186 days of a strange emperor This reign was the shortest in the history of the Romanov dynasty. Emperor Peter III reigned for only 186 days. During this time, the most important laws were adopted and serious political mistakes were made, which ended in the loss of the throne as a result of a palace coup. Let's try to understand the history of the strange emperor, who ruled Russia for only six months.
The heir to the throne Almost immediately after her accession to the throne, Elizabeth brought her nephew Carl Peter Ulrich, the son of Anna Petrovna, from Holstein. According to the "Testament" of Catherine I, he had more rights to the throne than Elizabeth. Orphaned at an early age, Karl Peter Ulrich was brought up with the expectation of accession to the Swedish throne (the grandson of Peter I was also the great-nephew of Charles XII). Fearing that the nephew will become a Portrait of Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich. the king of Sweden and lay claim to the Russian throne in 1743, Elizabeth Hood. G. K. Groot. hastened to bring him to Russia and proclaim him his heir.
Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich Karl Peter Ulrich was baptized into Orthodoxy, became known as Peter Fedorovich and lost his rights to the Swedish throne. The heir disappointed Elizabeth: he was lazy, undeveloped, infantile, openly despised Russia, Orthodoxy, but idolized Prussia and its king Frederick II. But Elizabeth had no other heir: Portrait of the Grand Duke Peter was the last representative of Peter Fedorovich. 1758 Romanov dynasty Hood. F. S. Rokotov. at least in the female line.
Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich Portrait of Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich and Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna. Hood. G. K. Groot. Elizabeth picked up a bride for her nephew - Anhalt-Zerbst princess Sophia-August-Frederick. In 1745, a 14-year-old girl came to Russia and stayed here forever, taking a new name - Ekaterina Alekseevna. The young spouses turned out to be deeply alien to each other people: Peter still played with soldiers, and Catherine at the age of 15 read serious philosophical and political books. Peter, according to Catherine, "needed not a wife, but an attorney in his childishness."
Emperor Peter III After the birth of both Peter and Catherine's son Paul, Empress Elizabeth seriously considered declaring her great-nephew the heir, and sending his parents out of Russia. There is evidence that the Shuvalovs pushed Elizabeth to such a decision. However, Elizabeth did not dare (or did not have time) to take such a step, and after her death, the Shuvalovs preferred not to risk it. Emperor Peter III. December 25, 1761 Peter III Coronation portrait. became emperor of Russia. Hood. L. K. Pfantselt.
The foreign policy of Peter III At the beginning of 1762, Russia withdrew from the Seven Years' War. ? Peter III gives Frederick, King of Prussia, an olive branch. Allegorical painting. Beginning 1760s Unknown artist. How was the war against Prussia ended? Russia returned East Prussia to Frederick II, refused indemnity and reimbursement of expenses. The Russian army began preparations for a war against Denmark for the interests of Holstein.
Foreign policy of Peter III? Portrait of Emperor Peter III in a military camp. OK. 1762 Hood. A. P. Antropov. How did such an end to the war affect the attitude towards Peter III in Russia? The peace with Frederick II was perceived by the army and the nobility as treason, the attitude towards the king, already hostile, deteriorated sharply. The preparation of a war with Denmark, which was completely unnecessary for Russia, and the intention to remove the guards from St. Petersburg finally turned the officers against the emperor.
Domestic politics Peter III The most important document of the reign of Peter III was published on February 18, 1762 Manifesto "on granting liberties to the Russian nobility". The nobles received the right to retire from military and civil service, and with an increase in rank by 1 rank. Those who retired could, at will, return to the service or go to serve in other states. The children of the nobles were obliged to receive Emperor Peter III. education, but upon completion of his hood. A. P. Antropov. had the right to decide for themselves whether to enter the service. ? What is the meaning of the Manifesto?
Domestic policy of Peter III Emperor Peter III. Hood. F. S. Rokotov. The manifesto on the freedom of the nobility for the first time created in Russia a layer of free people, independent of the state. Probably, the entourage of Peter III hoped in this way to raise the popularity of the emperor in the eyes of the nobility. This failed: the nobles rejoiced at the Manifesto, but did not personally associate him with Peter III. And indeed, the idea of abolishing the obligatory service of the nobility was already outlined in the draft Code of Elizabeth Petrovna.
Domestic policy of Peter III By decree of February 21, 1762, Peter III abolished the Secret Chancellery. At the same time, it was prescribed: "A hateful expression, namely: the word and deed should no longer mean anything." The very use of these words was forbidden, and the violators were supposed to be punished as "mischievous and disorderly". Emperor Peter III. Hood. A. P. Antropov. ? What was the significance of the prohibition of the secret office and "words and deeds"?
Domestic policy of Peter III Emperor Peter III. Hood. F. S. Rokotov. Peter III stopped the persecution of schismatics. He issued a decree on the secularization of church lands and their transfer to the disposal of the collegium of economy. A decree on the equalization of all religions was sent to the Senate. Peter III even sent a decree to the Synod commanding Orthodox priests to shave their beards and put on frock coats instead of cassocks. ? How should these decrees be evaluated?
Domestic policy of Peter III modern society non-discrimination on religious grounds, equality of religions are natural principles of existence. But in the XVIII century. in an Orthodox country, which was Russia, they caused extreme irritation. The secularization of church lands was long overdue, but the attempt of Peter III, who did not hide contempt for Orthodoxy, also aroused discontent. In addition, in Russia they suspected that the emperor was simply preparing the ground for the introduction of Lutheranism in Russia. This suspicion was only confirmed by an attempt to change the appearance of the clergy. In other words, the religious policy of Peter III was unprepared, tactless and therefore dangerous.
