Dates of reign of emperors during the era of palace coups. The era of palace coups (briefly). The era of palace coups. Anna Ioannovna. The history of the calling to the kingdom

The most important and interesting stage in the history of Russia was the period from 1725 to 1762. During this time, six monarchs were replaced, each of whom was backed by certain political forces. very aptly called it this - the era of palace coups. The table presented in the article will help you better understand the course of events. The change of power, as a rule, took place through intrigue, betrayal, and murder.

It all started with the unexpected death of Peter I. He left behind the “Charter of Succession to the Throne” (1722), according to which a large number of people could lay claim to power.

The end of this troubled era is considered to be the coming to power of Catherine II. Many historians consider her reign to be the era of enlightened absolutism.

Prerequisites for palace coups

The main reason for all previous events was the contradictions between many noble groups regarding the succession to the throne. They were unanimous only that a temporary stop should be made in carrying out reforms. Each of them saw such a respite in their own way. Also, all groups of nobles were equally zealous for power. Therefore, the era of palace coups, the table of which is given below, was limited only by a change in the top.

The decision of Peter I regarding succession to the throne has already been mentioned. He broke the traditional mechanism by which power was transferred from the monarch to the senior representative in the male line.

Peter I did not want to see his son on the throne after him because he was an opponent of reforms. Therefore, he decided that the monarch would be able to independently name the contender. However, he died, leaving on paper the phrase “Give everything...”.

The masses were alienated from politics, the nobles could not share the throne - the state was overwhelmed by the struggle for power. Thus began the era of palace coups. The diagram and table will allow you to better trace the blood ties of all contenders for the throne.

Coup of 1725 (Ekaterina Alekseevna)

At this time, two opposing groups formed. The first consisted of A. Osterman and A. Menshikov. They sought to transfer power to Peter's widow Alekseevna.

The second group, which included the Duke of Holstein, wanted to enthrone Peter II (son of Alexei and grandson of Peter I).

A. Menshikov had a clear advantage, who managed to gain the support of the guard and place Catherine I on the throne. However, she did not have the ability to govern the state, so in 1726 the Great Privy Council was created. It became the highest government body.

The actual ruler was A. Menshikov. He subjugated the Council and enjoyed the unlimited confidence of the Empress. He was also one of the leading figures when the rulers of the era of palace coups changed (the table explains everything).

Accession of Peter II in 1727

The reign lasted just over two years. After her death, the question of succession to the throne again hung over the state.

This time the “Holstein group” was led by Anna Petrovna. She initiated a conspiracy against A. Menshikov and A. Osterman, which ended unsuccessfully. The young Peter was recognized as sovereign. A. Osterman became his mentor and educator. However, he failed to exert the necessary influence on the monarch, although it was still enough to prepare and carry out the overthrow of A. Menshikov in 1727.

The reign of Anna Ioannovna since 1730

He remained on the throne for three years and died suddenly. Once again, the main question becomes: “Who will take the throne?” Thus continued the era of palace coups. A table of what is happening is presented below.

The Dolgorukys appear on the scene of events and attempt to enthronement of Catherine Dolgoruky. She was the bride of Peter II.

The attempt failed, and the Golitsyns nominated their contender. She became Anna Ioannovna. She was crowned only after signing the Conditions with the Supreme Privy Council, which had not yet lost its influence.

Conditions limited the power of the monarch. Soon the empress tears up the documents she signed and returns autocracy. She decides the issue of succession to the throne in advance. Unable to have children of her own, she declared her niece's child to be the future heir. He will be known as Peter III.

However, by 1740, a son, John, was born to Elizaveta Petrovna and a representative of the Welf family, who became monarch at two months immediately after the death of Anna Ioannovna. Biron is recognized as his regent.

1740 and Minich's coup

The regent's reign lasted two weeks. The coup was organized by Field Marshal Minich. He was supported by the guard, who arrested Biron and appointed the baby's mother as regent.

The woman was not capable of governing the state, and Minich took everything into his own hands. He was subsequently replaced by A. Osterman. He also sent the field marshal into retirement. The era of palace coups (the table is presented below) united these rulers.

Accession of Elizabeth Petrovna from 1741

On November 25, 1741, another coup took place. It passed quickly and bloodlessly, power was in the hands of Elizaveta Petrovna, daughter of Peter I. She raised the guard behind her with a short speech and proclaimed herself empress. Count Vorontsov helped her in this.

The young ex-emperor and his mother were imprisoned in the fortress. Minich, Osterman, Levenvolde were sentenced to death, but it was replaced by exile to Siberia.

