia under Elizabeth Petrovna as the heir to the throne. But at the Russian court, too, no one was particularly happy to see him, Pyotr Fedorovich did not have the best reputation.

It was Peter III who adopted the manifesto on the freedom of the nobility. From now on, the first free estate appeared in Russia - the nobility. They had the right to choose the type of service or not to serve at all, that is, to lead the life they considered necessary.

Peter III did not like the Russian army. He alienated the Russian officers from himself, brought the Holstein nobles closer, their guards. This was one of the reasons that led to a conspiracy against him. But the main reason was the betrayal of Peter III in relation to the Russian Empire. He made peace with Prussia and gave Prussia all the gains that Russia had made during the Seven Years' War. On display is a symbolic painting of Peter III reconciling with Frederick the Great (case 11).


A curious snuffbox depicting three European monarchs (case 11).




Dislike for Peter III provoked a conspiracy, as a result of which a woman came to power, the wife of Peter Fedorovich, who generally had no rights to the throne - Catherine II. The exposition of other halls tells about her reign.

Previously, a portrait of Peter III hung on a narrow wall between the arches of the exit to the 24th hall. Now a battle scene hangs here - a conclusion on the capture of the Ochakov fortress.

Masquerade sleigh

A unique item in the hall's collection is a masquerade sleigh. In the XVIII century, a tradition appeared to hold masquerades, carnivals, processions. Similar sledges were also used during holidays. The sledges were fastened to the train (there are special loops on the sides of the sleigh for attaching them to the train). Discharged characters were sitting in the sleigh. The Austrian-made sledge is a characteristic object of the era.

Showcase 13. Trumpets for horn orchestra

The exposition contains a rare set of musical instruments, these are pipes for a horn orchestra. Each trumpet played only one note of a certain pitch. It is impossible to play anything else on it, therefore, to perform even a simple melody, a whole orchestra and several musicians were needed.
The museum managed to collect a unique collection of horns - by the beginning of the 19th century they had disappeared, such an orchestra was expensive and it was ruinous to maintain it.

Most of the horns were melted down, but they managed to collect the collection. The sound of the music performed was reminiscent of an organ.
In the window there is an engraving - an illustration of this kind of orchestra.

Showcase 15. M.V. Lomonosov

In the wall between the windows there is a portrait of M.V. Lomonosov, the first Russian scientist, and his personal belongings.





An interesting bottle for experiments with oil. This alembic is made from a quarter, a special type of travel ware designed to transport and store liquids. The cube was used to conduct experiments on the distillation of liquids in the first Russian chemical laboratory created by Lomonosov.


Nearby is a small icon of the Savior, made by Lomonosov himself. Made of glass by order of Countess Shuvalova. Many clearly see in the image of the Savior a portrait of Peter I himself.


There are also books, documents that represent the breadth of M.V. Lomonosov's work - his poems, historical writings, scientific works and a fireworks program - Lomonosov developed a program for the holidays.

In the window is an engraving depicting fireworks. Fireworks - it was a whole fiery performance, which was conceived according to a certain system and the script was written, as for a theatrical performance.

1. General characteristics of the era of palace coups

The overstrain of the country's forces during the years of Peter the Great's reforms, the destruction of traditions, and the violent methods of reform caused an ambiguous attitude of various circles of Russian society towards the Peter's heritage and created the conditions for political instability.

From 1725, after the death of Peter I and until Catherine II came to power in 1762, six monarchs and many political forces behind them were replaced on the throne. This change did not always take place in a peaceful and legal way, which is why this period of V.O. Klyuchevsky is not entirely accurate, but figuratively and aptly called " era of palace coups".

2. Background of palace coups

The main reason that formed the basis of the palace coups was the contradictions between various noble groups in relation to the Peter's heritage. It would be a simplification to consider that the split occurred along the lines of acceptance and rejection of reforms. Both the so-called "new nobility", which came to the fore in the years of Peter the Great thanks to their service zeal, and the aristocratic party tried to soften the course of reforms, hoping in one form or another to give a respite to society, and first of all, to themselves. But each of these groups defended its narrow class interests and privileges, which created a fertile ground for internal political struggle.

Palace coups were generated by a sharp struggle of various factions for power. As a rule, it came down most often to the nomination and support of one or another candidate for the throne.

At that time, the guards began to play an active role in the political life of the country, which Peter brought up as a privileged "support" of the autocracy, which, moreover, assumed the right to control the conformity of the personality and policy of the monarch to the legacy that her "beloved emperor" left.

The alienation of the masses from politics and their passivity served as fertile ground for palace intrigues and coups.

To a large extent, palace coups were provoked by the unresolved problem of succession to the throne in connection with the adoption of the Decree of 1722, which broke the traditional mechanism for the transfer of power,

3. The struggle for power after the death of Peter I

Dying, Peter did not leave an heir, having only time to write with a weakening hand: "Give everything ...". The opinion of the leaders about his successor was divided. "Chicks of Petrov's nest" (A.D. Menshikov, P.A. Tolstoy , I.I. Buturlin , P.I. Yaguzhinsky etc.) advocated for his second wife Catherine, and representatives of the noble nobility (D.M. Golitsyn , V.V. Dolgoruky and others) defended the candidacy of their grandson - Peter Alekseevich. The outcome of the dispute was decided by the guards, who supported the empress.

accession Catherine 1 (1725-1727) led to a sharp strengthening of the position of Menshikov, who became the de facto ruler of the country. Attempts to somewhat curb his lust for power and greed with the help of the Supreme Privy Council (STC) created under the Empress, to which the first three colleges, as well as the Senate, were subordinate, did not lead to anything. Moreover, temporary worker decided to strengthen his position through the marriage of his daughter with the young grandson of Peter. P. Tolstoy, who opposed this plan, ended up in prison.

