Princess anna leopoldovna. The reign of Anna Leopoldovna

The future Russian ruler Anna Leopoldovna was born in 1718 in the German city of Rostock and was named Elizabeth Ekaterina Khristina. Her parents - Duke Karl Leopold of Mecklenburg-Schwerinsky and Duchess Ekaterina Ioannovna, daughter of Tsar Ivan (John) V, niece of Peter I - were people who received completely different education.

Anna Leopoldovna.,Louis Caravac

Ivan V

Their marriage, concluded for political reasons, was unfortunate. Catherine Ioannovna begged Peter I to allow her to leave her husband and return to her homeland. The Tsar agreed, annoying, however, that the wayward and frivolous woman ruined his plan - the union of Russia and Mecklenburg. In 1722, Ekaterina Ioannovna returned to Russia with her little daughter. They were taken under their care by the aging tsarina Praskovya Fedorovna, the widow of Ivan V.

Ivan Nikitin Portrait of Tsarina Praskovya Fedorovna.

In St. Petersburg, the Duchess of Mecklenburg, trying to forget the longing and humiliation of a six-year marriage, arranged endless balls and feasts, justifying the nickname Wild Duchess given to her by her contemporaries. The tsarina took up the education of her granddaughter - she entrusted her with the cares of a "room" girl, trained in secular manners and letters.

It is difficult to predict what such a method of training and education would lead to, but in 1723 Tsarina Praskovya Fedorovna died and no one else was interested in Elizabeth. The little duchess grew up, forgotten by relatives. The fate of the girl changed after the accession to the throne of Anna Ioannovna, her aunt.

Johann Heinrich Vedekind Portrait of Empress Anna Ioannovna.

The empress, who respected her relatives, brought her older sister Ekaterina Ioannovna closer to her and drew attention to her 12-year-old daughter. Teachers and experienced teacher Madame Adercas were assigned to the girl, in which they found "prudence, the charm of the soul, well-readness and high mental development." Having matured, Elizabeth turned into a spoiled, vain socialite girl. She despised all labor, including mental.

Anna Leopoldovna (princess).State Russian Museum.

The aunt's palace and her entourage made up the world in which Elizabeth became the creation of a fashionable salon education. There was no suitable society for the young duchess, she was forced to spend time among people much older than herself and other tastes. Constantly immersed in dreams, the girl was not interested in either the country where she lived, or her people. She was indifferent even to her aunt's concerns. In dreams, she depicted a beautiful lover, able to inspire passionate feelings. However, politics intervened in her life.

Valery Jacobi Jesters at the court of Empress Anna Ioannovna. 1872 g

Empress Anna Ioannovna was childless. To whom will the Russian throne pass after her? This question could not but worry her. She did not know the character, aspirations, capabilities of her niece and did not perceive her as her successor. Therefore, the queen decided to quickly find Elizabeth a spouse and hoped that they would have a boy. He will receive an upbringing worthy of the prince, and will be declared heir to the throne. The empress immediately began to carry out her plan. In 1733, Elizabeth converted to Orthodoxy, receiving a new name in honor of her aunt - Anna. The princess, who henceforth began to officially be called Anna Leopoldovna (named after Karl Leopold's father), was keenly interested in future marriage.

Johann Vedekind Portrait of Anna Leopoldovna.

The Empress chose Prince Anton as her husband Ulrich Braunschweig-Bevernsky. But the prince was not lucky, he had a rival - Count Karl Moritz Linar, ambassador of the Saxon elector. Secular dandy made an irresistible impression on Anna Leopoldovna, who began to openly neglect her fiancé. The matter went so far that Anna Ivanovna herself had to intervene: Count Linar was urgently recalled, and Anna Leopoldovna was ordered to go down the aisle with the unloved Anton Ulrich.

Johann Vedekind Portrait of Anton von Ulrich

The magnificent wedding took place in the summer of 1739. Anna Leopoldovna was accompanied by the empress herself. They rode in a huge open carriage, gilded and skillfully decorated. They were surrounded by riders on luxuriously decorated amblers, many footmen in gold livery, walkers and pages. The wedding ceremony lasted from nine in the morning until late in the evening, and the wedding festivities lasted a whole week. Successive trips, exits, balls, concerts replaced each other. The young were always in sight, everywhere were present and observed the ceremonial. One of his precepts required to wear a court dress of brocade woven with gold, very dense and unusually heavy. The corsage of the dress, like armor, fettered the body, not allowing it to breathe and move freely. A high hairstyle from own and false hair on a special frame, entwined with threads of precious stones, weighed more than one kilogram.

In August 1740, Anna Leopoldovna and Anton Ulrich had a first-born son, named by John the honor of his great-grandfather - Tsar Ivan Alekseevich, the elder brother of Peter I. The artillery volley announced the birth of the prince.

John Antonovich (1740-1764), the infant emperor, reigned from 1740 to 1741.

Soon, Anna Ioannovna issued a manifesto in which she appointed the prince as the legal heir to the imperial throne. In October 1740, the empress died. Baby John was declared emperor John VI (John Antonovich), and the omnipotent approximate of Anna Ivanovna Biron as regent. Russian society expressed dissatisfaction with such an elevation of the hated favorite. The Guard grumbled.

John Antonovich, ruler Anna Leopoldovna, Duke of Biron

Portrait of Emperor John VI Antonovich (1740-1764).

Anton Ulrich tried to declare his right to become a ruler with his young son. However, Biron at a meeting of the Supreme Privy Council publicly accused him of assaulting the government. After threats and insults, the regent unequivocally warned: let Anton Ulrich be the prince and father of the emperor, but at the same time his subject. Therefore, the prince should come to terms with the existing state of affairs and remain faithful to John VI.

Duke Anton Ulrich von Braunschweig (1633-1714), Braunschweig, Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum

The relationship of Anton Ulrich and Anna Leopoldovna with Biron was never friendly or at least respectful. The couple wanted to get rid of the dictate of the regent at any cost. When Anton Ulrich didn’t succeed, Anna Leopoldovna got down to business. She plotted with Field Marshal Burchard Christoph Minich, and he arrested Biron with his entire family.

Unknown artist of the 18th century. Portrait of the Duke of Courland, E.I. Biron. 1737-40 Rundale Palace, Latvia.

So Anna Leopoldovna was at the head of state with the title of ruler. On behalf of the son of John Antonovich, she issued a decree in which she granted Anton Ulrich the title of Generalissimo. However, the prince's pride was not satisfied. He wanted to rule the country, visited the Military College, demanded reports and documents on current affairs. With patience and endurance, the prince gradually achieved his goal: those around him were used to seeing him as a ruler.

But Anna Leopoldovna did not want to put up with her unloved husband and share power with him. As before, she spent almost all the time in the palace. Surrounded by proxies, lying on the sofa, the ruler discussed the smallest details of her costumes, outfits for the one-year-old John Antonovich and his newborn sister, Princess Catherine. Evenings spent at the card table. Returned to the Russian court, Count Linar, dear to the heart of Anna, the Austrian and English ambassadors, as well as the favorite of the Empress Julian Mengden, made her company. Other courtiers were not invited to such evenings.

Emperor John Antonovich as a child with maid of honor Juliana von Mengden

Ivan VI

Sometimes Anna Leopoldovna had to deal with state affairs. Ministers appeared with a pile of papers, and she only sighed woefully. Anna Leopoldovna clearly did not know how to rule the country. This was used by her closest relative, Cesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna. On the night of 24 to 2 ?. November 1741 was a coup. Anna Leopoldovna and her family were arrested. Elizabeth proclaimed herself empress. From time to time, Anna Leopoldovna was informed with suspicious behavior by the princess and her entourage. But the ruler did not attach importance to the rumors. Then Anton Ulrich began to convince her to arrest Lestock, Elizabeth's personal physician, who aroused strong suspicion. Angry, forbidden to continue to touch on this topic.

"The reign of Elizabeth Petrovna on November 25, 1741. Tsesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna and the Transfiguration in the guardroom of the Winter Palace on the night of November 25

Why did Anna Leopoldovna so stubbornly not believe the warnings about her danger? Maybe, knowing from childhood her cousin Aunt Elizabeth, cheerful, unbalanced, affectionate towards her, Anna, and then to her son, she did not believe in the princess's crafty designs? Or did you think that Elizabeth, born before the official marriage of Peter I and Catherine Alekseevna, would not dare to encroach on the legal rights of the mother of the reigning emperor?