Conspiracy against Peter III Portrait of Elizabeth Romanovna Vorontsova. Unknown artist. The growing irritation against Peter III was taken advantage of by his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna. After accession to the throne, Peter, who had not gotten along with his wife before, openly preferred her favorite - Elizaveta Vorontsova. Catherine could seriously fear divorce and expulsion from Russia, and even imprisonment in a monastery. Meanwhile, Catherine managed to establish wide connections among both dignitaries and guards officers.
Conspiracy against Peter III Portrait of Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna. Hood. I. P. Argunov. Catherine, smart, stubborn, domineering, who had long deeply despised her husband, actually led a conspiracy against him. The Orlov brothers became her support (the eldest of them, Grigory, was Catherine's favorite). An active role in the conspiracy was played by the tutor of the heir N. I. Panin and the sister of Elizabeth Vorontsova, Princess Ekaterina Dashkova. Hetman of Ukraine K. G. Razumovsky supported the conspirators.
The overthrow of Peter III Portrait of G. G. and A. G. Orlovs. June 28, 1762, when Peter III was in Peterhof, the conspirators raised guards regiments and proclaimed her empress. Peter almost immediately surrendered, abdicated the throne and asked only to let him go to Holstein. Hood. J. L. Develly. 1770s ? Could Catherine agree to this request? Abroad, the deposed emperor would be dangerous, because he had incomparably greater rights to the throne than his wife.
Death of Peter III Murder of Peter III in Ropsha. Peter III was arrested and kept under guard in the castle in Ropsha. On July 17, Peter died. The chief guard, Alexei Orlov, wrote to Catherine that it all happened by chance: “He argued at the table with Prince Fedor, we didn’t have time to separate him, but he was already gone.” But the day before, he wrote another note: “Our freak became very ill ... As if he had not died this day or night.” Historians are only guessing whether Catherine ordered to kill her husband or whether her comrades-in-arms guessed her unspoken desire.
Summing up? What do you think major achievements reign of Peter III? ? Explain the statement of Catherine II about Peter III: "He did not have a more fierce enemy than himself."
Sources of illustrations Slide number 3. http: //www. artsait. ru/foto. php? art=g/groot/img/12&n=%20%C 3%F 0%EE%EE%F 2%20 %C 3%E 5%EE%F 0%E 3%20%CA%F 0%E 8%F 1%F 2%EE%F 4%EE%F 0. %20%CF%E E%F 0%F 2%F 0%E 5%F 2%20%E 2%E 5%EB% E 8%EA%EE%E 3%EE%20%EA%ED%F F%E 7%FF%20%CF%E 5%F 2%F 0%E 0%20%D 4%E 5%E 4%EE%F 0%EE%E 2%E 8%F 7%E 0.%201743. Slide number 4. http: //triumfy. en/? p=1373 Slide number 5. http: //www. liveinternet. ru/users/romanovskaya_galina/post 147274678/ Slides No. 6, 9–11. http: //www. liveinternet. ru/users/3342196/post 127459694/ Slide number 7. Heroes and villains of Russian history. // Russian Museum. P. 212. Slide number 8. http: //kontrol. uer. varvar. ru/arhiv/gallery/baroque/antropov 11. html Slide No. 12. http: //www. nearyou. ru/rokotov/3 piter 3 a. html Slide number 14. http: //valeryanna. dreamwidth. org/71593. html Slide number 15. http: //de. academic. en/dic. nsf/dewiki/867681 Slide #16. http: //i-grappa. livejournal. com/101205. html Slide #17. http: //alert-dog. livejournal. com/121471. html
"Orthodoxy in him was mixed with Protestantism, and he himself is not able to make out what he believes in."
S. Platonov
Elizabeth was a smart and kind, but disorderly and capricious Russian lady of the 18th century, who, according to Russian custom, was scolded by many during her lifetime and, according to Russian custom, everyone mourned after her death.
Only one face did not mourn her, because it was not Russian and did not know how to cry: this is the heir to the throne appointed by her - the most unpleasant of all the unpleasant that Empress Elizabeth left behind. This heir, the son of Elizabeth's eldest sister, who died shortly after his birth, the Duke of Holstein, is known in our history under the name of Peter 3. By a strange play of chance, in the person of this prince, the afterlife reconciliation of the two greatest rivals of the early 18th century took place. Peter the Third was the son of the daughter of Peter I and the grandson of the sister of Charles XII. As a result, the owner of the small duchy of Holstein was in serious danger of becoming the heir to two large thrones, Swedish and Russian. At first he was prepared for the first and forced to learn the Lutheran catechism, Swedish language and Latin grammar. But Elizabeth, having ascended the Russian throne and wishing to secure it beyond her father's line, sent Major Korf on a mission to take her nephew from Kiel at all costs and bring him to Petersburg. Here the Duke of Holstein, Karl-Peter-Ulrich, was transformed into Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich and forced to study the Russian language and the Orthodox catechism. But nature was not as favorable to him as fate: the probable heir to two alien and large thrones, according to his abilities, he was not suitable for his own small throne. He was born and grew up a frail child, poorly endowed with abilities. What the unfavorable nature did not guess to refuse, the absurd Holstein pedagogy managed to take away from him. Early becoming an orphan, Peter in Holstein received a worthless upbringing under the guidance of an ignorant courtier who treated him rudely, subjected him to humiliating and harmful punishments, even flogging the prince. Humiliated and embarrassed in everything, he acquired bad tastes and habits, became irritable, absurd, stubborn and false, acquired a sad tendency to lie, believing in his own fantasies with ingenuous enthusiasm, and in Russia he also learned to get drunk. In Holstein, he was taught so badly that he came to Russia as a 14-year-old ignoramus and even struck Empress Elizabeth with his ignorance. The rapid change of circumstances and educational programs completely confused his already fragile head. Forced to study this and that without connection and order, Peter ended up learning nothing, and the dissimilarity between the Holstein and Russian situation, the senselessness of Kiel and St. Petersburg impressions completely weaned him from understanding his surroundings. Its development stopped before its growth; in the years of courage, he remained the same as he was in childhood, grew up without maturing. His way of thinking and acting gave the impression of something surprisingly ill-conceived