Prenner Georg Gaspar Joseph von. Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. 1754
The daughter of Peter I and the future Empress Ekaterina Alekseevna was born on December 18, 1709.On this day, Russian troops, victors in the battle of Poltava, unfurling their banners, solemnly entered Moscow.
Triumphal entry of Russian troops to Moscow after the Poltava victory. Engraving by A.F. Zubov. 1710
Having received the joyful news of the birth of his daughter, Peter arranged a three-day celebration in her honor. The king loved his second family very much. Attachment to loved ones with him, a man of power and sternness, sometimes took touching forms.
Portrait of Princess Elizabeth Petrovna (1709-1761) as a child. Russian Museum, Mikhailovsky Castle.
In letters to his wife, he said hello to the "quadruple darling" - this was the family nickname of Elizabeth at the time when she was still crawling on all fours. In the summer of 1710, Peter sailed across the Baltic on the sailboat "Lizetka" - that's how he called the tiny princess.
Portrait of princesses Anna Petrovnaand Elizabeth Petrovna, 1717, Louis Caravaque
At the age of two, she, along with her four-year-old sister Anna, attended her parents' wedding. Peter early began to write separately to the princesses, encouraging them in a similar way to master the letter. Elizabeth learned to read and write when she was not even eight years old. Peter I saw in his daughters an instrument of a diplomatic game and prepared them for dynastic marriages in order to strengthen the international position of Russia.
I.N. Nikitin Portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna as a child (1709-1761) 1712-13
Therefore, he first of all paid attention to the study by them foreign languages. Elizabeth was fluent in French, spoke German and Italian. In addition, the princesses were taught music, dance, the ability to dress, and etiquette. From childhood, Elizabeth passionately fell in love with dancing, and in this art she had no equal.
Tsesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna, future empress (1741-1761).Unfinished portrait. 1720s. The Russian Museum
As early as 1720, her father tried to arrange the marriage of Elizabeth with the French king Louis XV, her age. But in Versailles, they reacted with restraint to the proposal of the Russian side because of the origin of the princess: her mother was a commoner, at the time of the birth of her daughter she was not married to the king. Later, Elizabeth was arranged for Karl August of Holstein, but he died before he could 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 birth, but also thanks to her personal virtues. Quick to invent, pleasant to get around, Elizabeth was the soul of this society.
Unknown artist. Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
Elizaveta Petrovna (equestrian portrait of the Empress with retinue
From her parents, she received enough money to satisfy her passion for all kinds of entertainment. In her surroundings, everything was seething with fun, she was always busy: trips along the Neva and out of town, masquerades and balls, staging performances, playing music, dancing ... This continuous and reckless rapture of life "ended when Elizabeth's mother, Empress Catherine I, died.
Peter II of Russia and Elizabeth Petrovna
At the court of Anna Ioannovna, the princess received the honors due to her. However, Elizabeth felt like a stranger in the royal family. Her relationship with her cousin-empress was not distinguished by warmth. Anna Ioannovna appointed Elizabeth more than a modest allowance, and the princess, who had not previously known how to count money, now constantly felt the need for them. It is believed that the empress could not forget her humiliating position in Mitava, when, due to the eternal lack of funds, she very often turned to Elizabeth's parents with pleas for help and did not always receive what she asked for. And therefore the princess had a hard time with her
Unknown artist.Portrait of Tsesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna, 1730s
And, finally, Anna Ioannovna was worried about Elizabeth's rights to the Russian crown. The Empress saw in her relative a serious rival and was seriously afraid of a coup d'état in her favor. Anna ordered to establish shadowing for the princess.
Louis Caravaque Portrait of Empress Anna Ioannovna. 1730
To get rid of Elizabeth, they wanted to either marry her somewhere far away from St. Petersburg and to a "safe" prince, or forcefully make her a nun. A suitable groom was never found. And the threat of life imprisonment in a monastery for Elizabeth became a nightmare, which she got rid of only after ascending the throne. The Tsesarevna was forced to behave with extreme caution. Any thoughtlessly spoken word - by her or someone close to her - could lead to disaster. She pointedly had no interest in politics.
Ivan VIAntonovich(1740-1764), emperor in 1740-1741. Great-grandson of Ivan V Alekseevich, son of Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick and Princess Anna Leopoldovna of Mecklenburg, niece of the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna. By the manifesto of Anna Ioannovna, he was appointed heir to the throne.
Nevertheless, Anna Ioannovna's fears were not without foundation, if only because the daughter of Peter I was loved in the guards. 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 among the guards that Elizabeth found her ardent supporters, with the help of whom in November 1741 she seized power in the state.
Fyodor Moskovitin Oath of the Preobrazhensky Regiment to Empress Elizaveta Petrovna.