"The accession to the throne of Elizabeth Petrovna"

But the time came when Anna Leopoldovna could not help but notice the aunt's suspicious behavior. Anna and Elizabeth explained on November 23. Both sides expressed many reproaches, accusations, and excuses. In the end, the aunt and niece, crying, hugged. In everything they blamed the ill-wishers who wanted their quarrels. Reassured, Anna Leopoldovna withdrew to her place. Elizabeth understood: a long-planned coup can no longer be postponed. Elizabeth pondered for a long time about what to do with the arrested relatives. The Braunschweig family escorted by the convoy was taken from St. Petersburg to Riga. Initially, they thought of sending them to Germany, preserving for Anna Leopoldovna and Anton Ulrich all the awards and family jewels.

The arrest of the ruler Anna Leopoldovna, Tsarevna Elizaveta Petrovna.

In Riga, Anna Leopoldovna signed a sworn letter of allegiance to the Empress in the hope that this would expedite their release and departure from Russia.

However, Elizabeth changed her mind. Until 1744, the captives remained under guard in the vicinity of Riga, and then they were sent to the city of Rannenburg, Ryazan province, where there was once the estate of A. D. Menshikov.

From there, the Braunschweig family was sent to the Solovetsky Monastery, after having previously taken away Anna Leopoldovna’s eldest son — she had never seen her first child again. They were transported without stops, in closed carts, on poor roads, in snow and rain. But they never got to the Solovetsky Islands. Because of frosts, a stop was made in Kholmogory, where the prisoners remained.

Kholmogory

They were placed in the bishop's house. Anna Leopoldovna did not even suspect that her emperor son was here, nearby. His fate remained unknown to his parents. Only at the beginning of 1756, by order of the Empress, the boy was secretly taken away from Kholmogory to Petersburg.

In 1756 Ivan VI was transported fromKholmogor in solitary confinement inShlisselburg Fortress . In the fortress, Ivan (officially called the "famous prisoner") was in complete isolation, he was not allowed to see anyone, even serfs. For all the time of his imprisonment, he never saw a single human face. However, documents indicate that the prisoner knew about his royal origin, was educated in literacy and dreamed of living in a monastery.

Mirovich Standing over the Body of Ivan VI , who was on guard at the Shlisselburg fortress, bowed a part of the garrison to his side in order to free Ivan.

However, Ivan’s guards, Captain Vlasyev and Lieutenant Chekin, were given secret instructions to kill the prisoner if they tried to release him (even by presenting the Empress’s decree about this), so in response to Mirovich’s demand for surrender, they stabbed Ivan and only then surrendered.

Mirovich was arrested and beheaded in St. Petersburg as a state criminal. There is an unconfirmed version according to which Catherine provoked him to get rid of the former emperor.

Portrait of Anna Leopoldovna in an orange dressI. Ya. Vishnyakov 1741 - 1746

In exile, her husband repeatedly reproached Anna that she did not care about the safety and well-being of both her own and the emperor. The former ruler invariably replied to reproaches: she sees no reason for repentance, since she managed to prevent bloodshed.

The unfortunate woman showed amazing fortitude in her misfortunes. Anna Leopoldovna died in 1746 from a maternity fever, leaving four children in the hands of Anton Ulrich. By order of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, her body was brought to St. Petersburg and buried with honors in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. With the death of Anna Leopoldovna, the tragedy of the Braunschweig family did not end. Her husband and children had to live in prison for many more years, and having found freedom, weighed on her, accustomed to captivity, and remember the past as happy times.

Annunciation Church and Trinity CathedralAlexander Nevsky Lavra

Grand Duchess Anna Leopoldovna (at birth Elizabeth Katarina Christina, Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerinsk him. Elisabeth Katharina Christine, Prinzessin von Mecklenburg-Schwerin; December 7, 1718, Rostock - March 8, 1746, Kholmogory) - ruler (regent) of the Russian Empire from November 9, 1740 to November 25, 1741 (under the young emperor Ivan VI) from Mecklenburg House. Granddaughter of Ivan V.

Daughter of Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerinsky, and Princess Catherine Ioannovna.

In Russia since 1722. Since 1731, K. I. Genninger, who was appointed by registered decree, was engaged in her education. In 1733, Anna Leopoldovna converted to Orthodoxy. In July 1735, Genninger, implicated in the story of the Saxon envoy Moritz Karl Linar, in whom the princess fell in love, was removed from the place of mentor.

Since July 3, 1739, Anna Leopoldovna became the wife of Anton Ulrich, Duke of Braunschweig-Luneburg. A parting word during the wedding was uttered by Ambrose Yushkevich, and later published in St. Petersburg in Russian and Latin (later Elizaveta Petrovna ordered the publication to be removed and destroyed).

In August 1740, she gave birth to a son, Ivan, heir to the throne, who became emperor after the death of Anna Ivanovna in October. Already in November, after the deposition of the regent, Biron declared herself ruler under the infant emperor John VI. Under her, Minikh was in charge of state affairs, then Osterman, Golovkin.

Field Marshal’s son, Chief Hoffmeister Ernest von Minich wrote about Anna Leopoldovna:

As for her appearance, she was medium in stature, stately and full, her hair was dark in color, and the facial appearance, although not regularly more beautiful, was pleasant and noble. In clothes she was gorgeous and with good taste. In hair cleaning, she never followed fashion, but her own invention, which for the most part was removed not to face.

During the reign of Anna Leopoldovna there was a break with Sweden, articles of the Belgrade Peace of 1739 were confirmed. Porta began to recognize Russian sovereigns as emperors. The ruler lived in the palace of Peter the Great in the Summer Garden, and in the next house she settled her favorite Moritz Linar, whom she met at night.

At the end of 1741, she was overthrown as a result of a palace coup that brought Elizabeth Petrovna to the throne. The ruler was repeatedly informed about the plans of the conspirators, however, she did not attach importance to these reports, fully relying on the friendly disposition of Elizabeth's “sister” and preparing for the wedding of M. Linar with her friend Julia Mengden.

For the last five years of her life, the former ruler was detained in Dunamünde and Ranenburg, and then in Kholmogory, where she gave birth to two more sons and a daughter.

She died in captivity on March 8 (19), 1746, according to the official version, from the "ognevitsa", that is, maternity fever, after the fifth birth. Her body was transported to the capital and solemnly buried in the Annunciation Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Children

John (1740-64),
Catherine (1741-1807),
Elizabeth (1743-82),
Peter (1745-98),
Alexey (1746-87).

Awards

Order of St. Catherine 1 degree (May 12, 1733). She headed the order after the adoption of Orthodoxy.

In the cinema

“Secrets of palace coups” (2000-2013, Russia; director - Svetlana Druzhinina), in the roles of Anna Leopoldovna - Anna Shtukaturova (in childhood) and Snezhana Polezhaeva.

Grand Duchess Amnna Leopomldovna (at birth Elizabeth Katarina Kristina, Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerinskaya; December 7, 1718, Rostock? March 19, 1746, Kholmogory)? the ruler (regent) of the Russian Empire from November 9, 1740 to November 25, 1741 under the young emperor Ivan VI of Mecklenburg House.

Biography

Anna Leopoldovna was brought up at the court of the Empress Anna Ioannovna. At baptism in the Protestant rite, she received the name Elizabeth Catherine Christina.

On July 3, 1739, in the Kazan Cathedral, the Bishop of Vologda, Ambrose (Yushkevich), married Anna and Prince Braunschweig-Bevern-Luneburg Anton Ulrich, who remained a Lutheran. Aug 12 1740. The couple had a son, named at baptism John and declared by the emperor a manifesto of October 5. 1740 the heir to the throne with the title of Grand Duke.

Anna Leopoldovna was the de facto first person of the state for the period until Ioann Alexandrovich would have turned 18 years old.

E.I. Biron was regent from October 17, 1740 to November 8, 1740. The regency of Anna Leopoldovna continued until the end of the reign of John Antonovich (November 25, 1741).