In May 1727, Catherine 1 died and, according to her will, 12-year-old Peter II (1727-1730) became emperor under the regency of the military-technical cooperation. Menshikov's influence at court increased, and he even received the coveted rank of generalissimo. But, pushing away old allies and not acquiring new ones among the well-born nobility, he soon lost influence on the young emperor and in September 1727 was arrested and exiled with his whole family to Berezovoe, where he soon died.

A significant role in discrediting the personality of Menshikov in the eyes of the young emperor was played by the Dolgoruky, as well as a member of the military-technical cooperation, the tutor of the tsar, nominated to this position by Menshikov himself - A.I. Osterman - A clever diplomat who, depending on the alignment of forces and the political situation, was able to change his views, allies and patrons.

The overthrow of Menshikov was, in essence, an actual palace coup, because the composition of the military-technical cooperation changed, in which aristocratic families (Dolgoruky and Golitsyn) began to predominate, and A.I. began to play a key role. Osterman; the regency of the MTC was put an end to, Peter II declared himself a full-fledged ruler, who was surrounded by new favorites; a course was outlined aimed at revising the reforms of Peter I.

Soon the court left St. Petersburg and moved to Moscow, which attracted the emperor by the presence of richer hunting grounds. The sister of the tsar's favorite, Ekaterina Dolgorukaya, was betrothed to Peter II, but while preparing for the wedding, he died of smallpox. And again the question of the heir to the throne arose, because. with the death of Peter II, the male line of the Romanovs ended, and he did not have time to appoint a successor.

4. Supreme Privy Council (STC)

In the conditions of a political crisis and timelessness, the military-technical cooperation, which by that time consisted of 8 people (5 seats belonged to the Dolgoruky and Golitsyns), decided to invite the niece of Peter I, the Duchess of Courland Anna Ioannovna, to the throne, since back in 1710 she was married off by Peter to the Duke of Courland , early widowed, lived in cramped material conditions, largely at the expense of the Russian government.

It was also extremely important that she had no supporters and no connections in Russia. As a result, this made it possible, beckoning with an invitation to the brilliant St. Petersburg throne, to impose their own conditions and get her consent to limit the power of the monarch.

D.M. Golitsyn came up with the initiative to draw up really limiting autocracy " conditions ", according to which:

1) Anna undertook to rule together with the military-technical cooperation, which actually turned into the highest governing body of the country.

2) Without the approval of the military-technical cooperation, it could not legislate, impose taxes, dispose of the treasury, declare war or make peace.

3) The empress did not have the right to grant estates and ranks above the rank of colonel, to deprive her of estates without trial.

4) The Guard was subordinate to the military-technical cooperation.

5) Anna undertook not to marry and not to appoint an heir, but in case of non-fulfillment of any of these conditions, she was deprived of the "crown of Russia".

There is no consensus among scientists in assessing the nature and significance of the "invention of the leaders." Some see in the "conditions" a desire to establish, instead of autocracy, an "oligarchic" form of government that would meet the interests of a narrow layer of noble nobility and lead Russia back to the era of "boyar self-will." Others believe that this was the first constitutional draft that limited the arbitrary rule of the despotic state created by Peter, from which all segments of the population, including the aristocracy, suffered.

Anna Ioannovna after meeting in Mitava with V.L. Dolgoruky, sent by the military-technical cooperation for negotiations, accepted these conditions without any hesitation. However, despite the desire of members of the military-technical cooperation to hide their plans, their contents became known to the guards and the general masses " nobility ".

From this environment, new projects for the political reorganization of Russia began to emerge (the most mature one belonged to the V.N. Tatishchev ), which gave the nobility the right to elect representatives of the highest authorities and expanded the composition of the military-technical cooperation. Specific requirements were also put forward aimed at facilitating the conditions of service of the nobles. D.M. Golitsyn, realizing the danger of isolating the military-technical cooperation, met these wishes and developed a new project, which suggested limiting the autocracy by a system of elected bodies. The highest of them remained the military-technical cooperation of 12 members. Previously, all issues were discussed in the Senate of 30 people, the Chamber of Nobility of 200 ordinary nobles and the Chamber of Citizens, two representatives from each city. In addition, the nobility was exempted from compulsory service.

The supporters of the inviolability of the principle of autocracy, led by A. Osterman and F. Prokopovich, who attracted the guards, managed to take advantage of the disagreements between the adherents of the constitutional restriction of the monarchy. As a result, having found support, Anna Ioannovna broke the "conditions" and restored the autocracy in full.

The reasons for the failure of the "supervisors" were the short-sightedness and selfishness of the majority of the MTC members, who sought to limit the monarchy not for the sake of the interests of the whole country, or even the nobility, but for the sake of preserving and expanding their own privileges. The inconsistency of actions, political inexperience and mutual suspicion of individual noble groups, who were supporters of the constitutional order, but feared by their actions to strengthen the military-technical cooperation, also contributed to the restoration of autocracy. The bulk of the nobility was not ready for radical political change.