From the first days of the reign of Elizabeth under the Empressthere was a circle of her longtime adherents, who occupied all the most important state and court posts. Passionate love for folk songs became the reason for Elizabeth's attention to Alexei Grigorievich Razumovsky. A Ukrainian Cossack, a rare handsome man, he came to St. Petersburg thanks to his magnificent bass. He was taken to the court choristers back in 1731. Having ascended the throne, Elizaveta Petrovna granted the rootless Razumovsky the title of count and the rank of field marshal, and in 1742, according to many historians, she secretly married him. Rumors about this marriage inevitably gave rise to legends about the supposedly existing children of Elizabeth and Razumovsky - for example, Princess Tarakanova and even about the whole Tarakanov family.
Unknown artist Portrait of Alexei Grigoryevich Razumovsky, mid-18th century
Elizaveta Petrovna
One of the closest assistants to the Empress was Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov. Vice-Chancellor from 1744, he succeeded A.P. Bestuzhev as Chancellor of the Empire in 1758.
Antropov Alexey Petrovich: Portrait of Prince M.I. Vorontsov
The empress returned from exile and brought closer to her the surviving princes Dolgorukovs, Count P. I. Musin-Pushkin and several other Russian nobles who suffered during the reign of Anna Ioannovna. Elizabeth removed foreigners from all key posts in the state; she was not at all going to expel foreign specialists from the country, who were in dire need of Russia.
Coronation of Elizabeth Petrovna
Coronation processions of Elizabeth
The development of the foreign policy program and Russian diplomacy of the Elizabethan era is mainly associated with the name of the shrewd and experienced statesman Chancellor Alexei Petrovich Bestuzhev.
Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Alexey Petrovich
On his initiative, in the spring of 1756, to consider foreign policy issues and direct military operations during the all-European Seven Years' War 1756-1763 A new government body was established - the Conference at the Imperial Court (a permanent meeting of top dignitaries and generals consisting of ten people). Bestuzhev encountered the problems of Russian-Swedish relations at the end of 1741, when he was appointed to the post of vice-chancellor. Having recovered from the defeat in the Northern War, Sweden hoped to take revenge and revise the terms of the Nystadt peace on the battlefields, according to which Russia seized the Swedish possessions in the Baltic states. In the summer of 1741, the Russian-Swedish war began, ending in the complete defeat of the Swedish army. In August 1743, a peace treaty was signed in Abo (Finland): the Swedish government confirmed the terms of the Nystad peace concluded by Peter I.
The capture of the Kolberg fortress during the Seven Years' War,Alexander Evstafievich Kotzebue
The Seven Years' War, in which Russia, for the purpose of territorial acquisitions, cf.zhalas on the side of France and Austria against Prussia and Great Britain, after the resignation of Bestuzhev, it was already under M. I. Vorontsov, his successor. At the beginning of 1758, Russian troops entered East Prussia and occupied Koenigsberg. In August of the following year, at the Battle of Kunersdorf prussian army was defeated, and in September 1760, Russian troops entered Berlin, which they were then forced to leave due to inconsistency in the actions of the allies. The victories of the Russian army had crucial to defeat Prussia, whose armed forces were then considered the best in Europe
Battle of KuhnensdorfAlexander Evstafievich Kotzebue
Louis CARAVACK. Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
Assuming the throne, Elizabeth proclaimed herself the successor of affairsand his great father. Following Peter's "principles" determined, in particular, the Empress's interest in economic issues, development of industry and trade. Encouraging noble entrepreneurship, Elizabeth ordered in 1753 to establish the Noble Loan Bank, which issued loans to landowners on the security of land. In 1754 the Merchants' Bank was founded. New manufactories were created at a rapid pace ( industrial enterprises). In Yaroslavl and Serpukhov, Irkutsk and Astrakhan, Tambov and Ivanov, in the noble estates, manufactories produced cloth and silk, canvas and ropes. Distillation became widespread in the landowners' farms.
Unknown artist of the 18th century. Departure of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. // Museum Estate Kuskovo
The decision of the government of Elizabeth, adopted in 1753, to abolish internal customs duties, which were charged on the cities and roads of Russia since ancient times. As a result of this reform, it was possible to put an end to the economic fragmentation of Russia. It was a bold move for the time. In France, for example, internal customs ceased to exist only during the revolution. late XVIII century, and in Germany - in the 30s. 19th century
Unknown Russian artist of the 2nd half of the 18th century. Portrait of Tsesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna
Elizabeth significantly expanded the rights and liberties of the nobles. In particular, she canceled the law of Peter I on undergrowth, according to which the nobles were supposed to start military service from young years soldiers. Under Elizabeth, children were recorded in the appropriate regiments from birth. Thus, at the age of ten, 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 for the development of Russian culture, primarily science and education
Taras Shevchenko Empress Elizaveta Petrovna and Suvorov (engraving). 1850s
Academy of Sciences participated in the organization geographical expeditions on the Far East in order to study in detail the northeastern borders Russian Empire. In the middle of the XVIII century. a four-volume work by the naturalist I. G. Gmelin "Flora of Siberia" with a description of 1,200 plants and the first ethnographic work in Russia "Description of the land of Kamchatka", written by S. P. Krasheninnikov
The decree of 1744 "On the connection of schools in the provinces into one place and the training of all ranks of people in them ..." facilitated access to schools for children from unprivileged sections of the population. In the 40-50s. to the first gymnasium in St. Petersburg that existed since 1726, two more were added - at Moscow University (1755) and in Kazan (1758). In 1752, the Navigational School, founded by Peter I, was reorganized into the Naval Nobility cadet corps where Russian officers were trained navy. January 25, 1755
University of Moscow
Elizabeth signed a decree on the founding of Moscow University. The spread of university education in Russia was the cherished dream of the Russian scientist and educator M. V. Lomonosov. Winning over 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 by Fyodor Volkov and Alexander Sumarokov, and in 1758 - the Academy of Arts.
Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov in 1760, portrait by brush Fedor Rokotov. State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg)
Architect A. F. Kokorinov, director and first rector of the Academy of Arts, 1769. Portrait of the work D. G. Levitsky
Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov
The emergence of interest in the fine arts in Russian society during the time of Elizabeth Petrovna is directly related to the empress's passion for them. It can be said that professional theater, opera, ballet, choral singing came out of the walls of her palace. Even in the difficult years of the reign of Anna Ioannovna for the young Elizabeth, many performances were staged at the "small court" of the princess. Her courtiers and singers took part in them. The plays were "on the topic of the day." In allegorical form, they told about the sad fate of the half-disgraced princess, political position in the country.
Heinrich Buchholz Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in pearls. 1768
Elizabeth did not lose interest in the theater even as an empress. She enjoyed the performances, even if she had seen them more than once. Especially popular in Russia in the middle of the XVIII century. there were plays by A.P. Sumarokov. Not only celebrations and holidays, but also the usual feasts of Elizabeth Petrovna were necessarily accompanied by the playing of the orchestra and the singing of court musicians. As the well-known historian E. V. Anisimov writes, "in the Elizabethan time, music became an integral and indispensable part" of the life of the palace and the St. Petersburg nobility. The imperial orchestra of highly professional Italian and German musicians performed works by Western European composers. , they later became public, and citizens could attend.At these concerts, Russian listeners got acquainted with the harp, mandolin, guitar
View of the Anichkov Palace
The Italian opera flourished at the court. No expense was spared for the arrangement of performances. These were majestic performances with ballet numbers and recitations that made an indelible impression on the audience. In the performances, along with Italian musicians and artists, young Russian singers were also involved. Their performance of difficult Italian arias delighted the audience. Russian dancers began to appear more and more often in ballet performances. Thus the foundations of the Russian national opera and ballet were laid.
Daughters - Anna and Elizabeth (18.12.1709 - 25.121761), as born out of wedlock, had little chance of ever occupying the Russian throne. Moreover, Anna Petrovna, having married the Duke of Holstein, lost her rights to the crown. And Elizabeth, due to her age and frivolous nature, seemed to be like this all her life and would only walk and break hearts. However, fate decreed otherwise...
Biography of Elizabeth Petrovna
It was hard not to fall in love with her: cheerful, cheerful, inquisitive, spontaneous - she invariably attracted the sympathy of almost everyone from her inner circle. However, she partly inherited her father's temper. Elizabeth led a stormy social life, was considered an enviable bride, but she was in no hurry to get married. There is an assumption that the very young Emperor Peter II was in love with his aunt, and she reciprocated. One way or another, after the death of a minor ruler from smallpox and immoderate libations, Elizabeth was removed from the court, since Anna Ioannovna, who reigned, saw her as a dangerous political rival. Premonitions did not deceive the Empress. Taking advantage of the situation, knowing about the attitude towards her in the guard, Elizabeth led a palace coup and overthrew Anna Leopoldovna with the baby emperor John. Elizabeth ruled for twenty years. Her personal life has not undergone major changes. Her heart confidant long time was A.G. Razumovsky, with whom, according to the fabrications of some pseudo-historians, she even secretly married. In later years, the intellectual I.I. Shuvalov, a thinker and philanthropist, became a favorite. Elizabeth, like a true woman, did little public affairs, preferring fun and entertainment to them. No wonder the poet A.K. Tolstoy in one of his poems “walked” on her account with such a stanza: “The merry queen / was Elizabeth: / Sings and has fun, / There is no order.”
Domestic policy of Elizabeth Petrovna
Elizabeth was elevated to the pinnacle of power due to the fact that she was the beloved "daughter" (daughter) of Peter the Great himself. With all the strength of her soul and decrees, she tried to maintain such an idea of \u200b\u200bherself. The first Russian banks were established - Dvoryansky, Merchants and Medny. Thanks to the abolition of internal customs, trade revived. The taxation system has undergone major changes. The Senate was restored to its former rights. public service became an exclusive privilege of the nobility. Through the efforts of M.V. Lomonosov, Moscow University was opened. Actually, the versatility of Lomonosov himself was revealed in full force precisely in the era of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, who clearly favored the poet and scientist. The first Russian public theater arose. In Ukraine, in Little Russia, the hetmanship was restored. Elizabeth abolished the death penalty, not a single person was executed during her reign (with the exception of fugitives and serfs, but they belonged, as it were, to “subhumans”). Political and economic stability has come, institutions state power strengthened, Peter's reforms became irreversible.