23-year-old Anna Leopoldovna declared herself ruler under the infant emperor John VI, and elevated her husband to Russian generalissimo. Minich was in charge of all state affairs.
2. Board of Anna Leopoldovna:

Anna Leopoldovna was not ready to govern the state, real power was concentrated in the hands of members of the Cabinet of Ministers (B.K. Minikh, A.I. Osterman, M.G. Golovkin and others). A political amnesty was carried out for people affected by the Bironovism: the children of executed A.P. Volynsky were released, the surviving Golitsyns, Dolgoruky, and others were returned from prisons. . By a decree of November 27, 1740, the ruler allowed subjects to file complaints about the work of the collegiums and the Senate, which should have been considered by a special commission. From January 5, 1741, all government agencies were required to submit to the Senate information about their expenses for the compilation of new states. The government of Anna Leopoldovna confirmed the decree of 1736 on the 25-year service of the nobility, allowed the construction of stone buildings throughout the empire, forgave arrears in the amount of 142963 rubles. In March 1741, a commission was created to review the state. income.

After the arrival of Anna Leopoldovna to power, the position of the Russian Church significantly improved. The empress has lifted restrictions for those who wish to become a monk. Anna provided financial assistance to monasteries, made rich contributions and donations. Sentenced to death “aliens” were granted forgiveness subject to the adoption of Baptism.

Anna Leopoldovna Career: Rulers
Birth: Russia
Everything froze, froze under Anna Leopoldovna. Lawlessness flourished. The ruler was absolutely not engaged in any business, she was especially very close-sighted and alien to the Russian nobility (however, Mini-son noted in her memoirs her kind nature, in addition, Anna Leopoldovna abolished the staff of court jesters).

Empress Anna Ioannovna, seated on the Russian throne, was greatly concerned - to whom should he be transferred. She didn’t even think about the only surviving daughter of Great Peter - Elizabeth: the eternal battle between the lines of the Miloslavsky and Naryshkins. Therefore, Anna made a “knight's move”: in 1739 she married her niece, the daughter of her sister Catherine Elizabeth-Ekaterina-Khristina, who received the name “Anna” in Orthodoxy and became Anna Leopoldovna of Mecklenburg, for Prince Anton-Ulrich of Braunschweig-Luneburg, hoping that the same marriage will bring to light the future heir to the throne. And so it happened - in 1740 the heir was born to the young couple, who was named John and the one who was declared the heir to the Russian throne.

Elizabeth had no more chances to become empress. But at that time this did not become a tragedy for her: moreover, she sent Anna Leopoldovna a vase of congratulations on the occasion of the birth of her son. Anna Leopoldovna herself did not want to get out to marry Anton-Ulrich, she had a different candidate in mind, and she cried her whole wedding.

So, in 1740 Anna Ioannovna dies and the baby John Antonovich ascends to the throne during the regency of Biron. By the way, Biron was quite okay with Elizabeth: he appointed her a good maintenance, visited her. It is very likely that, understanding the absurdity of the situation around the Russian throne, Biron had some plans for the daughter of Peter I. At that time, there were rumors about his intentions to marry his son Peter to Elizabeth and return the throne to them. During his regency, Biron reduced the poll tax, limited court luxury.

However, Biron turned out to be not at all as terrible and powerful as he was constantly believed to - he lasted only one month as regent: on November 8, 1740, the president of the Military Collegium Minich managed to make a palace coup and deprive Biron of regency. The liberated location was occupied by the mother of the young emperor Anna Leopoldovna. She was 23 years old at that time. She was completely unsuitable for the image of a ruler. With her, all being in the Winter Palace froze. Anna Leopoldovna spent all her time in her chambers with her beloved maid of honor Juliana Mengden. They even talked about the fact that Anna Leopoldovna had certain feelings for her maid of honor and could not bear her husband. As you can see, gossip is the same all the way, both in the past and in the present.

Everything froze, froze under Anna Leopoldovna. Lawlessness flourished. The ruler was certainly not engaged in any affairs, she was especially extremely close-sighted and alien to the Russian nobility (and yet the Mini-son recorded in her memoirs her good nature, in addition, Anna Leopoldovna abolished the staff of court jesters). The people regretfully recalled the past times of Peter I, and, recalling, it was unrealistic not to think about the daughter of the great reformer Elizaveta, Anna Leopoldovna understood the real threat posed by Elizabeth, and made her plan for her: to extradite the crown princess to Prince Louis, brother of her husband Anton-Ulrich. At that time, Louis was preparing to become the Duke of Courland, and thus, having married him, Elizabeth retired from the courtyard to Courland, and her return would be too difficult and moreover impossible. But Elizabeth, firm in her decision to never get out of her life, categorically refused such a marriage.

The situation was heating up. Everyone was dissatisfied, and this discontent could not lead to anything other than another coup. According to historians, on November 23, 1741, Anna Leopoldovna directly asked Elizabeth if she was going to make a coup. Elizabeth answered in the negative. Time

the regent’s and tsesarevna’s dialect came out very touching and sincere, and Anna Leopoldovna calmed down - she considered her nephew, grandson of Peter the Great, living in Holstein, much more dangerous than Elizabeth (later, through the efforts of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the same little boy would become the heir to the throne, Grand Duke Peter Fyodor Emperor Peter III).

November 25, 1741 there was a coup, which resulted in the reign of Elizabeth. The young emperor John Antonovich and his parents were arrested and in 1744 exiled to Kholmogory. During the exile, Anna Leopoldovna gave birth to three more children besides those born before the arrest of John and Catherine: Elizabeth, Peter and Alexei. She died in childbirth, trying to produce the last, fifth child. Anna Leopoldovna was buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra without any monument or inscription on the grave. Her missus lived a long time. All their children (besides John Antonovich) were already deported to Denmark in their mature years, where they later died.

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ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA

(1718-1746)

The future Russian ruler Anna Leopoldovna was born in 1718 in the German city of Rostock and was named Elizabeth Ekaterina Khristina. Her parents are Duke Karl Leopold of Mecklenburg-Schwerinsky and Duchess Ekaterina Ioannovna, daughter of Tsar Ivan (John)Vpeter's nieceI- were people who received completely different education.

Their marriage, concluded for political reasons, was unhappy. Ekaterina Ivanovna begged PeterIallow her to leave her husband and return to her homeland. The Tsar agreed, annoying, however, that the wayward and frivolous woman ruined his plan - the union of Russia and Mecklenburg.

CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA

In 1722, Ekaterina Ioannovna returned to Russia with her little daughter. They were taken under their care by the aging tsarina Praskovya Fedorovna, the widow of IvanV.In St. Petersburg, the Duchess of Mecklenburg, trying to forget the longing and humiliation of a six-year marriage, arranged endless balls and feasts, justifying the nickname Wild Duchess given to her by her contemporaries. The tsarina took up the education of her granddaughter - she entrusted her with the cares of a "room" girl, trained in secular manners and letters.

The empress, who respected her relatives, brought her older sister Ekaterina Ioannovna closer to her and drew attention to her 12-year-old daughter. Teachers and experienced teacher Madame Adercas were assigned to the girl, in which they found “prudence, the charm of the soul, well-read and high mental

Crimean campaigns B.K. Minikh.

Unknown artist. Portrait of Anna Leopoldovna.

development". Having matured, Elizabeth turned into a spoiled, vain socialite girl. She despised all labor, including mental.

The aunt's palace and her entourage made up the world in which Elizabeth became the creation of a fashionable salon education. There was no suitable society for the young duchess, she was forced to spend time among people much older than herself and other tastes. Constantly immersed in dreams, the girl was not interested in either the country where she lived, or her people. She was indifferent even to her aunt's cares. In her dreams, a beautiful lover was drawn, able to inspire ardent feelings. However, politics intervened in her life.