and unfinished. He looked at serious things with a childish look, and treated children's undertakings with the seriousness of a mature husband. He was like a child who imagined himself to be an adult; in fact, it was an adult who forever remained a child. Already married in Russia, he could not part with his favorite dolls, behind which he was often caught by court visitors. A neighbor of Prussia by hereditary property, he was fond of the military glory and strategic genius of Frederick II. But since in his miniature mind any great ideal could fit only by being broken into toy trifles, this militant passion led Peter only to an amusing parody of the Prussian hero, to a simple game of soldiers. He did not know and did not want to know the Russian army, and since real, living soldiers were too big for him, he ordered that wax, lead and wooden soldiers be made for himself and placed them in his office on tables with such devices that if you pull the shoelaces stretched across the tables, then sounds were heard that seemed to Peter like quick rifle fire. Sometimes, on a day of service, he would gather his household, put on an elegant general's uniform and make a parade review of his toy troops, pulling the laces and listening with pleasure to the sounds of battle. Once Catherine, who entered her husband, was amazed at the sight that presented itself to her. A large rat was hanging from a rope stretched from the ceiling. When asked by Catherine what this meant, Peter said that the rat had committed a criminal offense, the most severely punishable under military laws: she climbed onto a cardboard fortress that stood on the table and ate two sentries made of starch. The criminal was caught, brought to court-martial and sentenced to death penalty through hanging. Elizabeth despaired of the nature and behavior of her nephew and could not spend a quarter of an hour with him without grief, anger, and even disgust. In her room, when the talk came up about him, the empress burst into tears and complained that God had given her such an heir. Not at all pious comments about him broke from her pious language: "damned nephew", "my nephew is a freak, the devil take him!" This is what Catherine says in her notes. According to her, at court it was considered likely that Elizabeth at the end of her life would have agreed if she had been asked to send her nephew from Russia, appointing his 6-year-old son Pavel as the heir; but her favorites, who thought of such a step, did not dare to take it and, turning over like a courtier, began to curry favor with the future emperor.
Unaware of the past misfortune, admonished by the ominous reviews of his aunt, this man inside out, whose concepts of good and evil were confused, ascended the Russian throne. Here, too, he retained all the narrowness and pettiness of the thoughts and interests in which he was brought up and raised. His mind, narrow as Holstein, could in no way expand to the geographical measure of the boundless empire that he accidentally inherited. On the contrary, on the Russian throne, Peter became even more of a Holsteiner than he was at home. In it with special power the quality that nature, mean to him, endowed him with merciless generosity, spoke up: it was cowardice, combined with frivolous carelessness. He was afraid of everything in Russia, called it a cursed country, and himself expressed the conviction that he would certainly have to perish in it, but he did not at all try to get used to and get closer to her, he did not recognize anything in her and shunned everything; she frightened him the way children are frightened when left alone in a vast empty room. Guided by his own tastes and fears, he surrounded himself with a society that was not seen even under Peter I, so illegible in this respect, created his own little world in which he tried to hide from Russia, which was terrible for him. He started a special Holstein guard from all the international rabble, but not from his Russian subjects: they were mostly sergeants and corporals Prussian army, "a bastard, - in the words of Princess Dashkova, - consisting of the sons of German shoemakers." Considering the army of Frederick II to be a model, Peter tried to learn the manners and habits of a Prussian soldier, began to smoke an exorbitant amount of tobacco and drink an unbearable lot of bottles of beer, thinking that without this it was impossible to become a "real brave officer." Having ascended the throne, Peter rarely lived until the evening sober and usually sat down at the table tipsy. Every day there were feasts in this Holstein society, to which wandering comets joined from time to time - visiting singers and actresses. In this company, the emperor, according to Bolotov, who had seen him closely, used to say "such nonsense and such inconsistencies" that the heart of his loyal subjects bled from shame in front of foreign ministers: either he would suddenly begin to develop impossible reform plans, or with epic enthusiasm he would begin to talk about his unprecedented victorious campaign against the gypsy camp near Kiel, then he will simply blurt out some important diplomatic secret. Unfortunately, the emperor felt attracted to playing the violin, considering himself quite seriously a virtuoso, and suspected himself of great comic talent, because he rather deftly made various funny grimaces, mimicked the priests in the church and deliberately replaced the old Russian bow at court with a French squat in order to then imagine the awkward curtseys of the elderly ladies of the court. One smart lady, whom he amused with his grimaces, said of him that he was completely unlike the sovereign.
Karl-Ulrich remained Karl-Ulrich, although he, when converted to Orthodoxy, was renamed Peter III. His extravagant behavior after he became the Russian emperor proves this.
"Orthodoxy in him was mixed with Protestantism," notes S. Platonov, "and he himself is not able to make out what he believes in."
It makes no sense to enumerate all the extravagant acts of Peter, with which he set against himself the various strata of the then society, let us recall only the "position" he took in relation to the Orthodox Church. Peter III expressed the wish that the priests shaved their beards and walked like Protestant pastors in frock coats, he wanted to arrange a Protestant church in the palace. Peter III gave a decree to finally take all church possessions to the treasury, and to pay salaries to clergy as civil servants. These intentions of the new emperor caused great excitement among the clergy.