Foreign policy of Elizabeth Petrovna
During the entire twenty-year reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, Russia practically did not fight. Only at the beginning of the reign and at its end there were armed conflicts with Sweden and Prussia, respectively. Chancellor A.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin contributed a lot to the pacification of the warring parties. As for the Seven Years' War, the successes of the Russian troops in it were obvious. Our troops took Berlin and Prussia was close to complete collapse, if not for the death of the empress and the rollback from what had already been achieved by the new ruler - Peter III.
Elizabeth was very zealous in ensuring that she was considered the first beauty at court and throughout the state. So, the wardrobe discovered after her death totaled as many as 15 thousand dresses. Needless to say, beauty is a terrible force!
Under Elizabeth, the career of the almighty A.I. Osterman, an experienced and crafty courtier who survived several rulers and contributed to the fall of the seemingly omnipotent A.D. Menshikov, came to an end. Sentenced to quartering, he was, however, pardoned and only exiled to Siberia for a settlement.
Nicholas II, was from the Romanov family, whose ancestor was Mikhail Romanov, the grandfather of Peter the Great. “Why is it considered?” - many will surely ask. Yes, because after themselves neither Peter I nor John V, the last kings of all Russia, left direct descendants according to male line, and power in the future passed either to their daughters, or already to their children. Moreover, the state long time the empresses ruled (Anna, Elizabeth and Catherine), who were distinguished by very free morals and were reputed to be too loving. Therefore, the question arises about the purity of the royal blood of the last Russian emperor. In principle, we know the exact answer to the question of who ruled after Elizabeth Petrovna. Of course, Peter III(son of the daughter of Peter the Great, Anna Petrovna, and Duke Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp). But about the origin of his son, Paul the First, many legends were composed.
Origins of the Romanov dynasty
The first representative of this royal family is Patriarch Filaret, aka Fyodor Nikitich (born from the boyars), the son of Nikita Romanovich. Then Mikhail Fedorovich was proclaimed tsar. And then - his son Alexei Mikhailovich, who had three sons: the eldest - Fedor, the middle - Ivan, the youngest - Peter. After the death of their father, power passed into the hands of As is known from history, Peter Alekseevich and his brother John, after the death of their older brother, became co-rulers of the Russian throne. Because John was very weak in health and practically did not interfere in the government of the country. Nevertheless, he had five daughters, of whom only Anna became the empress in the future.
Children of Peter the Great
This king had a dozen children by two wives (most of them died in infancy). His eldest son Alexei never ascended the Russian throne, since during his father's lifetime he was accused of treason and sentenced to death penalty, but did not live to see the execution of the sentence. And here is the youngest and beloved daughter of Peter, Elizaveta Petrovna Romanova, who, although not immediately inherited the throne of her father, losing it first to her nephew Peter the Second (son of Tsarevich Alexei), and then to her cousin, Anna Ioannovna and her great-nephew Ivan the Sixth (great-grandson John the Fifth), as a result palace coup was able to finally take the throne and proclaimed herself the Empress of Russia. According to official sources, she was childless, although there were many legends about her descendants among the people. Before telling you who ruled after Elizabeth Petrovna, we will acquaint you with the biography of the empress, as well as with the era of her reign. We can say that it was a rather curious, but at the same time an important period in history. Russian state. This indicates that she inherited some traits of nature from her great father, including a love of reform.
Childhood of Elizabeth
The future empress was born in 1907 in Kolomenskoye. Her parents were not legally married, so Elizabeth is sometimes called the illegitimate daughter of Peter. Nevertheless, a year after her birth, the tsar married her mother and crowned her Catherine the First, and his two daughters were given the title of princess. Elizabeth and her sister Anna spent their childhood in the Winter Palace. They grew up in luxury, surrounded by a whole staff of servants. Girls received excellent upbringing and education. They studied languages: French, German, Italian. They were taught etiquette - the ability to behave correctly in high society. This subject included dance and music lessons. The young princesses were very well-read, since there was an extensive library at hand. All this knowledge was used during the reign. This period was distinguished by numerous grandiose festivities and masquerade balls. On them, the young empress shone with her skills and seduced her fans.
Youth
Elizaveta Petrovna Romanova was unusually pretty and stately. Her suitors were constantly following her. They say that they wanted to marry her to the French king Louis XV. There were even rumors among the people about the upcoming wedding of the princess with her nephew Peter Alekseevich, heir to the Russian throne, but he still chose Princess Dolgoruky as his wife. Elizabeth was fond of hunting, horses, boat riding, and also constantly took care of her beauty. And she didn’t even notice how, after the early death of Peter the Second, the throne passed to her cousin Anna, and she ended up in semi-disgrace for 10 years (1730-1740). However, only a year after death cousin as a result of a palace coup, she ascended the throne of her great father, and the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna began in Russia.