HAPPY MARRIAGE

Empress Anna Ioannovna was childless. To whom will the Russian throne pass after her? This question could not but worry her. She did not know the character, aspirations, capabilities of her niece and did not perceive her as her successor. Therefore, the queen decided to quickly find Elizabeth a spouse and hoped that they would have a boy. He will receive an upbringing worthy of the prince, and will be declared heir to the throne. The empress immediately began to carry out her plan. In 1733, Elizabeth converted to Orthodoxy, receiving a new name in honor of her aunt, Anna. The princess, who henceforth began to officially be called Anna Leopoldovna (named after Karl Leopold's father), was keenly interested in future marriage.

The Empress chose Prince Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig-Bevernsky as her husband. But the prince was not lucky, he had a rival - Count Karl Moritz Linar, ambassador of the Saxon elector. Secular dandy made an irresistible impression on Anna Leopoldovna, who began to openly neglect the groom. The matter went so far that Anna Ivanovna herself had to intervene: Count Linar was urgently recalled, and Anna Leopoldovna was ordered to go down the aisle with the unloved Anton Ulrich.

The wedding ceremony lasted from nine in the morning until late in the evening, and the wedding festivities lasted a whole week. Successive trips, exits, balls, concerts replaced each other. The young were always in sight, everywhere were present and observed the ceremonial. One of his prescriptions required to wear a court dress made of brocade woven with gold, very dense and unusually heavy. The corsage of the dress, like armor, fettered the body, not allowing it to breathe and move freely. High hairstyle from own and false hair on a special frame, entwined with threads

of precious stones, weighed more than one kilogram.

In August 1740, Anna Leopoldovna and Anton Ulrich had a first-born son named John in honor of his great-grandfather - Tsar Ivan Alekseevich, the elder brother of PeterI.The artillery salvo announced the birth of the prince.

SHORT BOARD

Soon, Anna Ioannovna issued a manifesto in which she appointed the prince as the legal heir to the imperial throne. In October 1740, the empress died. Baby John was declared Emperor JohnVI(John Antonovich), and the omnipotent approximate of Anna Ivanovna Biron - regent. Russian society expressed dissatisfaction with such an elevation of the hated favorite. The Guard grumbled. Anton Ulrich tried to declare his right to become a ruler with his young son. However, Biron at a meeting of the Supreme Privy Council publicly accused him of assaulting the government. After threats and insults, the regent unequivocally warned: let Anton Ulrich be the prince and father of the emperor, but at the same time his subject. Therefore, the prince should come to terms with the existing state of affairs and remain faithful to JohnVI.

As before, she spent almost all the time in the palace. Surrounded by proxies, lying on the sofa, the ruler discussed the smallest details of her costumes, outfits for the one-year-old John Antonovich and his newborn sister, Princess Catherine. Evenings spent at the card table. Returned to the Russian court, Count Linar, dear to the heart of Anna, the Austrian and English ambassadors, as well as the favorite of the Empress Julian Mengden, made her company. Other courtiers were not invited to such evenings.

Sometimes Anna Leopoldovna had to deal with state affairs. Ministers appeared with a pile of papers, and she only sighed woefully. Run the country Anna Leopoldovna

Anna Ioannovna and Anna

Leopoldovna in the carriage.

ANTON ULRICH BRAUNSCHWEIG-BEVERNISH

(1714-1774)

Anton Ulrich was born in the family of the Duke Ferdinand Albrecht of Braunschweig-Beverna, the ruler of a small German state. The Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna chose the prince as a wife for her niece Anna Leopoldovna of Mecklenburg and invited him to Petersburg, where he arrived in 1733. Anton Ulrich, a short, thin, fair-haired young man, was timid and stuttered a little with excitement. In addition to native German, he also knew French.

The empress warmly welcomed Anton Ulrich. At the order of Anna Ioannovna, they began to teach the bride and groom together with the princess' confessor - Feofan Prokopovich: future spouses had to get used to each other.

Almost simultaneously with the prince, the Saxon envoy Count Linar appeared at the Russian court. He captivated Anna Leopoldovna with an attractive appearance and exquisite manners. The princess began to relate to her groom emphasized coldly, even with contempt.

The prince’s torturous bridegroom lasted six years. He suffered from the neglect of the bride, rudeness and cruel treatment of the courtiers. The all-powerful E.I. Biron (1690-1) was especially offensive with him. 772). At one time, he tried to marry Anna Leopoldovna his own son, but the empress opposed this, and the favorite had to yield. Biron could not forgive such a defeat to Anton Ulrich and until the end remained his enemy.

During these years, Anton Ulrich fought as a volunteer in the Russian army under the banners of Field Marshal Count B.K. Minikh, was known as a fearless man and distinguished himself in the capture of the Turkish fortress Ochakov.

Finally, Anna Ioannovna intervened in the history of the prolonged matchmaking of Anton Ulrich. Count Linar was sent to his homeland, after which the wedding day was named. After the wedding, the young spouses were assigned an annual maintenance of 200 thousand rubles and officially approved their status at court.

On August 12, 1740, the firstborn was born to Anna Leopoldovna and Anton Ulrich, who they were looking forward to. Two months later, the empress declared him heir to the throne. Soon she died, and Anna Leopoldovna became ruler of the infant son-emperor. And in the same year, Anton Ulrich was proclaimed the Generalissimo of the Russian troops and soon received the title of Imperial Highness.

However, as a result of the coup in favor of Elizabeth Petrovna, the Braunschweig family went to a distant exile. The death of Anna Leopoldovna did not change anything for Anton Ulrich and four children, three of whom were born after the arrest of his father and mother.

Anton Ulrich tried to convince Elizabeth that neither he nor his children represented any danger to her; swore that none of them would ever claim the Russian throne. All in vain: they were guarded even stricter.

In 1762, Catherine came to powerII.The maintenance of the Braunschweig family immediately improved significantly. Moreover, CatherineIIoffered Anton Ulrich freedom. He could go to his possessions, but his children should remain in Russia in the same position. The prince preferred captivity. And again he turned to the impe

obviously could not. This was used by her closest relative, Cesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna. On the night of November 24-25, 1741, a coup d'etat was carried out. Anna Leopoldovna and her family were arrested. Elizabeth proclaimed herself empress.

Anna Leopoldovna was occasionally informed of the suspicious behavior of the princess and her entourage. But the ruler did not attach importance to the rumors. Then Anton Ulrich began to convince her to arrest Lestock, Elizabeth's personal physician, who aroused strong suspicion. Angry, forbidden to continue to touch on this topic.

Why did Anna Leopoldovna so stubbornly not believe the warnings about her danger? Maybe, knowing from childhood her cousin Aunt Elizabeth, cheerful, unbalanced, affectionate towards her, Anna, and then to her son, she did not believe in the princess's crafty designs? Or thought that Elizabeth, born before the official marriage of PeterIand Ekaterina Alekseevna, dare not encroach on the legitimate rights of the mother of the reigning emperor?

But the time came when Anna Leopoldovna could not help but notice her aunt's suspicious behavior. Anna and Elizabeth explained on November 23. On both sides there were many reproaches, accusations, and excuses. In the end, my aunt and niece, crying, hugged. In everything they blamed the ill-wishers who wanted their quarrels. Reassured, Anna Leopoldovna withdrew to her place. Elizabeth understood: a long-planned coup can no longer be postponed.

Elizabeth pondered for a long time about what to do with the arrested relatives. The Braunschweig family escorted by the convoy was taken from St. Petersburg to Riga. Originally thought to send them to Germany, retaining Anna Leopoldovna and Anton Ulrich

all awards and family jewels.

In Riga, Anna Leopoldovna signed a sworn letter of allegiance to the Empress in the hope that this would expedite their release and departure from Russia.

But they never got to the Solovetsky Islands. Because of frosts, a stop was made in Kholmogory, where the prisoners remained. They were placed in the bishop's house. Anna Leopoldovna did not even suspect that her emperor son was here, nearby. His fate remained unknown to his parents. Only at the beginning

Anton Ulrich in St. Petersburg at the invitation of Anna Ioannovna.

the ratrix, calling herself and her children “dust and dust” at her feet. Again and again assured Catherine that his children were innocent. In almost every appeal to the empress, he asked as the only grace of permission to teach children something.

Catherine kindly answered him that he needed to wait a little longer.

Over time, the messages of the father were joined by their messages and children. They wrote beautifully and smartly expressed thoughts. Catherine was surprised.