Peter led Russia out of the war, which was depleting the country's human and economic resources, and in which Russia was fulfilling its allied duty to Austria (that is, there was no "Russian interest" in the Seven Years' War), but by the time the war was withdrawn, almost all of Prussia had been captured . However, Peter made an unforgivable mistake by declaring his intention to move to recapture Schleswig from Denmark. The guards were especially worried, which, in fact, supported Catherine in the upcoming coup.
In addition, Peter was in no hurry to be crowned, and, in fact, he did not have time to comply with all the formalities that he was obliged to comply with as emperor. Frederick II in his letters persistently advised Peter to put on the crown as soon as possible, but the emperor did not heed the advice of his idol. Thus, in the eyes of the Russian people, he was like a "fake tsar."
The decree of Peter III on the freedom of the nobility caused the strongest excitement in the peasantry. The peasants expected that, having freed the landowners from the "fortress", the supreme power would also grant freedom to the serf peasantry. But Peter III did not understand that the liberation of the nobility from the service of the state makes the existence of serfdom meaningless. About the decrees of Peter III on freedom to the nobility, Pushkin writes in his "Notes on Russian History of the 18th Century": "Decrees, of which our ancestors were so proud and of which they should be more justly ashamed." During the short reign of the “Holstein devil,” as the late Empress Elizabeth sometimes called him in her hearts, however, a lot was done. They liquidated the Secret Chancellery and stopped persecuting the schismatics with such bitterness.
From the very accession to the throne, Peter tried in every possible way to advertise his boundless worship of Frederick II. He piously kissed the bust of the king in front of everyone, during one ceremonial dinner in the palace in front of everyone, he knelt before his portrait. Immediately after his accession to the throne, he put on a Prussian uniform and often wore a Prussian order. A motley and antique narrow Prussian uniform was also introduced in the Russian guard, replacing the old spacious dark green caftan given to it by Peter I. Considering himself a military apprentice of Frederick, Peter III tried to introduce the strictest discipline in the slightly dissolute Russian troops. There were excercises every day. Neither rank nor age exempted from marching. Contemporaries could not be surprised how times have changed, how, according to Bolotov, now the sick and not sick and the old men are the most raising their legs and, along with the young, marching and trampling and kneading the dirt just as well as the soldiers. What was most offensive of all - Peter gave preference to the rabble Holstein guard in everything over the Russian one, calling the latter Janissaries.
The wife of Peter III, the Anhaltzerbt princess, before the adoption of Orthodoxy was called Sophia Frederica Augusta, named Ekaterina Alekseevna, was the complete opposite of her ridiculous husband. Clever, energetic and educated, after arriving in Russia from the German outback, she hatched a dream to take the throne and skillfully gained popularity with the court and the capital's nobility.
Peter's relationship with his wife did not work out from the very beginning: she was intellectually more developed, and he, on the contrary, was infantile. His mind was still occupied with childish games, military exercises, and he was not at all interested in women. It is believed that until the early 1750s. there was no marital relationship between husband and wife, but then Peter underwent some kind of operation, after which in 1754 Catherine gave birth to his son Paul (future Emperor Paul I). However, Peter became more and more distant from his wife; E. R. Vorontsova (sister of E. R. Dashkova) became his favorite.
As for Catherine, then, as the same Frederick II said: “She was a foreigner, on the eve of a divorce” and the coup was her only chance (Peter emphasized more than once that he was going to divorce his wife and marry Elizabeth Vorontsova).
In contrast to Peter III, who grimaced in churches during divine services, she demonstrated piety and an ardent commitment to Orthodoxy. The husband mocked Russian customs, the wife, on the contrary, strictly adhered to them. Catherine opposed the quick-tempered temper and tyranny of Peter III with calmness and prudence. As a result, Peter III, with his unpredictable actions, caused uncertainty in the future among the courtiers and nobles. This made it easier for Catherine the way to the throne.
Highlights of life:
Russian emperor (1761-1762 - 6 months);
Childhood, upbringing:
The boy's mother, named Karl-Peter-Ulrich at birth, died shortly after his birth, and at the age of 11 he lost his father. His educators O. F. Brummer and F. V. Berkhholz were not distinguished by high moral qualities, they severely punished the child more than once and cared little about his education: by the age of 13, he only knew a little French. Peter grew up nervous, impressionable, loved music and painting, and at the same time adored everything military. It was with military comforts that all his ambitious dreams were connected. By nature, he was more good-natured than evil. According to some reports, already in childhood he was addicted to wine.
In 1742 Peter was brought to Russia by his aunt Empress Elizabeth Petrovna proclaimed heir to the throne. He was baptized according to Orthodox tradition under the name of Peter Fedorovich, and in 1745 he was married to the princess of Anhalt-Zerbst, the future empress Catherine II .
Academician J. Shtelin became his tutor and teacher, who considered his student quite capable, but lazy, at the same time noting in him such features as cowardice, cruelty to animals, and a tendency to boast.
Domestic politics
AT December 1761 Peter III came to the throne. Reveling in his autocratic power, the emperor developed a frenzied activity, the main purpose of which was to prove that he was able to govern the country better than his late aunt. However, he did not have any definite political program. During the six months of his reign, he managed to issue a significant number of legislative acts, among which it is necessary to note the Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility and the decree on the secularization of church land property.
Undoubtedly, a liberal step on the part of Peter was the liquidation of the secret investigation files of the office. The emperor's policy was distinguished by religious tolerance, he stopped the persecution of the Old Believers and was going to reform the Russian Orthodox Church. In the army, he began to consistently introduce the Prussian order, which did not add to his popularity.