History of accession to the throne
At the end of her reign, Anna Ioannovna practically retired. And the actual ruler of the Russian state was Biron. After the death of the empress, no one remembered the daughter of Peter the Great, and the crown passed to Anna's young grand-nephew Ivan the Sixth, and his mother, Anna Leopoldovna, became regent. Nevertheless, power continued to remain in the hands of the hated German. Many Russian nobles, of course, were dissatisfied with this order of things, pinned their hopes on the princess and decided to bring the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna closer, arranging for her in those days Dr. Lestok and the music teacher Schwartz, as well as the entire grenadier company of the Preobrazhensky regiment. Bursting into the Winter Palace, she proclaimed herself the new empress, and the young Ivan and his mother were arrested. This is how Petrovna came to power (1741-1761) and, like her cousin Anna, ruled for exactly 10 years. Many parallels can be drawn between the reigns of both Romanov empresses, but the most obvious is favoritism. Both one and the other were greedy for love pleasures and, as a rule, awarded their beloved with titles and government posts. As a result, their favorites ruled the state, unceremoniously throwing their hands into the treasury.
Elizaveta Petrovna - Empress. Briefly about the years of her reign
That memorable decade, during which Elizabeth ruled Russia, became significant and fruitful for the country. From the very first days she announced that she was going to continue the course taken by her great father. So it was. Subsequently, historians regarded her steps as the first attempts at enlightened absolutism. It was during this period that Merchant, Noble (Loan) and Copper (State) banks were founded in Russia. Was canceled reorganized military educational establishments, expanded network primary schools, open gymnasiums in major cities Russia. In short, with the coming to power of Elizabeth, the Age of Enlightenment began.
Merit to the Fatherland
In the middle of her reign, one of the most significant events in the country took place - the founding of Moscow University. Its founder was one of her favorites - I. Shuvalov. Two years later, the Academy of Arts was opened. At that time, young scientists, the most prominent of which was M. Lomonosov, turned out to be governmental support etc. In a word, if it were not for dependence on favorites, historical portrait Elizabeth Petrovna would be one of the brightest among Russian rulers. All of the above refers to the spiritual side, but in material terms, the years of the reign of this empress were marked by the creation of architectural masterpieces, newly erected or rebuilt. The grandiose construction contributed to the development of highly skilled craftsmen in the country. These were the years of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. Buildings from this period are still referred to as examples of the Elizabethan Baroque. During the years of her reign, there were also many military victories, up to the conquest of Berlin. There could have been many more events, only the death of Elizabeth Petrovna was the beginning new era in the history of Russia.
Peter the Third
As you can see, the era of the reign of the daughter of Peter the Great was full of many valiant victories. Many European royal houses were preoccupied with the ever-increasing power of the Russian Empire, so the death of Elizabeth Petrovna was perceived by everyone, especially representatives of the House of Brandenburg, as a miracle that fell from heaven. After all, she was considered childless, and therefore did not leave behind heirs. Peter III - the one who ruled after Elizabeth Petrovna, was her nephew, her son older sister Anna and Duke Karl-Peter Ulrich of Holstein. In a word, after it the branch of the Romanovs was actually interrupted. Of course, the blood of his glorious grandfather flowed in the future heir, but he belonged to the Holstein family and was a descendant in the direct male line of Frederick I, King of Denmark. But there were many rumors about the origin of the subsequent heir to the Russian throne, Paul the First.
Children of Elizabeth Petrovna in the center of palace rumors
Probably, those who are not familiar with the atmosphere prevailing at the Russian court in the middle of the 18th century will be surprised: what kind of offspring in question when the empress was childless and unmarried. However, everything is not so clear. Most of the courtiers believed that the Empress, long before she ascended the throne, was in a church marriage with the Ukrainian shepherd Alexei Rozum, to whom she later presented the title of Prince Razumovsky. And the continuation of this story was the children of Elizabeth Petrovna. Although these were only guesses, and no evidence existed. But after her death, impostors appeared in society every now and then, who declared themselves her heirs.
son of elizabeth
By the way, rumors also revolved around the name of Tsarevich Paul the First. Gossip was spread in the yard that he was the son of Elizabeth Petrovna. This rumor was facilitated by talk that there was never a marital relationship between Peter the Third and his wife Catherine. Of course, the child could have been conceived by one of the lovers of the future empress, but special treatment the reigning empress to her “great-nephew” fueled such conjectures. Unfortunately, during the time of Elizabeth Petrovna, it was not possible to conduct a genetic test, so this remained a mystery to everyone.