Rules for over 20 years.

The rise to power of Peter III

Elizaveta Petrovna saw her father's relative as her successor. That's why she brought her nephew from Holstein. He was given the name Peter III, he converted to Orthodoxy. The Empress was not delighted with the character of the future heir. In an effort to rectify the situation, she assigned teachers to him, but this did not help.

To continue the family line, Elizaveta Petrovna married him to the German princess Sophia, who would become Catherine the Great. They had two children - son Pavel and daughter Anna.

Before her death, Elizabeth will be advised to appoint Paul as her heir. However, she never decided to do this. After her death, the throne passed to her nephew. His policies were very unpopular both among the people and among the nobles. Moreover, after the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, he was in no hurry to be crowned. This became the reason for a coup on the part of his wife Catherine, over whom a threat had long hung (the emperor often stated this). It officially ended the era of the palace coup (the table contains additional information about the empress’s childhood nickname).

June 28, 1762. Reign of Catherine II

Having become the wife of Pyotr Fedorovich, Catherine began to study the Russian language and traditions. She quickly absorbed new information. This helped her distract herself after two unsuccessful pregnancies and the fact that her long-awaited son, Pavel, was taken away from her immediately after birth. She saw him only 40 days later. Elizabeth was involved in his upbringing. She dreamed of becoming an empress. She had such an opportunity because Pyotr Fedorovich did not go through the coronation. Elizabeth took advantage of the support of the guards and overthrew her husband. Most likely, he was killed, although the official version was called death from colic.

Her reign lasted 34 years. She refused to become regent for her son and gave him the throne only after her death. Her reign dates back to the era of enlightened absolutism. The table “Palace Coups” presented everything more briefly.

General information

With Catherine's rise to power, the era of the palace coup ends. The table does not consider the emperors who reigned after her, although Paul also left the throne as a result of a conspiracy.

In order to better understand everything that is happening, you should consider the events and people who are associated with them through general information on the topic “The Age of Palace Coups” (briefly).

The table of palace coups clearly describes the main events of that time.

Results of the era of palace coups

Palace coups amounted only to a struggle for power. They did not bring with them changes in the political and social sphere. The nobles divided the right to power among themselves, resulting in six rulers in 37 years.

Social and economic stabilization was associated with Elizabeth I and Catherine II. They were also able to achieve certain successes in the state’s foreign policy.

Palace coups

Russia in the era of palace coups

History of Russia in the second quarter of the 18th century. was characterized by an intense struggle between noble groups for power, which led to frequent changes of reigning persons on the throne and reshuffles in their immediate circle. Six reigns over 37 years - this is what characterizes the so-called era of palace coups.

The reasons for the palace coups, according to most historians, were:

Decree of Peter 1 of 1722 on the succession to the throne;

a large number of direct and indirect heirs of the Romanov dynasty;

contradictions between autocratic power, the ruling elite and the ruling class.

IN. Klyuchevsky associated the onset of political instability after the death of Peter 1 with the “autocracy” of the latter, who decided to break the traditional order of succession to the throne (when the throne passed through a direct male descendant line) - the charter of February 5, 1722 gave the autocrat the right to appoint a successor for himself at his own request. “Rarely has autocracy punished itself so cruelly as in the person of Peter with this law of February 5,” concluded Klyuchevsky. However, Peter 1 did not have time to appoint an heir for himself: the throne turned out to be given “to chance and became his toy.” From now on, it was not the law that determined who should sit on the throne, but the guard, which was the “dominant force” at that time.

There were a large number of direct and indirect heirs of the Romanov dynasty. In particular, there were three contenders for the throne: Ekaterina Alekseevna, her youngest daughter Elizaveta Petrovna (the eldest Anna in 1724, under oath, renounced the Russian throne for herself and her offspring) and the grandson of Peter 1, the son of Tsarevich Alexei, 10-year-old Pyotr Alekseevich . The question of who would take the place on the throne had to be decided by the emperor's inner circle, the highest officials and generals. Representatives of the family aristocracy (primarily the princes Golitsyn and Dolgorukov) defended the rights of Pyotr Alekseevich. However, the “new” nobility, the “chicks of Petrov’s nest” led by A.D. Menshikov, behind whom stood the guard, wanted Catherine's accession.

Very often in the literature they talk about the “insignificance” of the successors of Peter 1. According, for example, N.P. Eroshkin, the author of a textbook on the history of state institutions of pre-revolutionary Russia, “the successors of Peter 1 turned out to be weak-willed and poorly educated people who sometimes showed more concern for personal pleasures than about the affairs of the state."