Count Panin, who was in charge of the affairs of the Braunschweig family, in his letters to the Arkhangelsk civil governor Golovtsyn asked who taught all of this to Anton Ulrich’s children. And Golovtsyn replied that, according to their father, the children studied Russian literacy from church books, "decrees, petitions and warrants."

Anton Ulrich did not wait for the empress to release his family. His health was deteriorating. He began to lose his sight and eventually became blind.

When Anton Ulrich died (according to some sources - in 1776), his body was lowered into a grave in a simple wooden coffin, dug by guards in the courtyard of the bishop’s house in Kholmogory, where Anton Ulrich and his family lived for many years. The soldiers were strictly ordered to remain silent both about the death of the prince and about the place of his burial.

And what about the children of Anton Ulrich and Anna Leopoldovna? In 1778, the Governor General of the Arkhangelsk Territory Melgunov arrived in Kholmogory, in whose care were the surviving prisoners.

In a letter to the empress, he described their appearance. Catherine is 38 years old, and she looks like her father, but the trauma received during infancy during the arrest forever made her deaf, crooked, and tongue-tied. Therefore, brothers and sister are explained to her by signs and facial expressions. Princess Elizabeth is 36 years old, she is like a mother in stature and face, and surpasses her sister and brothers in her intelligence and circumvention, who obey her in everything. Peter, 35 years old, hunchback and crooked. Alexei, 34 years old, is blond and silent, and their behavior is "decent only for small children."

Saying goodbye to the Braunschweig family, Melgunov asked about their desires. Princess Elizabeth answered for all that when their father was alive, they wanted "liberties, and now they want nothing." “We were born here,” said Elizabeth, “we are accustomed and old, now a big light is not only not needed for us, but will be painful; we don’t even know how to deal with people, and it’s too late to learn that. ”

Several years have passed. The Empress already had two grandchildren, the Grand Dukes Alexander and Constantine. The dynasty has strengthened. Now no one would seriously consider the princes of Braunschweig as applicants for the Russian crown. And Catherine decided to let them go.

In the spring of 1,780, she turned to the Queen of Denmark and Norway Julian Maria, the sister of Anton Ulrich, with a proposal to send her brother's children to her. She promised to pay them decent pensions and subsequently fulfilled her obligation.

On the night of June 26-27 of the same year, the Princes and Princesses of Braunschweig under heavy guard secretly sent on a river ship along the Dvina from Kholmogory to the Novodvinsk fortress.

From there they sailed on the Polar Star ship to the Norwegian port of Bergen. It was not until mid-October that the family finally reached the small Jutland town of Gorsens, which was chosen as their place of residence.

The arrest of Anna Leopoldovna.

1756 g . by order of the empress, the boy was secretly taken from Kholmogor to Petersburg.

With the death of Anna Leopoldovna, the tragedy of the Braunschweig family did not end. Her husband and children had to live in prison for many more years, and finding freedom, weighed on her, accustomed to captivity, and remember the past as happy times.

JOHN ANTONOVICH. BABY BABY

(1740-1764)

The heir to the Russian throne, John Antonovich, was born on August 12, 1740. Empress Anna Ioannovna, who did not know to whom to transfer the throne, childless and seriously ill by that time, had been waiting for this event for a long time.

The empress soon died. According to the manifesto published by Anna Ioannovna in 1731, John Antonovich became the autocrat of the all-Russian JohnVI.Until his coming of age, the empress's favorite was appointed ruler -Biron. His reign lasted less than a month, then he was arrested and sent into exile. The ruler of Russia was declared the mother of John - Anna Leopoldovna Braunschweig-Bevernskaya. Anna Leopoldovna was the least suitable for the role of the head of a state such as Russia: she did not know what to do with the power she received, and she was frankly burdened by state duties. Caring for her own child seemed to her much more important than the state

ny affairs. The mother of the heir to the throne endlessly ordered various furniture for the children's room, inventing how to remove it more expensively and intricately. In the chambers of John Antonovich there were small armchairs and stools, upholstered for the safety of the child with soft flannel, wool, velvet and decorated with a silver gown. When the baby grew up and started walking, special baby wooden strollers on wheels were made for him. When Anna Leopoldovna's daughter Catherine was born in 1741, by the day of her baptism, the baby was sewn with a blue satin dress, tiny caps from white taffeta, two upper dresses from yellow satin and other outfits.

So, in caring for children, more like a doll game, in social entertainments, the ruler and her family met the night of November 24 to 25, 1741, when the Grand Duchess Elizaveta Petrovna made a palace revolution, which interrupted this happy and carefree life. 30 guards broke into the ruler’s chambers. They knocked over the nightlight, and everything plunged into pitch darkness ... Awakened Anna and her husband could not understand what was happening. Finally they brought a candle. Anna was allowed to dress, and her husband, Prince Anton Ulrich, was wrapped in a blanket and thrown into a sled standing on the porch.

The soldiers were ordered not to wake or scare the children sleeping in the next room in vain. The guardsmen crowded around the cradles of children and tried not to make noise. So an hour passed. Finally, little John stirred and began to cry, and the soldiers began to argue who they should carry the child. His nurse, every moment waiting for reprisal, picked up the baby, who was screaming, wrapped him in the floor of his own fur coat and so went surrounded by a convoy to the sleigh awaiting them. One soldier snatched the newborn sister of John, Princess Catherine from the crib. He did this so awkwardly that he dropped the girl on the floor, after which she remained deaf and crooked for life.

Elizabeth issued several manifestos, proving that she has more rights to the Russian throne than John and his mother. The empress publicly stated that the Braunschweig family would be sent with honor to abroad, to Germany, and even ordered them to be brought to the western border of Russia. They arrived only to Riga, where they were arrested. Since then, the empress was immediately informed of every step and word uttered by one of the captives.

Years passed. One prison was replaced by another. When it was ordered to deliver the prisoners to Rannenburg, the chief of the convoy, who had poor knowledge of geography, almost brought them to Orenburg. The last refuge of the Braunschweig family was the bishop's house in Kholmogory. Little John was separated from his parents. They never knew what happened to the child, and for 12 years he lived quite close to his parents, brothers and sisters, without even realizing it.

In 1756, John was brought to Shlisselburg fortress. There they tried to convince him that he was not Emperor John, but simply the son of unknown parents and his name was Gregory. But he stubbornly reiterated his own: "I am John, autocrat of all Russia." One day in 1756, Elizabeth wanted to look at John. She saw a poorly dressed youth

Anna Leopoldovna

with the emperor John Antonovich

on hands. Lithography.

thin, with blond hair, dull white skin, aquiline nose and large gray-blue eyes. Strongly stuttering, he said that "John died, and he himself is a heavenly spirit." The Empress found him insane. The guards each time reported that "the prisoner is healthy, only in his mind is crazy." In evidence, they reported that at times the prisoner is rampaging, rushing at the guards, screaming and scolding them.

When Yekaterina I came to power, she entrusted the monitoring of Ivan Antonovich to the prominent statesman N. I. Panin, who made detailed instructions on how to keep the prisoner. It specifically stipulated that when an attempt was made to release him by someone, the guards should immediately kill the prisoner.

It seemed that the government had done everything to forget the very name of John, but that was not so. Any person who was somewhat dissatisfied with the rule of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, and then Ekaterina Alekseevna, remembered him. There were those who tried to move from words to deeds.

In 1742, the footman Alexander Turchaninov plotted. Its members intended to depose Elizabeth and her heir Peter Fedorovich and return the throne to the rightful emperor John. The plot was uncovered, Turchaninov was beaten with a whip and, with his nostrils and tongue torn out, was exiled far to Siberia, to the Okhotsk prison.

After some time, the court of the Prussian king, the strongest ruler in Germany, FrederickIImarried to the aunt of the unfortunate John Antonovich, the Tobolsk merchant Ivan Zubarev fled. He intended to raise a rebellion among the schismatics who lived in the Arkhangelsk Territory. At this time, the Germans, under the guise of merchants, would sail by sea to Arkhangelsk and liberate John Antonovich. Prussia did not go on this adventure.