Foreign policy
The foreign policy activity of Peter III was more definite. He made peace, and then a military alliance with Prussia, thereby nullifying all the efforts of Russia in the Seven Years' War. His main goal was the war with Denmark for the duchy of Schleswig, which previously belonged to his paternal ancestors. War was declared in August 1762, and the emperor himself was going to set out from St. Petersburg at the head of the guards regiments. But the events in the capital of Russia prevented the implementation of these plans.
Dethronement, death
The chaotic, poorly thought-out actions of Peter in the domestic political arena deprived him of any broad support from any social stratum of Russian society, and his foreign policy regarded by many as a betrayal of national interests. Peter's policy, creating political instability, in court circles gave rise to uncertainty about the future.
All this led to a coup on June 28, 1762, as a result of which the empress was proclaimed Catherine II . Peter, accompanied by a guard of guards led by A. G. Orlov, was sent to Ropsha, 30 miles from St. Petersburg, where he died under unclear circumstances. According to the official version, the cause of death was an attack of hemorrhoids, aggravated by prolonged alcohol consumption. According to another version, Peter was either intentionally, or accidentally (during the ensuing fight) killed by the guards guarding him, and perhaps two days later, the date announced earlier. There is also speculation that he died of a stroke caused by shock.
Initially, he was buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, but in 1796, by order of Paul I, his body was transferred to the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Interesting to know:
Peter III Fedorovich (Peter-Ulrich) (1O. (21).2.1728-7.7.1762), Emperor of All Russia (since 1761). The son of the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Karl-Friedrich (son of the sister of the Swedish king Charles XII) and Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter I (thus, he was the grandson of two rival sovereigns and could, under certain conditions, be a contender for both Russian and to the Swedish throne). In 1741, after the death of Eleonora Ulrika, he was elected the successor of her husband Frederick, who received the Swedish throne, and on November 15, 1742, he was declared heir to the Russian throne by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Pyotr Fyodorovich was brought up by Marshal Brummer, who prepared him mainly for the occupation of the Swedish throne and, consequently, brought him up in the spirit of the Lutheran religion and Swedish patriotism. In 1742, Peter Ulrich was brought to Russia by decree of Elizabeth Petrovna, where he was baptized under the name Peter Fedorovich. Elizaveta Petrovna chose the daughter of Christian-August Anhalt of Zerbst and Johanna-Elizabeth - Sophia Augusta Frederica (in Orthodoxy - Ekaterina Alekseevna) as his bride. The Prussian king Friedrich P. insisted on this marriage. The wedding took place on August 21, 1745. Pyotr Fedorovich was not interested in Russia and superstitiously thought that he would find his death here. The new mentor of the heir to the throne, Academician J. Shtelin, despite all efforts, could not inspire him with love for the new fatherland. Peter Fedorovich was mainly interested in military affairs, and his reverence for Frederick II turned into a desire to imitate him even in small things. The question of the fate of the Russian throne seriously occupied Elizabeth Petrovna and her courtiers, and they came up with various combinations. Some wished that the empress, bypassing her nephew, would transfer the throne to his son Pavel Petrovich, and appoint Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna as regent until he came of age. December 25, 1761 Peter Fedorovich ascended the Russian throne under the name of Emperor Peter III after the death of Elizabeth Petrovna. Soon after accession to the throne in 1762, he concluded the St. Petersburg peace with Prussia, which nullified the results of the victories of Russian troops in the Seven Years' War. Despite the brevity of his reign, only 186 days, Peter III issued many manifestos, nominal and Senate decrees, resolutions. "Verbal imperial decrees" became widespread. On February 18, 1762, he issued a decree "On the granting of liberty and freedom to all Russian nobility", which removed compulsory service from the nobility and was, as it were, a direct predecessor of Catherine's letter of commendation to the nobility (1785), a decree "On the destruction of the secret investigative office" (thus, the use of repressive measures were subject to strict regulation). At the same time, measures were envisaged to eliminate various kinds of slander. Peter III proclaimed freedom of religion, stopped the persecution of schismatics. At the same time, he intended to put church hierarchs under control not only politically (which was done by Peter I), but also economically, by secularizing church and monastery lands (this intention was carried out by Catherine II in 1764). Naturally, this caused the most irreconcilable resistance from the church. Surrounded by the Holsteiners, Peter III began to remake in the Prussian way Russian army and thus set the guard against him. At the end of his reign, he began a war with Denmark because of Schleswig, which he wanted to acquire for Holstein. This aroused the people against him, who remained indifferent when the nobility, represented by the guards, openly opposed Peter III and proclaimed Catherine II empress (June 28, 1762). Peter was arrested and removed to Ropsha, where he was killed on July 7. After 34 years, Paul I moved the ashes of his father Peter III from the Lazarevsky cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and buried with all honors in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Disputes about the identity and role of Peter III in Russian history do not subside to this day.
After the death of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna on December 25, 1761 (January 5, 1762 according to the new style), he was proclaimed emperor. Ruled 186 days. Not crowned.
In assessing the activities of Peter III, two different approaches usually collide. The traditional approach is based on the absolutization of his vices and blind trust in the image created by memoirists - the organizers of the coup (Catherine II, E.R. Dashkova). He is characterized as ignorant, weak-minded, his dislike for Russia is accentuated. Recently, attempts have been made to more objectively consider his personality and activities.
It is noted that Peter III was energetically engaged in state affairs (“Already in the morning he was in his office, where he listened to reports, then hurried to the Senate or collegiums. In the Senate, he took on the most important matters himself energetically and assertively”). His policy was quite consistent; he, in imitation of his grandfather Peter I, proposed a series of reforms.