The decisive word belonged to the Guard, which, after some hesitation, finally supported the idea of ​​an unlimited monarchy.

Finally, the far-sightedness and unscrupulousness of Osterman and Prokopovich, the leaders of the party of supporters of the preservation of autocracy, played an important role.

5. Board of Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740)

From the very beginning of her reign, Anna Ioannovna tried to erase even the memory of "conditions" from the consciousness of her subjects. She liquidated the military-technical cooperation, creating instead the Cabinet of Ministers headed by Osterman. Since 1735, the signature of the 3rd cabinet of ministers, according to her decree, was equated with the signature of the empress. Dolgoruky, and later Golitsyn were repressed.

Gradually, Anna went to meet the most urgent requirements of the Russian nobility: their service life was limited to 25 years; that part of the Decree on Uniform Succession, which limited the right of the nobles to dispose of the estate when it was inherited, was canceled; easier to get an officer's rank. For these purposes, a cadet noble corps was created, at the end of which an officer rank was awarded; it was allowed to enlist the nobles for service from infancy, which made it possible for them, upon reaching the age of majority, to receive an officer's rank "by length of service."

An accurate description of the personality of the new empress was given by V.O. Klyuchevsky: "Tall and corpulent, with a face more masculine than feminine, callous by nature and even more hardened by early widowhood ... among court adventures in Courland, where she was pushed around like a Russian-Prussian-Polish toy, she, having already 37 years , brought to Moscow an evil and poorly educated mind with a fierce thirst for belated pleasures and gross entertainment".

Amusements of Anna Ioannovna cost the treasury very dearly, and although she, unlike Peter, could not stand alcohol, the maintenance of her court cost 5-6 times more. Most of all, she loved to watch jesters, among whom were representatives of the most noble families - Prince M.A. Golitsyn, Count A.P. Apraksin, Prince N.F. Volkonsky. It is possible that in this way Anna continued to take revenge on the aristocracy for her humiliation with "conditions", especially since the military-technical cooperation at one time did not allow entry into Russia to her Courland favorite - E. Biron.

Not trusting the Russian nobility and not having the desire, and even the ability to delve into state affairs herself, Anna Ioannovna surrounded herself with people from the Baltic states. The key role at court passed into the hands of her favorite E. Biron.

Some historians call the period of Anna Ioannovna's reign "Bironism", believing that its main feature was the dominance of the Germans, who neglected the interests of the country, demonstrated contempt for everything Russian and pursued a policy of arbitrariness in relation to the Russian nobility.

However, the government's course was determined by Biron's enemy, A. Osterman, and arbitrariness was rather repaired by representatives of the domestic nobility, headed by the head of the Secret Chancellery, A.I. Ushakov. Yes, and the damage to the treasury of the Russian nobles inflicted no less than foreigners.

Favorite, hoping to weaken the vice-chancellor's influence A. Osterman , managed to introduce his protege into the Cabinet of Ministers - A. Volynsky . But the new minister began to pursue an independent political course, developed the "Project for the Correction of Internal State Affairs", in which he advocated the further expansion of the privileges of the nobility and raised the issue of the dominance of foreigners. By this he aroused the discontent of Biron, who, having teamed up with Osterman, managed to get Volynsky accused of "insulting her imperial majesty" and lead him to the chopping block in 1740.

Soon Anna Ioannovna died, appointing her niece's son as his successor. Anna Leopoldovna , Duchess of Brunswick, baby Ivan Antonovich under Biron's regency.

In the context of general dissatisfaction of the nobility and especially the guard, which the regent tried to disband, the head of the military collegium, field marshal Minich staged another coup d'état. But Minich himself, famous for the words: "The Russian state has the advantage over others that it is controlled by God himself, otherwise it is impossible to explain how it exists", soon did not calculate his own strength and was retired, missing Osterman in first place.

6. The reign of Elizabeth Petrovna (1741-1761)

On November 25, 1741, the "daughter" of Peter the Great, relying on the support of the guards, carried out another coup d'état and seized power. The peculiarities of this coup were that Elizaveta Petrovna had broad support from the common people of the city and the lower guards (only 17.5% of the 308 guardsmen were nobles), who saw in her the daughter of Peter, all the hardships of whose reign had already been forgotten, and whose personality and actions began to be idealized. The coup of 1741, unlike the others, had a patriotic overtone, because. was directed against the dominance of foreigners.

Foreign diplomacy tried to take part in the preparation of the coup, seeking political and even territorial dividends through its assistance to Elizabeth. But all the hopes of the French ambassador Chétardie and the Swedish ambassador Nolken, in the end, were in vain. The implementation of the coup was accelerated by the fact that the ruler Anna Leopoldovna became aware of Elizabeth's meetings with foreign ambassadors, and the threat of forcible tonsure as a nun hung over the lover of balls and entertainment.

Having seized power, Elizaveta Petrovna proclaimed a return to her father's politics, but it was hardly possible for her to rise to such a level. She managed to repeat the era of the reign of the great emperor rather in form than in spirit. Elizabeth began with the restoration of the institutions created by Peter 1 and their status. Having abolished the Cabinet of Ministers, she returned the Senate to the importance of the highest state body, restored Berg - and the Manufactory Collegium.