In the reign of Catherine And the captive again tried to release. Second Lieutenant of the Smolensk Infantry Regiment Vasily Yakovlevich Mirovich, who served in the Shlisselburg Fortress, and his friend Lieutenant of the Great Lutsk Infantry Regiment Apollon Ushakov decided to return the imperial crown to John.

They agreed to carry out their plan (to rescue John from prison) when CatherineIIleave from Petersburg. Mirovich was to draw up a fake decree on behalf of the empress and pass it on to Ushakov. It was assumed that in the form of a lieutenant colonel, he would appear in the fortress during Mirovich’s duty and would require, by a fake decree, to hand him a prisoner.

However, their plan was unexpectedly upset: Ushakov died. Then Mirovich decided to act independently. On the night of my duty

The arrest of E.I. Biron.

from July 4 to 5, 1764, he tried to negotiate with the officers guarding John. They evaded the conversation and let the authorities know. Then Mirovich ordered the soldiers: "To the gun!".

Mirovich put guards at all gates of the Shlisselburg fortress, ordering not to let anyone in. Coming to the noise of the commandant of the fortress, Colonel Berednikov, he knocked down with his fist. The assembled soldiers read out a manifesto written in their own hand, as if on behalf of John Antonovich, the legitimate emperor. Then, rolling a cannon, he, along with the soldiers, tried to storm the premises where the unfortunate prisoner was kept. The guard realized that she could not withstand the onslaught of Mirovich, and began to act according to the instructions: John was killed.

Mirovich surrendered to the government troops approaching the fortress. He told his fellow soldiers that he would be responsible for everything. He was tried and sentenced to death. G. R. Derzhavin, who was an eyewitness to the reprisal, wrote after a while: “The people, standing on the heights of houses and on the bridge, were not used to seeing the death penalty and for some reason waiting for the mercy of the empress, when he saw the head in the hands of the executioner, gasped unanimously and so shuddered that the bridge hesitated from the strong movement and the railing collapsed. " Princess E.R. Dashkova claimed that what was attributed abroad to the terrible intrigue of CatherineIIwhich, by promises to bless Mirovich, incline him to this act, and then betrayed the lieutenant.

The body of John Antonovich, who at the time of death was not even 24 years old, was then secretly buried in the Shlisselburg fortress, so that no one would ever find his grave.

Date of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and John Antonovich.

ELIZABETH PETROVNA. EASY BOARD

(1709-1761)

Peter's daughterIand the future Empress Catherine Alekseevna was born December 18, 1709. On this day, the Russian troops, the victors in the Battle of Poltava, unfurled the banners, solemnly entered Moscow. Having received the joyful news of the birth of his daughter, Peter organized a three-day celebration in her honor. The king was very fond of

his second family. Attachment to loved ones with him, a man of power and stern, sometimes took touching forms. In letters to his wife, he conveyed greetings to the “quadrupole” - that was Elizabeth's family nickname at the time when she was still crawling on all fours. In the summer of 1710, Peter sailed across the Baltic on the Lizetka sailboat - like that

I. Nikitin. Portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna (girls).

he called the tiny princess. At the age of two, she, along with her four-year-old sister Anna, was present at the wedding of her parents.

Peter early began to write separately to the princesses, encouraging them in a similar way to mastering the letter. Elizabeth learned to read and write when she was not even eight years old. PeterIsaw in his daughters a weapon of the diplomatic game and prepared them for dynastic marriages in order to strengthen the international position of Russia. And therefore, he primarily drew attention to their study of foreign languages. Elizabeth knew French perfectly, spoke German and Italian. In addition, the princesses were taught music, dancing, dressing, etiquette. Since childhood, Elizabeth passionately loved dancing, and in this art she had no equal.

Back in 1720, his father tried to arrange a marriage of Elizabeth with the French king LouisXV,her one year old. But at Versailles, they cautiously reacted to the proposal of the Russian side because of the princess’s origin: her mother was a commoner, at the time of her daughter’s birth she was not married to the tsar. Later, Elizabeth was conspired for Karl August Holstinsky, but he died, and did not have time to become her husband.

The position of young Elizabeth at court and in the state changed dramatically in 1727. Before, life was like a fairy tale. She was surrounded by a young society, where she reigned not only by the right of high descent, but also thanks to her personal merits. Quick to invent, pleasant to manage, Elizabeth was the soul of this society. She received enough money from her parents to satisfy her passion for all kinds of entertainment. Everything surrounded her was full of fun, she was always busy: trips along the Neva and out of town, masquerades and balls, stage plays, music, dancing ... This continuous and reckless rapture ended in life when the mother of Elizabeth, Empress Catherine diedI.

At the court of Anna Ioannovna, the Tsarevna found the honors due to her. However, Elizabeth felt a stranger to the royal family. Her relationship with the cousin-empress did not differ in warmth. Anna Ioannovna appointed Elizabeth more than a modest maintenance, and the princess, who had previously no account of money, now constantly felt the need for it. It is believed that the empress could not forget her humiliating position in Mitau when, due to an eternal lack of funds, she very often asked for help from Elizabeth's parents for help and did not always receive what she asked for. And therefore, the princess lived unsweetened with her.

Annoyed by the ugly and fat Anna, the rare attractiveness of a young cousin. Graceful, always tastefully dressed and witty, Elizabeth shone at court ceremonies and festivities. Next to her, the uncommunicative and gloomy empress greatly lost.

And finally, Anna Ioannovna was alarmed by Elizabeth’s rights to the Russian crown. The Empress saw in her relative a serious

Elizaveta Petrovna at the head of the guards on the way to the Winter Palace.

The front door of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna to Moscow. Mid engraving XVIII at.

the rival was seriously afraid of a coup in her favor, Anna ordered to establish surveillance for the crown princess. To get rid of Elizabeth, they wanted to either marry her somewhere far away from Petersburg and the “safe” prince, or forcefully make her a nun. A suitable groom was not found. And the threat of life imprisonment in the monastery for Elizabeth became a nightmare, which she got rid of, only ascending to the throne.

Tsesarevna was forced to behave very carefully. Any thoughtlessly spoken word - by her or by someone close to her - could lead to disaster. She emphasized not interested in politics.

Nevertheless, the fears of Anna Ioannovna were not without foundation, if only because the daughter of Peter 1 was loved in the guard. She often visited the barracks of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments. Familiar guards officers and soldiers often asked Elizabeth to be the godmother of their children, and she willingly fulfilled their wishes. It was in the midst of the guard that Elizabeth found her ardent supporters, with the help of whom in November 1741 she seized power in the state.

EMPRESS ELIZABETH TO THE CIRCLE OF HER TRUSTED PEOPLE

The memory of Peter the Great lived in society, and during the years of the unpopular reign of Anna Ioannovna, sympathy for his daughter Elizabeth grew in wide layers of the capital's population. She possessed very valuable qualities for the ruler, which he subsequently singled out

Unknown artist. Portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna.

famous Russian historianXIXat. S. M. Soloviev. “Cheerful, carefree, passionate about the joys of life in early youth,” he wrote, “Elizabeth had to go through a difficult school of trials and passed it with benefit. Extreme caution, restraint, attention, and the ability to pass between people pushing each other without pushing them — these qualities ... Elizabeth brought to the throne ... Inheriting from her father the ability to choose and keep capable people, she called for a new generation of Russians people famous with her and after her, and knew how to reconcile their activities ... "

From the first days of the reign of Elizabeth under the Empress, the steepness of her longtime adherents took shape, occupying all the most important state and court posts.

Passionate love for folk songs became the reason for Elizabeth's attention to Alexei Grigoryevich Razumovsky. Ukrainian Cossack, a rare and handsome man, he came to St. Petersburg thanks to his magnificent bass. He was taken to court singers back in 1731. Having ascended the throne, Elizaveta Petrovna granted the rootless Razumovsky the count's title and the rank of Field Marshal, and 1742 g ., as many historians claim, secretly married him. Rumors about this marriage inevitably gave rise to legends about the allegedly existing children of Elizabeth and Razumovsky - for example, Princess Tarakanova and even the whole Tarakanov family.