Princess Tarakanova
From history, many people know that after the death of Elizabeth a certain girl appeared in St. Petersburg, who called herself her daughter, and that she was subsequently imprisoned by Catherine II in Peter and Paul Fortress. IN Tretyakov Gallery there is a painting by the famous artist Konstantin Flavitsky, which is called “Princess Tarakanova”. But why did the girl wear given surname? And if she were the daughter of the Empress, would Elizaveta Petrovna Romanova allow this? Her children were allegedly conceived either by Alexei Razumovsky (her morganatic husband) or by one of the Shuvalov brothers. So why Tarakanova? According to some rumors, the nephews of Alexei Razumovsky studied in some Swiss town, for whose education funds were allocated from the state treasury. They bore the surname Daragan. However, due to the fact that they had Russian roots, they began to be called Tarakanovs in Switzerland. And in the years, Princess Elizabeth Vladimirovskaya appeared at the court and announced that she was the daughter of Elizabeth Petrovna and Alexei Razumovsky. At the same time, she did not call herself Tarakanova. This name was first used in his book by the French diplomat Jean Henri Castera.
Reality or legend?
In principle, the information that Elizabeth had may well be true. After all, under the condition of favoritism and free morals at the Russian court, bastards (bastards) were not exceptional, but quite common. After the birth of the babies, it was customary to give them away for a small fee for the maintenance of servants, preferably somewhere in the outback. Sometimes the foster family did not even know whose child was growing next to their own, whose blue blood flows in his veins. However, in the case of the children of the Empress, they apparently did not want to give them into unknown hands and issued them to their own paternal aunt. By the way, in the legends about royal offspring, it is not about one daughter and one son, but about several children at once. In addition to the story of Princess Elizabeth Tarakanova, during the reign of Catherine there were also rumors that another daughter of the previous empress named Dosithea forcibly took tonsure and was imprisoned in the Novospassky Convent.
Pavel the First
If you study genealogical tree rulers of the Romanov family, you can see who ruled after Elizabeth Petrovna. We repeat, it was her nephew, the son of Anna's older sister, Peter the Third. By the way, among his many titles is the title of "grandson of Peter the Great." It is also known from history that he briefly occupied the Russian throne. His wife, the German princess Sophia-Augusta, who became Catherine at baptism, soon overthrew him and began to single-handedly rule Russia, of course, relying on the help of her many admirers. After her death, the crown and throne passed to her son, Paul the First. However, his real origin is still unknown, and consequently, the origin of the subsequent Russian emperors.
) - Russian Empress from November 25, 1741 from the Romanov dynasty, daughter of Peter I and Catherine IPrenner Georg Gaspar Joseph von. Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. 1754
The daughter of Peter I and the future Empress Ekaterina Alekseevna was born on December 18, 1709.On this day, Russian troops, victors in the battle of Poltava, unfurling their banners, solemnly entered Moscow.
Triumphal entry of Russian troops to Moscow after the Poltava victory. Engraving by A.F. Zubov. 1710
Having received the joyful news of the birth of his daughter, Peter arranged a three-day celebration in her honor. The king loved his second family very much. Attachment to loved ones with him, a man of power and sternness, sometimes took touching forms.
Portrait of Princess Elizabeth Petrovna (1709-1761) as a child. Russian Museum, Mikhailovsky Castle.
In letters to his wife, he said hello to the "quadruple darling" - this was the family nickname of Elizabeth at the time when she was still crawling on all fours. In the summer of 1710, Peter sailed across the Baltic on the sailboat "Lizetka" - that's how he called the tiny princess.
Portrait of princesses Anna Petrovnaand Elizabeth Petrovna, 1717, Louis Caravaque
At the age of two, she, along with her four-year-old sister Anna, attended her parents' wedding. Peter early began to write separately to the princesses, encouraging them in a similar way to master the letter. Elizabeth learned to read and write when she was not even eight years old. Peter I saw in his daughters an instrument of a diplomatic game and prepared them for dynastic marriages in order to strengthen the international position of Russia.
I.N. Nikitin Portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna as a child (1709-1761) 1712-13
Therefore, he first of all paid attention to the study of foreign languages by them. Elizabeth was fluent in French, spoke German and Italian. In addition, the princesses were taught music, dance, the ability to dress, and etiquette. From childhood, Elizabeth passionately fell in love with dancing, and in this art she had no equal.
Tsesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna, future empress (1741-1761).Unfinished portrait. 1720s. The Russian Museum
As early as 1720, her father tried to arrange the marriage of Elizabeth with the French king Louis XV, her age. But in Versailles, they reacted with restraint to the proposal of the Russian side because of the origin of the princess: her mother was a commoner, at the time of the birth of her daughter she was not married to the king. Later, Elizabeth was arranged for Karl August of Holstein, but he died before he could 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 birth, but also thanks to her personal virtues. Quick to invent, pleasant to get around, Elizabeth was the soul of this society.
Unknown artist. Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
Elizaveta Petrovna (equestrian portrait of the Empress with retinue
From her parents, she received enough money to satisfy her passion for all kinds of entertainment. In her surroundings, everything was seething with fun, she was always busy: trips along the Neva and out of town, masquerades and balls, staging performances, playing music, dancing ... This continuous and reckless rapture of life "ended when Elizabeth's mother, Empress Catherine I, died.