Under Elizabeth, the German favorites were replaced by Russian and Ukrainian nobles, who were more interested in the affairs of the country. So, with the active assistance of her young favorite I.I. Shuvalova was opened in 1755 Moscow University. At the initiative of his cousin, from the late 1740s. de facto head of government P.I. Shuvalova , in 1753 a decree was issued "on the abolition of internal customs and petty fees", which gave impetus to the development of trade and the formation of an internal all-Russian market. By decree of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1744, the death penalty was actually abolished in Russia.

At the same time, its social policy was aimed at the transformation of the nobility from the service to the privileged class and fortification. She instilled luxury in every possible way, which led to a sharp increase in the expenses of the nobles for themselves and the maintenance of their court.

These expenses fell on the shoulders of the peasants, who in the era of Elizabeth finally turned into "baptized property", which, without the slightest remorse, could be sold, exchanged for a thoroughbred dog, etc. The attitude of the nobles towards the peasants as "talking cattle" was caused and ended by that time a cultural split in Russian society, as a result of which the Russian nobles, who spoke French, no longer understood their peasants. The strengthening of serfdom was expressed in the landlords obtaining the right to sell their peasants as recruits (1747), and also to exile them without trial to Siberia (1760).

In her domestic and foreign policy, Elizaveta Petrovna took into account national interests to a greater extent. In 1756, Russia, on the side of a coalition of Austria, France, Sweden and Saxony, entered the war with Prussia, supported by England. Russia's participation in " Seven Years' War "1756-1763 put the army of Frederick II on the brink of disaster.

In August 1757, in the battle of Gross-Egersdorf, the Russian army of S.F. Apraksin as a result of the successful actions of the detachment of General P.A. Rumyantseva achieved the first victory. In August 1758, General Fermor at Zorndorf, having suffered significant losses, managed to achieve a "draw" with the army of Friedrich, and in August 1759, at Kunersdorf, the troops of P.S. Saltykov defeated her.

In the autumn of 1760, Russian-Austrian troops captured Berlin, and only the death of Elizaveta Petrovna on December 25, 1761 saved Prussia from complete catastrophe. Her heir, Peter III, who idolized Frederick II, left the coalition and concluded a peace treaty with him, returning to Prussia everything lost in the war.

Despite the fact that Elizaveta Petrovna, unlike her father, used unlimited power not so much in the interests of the state, but to satisfy her own needs and whims (after her death, 15 thousand dresses remained), she wittingly or unwittingly prepared the country and society for next era of change. During the 20 years of her reign, the country managed to "rest" and accumulate strength for a new breakthrough, which came in the era of Catherine II.

7. The reign of Peter III

The nephew of Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter III (the son of Anna's elder sister and the Duke of Holstein) was born in Holstein and from childhood was brought up in hostility to everything Russian and reverence for German. By 1742 he was an orphan. The childless Elizabeth invited him to Russia and soon appointed him her heir. In 1745 he was married to an unfamiliar and unloved Anhalt-Zerbst Princess Sophia Frederica Augusta (in Orthodoxy named Ekaterina Alekseevna).

The heir has not outlived his childhood, continuing to play tin soldiers, while Catherine was actively engaged in self-education and longed for love and power.

After the death of Elizabeth, Peter turned against himself the nobility and the guards with his pro-German sympathies, unbalanced behavior, the signing of peace with Frederick II, the introduction of Prussian uniforms, and his plans to send the guards to fight for the interests of the Prussian king in Denmark. These measures showed that he did not know, and most importantly, did not want to know the country he headed.

At the same time, on February 18, 1762, he signed a manifesto "On the granting of liberty and freedom to all Russian nobility", freeing the nobles from compulsory service, abolishing corporal punishment for them and turning them into a truly privileged estate. Then the terrifying Secret Investigative Office was abolished. He stopped the persecution of schismatics and decided to secularize church and monastic land ownership, prepared a decree on the equalization of all religions. All these measures met the objective needs of Russia's development and reflected the interests of the nobility. But his personal behavior, indifference and even dislike for Russia, mistakes in foreign policy and an insulting attitude towards his wife, who managed to gain respect from the nobility and guards, created the preconditions for his overthrow. Preparing the coup, Catherine was guided not only by political pride, a thirst for power and the instinct of self-preservation, but also by the desire to serve her new homeland.

8. The results of the era of palace coups

Palace coups did not entail changes in the political, and even more so the social system of society and boiled down to the struggle for power of various noble groups pursuing their own, most often selfish interests. At the same time, the specific policy of each of the six monarchs had its own characteristics, sometimes important for the country. In general, socio-economic stabilization and foreign policy successes achieved during the reign of Elizabeth created the conditions for more accelerated development and new breakthroughs in foreign policy that would occur under Catherine II.

The death of Emperor Peter I in 1725 led to a long crisis of power. According to the figurative expression of V. O. Klyuchevsky, this period of our history was called "palace coups". For "37 years from the death of Peter I to the accession of Catherine II (1725-1762), the throne was occupied by six reigning persons who received the throne as a result of complex palace intrigues or coups.

Causes of palace coups:

1. moving away from the national political tradition, according to which the throne passed only to the direct heirs of the king, Peter himself prepared a “crisis of power” (by not implementing the Decree of 1722 on the succession to the throne, without appointing himself an heir);

2. after the death of Peter, a large number of direct and indirect heirs claimed the Russian throne;

3. the existing corporate interests of the nobility and noble nobility manifested themselves in their entirety.