Among the most important cases of Peter III are the abolition of the Secret Office (Office of Secret Investigative Affairs; Manifesto of February 16, 1762), the beginning of the process of secularization of church lands, the promotion of commercial and industrial activities by creating the State Bank and issuing banknotes (Nominal Decree of May 25), adoption of the decree on freedom of foreign trade (Decree of March 28); it also contains a demand for a careful attitude to forests as one of the most important wealth of Russia. Among other measures, researchers note a decree that allowed the establishment of factories for the production of sailing fabric in Siberia, as well as a decree that qualified the murder of peasants by landowners as “tyrannical torment” and provided for life exile for this. He also stopped the persecution of the Old Believers. Peter III is also credited with the intention to reform the Russian Orthodox Church according to the Protestant model (In the Manifesto of Catherine II on the occasion of her accession to the throne of June 28, 1762, Peter was blamed for this: “Our Greek Church was already extremely exposed to its last danger of changing the ancient Orthodoxy in Russia and the adoption of an infidel law).
Legislative acts adopted during the short reign of Peter III, in many ways became the foundation for the subsequent reign of Catherine II.
The most important document of the reign of Peter Fedorovich is the “Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility” (Manifesto of February 18, 1762), thanks to which the nobility became an exclusive privileged estate Russian Empire. The nobility, being forced by Peter I to obligatory and total duty to serve the state all his life, under Anna Ioannovna, who received the right to retire after 25 years of service, now received the right not to serve at all. And the privileges, initially granted to the nobility as a service class, not only remained, but also expanded. In addition to being exempted from service, the nobles received the right to leave the country virtually unhindered. One of the consequences of the Manifesto was that the nobles could now freely dispose of their land holdings, regardless of their attitude to service (the Manifesto passed over in silence the rights of the nobility to their estates; while the previous legislative acts of Peter I, Anna Ioannovna and Elizaveta Petrovna, concerning noble service, linked service duties and landownership rights). The nobility became as free as a privileged estate in a feudal country can be.
The reign of Peter III was marked by the strengthening of serfdom. The landlords got the opportunity to arbitrarily move the peasants who belonged to them from one county to another; there were serious bureaucratic restrictions on the transition of serfs to the merchant class; during the six months of Peter's reign, about 13 thousand people were distributed from state peasants to serfs (in fact, there were more of them: only men were included in the audit lists in 1762). During these six months, peasant riots arose several times, suppressed by punitive detachments. Noteworthy is the manifesto of Peter III of June 19 regarding the riots in the Tver and Kansk districts: “We intend to preserve the landowners with their estates and possessions inviolably, and keep the peasants in due obedience to them.” The riots were caused by a spreading rumor about the granting of "liberties to the peasantry", a response to rumors and served legislative act, which was not accidentally given the status of a manifest.
The legislative activity of the government of Peter III was extraordinary. During the 186-day reign, judging by the official "Complete collection of laws of the Russian Empire", 192 documents were adopted: manifestos, nominal and Senate decrees, resolutions, etc. (They do not include decrees on awards and rank production, monetary payments and on specific private issues).
However, some researchers stipulate that measures useful for the country were taken as if “by the way”; for the emperor himself, they were not urgent or important. In addition, many of these decrees and manifestos did not appear suddenly: they were prepared even under Elizabeth by the “Commission for the drafting of a new Code”, but were adopted at the suggestion of Roman Vorontsov, Pyotr Shuvalov, Dmitry Volkov and other Elizabethan dignitaries who remained at the throne of Pyotr Fedorovich.
Peter III was much more interested in the internal affairs of the war with Denmark: the emperor planned, in alliance with Prussia, to oppose Denmark (yesterday's ally of Russia), in order to return Schleswig taken from her native Holstein, and he himself intended to go on a campaign at the head of the guard. Despite the generally accepted negative assessment of this alleged campaign, from the point of view of modern geopolitics, the key role of Schleswig in controlling the straits of the North and Baltic Seas should be recognized. Compared to the war with Prussia, which was absolutely unnecessary for Russia (with which Russia did not even have a common border at that time), the option of peace with Prussia and war with Denmark now does not seem to be such an outright adventure as it is presented in the memoirs of Peter III's ill-wishers.
Immediately upon accession to the throne, Pyotr Fedorovich returned to court most of the disgraced nobles of the previous reign, who were languishing in exile (except for the hated Bestuzhev-Ryumin). Among them was Count Burchard Christopher Munnich, a veteran palace coups and master engineer of his day. The Holstein relatives of the emperor were summoned to Russia: Princes Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp and Peter August Friedrich of Holstein-Beck. Both were promoted to field marshals in view of the war with Denmark; Peter August Friedrich was also appointed governor-general of the capital. Alexander Vilboa was appointed Feldzeugmeister General. These people, as well as the former educator Jacob Stehlin, who was appointed personal librarian, made up the inner circle of the emperor.
Heinrich Leopold von Goltz arrived in St. Petersburg to negotiate a separate peace with Prussia. Peter III valued the opinion of the Prussian envoy so much that he soon began to "rule the whole foreign policy Russia".
Once in power, Peter III immediately ceased hostilities against Prussia and concluded the Treaty of Petersburg with Frederick II on extremely unfavorable terms for Russia, returning the conquered East Prussia (which had been integral part Russian Empire) and abandoning all acquisitions during the actually won Seven Years' War. Russia's exit from the war again saved Prussia from complete defeat (see also "The Miracle of the House of Brandenburg"). The ill-wishers of Peter III interpreted the peace concluded on April 24 as a betrayal and national humiliation: a long and costly war ended in nothing, Russia did not derive any benefits from its victories. However, this did not prevent Catherine II from continuing what Peter III had started, and finally the disputed lands were liberated from the control of the Russian troops and given to Prussia 2 years later - after the new union treaty concluded with Frederick Catherine II. However, the classical story, which interprets the role of Peter III exclusively in a negative way for Russia, relies on the memoirs of the favorites of the victorious party of Catherine II and attributes the surrender of the disputed lands exclusively to Peter III.