One of the empress’s closest assistants was Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov. Vice Chancellor since 1744, he replaced A.P. Bestuzhev as Chancellor of the Empire in 1758. The Empress returned from exile and brought the surviving princes Dolgorukov, Count P.I. Musin-Pushkin and several other Russian nobles affected during the reign of Anna Ioannovna. Elizabeth removed foreigners from all key posts in the state, but did not intend at all to expel from the country the foreign specialists that Russia urgently needed.

Graph

M.I. Vorontsov. From the engraving of G. F. Schmidt.

FOREIGN POLICY OF ELIZABETH PETROVNA

The development of the foreign policy program and Russian diplomacy of the Elizabethan era are mainly connected with the name of the insightful and experienced statesman, Chancellor Alexei Petrovich Bestuzhev. On his initiative, in the spring of 1756, to consider foreign policy issues and to guide military operations during the pan-European Seven Years War of 1756-1763. a new government body was established - the Conference at the Highest Court (a permanent meeting of the highest dignitaries and generals of ten people). Bestuzhev faced the problems of Russian-Swedish relations in late 1741, when he was appointed to the post of vice chancellor. After recovering from the defeat in the Northern War, Sweden hoped to take revenge and reconsider the conditions of the Nistadt peace on the battlefield, according to which Russia seized Swedish possessions in the Baltic states. In the summer of 1741, the Russo-Swedish war began, ending with the complete defeat of the Swedish

Coronation glass "Vivat to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna." Mid XVIII at.

The title page of the program of "amusements" by Elizabeth Petrovna on the occasion of the signing of peace with the Swedes. 1744

army. In August 1743, a peace treaty was signed in Abo (Finland): the Swedish government reaffirmed the conditions of the Nistadt peace concluded by PeterI.

The seven-year war, in which Russia fought on the side of France and Austria against Prussia and Great Britain with the goal of territorial acquisitions, after the resignation of Bestuzhev, was already waged under M.I. At the beginning of 1758, Russian troops entered East Prussia and occupied Koenigsberg. In August of the following year, at the battle of Kunersdorf, the Prussian army was defeated, and in September 1760, Russian troops entered Berlin, which were then forced to leave due to inconsistent actions of the Allies. The victories of the Russian army were crucial for the defeat of Prussia, whose armed forces were then considered the best in Europe.

Damn. Green glass, painted. Russia. 1742 g.

ELIZABETH PETROVNA'S DOMESTIC POLICY

Upon ascending the throne, Elizabeth proclaimed herself the successor of the work of her great father. Following Peter's “principles” caused, in particular, the Empress’s interest in economic issues, the development of industry and trade. Encouraging noble entrepreneurship, Elizabeth ordered in 1753 to establish a noble loan bank, which issued loans to landowners on the security of land. In 1754, the Merchant Bank was founded. New manufactories (industrial enterprises) were created rapidly. In Yaroslavl and Serpukhov, Irkutsk and Astrakhan, Tambov and Ivanovo, in the noble estates of the manufactory, cloth and silk, canvas and ropes were produced. In landowner farms distillery is widespread.

Important consequences were the decision of the government of Elizabeth, adopted in 1753, on the abolition of internal customs duties, which were levied on cities and roads of Russia since ancient times. As a result of this reform, it was possible to put an end to Russia's economic fragmentation. It was a bold step for those times. In France, for example, internal customs ceased to exist only during the end revolutionXVIIIcentury., and in Germany - in the 30s.XIXat.

Elizabeth greatly expanded the rights and liberties of the nobles. In particular, she repealed Peter's lawIabout algae, according to which the nobles were supposed to begin military service from a young age by soldiers. Under Elizabeth, children were recorded in their respective regiments from birth. Thus, at ten years old these youths, not knowing the service, became sergeants, and in the regiment they were already 16-17-year-old captains.

During the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, favorable conditions developed for the development of Russian culture, especially science and education.

The Academy of Sciences participated in the organization of geographical expeditions to the Far East with the aim of a detailed study of the northeastern borders of the Russian Empire. In the middleXVIIIat. the four-volume work of the naturalist I. G. Gme- appeared

the line “Flora of Siberia” with a description of 1200 plants and the first ethnographic work in Russia “Description of the Land of Kamchatka”, written by S. P. Krasheninnikov.

The decree of 1744, “On combining schools in one place in the provinces and teaching them in every rank of people ...” facilitated access to schools for children from the unprivileged strata of the population. In the 40-50s. to the first gymnasium that existed since 1726 in St. Petersburg, two more were added - at Moscow University (1755) and in Kazan (1758). In 1752, the Navigation School founded by PeterIreorganized into the Maritime Gentry Cadet Corps, where officers of the Russian Navy were trained.

On January 25, 1755, Elizabeth signed a decree establishing Moscow University. The spread of university education in Russia was a cherished dream of a Russian scientist and enlightener M.V. Lomonosov. Having bowed to his side vice-chancellor M.I. Vorontsov and even more influential favorite I.I. Shuvalov, Lomonosov drew up a project for opening a university in Moscow. Along with this event is the establishment in 1756 of the Russian professional theater of Fyodor Volkov and Alexander Sumarokov, and in 1758 - the Academy of Arts.

The emergence of interest in fine arts in Russian society at the time of Elizabeth Petrovna is directly related to their passion for the Empress herself. We can say that a professional theater, opera, ballet, choral singing came out of the walls of her palace. Even in the difficult years of the reign of Anna Elizabeth during the “small court” of the princess, many performances were staged. Her courtiers and singers took part in them. The plays were "at the malice of the day." In allegorical form, they talked about the sad fate of the semi-princess princess, the political situation in the country. Elizabeth did not lose interest in the theater as an empress. She enjoyed the performances, even if she saw them

IVAN IVANOVICH SHUVALOV

One of the most striking figures of the Elizabethan reign undoubtedly was Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov, who left a noticeable mark in the history of the Russian Empire. His career developed rapidly. Coming from a poor and noble noble family, he was in the late 40s. He appeared at the court of the Empress thanks to the patronage of his cousins: they held important posts in the government of Elizabeth Petrovna. The young handsome page with soft manners soon attracted the favorable attention of the 40-year-old empress. The new favorite for a long time retained influence on Elizabeth. Not occupying a prominent place in the court hierarchy of officials (he stubbornly rejected the titles, titles, awards offered to him more than once), in the last years of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, Shuvalov actually held all the threads of the empire's control in his hands. Without his approval, not a single important decision was made regarding foreign and domestic policy.

Especially significant was the role of Shuvalov in the cultural life of Russian society. He received home education, but later a passionate love of reading made him one of the most educated people of his time. Paying tribute to the Age of Enlightenment, Ivan Ivanovich was fond of French philosophy and literature, was in correspondence with Voltaire, supported some of the national educational journals. He assembled a beautiful library, which was constantly updated with new products from Paris, collected works of painting, patronized the sciences and the arts.

Attaching great importance to the educational mission of the state, Shuvalov developed a whole program of action in this area, partly implemented by him in the 50s. His name is associated with the opening of Moscow University in 1,755. Although the initiative to create such a higher education institution in Russia belonged to the outstanding scientist, poet and enlightener M.V. Lomonosov, without the powerful support of Shuvalov, this project was hardly possible. The role of Ivan Ivanovich as the first curator of the university is known: he solved various problems related to the organization of study and life of students; achieved for the university the status of autonomy (independence from local authorities). With his bounties, the university library still existing was founded.

Shuvalov did a lot for the “cultivation" of the domestic artistic intelligentsia. He was the founder and first president of the Academy of Arts, opened in 1757. He invited highly professional masters from abroad and set up the learning process. The Academy received from him a library and a collection of paintings from 104 paintings by prominent European artists. This nobleman had an amazing ability to find and nurture talents. One of these discoveries was the court stoker Fedot Shubin - in the future, a famous sculptor.

Shuvalov planned to organize a higher education system in Russia, and to prepare for the study of university disciplines, a network of comprehensive schools (gymnasiums) in provincial cities. But he failed to realize his plan. With the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, the power and influence of this remarkable statesman are a thing of the past.

Winter Palace

in St. Petersburg.

Big

Tsarskoye Selo

palace.

repeatedly. The midlands are especially popular in Russia.XVIIIat. were plays by A.P. Sumarokov.