Palace coups that they were not state coups, that is, they did not pursue the goal of radical changes in political power and state structure

When analyzing the era of palace coups, it is important to pay attention to the following points.

1. The initiators of the coups were various palace groups that sought to elevate their protege to the throne.

2. The most important consequence of the palace coups was the strengthening of the economic and political positions of the nobility.

3. The guard was the driving force behind the coups.

Catherine's reign I (1725-1727). The guards took the side of Catherine.

In 1726, under Catherine I, the Supreme Privy Council was established, which, according to the historian S. F. Platonov, replaced the Petrine Senate. The Supreme Privy Council included A.D. Menshikov, F.M. Apraksin, G.I. Golovkin, D.M. Golitsyn, A.I. Osterman and P.A. Tolstoy. The Council was not an oligarchic body limiting the autocracy. It remained a bureaucratic, albeit highly influential, institution in the system of absolutism, placed under the control of the empress.

During this period, the following happened:

Reduction of bureaucratic structures;

Revision of the customs tariff;

Changing the location of the army and its content;

Liquidation of the system of self-government;

Restoring the significance of the county as the main territorial-administrative unit;

Changing the taxation system, reducing the poll tax.

On the whole, the activities of Catherine I and her "supreme leaders" were characterized by the rejection of the broad reform program of Peter I, and the decline in the role of the Senate. Trade and industry, having lost the financial and administrative support of the state in the post-Petrine era, were placed in unfavorable conditions. The beginning of the revision of the results of Peter's reforms.

Peter II (1727-1730). Shortly before her death in 1727, Catherine I signed a will that determined the sequence of succession to the throne. The closest heir was determined by Peter II.

The throne was occupied by 12-year-old Peter II under the regency of the Supreme Privy Council.

The Supreme Privy Council under Peter II underwent significant changes. In it, all the affairs were managed by the four princes Dolgoruky and two Golitsyns, as well as A. I. Osterman. Dolgoruky came to the fore. Peter II died on his wedding day (to Ivan Dolgoruky's sister Ekaterina). The Romanov dynasty ended in the male line. The issue of the emperor was to be decided by the Supreme Privy Council.

The short stay in power of the young Peter II did not introduce significant changes in the state and social life of Russian society. The transfer of the royal court from St. Petersburg to Moscow at the end of 1727, the abolition of the Chief Magistrate in 1728.

Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740). After long consultations, the leaders chose the senior line of the dynasty associated with the brother of Peter I - Ivan V.

D. M. Golitsyn and V. L. Dolgoruky developed the so-called conditions - the conditions under which Anna Ioannovna could accept the Russian crown from the hands of the leaders:

Do not issue new laws;

Do not start wars with anyone and do not conclude peace;

Loyal subjects should not be burdened with any taxes;

Do not dispose of the treasury income;

Noble ranks above the colonel's rank are not favored;

Do not take away the belly, estate and honor from the nobility;

Estates and villages do not favor.

Already two weeks after her arrival in Moscow, Anna broke the conditions in front of the leaders and announced "her perception of autocracy." The Supreme Privy Council in 1731 was replaced by a Cabinet of three ministers headed by A. I. Osterman. Four years later, Anna Ioannovna equated the signatures of three cabinet ministers with one of her own.

The main directions of domestic policy:

The abolition of the Supreme Privy Council and the return to the Senate of its former significance;

The return of the Petrovsky system of deployment of regiments in the provinces and the responsibility of the landowners for the payments of their peasants;

Continuation of the punitive policy towards the Old Believers;

Creation of a new body - the Cabinet of Ministers (1731);

Resumption of the activities of the Secret Chancellery;

The establishment of the Corps of Cadets (1732), after which the children of the nobility received officer ranks;

Cancellation of the indefinite service of the nobles (1736). In addition, one of the sons of a noble family was released from service to manage the estate.

During the reign of Anna Ioannovna, the autocracy was strengthened, the duties of the nobles were reduced, and their rights over the peasants were expanded.

Ivan VI Antonovich. After the death of Anna Ioannovna in 1740, according to her will, the Russian throne was inherited by her great-grandson, Ivan Antonovich. Anna's favorite E.I. Biron was appointed regent until he came of age, who was arrested by the guards on the orders of Field Marshal B.K. Minich less than a month later. His mother, Anna Leopoldovna, was proclaimed regent for the royal child.

Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761). Another coup d'état was carried out with the direct participation of the guardsmen of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.

The reign of Elizabeth was marked by the flourishing of favoritism. On the one hand, it was an indicator of the dependence of the nobility on royal generosity, and on the other hand, it was a kind of, albeit rather timid, attempt to adapt the state to the needs of the nobility.

During the reign of Elizabeth, certain transformations were carried out:

1. there was a significant expansion of noble benefits, the socio-economic and legal position of the Russian nobility was strengthened;

2. an attempt was made to restore some of the orders and state institutions created by Peter I. To this end, the Cabinet of Ministers was abolished, the functions of the Senate were significantly expanded, the Berg and Manufacture Colleges, the chief and city magistrates were restored;

3. eliminated many foreigners from the spheres of public administration and the education system;

4. a new supreme body was created - the Conference at the Imperial Court (1756) to resolve important state issues, which largely duplicated the functions of the Senate;

5. The Empress also tried to develop new legislation;

6. there was a tightening of religious policy.