After the death of Peter, state ties, legal and moral, are broken one after another, after this break the idea of ​​the state fades, leaving behind an empty word in government acts. The most autocratic empire in the world, which found itself without an established dynasty, with only some placeless remnants of a dying royal house; hereditary throne without legal succession; a state locked in a palace with random and rapidly changing owners; a ragtag, well-born or high-ranking ruling class, but itself completely powerless and shuffled every minute; court intrigue, guard performance and police investigation - the entire content of the country's political life.

Palace coups, however, were not state coups, because did not pursue the goal of radical changes in political power and government (with the exception of the events of 1730). The coups boiled down to a change of persons on the throne and shake-ups in the ruling elite.

The initiators of the coups were various palace groups, each of which sought to elevate its own protege to the throne. A fierce struggle unfolded between the nominees (Menshikov's party), who supported Catherine 1, and the old Moscow nobility (the Golitsyn-Dolgoruky group), who supported the candidacy of Peter 2. In addition, the guard was the driving force behind the coups. It was with the support of the guards units of A.D. Menshikov and other close associates of Peter elevated the wife of the late Catherine 1 (1725-1727) to the throne.

Legendary Thirty, route

Through the mountains to the sea with a light backpack. Route 30 passes through the famous Fisht - this is one of the most grandiose and significant natural monuments of Russia, the highest mountains closest to Moscow. Tourists travel lightly through all the landscape and climatic zones of the country from the foothills to the subtropics, spending the night in shelters.

The era of palace coups is the name accepted in historical literature for a period in the political history of Russia when, as a result of the struggle of court factions with the support of the guard, a violent change of ruler or his immediate circle occurred repeatedly. The term was introduced by V.O. Klyuchevsky and was assigned to the period 1725-1762.

Over the course of 37 years, six emperors replaced the Russian throne. Palace coups accompanied the accession to the throne of Catherine I (1725), Anna Ioannovna (1730), Elizaveta Petrovna (1741), and Catherine II (1762). In addition, the removal of the actual leaders of the government A.D. Menshikov (1727) and E.I. Biron (1740), while maintaining the power of the ruling sovereign, are also considered palace coups. A number of researchers also include the assassination of Paul I in 1801, the Streltsy uprising of 1689, and even the Decembrist uprising in 1825.

Palace coups were a product of the Russian political system of this period - when the autocratic form of government with the unlimited power of the emperor was combined with the weak legal status of the highest state institutions and a fragile class structure. Both the Senate and the successive councils under the monarch (the Supreme Privy Council in 1726-1730, the Cabinet of Ministers in 1731-1741, the Conference at the Highest Court in 1756-1762) did not have a legislatively established range of powers, were directly dependent on the monarch and could not prevent palace coups. Accordingly, the political struggle was a struggle for influence on the emperor and often took the form of court conspiracies and palace coups.

A major role was played by the “Decree on Succession to the Throne” of Peter I of February 5, 1722, which abolished the old order of succession to the throne and made it dependent on the personal will of the testator; this decree made it possible for several contenders to the throne to emerge. In addition, the Romanov family in the male line ended with the death of Peter II (1730); from that time on, the rights to the throne of all possible contenders were undisputed.

The main weapon in the struggle of political groups was the court guard (primarily the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments). The Guards regiments during this period were a close-knit, privileged and well-paid part of the army; they were personally subordinate to the monarch, their commanders were themselves senior dignitaries. The inclusion of the Russian Empire in the system of international relations of that time led to the appearance at the Russian court of permanent representations of European powers, which also intervened in the political struggle and directly participated in a number of palace coups.

After the death of Peter I, a split arose in the highest echelons of power around the future contender for the throne: the grandson of Peter I, Peter, and the widow of the tsar, Ekaterina Alekseevna. In 1725, through the efforts of the new Peter the Great nobility, A.D. Menshikova, P.I. Yaguzhinsky, P.A. Tolstoy and others, with the support of the guard (its commanders, A.I. Ushakov, I.I. Buturlin, acted on behalf of the guard), Catherine I was erected.

Catherine I, who died in 1727, appointed eleven-year-old Peter Alekseevich as her successor in her will; the closest associate of Peter I, A.D., became the de facto ruler of the state. Menshikov. However, already in September 1727, as a result of the court intrigues of the Dolgorukys and A.I. Osterman, he was removed from power and sent into exile with his family.