Peter II of Russia and Elizabeth Petrovna
At the court of Anna Ioannovna, the princess received the honors due to her. However, Elizabeth felt like a stranger in the royal family. Her relationship with her cousin-empress was not distinguished by warmth. Anna Ioannovna appointed Elizabeth more than a modest allowance, and the princess, who had not previously known how to count money, now constantly felt the need for them. It is believed that the empress could not forget her humiliating position in Mitava, when, due to the eternal lack of funds, she very often turned to Elizabeth's parents with pleas for help and did not always receive what she asked for. And therefore the princess had a hard time with her
Unknown artist.Portrait of Tsesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna, 1730s
And, finally, Anna Ioannovna was worried about Elizabeth's rights to the Russian crown. The Empress saw in her relative a serious rival and was seriously afraid of a coup d'état in her favor. Anna ordered to establish shadowing for the princess.
Louis Caravaque Portrait of Empress Anna Ioannovna. 1730
To get rid of Elizabeth, they wanted to either marry her somewhere far away from St. Petersburg and to a "safe" prince, or forcefully make her a nun. A suitable groom was never found. And the threat of life imprisonment in a monastery for Elizabeth became a nightmare, which she got rid of only after ascending the throne. The Tsesarevna was forced to behave with extreme caution. Any thoughtlessly spoken word - by her or someone close to her - could lead to disaster. She pointedly had no interest in politics.
Ivan VIAntonovich(1740-1764), emperor in 1740-1741. Great-grandson of Ivan V Alekseevich, son of Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick and Princess Anna Leopoldovna of Mecklenburg, niece of the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna. By the manifesto of Anna Ioannovna, he was appointed heir to the throne.
Nevertheless, Anna Ioannovna's fears were not without foundation, if only because the daughter of Peter I was loved in the guards. 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 among the guards that Elizabeth found her ardent supporters, with the help of whom in November 1741 she seized power in the state.
Fyodor Moskovitin Oath of the Preobrazhensky Regiment to Empress Elizaveta Petrovna.
From the first days of the reign of Elizabeth under the Empressthere was a circle of her longtime adherents, who occupied all the most important state and court posts. Passionate love for folk songs became the reason for Elizabeth's attention to Alexei Grigorievich Razumovsky. A Ukrainian Cossack, a rare handsome man, he came to St. Petersburg thanks to his magnificent bass. He was taken to the court choristers back in 1731. Having ascended the throne, Elizaveta Petrovna granted the rootless Razumovsky the title of count and the rank of field marshal, and in 1742, according to many historians, she secretly married him. Rumors about this marriage inevitably gave rise to legends about the supposedly existing children of Elizabeth and Razumovsky - for example, Princess Tarakanova and even about the whole Tarakanov family.
Unknown artist Portrait of Alexei Grigoryevich Razumovsky, mid-18th century
Elizaveta Petrovna
One of the closest assistants to the Empress was Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov. Vice-Chancellor from 1744, he succeeded A.P. Bestuzhev as Chancellor of the Empire in 1758.
Antropov Alexey Petrovich: Portrait of Prince M.I. Vorontsov
The empress returned from exile and brought closer to her the surviving princes Dolgorukovs, Count P. I. Musin-Pushkin and several other Russian nobles who suffered during the reign of Anna Ioannovna. Elizabeth removed foreigners from all key posts in the state; she was not at all going to expel foreign specialists from the country, who were in dire need of Russia.
Coronation of Elizabeth Petrovna
Coronation processions of Elizabeth
The development of the foreign policy program and Russian diplomacy of the Elizabethan era is mainly associated with the name of the shrewd and experienced statesman Chancellor Alexei Petrovich Bestuzhev.
Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Alexey Petrovich
On his initiative, in the spring of 1756, to consider foreign policy issues and direct military operations during the all-European Seven Years' War of 1756-1763. A new government body was established - the Conference at the Imperial Court (a permanent meeting of top dignitaries and generals consisting of ten people). Bestuzhev encountered the problems of Russian-Swedish relations at the end of 1741, when he was appointed to the post of vice-chancellor. Having recovered from the defeat in the Northern War, Sweden hoped to take revenge and revise the terms of the Nystadt peace on the battlefields, according to which Russia seized the Swedish possessions in the Baltic states. In the summer of 1741, the Russian-Swedish war began, ending in the complete defeat of the Swedish army. In August 1743, a peace treaty was signed in Abo (Finland): the Swedish government confirmed the terms of the Nystad peace concluded by Peter I.