On the whole, the reign of Elizabeth did not become the "second edition" of Peter's policy. Elizabeth's policy was distinguished by caution, and in some aspects - and unusual gentleness. By refusing to sanction the death penalty, it was in fact the first in Europe to abolish the death penalty.

Peter III (December 25, 1761 - June 28, 1762). After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1761, 33-year-old Peter III became Emperor of Russia.

Peter III announced to Frederick II of Russia's intention to make peace with Prussia separately, without the allies of France and Austria (1762). Russia returned to Prussia all the lands occupied during the Seven Years' War, refused indemnification to compensate for the losses incurred, and concluded an alliance with the former enemy. In addition, Peter began to prepare for an absolutely unnecessary Russian war with Denmark. In society, this was perceived as a betrayal of Russian national interests.

During the six-month reign of Peter III, 192 decrees were adopted.

The secularization of church lands in favor of the state was announced, which strengthened the state treasury (the decree was finally implemented by Catherine II in 1764);

He stopped the persecution of the Old Believers and wanted to equalize the rights of all religions.

Liquidation of the Secret Chancellery and return from exile and people convicted under Elizabeth Petrovna;

Trade monopolies that hampered the development of entrepreneurship were abolished;

Freedom of foreign trade was proclaimed, etc.

Politically wise and economically expedient, these internal transformations did not add to the emperor's popularity. His denial of everything Russian as "archaic", the break with traditions, the redrawing of many orders according to the Western model, offended the national feelings of the Russian people. The fall of Emperor Peter III was a foregone conclusion, and it happened as a result of a palace coup on June 28, 1762. Peter was forced to abdicate, and a few days later he was killed.

Socio-economic development. A distinctive feature of the social development of Russia was a significant expansion of the privileges of the nobility, the receipt of which was facilitated by the relative instability of state power.

Similar information.

Every educated Russian knows that the era of palace coups marked itself in Russia in the 18th century with the activity of a change of power. Over the century, about six rulers of Russia have changed. Reactionary actions were carried out as a result of the confrontation of opposing noble clans with the involvement of the guard. Contemporaries would say that this is the so-called "quiet" revolution - at least a bloody renunciation of monarchs, without military events.

The period of palace coups - 1725 - 1762.
Russia in this era was a state with a weakened economy. The country, like a weather vane, with the accession of one or another ruler, turned in its development. In the absence of a permanently reigning emperor for a long time, it was impossible to lead a single political line. However, each emperor brought his favorable contribution to the development of the country.

Politics of the era of palace coups

As for the internal policy of the rulers, elected at different times, was aimed at strengthening their power. So various councils and colleges were established. For example, Catherine I established the supreme government body - the Privy Council. Anna Ioanovna created the Senate and the Synod.

Elizabeth became famous for her educational policy. Under her reign, science flourished - the key activity was the activity of the scientist, writer M.V. Lomonosov.

Foreign policy of the second quarter of the XVIII century. was an echo of the long work of Peter the Great. Catherine I, and especially his daughter Elizabeth, spoke openly about continuing his course. Thus, three directions in foreign policy were formed:
1. South. War with Turkey and the Crimean Khanate for the opening of a waterway through the Black Sea to Europe. This is how the Russo-Turkish War broke out (1735-1739). As a result, the Crimean territories were recaptured (for example, Perekop, Bakhchisaray). However, according to the results of the peace concluded in Belgrade, Russia could not leave the fleet on the Black Sea.
2.Southeast. Peaceful annexation of the Kazakh steppes (1730 - 1740).
3.Northwestern. The struggle to strengthen Russia's position in the region led to a war with Poland. As a result of the Russo-Swedish War (1733-1735), significant lands in the Baltics were ceded to Russia. The Seven Years' War (1756-1762) turned out to be the bloodiest and, moreover, the most protracted. At first, Elizabeth won victories, spent a lot of money on maintaining the warring army, but she died in the midst of the confrontation, and her nephew Peter, Duke of Holstein, who ascended the throne, turned the war into a new direction - everything that Elizabeth fought for returned to the sphere of influence of Prussia .

Thus, Russia did not gain dominance in the Black Sea.

Rulers of the era of palace coups

The first ruler of Russia at that time is Catherine I, the wife of the deceased Peter I, in January 1725. Together with her, Peter's favorite, A. Menshikov, began to rule the country. At that time, he held many honorary and most significant titles.

Having made an attempt to defend herself against the old well-born opposition, Catherine appointed Peter II, the young prince, as her follower. But the nobility did not support this enterprise and nominated the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth, to the throne. The opposition dealt with Menshikov, depriving him of his titles and sending him to Siberia to settle with his family.

The new government not only did not continue the policy of Peter the Great, but also defiantly moved the capital to Moscow, pushing the significance of St. Petersburg, the fleet and other Peter's innovations and transformations into the background. It seemed that Russia began its development in the opposite direction.

However, in connection with the death of the weak and sickly fifteen-year-old Peter II, he brought Anna Ioanovna to power in 1730. The well-born noble families of the Dolgorukovs, Golitsyns, promoted her candidacy, because they decided that her political figure did not have significant weight, and they could concentrate in their hands of all power. The so-called "conditions" announced by the Privy Council forbade Anna to pursue an active foreign policy, especially military, to give orders for domestic spending. The Privy Council also fully reigned in the army and received full command of it.