By the time of the death of Peter II (1730), the main power functions were concentrated in the hands of the Supreme Privy Council, which included representatives of the old aristocracy (of its eight members, five represented the Dolgoruky and Golitsyn families). It was decided to invite Anna Ioannovna, the daughter of Ivan V, to the Russian throne, under the conditions of limiting autocratic power in favor of the Supreme Privy Council (“Condition”). It was not only about the elevation of a specific sovereign to the throne, but also about an attempt to change the existing form of government. However, a wide circle of the nobility became aware of the plans of the “supreme leaders”, their dissatisfaction with these plans was revealed, and, relying on the guard (this time, senior officers of the guard regiments participated in political discussions), Anna Ioannovna publicly tore up the “Conditions”, maintaining the autocratic form of government ( 1730).

In 1740, the forceful tactics of a coup were tested: under the command of B.Kh. Minikh's guards arrested E.I., appointed regent under Ivan VI Antonovich, the great-grandson of Ivan V. Biron and his immediate circle. Subsequently, it was precisely this type of palace coup, in which the guards participated as a striking force, that became the main method of political struggle. In 1741, Elizaveta Petrovna, relying on her entourage and the guards regiments of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, overthrew the government of Ivan VI Antonovich, unpopular among the Russian nobility, and arrested him and his family.

In 1762, due to the widespread dissatisfaction of the nobles with the foreign policy steps of Peter III (primarily the St. Petersburg Peace of 1762, which was perceived as a unilateral rejection of acquisitions made as a result of the Seven Years' War), a conspiracy matured in the guard (the Orlov brothers, N.I. . Panin, etc.), and on June 28, 1762, as a result of a coup, his wife Catherine II ascended the throne.

The end of the era of palace coups is associated with the consolidation of the Russian nobility, the development of its class institutions, the final formation of the political elite of the Russian Empire and the constitution of the system of supreme state bodies.

Having issued a decree on succession to the throne in 1722, according to which the monarch had to appoint his own successor, Peter died safely in 1725 without naming his cherished name.


After his death, the widow Catherine takes the throne with the support of Peter's associates (mainly Menshikov and Tolstoy), who promptly secured the support of the guard, the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments. During the two years of her reign, Menshikov had all power, and the Supreme Privy Council was created. Just before his death, a “testament” was signed (by the daughter instead of the mother), which dealt with the succession to the throne. The first to succeed were the Grand Duke-grandson (Peter II), the Crown Princesses Anna and Elizabeth and the Grand Duchess Natalya (sister of Peter II). However, judging by the further development of events, this will meant nothing.

The accession of the grandson of Peter the Great was prepared by a new intrigue with the participation of the guard. The all-powerful Menshikov was going to marry the prince to his daughter Marya; an engagement was made. However, over time, he lost influence on the young emperor, whose favorites were Alexei and Ivan Dolgoruky. This was followed by the fall of Menshikov and the conclusion of a new engagement - with Ivan's sister Ekaterina. However, Peter becomes dangerously ill and dies almost on his wedding day.

This was the daughter of Ivan V, the widow of the Duke of Courland, who lived in Courland with Russian money and was summoned by the Supreme Privy Council in Russia in 1730. When ascending the throne, she signed conditions limiting autocratic power. Under pressure from the nobles, she later tore them apart, succumbing to persuasion to rule on her own. However, for the next 10 years it was not she who actually ruled, but her long-term favorite Biron, whom she brought from Courland.
She appointed her two-month-old nephew as her successor; Biron was to be the regent. After Anna's death, the temporary worker was arrested.

His mother, Anna Leopoldovna, wife of the Duke of Brunswick, proclaimed herself ruler, mmm, regent. She had fun for about a year, because Elizabeth (daughter of Peter the Great) was terribly tired of waiting for her turn, and with the help of the Preobrazhensky Regiment she decided to stage another coup, which was easily accomplished, since she was not without popularity.
All this was very theatrical: having prayed to God and vowed not to execute anyone, Elizabeth puts on the uniform of the P. Regiment, takes a cross and leads the company of grenadiers who brought her to the Winter Palace. There they woke up and rather frightened the couple of autocrats, who, together with the baby, were arrested. Now Elizabeth could breathe easy.

Palace coups

Palace coup- this is the seizure of political power in Russia in the 18th century, caused by the lack of clear rules for succession to the throne, accompanied by the struggle of court factions and carried out, as a rule, with the assistance of guards regiments.

There is no single scientific definition of a palace coup, and there are no clear time boundaries for this phenomenon. Thus, V. O. Klyuchevsky (the author of the term) dates the era of palace coups from before. However, today there is another point of view - -1801. (The fact is that V. O. Klyuchevsky could not mention the coup of March 1, 1801 in a public lecture given in the mid-80s of the 19th century - this was strictly prohibited).