Despite the progressive nature of many legislative measures and the unprecedented privileges of the nobility, Peter's poorly thought out foreign policy acts, as well as his harsh actions against the church, the introduction of the Prussian order in the army not only did not add to his authority, but deprived him of any social support; in court circles, his policy only gave rise to uncertainty about the future.
“Society felt in the actions of the government prank and caprice, the lack of unity of thought and a certain direction. It was obvious to everyone that the governmental mechanism was in disorder. All this caused a friendly murmur, which poured down from the higher spheres and became popular. Tongues loosened, as if not feeling the policeman's fear; on the streets they openly and loudly expressed discontent, without any fear blaming the sovereign. Finally, the intention to withdraw the guard from Petersburg and send it to an incomprehensible and unpopular Danish campaign served as a powerful catalyst for a conspiracy that arose in the guard in favor of Ekaterina Alekseevna.
Sovereign
After the death of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna on December 25, 1761 (January 5, 1762 according to the new style), he was proclaimed emperor. Ruled 186 days. Not crowned.
In assessing the activities of Peter III, two different approaches usually collide. The traditional approach is based on the absolutization of his vices and blind trust in the image created by memoirists - the organizers of the coup (Catherine II, E. R. Dashkova). He is characterized as ignorant, weak-minded, his dislike for Russia is accentuated.
Rokotov Fedor Stepanovich. Portrait of Peter III. 1758 Nizhny Novgorod Art Museum
Recently, attempts have been made to more objectively consider his personality and activities.
It is noted that Peter III was energetically engaged in state affairs.
“Already in the morning he was in his office, where he listened to reports, then hurried to the Senate or collegiums. In the Senate, he himself took on the most important cases energetically and assertively.
His policy was quite consistent; he, in imitation of his grandfather Peter I, proposed a series of reforms.
Lucas Konrad Pfanzelt Coronation portrait of Emperor Peter III Fedorovich 1761
Alexei Antropov Portrait of Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna 1760s Saratov Art Museum
Among the most important deeds of Peter III are the abolition of the Secret Office of Investigative Affairs (Manifesto of February 16, 1762), the beginning of the process of secularization of church lands, the promotion of commercial and industrial activities through the creation of the State Bank and the issuance of banknotes (Nominal Decree of May 25), the adoption of a decree on freedom of foreign trade (Decree of March 28); it also contains a demand for a careful attitude to forests, as one of the most important wealth of Russia.
Among other measures, researchers note a decree that allowed the establishment of factories for the production of sailing fabric in Siberia, as well as a decree that qualified the murder of peasants by landowners as “tyrannical torment” and provided for life exile for this. He also stopped the persecution of the Old Believers.
Peter III is also credited with the intention to reform the Russian Orthodox Church along Protestant lines.
In the Manifesto of Catherine II on the occasion of her accession to the throne of June 28, 1762, Peter was blamed for this: “Our Greek Church was already extremely exposed to its last danger by the change of Orthodoxy, ancient in Russia, and the adoption of an infidel law.”
Legislative acts adopted during the short reign of Peter III, in many ways became the foundation for the subsequent reign of Catherine II.
Georg Christopher Groot Portrait of Peter Fedorovich of the future Peter III 1753
Snuffbox with miniature Portrait of Peter III Hermitage
(Peter III is depicted on a horse among a group of military men. The emperor is presented with the orders of St. Andrew the First-Called and St. Anna)
The most important document of the reign of Peter Fedorovich is the “Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility” (Manifesto of February 18, 1762), thanks to which the nobility became an exclusive privileged class of the Russian Empire.
The legislative activity of the government of Peter III was extraordinary. During the 186-day reign, judging by the official "Complete collection of laws of the Russian Empire", 192 documents were adopted.
Immediately upon accession to the throne, Pyotr Fedorovich returned to court most of the disgraced nobles of the previous reign, who were languishing in exile.
The Holstein relatives of the emperor were summoned to Russia: Princes Georg of Holstein-Gottorp and Peter August Friedrich of Holstein-Beck. Both were promoted to field marshals in view of the war with Denmark; Peter August Friedrich was also appointed governor-general of the capital. Alexander Vilboa was appointed Feldzeugmeister General (that is, the commander of artillery). These people, as well as the former tutor Jacob Stehlin, who was appointed personal librarian, made up the emperor's inner circle.
The emperor did not forget about his "dear Lizaveta". After accession to the throne, Peter III granted her to the chamber-maid of honor, gave her rooms next to his own in the Winter Palace, and on June 9, 1762 solemnly laid on her the Catherine's Ribbon (Order of St. Catherine).
Once in power, Peter III immediately ceased hostilities against Prussia and concluded the Peace of Petersburg with Frederick II on conditions that were extremely unfavorable for Russia, returning the conquered East Prussia.
Peter III easily sacrificed the interests of Russia for the sake of his German duchy and friendship with the idol Frederick.
Unknown artist Emperor Peter III 1762
"Society felt in the actions of the government prank and whim, the lack of unity of thought and a certain direction."
The intention to withdraw the guard from Petersburg and send it to an incomprehensible and unpopular Danish campaign served as a powerful catalyst for a conspiracy that arose in the guard in favor of Ekaterina Alekseevna.
Palace coup
The first beginnings of the conspiracy date back to 1756, that is, at the time of the start of the Seven Years' War and the deterioration of the health of Elizabeth Petrovna.
The Empress had no illusions about her successor on the throne and later considered replacing her nephew with Paul's great-nephew.