The capture of the Kolberg fortress during the Seven Years' War,Alexander Evstafievich Kotzebue
The Seven Years' War, in which Russia, for the purpose of territorial acquisitions, cf.zhalas on the side of France and Austria against Prussia and Great Britain, after the resignation of Bestuzhev, it was already under M. I. Vorontsov, his successor. At the beginning of 1758, Russian troops entered East Prussia and occupied Koenigsberg. In August of the following year, in the battle of Kunersdorf, the Prussian army was defeated, and in September 1760, Russian troops entered Berlin, which they were then forced to leave due to inconsistency in the actions of the allies. The victories of the Russian army were decisive for the defeat of Prussia, whose armed forces were then considered the best in Europe.
Battle of KuhnensdorfAlexander Evstafievich Kotzebue
Louis CARAVACK. Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
Assuming the throne, Elizabeth proclaimed herself the successor of affairsand his great father. Following Peter's "principles" determined, in particular, the empress's interest in economic issues, the development of industry and trade. Encouraging noble entrepreneurship, Elizabeth ordered in 1753 to establish the Noble Loan Bank, which issued loans to landowners on the security of land. In 1754 the Merchants' Bank was founded. New manufactories (industrial enterprises) were created at a rapid pace. In Yaroslavl and Serpukhov, Irkutsk and Astrakhan, Tambov and Ivanov, in the noble estates, manufactories produced cloth and silk, canvas and ropes. Distillation became widespread in the landowners' farms.
Unknown artist of the 18th century. Departure of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. // Museum Estate Kuskovo
The decision of the government of Elizabeth, adopted in 1753, to abolish internal customs duties, which were levied in the cities and roads of Russia since ancient times, had important consequences. As a result of this reform, it was possible to put an end to the economic fragmentation of Russia. It was a bold move for the time. In France, for example, internal customs ceased to exist only during the revolution of the late 18th century, and in Germany - in the 30s. 19th century
Unknown Russian artist of the 2nd half of the 18th century. Portrait of Tsesarevna Elizaveta Petrovna
Elizabeth significantly expanded the rights and liberties of the nobles. In particular, she canceled the law of Peter I on undergrowth, according to which the nobles had to start military service from a young age as soldiers. Under Elizabeth, children were recorded in the appropriate regiments from birth. Thus, at the age of ten, 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.
Taras Shevchenko Empress Elizaveta Petrovna and Suvorov (engraving). 1850s
The Academy of Sciences participated in the organization of geographical expeditions to the Far East in order to study in detail the northeastern borders of the Russian Empire. In the middle of the XVIII century. a four-volume work by the naturalist I. G. Gmelin "Flora of Siberia" with a description of 1,200 plants and the first ethnographic work in Russia "Description of the land of Kamchatka", written by S. P. Krasheninnikov
The decree of 1744 "On the connection of schools in the provinces into one place and the training of all ranks of people in them ..." facilitated access to schools for children from unprivileged sections of the population. In the 40-50s. to the first gymnasium in St. Petersburg that existed since 1726, two more were added - at Moscow University (1755) and in Kazan (1758). In 1752, the Navigational School, founded by Peter the Great, was reorganized into the Naval Cadet Corps, where officers of the Russian Navy were trained. January 25, 1755
University of Moscow
Elizabeth signed a decree on the founding of Moscow University. The spread of university education in Russia was the cherished dream of the Russian scientist and educator M. V. Lomonosov. Winning over 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 by Fyodor Volkov and Alexander Sumarokov, and in 1758 - the Academy of Arts.
Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov in 1760, portrait by brush . ( )
Architect, director and first rector of the Academy of Arts, 1769. Portrait of the work
Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov
The emergence of interest in the fine arts in Russian society during the time of Elizabeth Petrovna is directly related to the empress's passion for them. It can be said that professional theater, opera, ballet, choral singing came out of the walls of her palace. Even in the difficult years of the reign of Anna Ioannovna for the young Elizabeth, many performances were staged at the "small court" of the princess. Her courtiers and singers took part in them. The plays were "on the topic of the day." In allegorical form, they told about the sad fate of the semi-disgraced princess, the political situation in the country.
Heinrich Buchholz Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in pearls. 1768
Elizabeth did not lose interest in the theater even as an empress. She enjoyed the performances, even if she had seen them more than once. Especially popular in Russia in the middle of the XVIII century. there were plays by A.P. Sumarokov. Not only celebrations and holidays, but also the usual feasts of Elizabeth Petrovna were necessarily accompanied by the playing of the orchestra and the singing of court musicians. As the well-known historian E. V. Anisimov writes, "in the Elizabethan time, music became an integral and indispensable part" of the life of the palace and the St. Petersburg nobility. The imperial orchestra of highly professional Italian and German musicians performed works by Western European composers. , they later became public, and citizens could attend.At these concerts, Russian listeners got acquainted with the harp, mandolin, guitar
View of the Anichkov Palace
The Italian opera flourished at the court. No expense was spared for the arrangement of performances. These were majestic performances with ballet numbers and recitations that made an indelible impression on the audience. In the performances, along with Italian musicians and artists, young Russian singers were also involved. Their performance of difficult Italian arias delighted the audience. Russian dancers began to appear more and more often in ballet performances. Thus the foundations of the Russian national opera and ballet were laid.