Portrait of Field Marshal B. H. Minich

Ernst-Johann Biron

As a result, Volynsky was executed on charges of high treason and attempting to carry out a palace coup against Anna.

A lot has been written about this coup and almost all historical (and even more so fiction) literature interprets this event as "triumph of the Russian spirit", as the end of foreign dominance, as the only possible and even completely legal act.

After the death of Peter, it was his daughters who, along with Catherine, were considered the main patrons of foreigners. Elizabeth in alliance with Anna Petrovna were symbols of Holstein influence on the Russian court. (Moreover, at that moment Elizabeth was considered the bride of the Lubeck Prince-Bishop Charles-August, who later died of a transient illness).

The patriotic feelings of Elizabeth's supporters were caused not so much by rejection of foreigners, but by their own interests.

The ease with which Minikh eliminated Biron also influenced the determination of Elizabeth’s supporters. In addition, the guards felt like a special force, a “hegemon,” so to speak. Minich himself once told them this: “Whoever you want to be a sovereign can be.”

Young Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst 1740

In addition, there are inexorable facts indicating that Elizabeth collaborated with French and Swedish agents of influence - Shetardy and Nolken.

The night of the coup entered not only history books, but also legends. There is a well-known phrase with which the crown princess led the guards on the assault: “Do you know whose daughter I am?” This was quite enough - Peter's authority was too great in all strata of society.

Elizabeth's victory brought to power a new generation of courtiers and prominent politicians - the Shuvalov family, M. I. Vorontsov, the Razumovsky brothers, and elevated A. P. Bestuzhev - Ryumin.

Of course, after the overthrow of Minich, Osterman, Levenwolde, as well as the Brunswick family, German influence at the Russian court practically disappeared.

However, having established herself on the throne, Elizabeth declared as her heir the Holstein-Gottorp Prince Karl-Peter-Ulrich, the son of Anna Petrovna, whose wife some time later became Sophia-Augusta-Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst (Fike). The young princess has learned well the lessons that the Russian history of revolutions taught her - she will successfully implement them.

186 days of Peter III

Peter and Catherine: joint portrait

Catherine the Great in her youth.

During his short reign, Peter implemented a number of measures that were supposed to strengthen his position and make his figure popular among the people. So, he abolished the Secret Investigation Office and gave the nobles the opportunity to choose between service and a carefree life on their estate. ( “Manifesto on the granting of freedom and liberty to the Russian nobility”).

It is believed, however, that the reason for the coup was precisely the extreme unpopularity of Peter III among the people. He was accused of disrespect for Russian shrines and the conclusion of a “shameful peace” with Prussia.

Peter led Russia out of the war, which depleted the country's human and economic resources, and in which Russia fulfilled its allied duty to Austria (that is, there was no “Russian interest” in the Seven Years' War), but by the time it left the war, almost all of Prussia was captured .

However, Peter made an unforgivable mistake by declaring his intention to move to recapture Schleswig from Denmark. The guard, which, in fact, supported Catherine in the upcoming coup, was especially worried.

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 observe as emperor. Frederick II, in his letters, persistently advised Peter to quickly lay on the crown, but the emperor did not listen to the advice of his idol. Thus, in the eyes of the Russian people he was, as it were, a “fake tsar.”

As for Catherine, as the same Frederick II said: “She was a foreigner, on the eve of her divorce.” and the coup was her only chance (Peter emphasized more than once that he was going to divorce his wife and marry Elizaveta Vorontsova).

Alexey Orlov

The signal for the start of the coup was the arrest of the officer, Preobrazhensky Passek. Alexei Orlov (brother of the favorite) early in the morning brought Catherine to St. Petersburg, where she addressed the soldiers of the Izmailovsky regiment, and then the Semyonovites. This was followed by a prayer service in the Kazan Cathedral and the oath of office of the Senate and Synod.

On the evening of June 28, a “march to Peterhof” was made, where Peter III was supposed to come to celebrate his name day and the name day of his heir Paul. The emperor's indecision and some kind of childish humility did their job - no advice or actions of those close to him could bring Peter out of states of fear and numbness.

He quickly abandoned the struggle for power and, essentially, for his life. The overthrown autocrat was taken to Ropsha, where, according to most historians, he was killed by his jailers.

Literature

• Korsakov D.A From the life of Russian figures of the 18th century. - Kazan: 1891.
• Klyuchevsky V.O Russian history course. - M.: 1989.