However, in Moscow, during her coronation, Anna Ioannovna publicly broke the conditions at the request of the higher nobility. So Anna declared herself the sovereign empress, urgently abolished the Privy Council, and sent all its members into exile or executed.

Anna Ioannovna was an adherent of everything German. What is her favorite Biron alone.

Being near death, the Empress announced that Ivan Antonovich, the grandson of her sister, would rule instead of her. Biron was appointed regent, to whom this was very beneficial. In fact, he received unlimited power in the country. However, Ivan Antonovich's mother Anna Leopoldovna, as well as the princes Minich and Osterman, conceived a new coup.

So, Anna Leopoldovna in 1740 became regent under Ivan Antonovich.

While Anna Ioanovna was making her plans, the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth Petrovna, was preparing a new coup. Her accession took place in 1741 with the support of her closest friends. Elizabeth was also actively supported by the Swedish and Prussian embassies. The reign of Elizabeth was the longest in the era of palace coups - she ruled until 1761. Representatives of the old aristocracy were appointed to the highest posts.

The reign of Elizabeth is marked primarily by the fact that she never executed anyone, and her military victories were successful. The empress, feeling her imminent death, appointed her nephew, Duke of Holstein, Peter as her successor.

Peter III became emperor and established the fashion for everything German in Russia. He returned to Prussia everything that his aunt had won. The aristocracy was unhappy with such a policy.

The guards did not like the drill arranged by the emperor, and she plotted against him and proclaimed his wife, who became Empress Catherine II, to the throne. Some time after the coronation of Catherine, Peter was killed by the guards.

The period of palace coups ended when Emperor Paul I, the son of Catherine II and Peter III, became emperor.

The era of palace coups is the period from 1725 to 1762, when several rulers changed in Russia after the death of Peter I as a result of state conspiracies and the actions of the guard, headed either by the aristocracy or by Peter's closest associates. Ekaterina I, Peter II, Anna Ioannovna, Anna Leopoldovna with her son Ivan Antonovich VI, Elizabeth Petrovna, and, finally, Peter III came to power in succession. They ruled with varying degrees of awareness, involvement in the state process and unequally in time. In this lesson, you will learn about all these events in more detail.

In the case of a palace coup, there are no qualitative changes in the political, socio-economic, or cultural structure of the state.

Causes of palace coups

1. Expansion of powers of the state apparatus
2. Greater financial, political and cultural independence for nobles
3. Creation of the guard
4. Decree of Peter I on the succession to the throne
5. Absence of a legitimate heir to Peter I

In 1725 the Russian emperor Peter diedIGreat. Before the imperial entourage, the question arose of who would ascend the throne. It turned out that Peter's inner circle was divided into two parts. One part is the aristocracy: Golitsyn, Dolgoruky, etc.; the other part are those people who came to power thanks to their skills and knowledge from the very bottom: HELL. Menshikov (Fig. 2), P.A. Tolstoy (Fig. 3), A.I. Osterman (Fig. 4) and other nobles and people from abroad. The aristocracy supported the grandson of PeterI, the son of the murdered Tsarevich Alexei - Peter. The natives of the "Petrov's nest" wanted to see the wife of Peter the Great - Catherine - on the Russian throne.

Rice. 2. A.D. Menshikov - the main favorite of Catherine I ()

Rice. 3. P.A. Tolstoy - favorite of Catherine I ()

Rice. 4. A.I. Osterman - favorite of Catherine I ()

When the Governing Senate was discussing who to put on the throne of the Russian Empire, Menshikov asked the guards for her opinion, and she replied that she wanted to see Catherine the ruler of RussiaI(Fig. 5). Thus, the guard decided the fate of the throne, and from 1725 to 1727. Catherine ruled the Russian EmpireI. On the one hand, Catherine was a wonderful person, a wise wife. But, on the other hand, during her reign, she did not show herself as an empress in any way. An important event was that she, together with Peter I, opened the Academy of Sciences; she herself created the Supreme Privy Council. The actual ruler of the country under Catherine I was her favorite A.D. Menshikov, who headed the Supreme Privy Council.

Rice. 5. Catherine I - Russian Empress ()

In 1727 CatherineI died. The opinions of the highest aristocracy, guards, "chicks of Peter's nest" agreed that the next ruler was to be Peter II(Fig. 6), who became the emperor of the Russian Empire at the age of less than 12 years. HELL. Menshikov decided that it was he who could control the teenager. At first, Peter II was under the actual influence of Menshikov. He planned to marry Peter to his daughter M.A. Menshikova and thus intermarry with the royal power.

Rice. 6. Peter II - Russian emperor ()

But at the peak of his fame, Alexander Danilovich fell ill, and power passed from his hands to the old tribal aristocracy. The Golitsyns and Dolgorukis quickly persuaded Peter II not to study, but to lead a wild life. After Menshikov recovered and tried to influence Peter, he was sent into exile in Siberia, in the city of Berezov. PeterIIuntil 1730 remained under the control of the aristocratic nobility. They tried to marry him for the second time to E.A. Dolgoruky. But some time before the wedding, Peter II fell ill and died very quickly.

After Peter's deathIIThe Supreme Privy Council met for a meeting to decide to whom to give power. There were no direct heirs to the throne, but Peter the Great had two daughters - Elizabeth and Anna, but they were not considered as heirs. Then the Supreme Privy Council remembered that the brother of Peter I, Ivan, had three daughters, one of whom, Anna Ioannovna, lived in Courland and was a widow.