Not only celebrations and holidays, but also the usual feasts of Elizabeth Petrovna were necessarily accompanied by the performance of the orchestra and the singing of court musicians. As the famous historian E.V. Anisimov writes, "in Elizabethan time, music became an integral and indispensable part of the life of the palace and the nobility of St. Petersburg." An imperial orchestra of highly professional Italian and German musicians performed works by Western European composers. Concerts were also given: originally intended for court society, they later became public. The townspeople could also visit them. At these concerts, Russian listeners met with a harp, mandolin, and guitar.

The Italian opera flourished in full bloom in the courtyard. They did not spare money on the arrangement of performances. These were magnificent performances with ballet numbers and recitation, which made an indelible impression on the audience. In performances, along with Italian musicians and artists, young Russian singers were also engaged. Their performance of difficult Italian arias aroused the enthusiasm of the audience. More and more Russian dancers began to appear in ballet productions. So the foundation was laid for Russian national opera and ballet.

Elizabeth was very concerned about the appearance of Moscow and St. Petersburg. She

issued many decrees concerning the appearance and life of both capitals. Houses in these cities were to be built according to certain plans. Due to frequent fires in the Moscow Kremlin and Kitay-Gorod, it was forbidden to build wooden buildings; cab drivers were not allowed to drive fast along city streets, etc. Many remarkable architectural monuments date back to the reign of Elizabeth, including the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the Grand Palace in Peterhof, the Grand Tsarskoye Selo Palace, the Smolny Monastery Cathedral, the palaces of the Elizabethan nobles Vorontsov and Stroganov and Stagelman in St. Petersburg. All these masterpieces were created by architect V.V. Rastrelli. In 1755, on the orders of the empress, the famous Amber Room (cabinet), which was donated to Peter in time, was brought from St. Petersburg and mounted in the Tsarskoye Selo PalaceIprussian King Frederick WilliamI.

PORTRAIT OF THE EMPRESS

Contemporaries left many memories of the daughter of Peter the Great. Adherents and enemies of the empress, people who knew her for many years, and those who saw the empress only briefly, all of them claimed that Elizabeth in her youth and adulthood struck with extraordinary, dazzling beauty. The French diplomat Campredon wrote about

young tsesarevna, which was predicted in the wife of LouisXV:“Everything in her has a fascinating imprint, we can say that she is a perfect beauty in terms of waist, complexion, eyes and grace of hands. If her free circulation will surprise the French court the first time, then at the same time it will charm him. ” And here is the impression of CatherineIIwho met Elizabeth when she was 34 years old: “Truly then it was impossible to see for the first time and not be amazed at her beauty and magnificent posture. She was a woman of high stature, although very full, but who did not lose and did not feel the slightest embarrassment in all her movements; her head was also very beautiful ... She danced to perfection and was distinguished by a special grace in everything she did, the same in male and female attire. "I would like to watch everything without taking my eyes off her, and only with regret could they be torn from her, since there was no object that could catch up with her."

Parents did not prepare Elizabeth for government. Her destiny was a dynastic marriage. And therefore, she received only the knowledge that could be useful to her at some European court; already being an empress, she was very surprised when she learned that Great Britain is an island. Thanks to her good musical ear and voice, the princess sang a lot - with choir and solo. The court choristers for her were found mainly in Ukraine, which was famous for its beautiful singing voices. For this, she sent special agents to Little Russia. There is information about the songwriting of Elizabeth. She is considered the author of two songs that have survived to this day. She wrote poetry.

The princess's pleasant disposition and openness, as well as the lifestyle she led, were misleading many. Elizabeth was long considered a woman windy, good-natured and subject to strong influences. Only the most insightful of contemporaries, the Crown princes noted that "no one can read in her heart."

Elizabeth had a complex, controversial character. With age, this manifested itself more distinctly. Easy to climb, she loved to travel. However, the “wanderlust” has become excessive over time. The coup d'etat that Elizabeth made, having taken power from the ruler of Anna Leopoldovna, frightened her for life. The empress was madly afraid that she would be just as easily and unexpectedly deprived of the crown, and perhaps life. She took her measures, which sometimes perplexed the courtiers. Elizabeth swapped the day and

G. Groot.

Portrait of Elizabeth

Petrovna

with arapon.

E. Lansere. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in Tsarskoye Selo.

Medal for the death of Elizabeth Petrovna. 1761

night, she did not go to bed until six in the morning. No one could tell when the empress would have lunch or dinner, no one knew where she would go to bed that night. The queen's bedchairs changed almost every night. With the fear of assassination, endless rearrangements and rearrangements of the Empress's chambers are associated: partitions, doors and furniture were constantly moving there. A lot of trouble for the Foreign Ministry was caused by the sudden departures of Elizabeth from St. Petersburg. This caused undesirable talk among foreign diplomats about the situation in the country.

The piety of the empress causes doubts among historians, although she visited many temples and left them rich contributions. In total, about 40 churches were laid or rebuilt in her reign. More than once Elizabeth undertook hiking trips to worship the holy saints. But such trips were more like pleasure trips, which sometimes lasted more than one month. Having walked several kilometers, accompanied by a brilliant retinue, the Empress made a stop. And then they pitched tents, which were no different from the palace in terms of decoration and amenities. For several days Elizabeth hunted, rode a horse, or even returned to the city. Then she came to the parking lot, and the procession resumed. The empress was superstitious: she believed in witchcraft, evil eye, miracles.

Elizaveta Petrovna entered the Russian history not only as the empress and admirer of fine arts, but also as a passionate lover of clothes. Her wardrobe was amazing. During the Moscow fire of 1753, four thousand dresses burned in the Empress’s palace. After her death, PeterIIIfound in the Summer Palace another fifteen thousand dresses, as well as several thousand pairs of shoes, more than a hundred uncut pieces of rich materials, two chests with stockings. Elizabeth had an undeniable taste, and her outfits were unusually elegant. But the second time, as a rule, she did not wear the same dress. She changed suits two to three times a day.

The queen devoted many hours to caring for her wonderful face. She experienced the disappearance of beauty with age very hard. One of the French diplomats, who was at the Russian court in the last years of her reign, wrote that he did not know another woman who put up with the loss of youth and beauty as hard as Elizaveta Petrovna.

The empress almost ceased to be in society, preferring silence and solitude. Since the mid 50's. her health began to deteriorate. A fatal exacerbation of the disease occurred at the end of 1761. The heir to the throne, Pyotr Fedorovich and his wife, Ekaterina Alekseevna, were near the bedside of a dying woman. December 25 at four in the afternoon the life of the brilliant Elizabeth was interrupted.

Historians often wrote about the absence of high-profile cases and large-scale transformations during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. However, the first theater, Moscow University, the spread of fine arts, the abolition of the death penalty for ordinary criminal offenses, Tsarskoye Selo, the Winter Palace and the Smolny Monastery - is this not the face of the era of Elizabeth!

In the second half XVIII c., as in pre-Petrine times, the paramilitary system of government and the explicit suppression of society by the state were preserved in the Russian Empire. As before, a significant part of the country's vital forces went into endless wars with Prussia, Sweden, Turkey and France. However, the Russian nobility freed themselves from the hardships of public service and could devote their leisure time to enlightenment and creativity. Under Peter I nobles were forcibly sent to Europe to study sciences, technical skills and military affairs. By the time of the reign of Catherine II already formed a large layer of noble people who did not think their life outside the framework of European culture. A wonderful galaxy of writers, scientists, philosophers has appeared. The flowering experienced social thought. However, Enlightenment ideas aimed at

Europe to transform the whole life of society, in Russia often came down to softening morals.

All these changes occurred among the Russian aristocracy. Many millions of peasant Russia, they were alien. The "Golden Age" of the Russian nobility was established due to the fact that serfdom was strengthened and laws were tightened against peasants. The uprising of Emelyan Pugachev shocked the foundations of the empire and revealed bleeding ulcers of the country, poorly covered by a fashionable European costume. Events in the Russian Empire of the second half XVIII centuries resembled a theatrical performance in which each actor played a different role: Empress Catherine II in the mask of the "enlightened monarch" put an ax and a whip into the hands of her illustrious commander Suvorov so that he would exterminate the rebels.