“During the illness of Elisaveta Petrovna, I heard that everyone was afraid of her heir; that he is neither loved nor honored by anyone; that the empress herself complains about whom to entrust the throne; that they find a tendency in her to dismiss the incapable heir, from whom she herself had annoyance, and take his seven-year-old son and entrust me (that is, Catherine) with management.
F. Burov Peter III visits John Antonovich in the Shlisselburg fortress, 18th century
Over the next three years, Catherine, who also fell under suspicion in 1758 and almost ended up in a monastery, did not take any noticeable political actions, except that she stubbornly increased and strengthened personal ties in high society.
In the ranks of the guard, a conspiracy against Pyotr Fedorovich took shape in the last months of Elizaveta Petrovna's life, thanks to the activities of the three Orlov brothers, the officers of the Izmailovsky regiment, the brothers Roslavlev and Lasunsky, the Preobrazhenians Passek and Bredikhin. Among the highest dignitaries of the Empire, the most enterprising conspirators were N. I. Panin, educator of the young Pavel Petrovich, M. N. Volkonsky and K. G. Razumovsky, Little Russian hetman, president of the Academy of Sciences, favorite of his Izmailovsky regiment.
Unknown artist Portrait of Peter III
Elizaveta Petrovna died without daring to change anything in the fate of the throne. Catherine did not consider it possible to carry out a coup immediately after the death of the Empress: she was at the end of the fifth month of pregnancy (from Grigory Orlov; in April 1762 she gave birth to a son, Alexei).
In addition, Catherine had political reasons not to rush things, she wanted to attract as many supporters as possible to her side for a complete triumph. Knowing well the character of her husband, she rightly believed that Peter would set the entire metropolitan society against him soon enough. To carry out the coup, Catherine chose to wait for the right moment.
"All agreed that the blow should be struck when his majesty and the army were ready to be sent to Denmark."
Peter III openly said that he was going to divorce his wife in order to marry his favorite Elizaveta Vorontsova. He treated his wife rudely, and on April 30, during a gala dinner on the occasion of the conclusion of peace with Prussia, there was a public scandal. The emperor, in the presence of the court, diplomats and foreign princes, shouted “folle” (fool) to his wife across the table; Catherine wept. The reason for the insult was Catherine's unwillingness to drink while standing, proclaimed by Peter III toast. The hostility between the spouses reached its climax. On the evening of the same day, he gave the order to arrest her, and only the intervention of Field Marshal Georg of Holstein-Gottorp, the emperor's uncle, saved Catherine.
By May 1762, the change of mood in the capital became so obvious that the emperor was advised on all sides to take measures to prevent a catastrophe, there were denunciations of a possible conspiracy, but Pyotr Fedorovich did not understand the seriousness of his situation.
Rokotov Fyodor Stepanovich Portrait of Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich no later than 1758
Rokotov Fedor Stepanovich. Portrait of Peter Fedorovich, in the future Peter III, 1763
In May, the court, led by the emperor, as usual, left the city, to Oranienbaum. There was a calm in the capital, which greatly contributed to the final preparations of the conspirators.
The Danish campaign was planned for June. The emperor decided to postpone the march of the troops in order to celebrate his name day. On the morning of June 28, 1762, on the eve of Peter's Day, Emperor Peter III with his retinue set off from Oranienbaum, his country residence, to Peterhof, where a solemn dinner was to be held in honor of the emperor's name day.
On the eve of St. Petersburg, there was a rumor that Catherine was being held under arrest. The strongest turmoil began in the guard; one of the conspirators, Captain Passek, was arrested; the Orlov brothers feared that there was a threat of disclosure of the conspiracy.
In Peterhof, Peter III was supposed to be met by his wife, who, on the duty of the empress, was the organizer of the celebrations, but by the time the court arrived, she had disappeared. After a short time, it became known that Catherine fled to St. Petersburg early in the morning in a carriage with Alexei Orlov (he arrived in Peterhof to Catherine with the news that events had taken a critical turn and it was no longer possible to delay). In the capital, the guards, the Senate and the Synod, the population swore allegiance to the "Empress and Autocrat of All Russia" in a short time.
Peter's further actions show an extreme degree of confusion. Rejecting Minich's advice to immediately head to Kronstadt and fight, relying on the fleet and the army loyal to him stationed in East Prussia, he was going to defend himself in Peterhof in a toy fortress built for maneuvers with the help of a Holstein detachment.
However, having learned about the approach of the guards led by Catherine, Peter abandoned this thought and sailed to Kronstadt with the whole court, ladies, etc. But by that time Kronstadt had already sworn allegiance to Catherine. After that, Peter completely lost heart and, again rejecting Minich's advice to go to the East Prussian army, returned to Oranienbaum, where he signed the abdication.
Benois A. Palace of Peter III in Oranienbaum
“Somewhere they got wine, and a general binge began. The rampant guards were clearly going to inflict upon their own former emperor reprisal. Panin forcibly gathered a battalion of reliable soldiers to surround the pavilion. It was hard to look at Peter III. He sat powerless and weak-willed, constantly crying. Having seized a moment, he rushed to Panin and, catching his hand for a kiss, whispered: “I ask for one thing - leave Lizaveta (Vorontsova) with me, I conjure in the name of the merciful Lord!”
Arrested together with Peter III, Elizabeth, after the coup, despite her requests to follow Peter to Holstein, was sent to her father's village near Moscow. Catherine II herself undertook to arrange the further fate of Vorontsova, "so that she no longer had to deal with anyone and lived in silence, not giving people many reasons to talk about herself." In 1765 Elizaveta Romanovna married A.I. Polyansky (1721-1818) and moved to St. Petersburg, where she lived until the end of her days. Without appearing at court, she was in the world and even saw a close friend of Catherine II, Countess A.S. Protasova. Elizabeth Romanovna had two children - daughter Anna and son Alexander.
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