The Supreme Privy Council decided to elect Anna Ioannovna (Fig. 7) the Empress of Russia, having previously drawn up “conditions” for her that limited her power. First she signed these conditions in order to get out of Courland and get a place as empress in Russia. But when the empress arrived in Russia, she saw that the guards and broad circles of the nobility were against the idea that the “supreme leaders” ruled the country, she, with all the highest entourage, tore the conditions, thereby showing that she was refusing the restrictions imposed on her by the Supreme Privy Council. Thus, she ruled, like previous emperors, autocratically.

Rice. 7. Anna Ioannovna - Russian Empress ()

Anna Ioannovna ruled the Russian Empire from 1730 to 1740. She dealt with the Supreme Privy Council and abolished it. Golitsyn and Dolgoruky were repressed. Characteristic for the time of Anna's reign was the so-called "Bironism" - the dominance of the Germans in public administration (after the favorite of the Empress E.I. Biron (Fig. 8), who was her co-ruler). They occupied all the main government posts: B.K. Minich (Fig. 9) was at the head of the army, A.I. Osterman was at the head of the Cabinet of Ministers. The Empress was very fond of having fun with her German favorites. For all these entertainments, large taxes were collected from the Russian population.

Rice. 8. E.I. Biron - the main favorite of Anna Ioannovna ()

Rice. 9. B.K. Munnich - favorite of Anna Ioannovna ()

During the reign of Anna Ioannovna in Russia, such transformations were made as:

1. The introduction of fashion for balls
2. Completion of the construction of Peterhof
3. Introduction of the European lifestyle

A.P. Volynsky tried to somehow limit the dominance of the Germans in Russia, but he could not. For him, it ended in death.

Anna Ioannovna left the Russian throne to her niece Anna Leopoldovna(Fig. 10). But Anna Leopoldovna at the end of Anna Ioannovna's life did not please her, so the power passed to the son of Anna Leopoldovna - the recently born Ivan Antonovich VI (Fig. 11). Ivan VI became regent E.I. Biron.

Rice. 10. Anna Leopoldovna - mother of Ivan VI ()

Rice. 11. Ivan VI - young Russian emperor ()

Further, events developed rapidly - in one year there were three palace coups. Almost immediately after the death of Anna Ioannovna, the once omnipotent Biron was overthrown by Osterman's coup, which briefly seized the supreme state power in Russia. But soon Osterman was overthrown from the throne by Minich, who brought Anna Leopoldovna to power, who did not care about government. She, like Anna Ioannovna, relied on the Germans in governing the country. Meanwhile, a new conspiracy has grown up behind her.

As a result, Anna Leopoldovna and Ivan VI ruled Russia only from 1740 to 1741.

Elizaveta Petrovna ( rice. 12), the daughter of Peter the Great, was involved in a conspiracy, and with the participation of foreigners, against Anna Leopoldovna and Ivan VI. Relying on the guardsmen, having their powerful support, Elizaveta Petrovna easily carried out a coup d'état and overthrew Anna Leopoldovna And IvanaVI.

Elizabeth I reigned from 1741 to 1761 She loved balls and entertainment. Her favorite favorites were A.G. Razumovsky (Fig. 13) and I.I. Shuvalov (Fig. 14). Under Elizabeth, there were wars, victories, attempts at some reforms, and at the same time, in the last years of her life, the empress, who was often ill, could not meet with diplomats, ministers and other government officials for months. Elizaveta Petrovna got rid of the "Bironism" and expelled all the Germans from the top of the government, opened the way there again for the Russian nobility, which made her a heroine in their eyes.

In 1761 Elizaveta Petrovna died, and her nephew, the son of Anna, the second daughter of Peter the Great, Peter III (Fig. 15) ascended the Russian throne, since the empress had no legitimate husband and children. This emperor ruled the country for less than six months. Contradictory, but most often negative reviews have been preserved about Peter III. In Russia, he was considered not a patriot, since he relied on the Germans, a stupid person. After all, in early childhood, Peter was brought up as a pretender to the throne of Sweden, not the Russian Empire.

Rice. 15. Peter III - Russian emperor ()

In June 1762, Peter III was overthrown by his own wife, the future Empress Catherine II. With her, a new era of Russian history began.

Bibliography

1. Alkhazashvili D.M. The struggle for the legacy of Peter the Great. - M.: Gardariki, 2002.
2. Anisimov E.V. Russia in the middle of the eighteenth century. (Struggle for the legacy of Peter I). - M., 1986.
3. Zagladin N.V., Simonia N.A. History of Russia and the world from ancient times to the end of the 19th century. Textbook for grade 10. - M.: TID "Russian Word - RS", 2008.
4. Danilov A.A., Kosulina L.G., Brandt M.Yu. Russia and the world. Antiquity. Middle Ages. New time. Grade 10. - M.: Education, 2007.
5. Pavlenko N.I. Chicks of Petrov's nest. - M., 1994.
6. Pavlenko N.I. Passion at the throne. - M., 1996.

1. Allstatepravo.ru ().
2. Encyclopaedia-russia.ru ().
3. Grandars.ru ().

Homework

1. List the causes of palace coups.
2. Describe the course of palace coups and its political aspect.
3. What were the results of the palace coups for Russia?