The period 1725-1762 is associated with the era of palace coups. This segment of Russian history is characterized by frequent changes of rulers, a strengthening of the role of the guard, an increase in the privileges of the nobility and a deterioration in the situation of the peasants. During this period, several rulers were in power: Catherine the First, Peter the Second, Anna Ioannovna, Ivan the Sixth, Elizaveta Petrovna and Peter the Third.
One of the most significant events in foreign policy is the Seven Years' War. The reasons for this war were the strengthening of Prussia, led by Frederick II, and its claim to influence in Poland and the Baltic states, which affected the interests of Russia. An important role in one of the key battles of the war, the Battle of Kunersdorf, was played by P.S.
Saltykov. It was he who commanded the troops in this battle, foresaw the intentions of the Prussian army, drew up and proposed a battle strategy that helped the Russian army win this battle. As a result of the war, Prussia was significantly weakened, but Peter the Third, who ascended the throne, returned to it all the lands seized by Russia and even paid an indemnity.
This period is characterized by the development of culture and education. An important event was the founding of Moscow University. The reason for this was that the country needed educated, literate people who could perform public service with dignity. M.V. played a big role in this. Lomonosov.
It was he who developed a detailed project for the university and proposed to make it open not only to nobles, but also to all those who have aptitude for science. Subsequently, the university will graduate many talented statesmen, cultural figures and scientists.
During this period, the situation of the peasants is deteriorating. The reasons for this were that the rulers needed to provide a number of privileges for the nobility in order to gain their support. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna played an important role in this process. It was she who issued and signed a decree allowing the exile of unwanted peasants to Siberia without trial, thereby increasing the powers of the landowners in relation to the peasants.
During this period, an active foreign policy was pursued: the Junior, Middle and Senior Zhuzes were annexed to Russia. Russia also waged wars with Turkey and Sweden, as a result of which it returned Azov and confirmed the annexation of territories under the Nystad Peace. In domestic politics, such important events took place as the creation of the Supreme Privy Council, which was subsequently abolished by Anna Ioannovna. She, in turn, abolished the decree on single inheritance and reduced the service life of the nobles to 25 years. It was also during this period that internal customs duties were abolished and the Noble Bank was opened.
This period cannot be assessed unambiguously. On the one hand, there were no major and significant transformations that began under Peter. Due to frequent changes of rulers, the role of the guard increased, the rise of the nobility and the strengthening of its privileges occurred, as a result of which the situation of the peasants became worse. But on the other hand, it was during this period that Russia actively developed Kazakhstan, annexed new lands, returned Azov, and, as a result of the Seven Years' War, strengthened its authority in the international arena (even despite the fact that all lands were returned to Prussia). It is worth assessing the influence of the period on subsequent history. Thus, the nobility, whose strengthening began in this period, will continue to increase its influence and privileges. Already under Catherine the Second, the Charter of the Nobility will be issued, which will finally determine the privileged position of this class. Moscow University, founded under Elizaveta Petrovna, continued its activities and is still one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Russia. Due to the increasing privileges of the nobles, the situation of the peasants will become worse, which will lead to their discontent, which will result in an uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev, which will become one of the largest popular uprisings. This period of history was an important milestone in the history of the country and determined many further trends.
Palace coups- a period in the history of the Russian Empire of the 18th century, when supreme state power was achieved through palace coups carried out with the help of the guard or courtiers. In the presence of absolutism, this method of changing power remained one of the few ways of influence of society (the noble elite) on the supreme power in the state.
The origins of palace coups should be sought in the policies of Peter I. Published "Decree on succession to the throne" (1722), he maximized the number of potential candidates for the throne. The current monarch had the right to leave anyone as heir. If he did not do this, the question of inheriting the throne remained open.
In the political situation that developed in Russia in the 18th century, coups performed a regulatory function in the relationship between the key systems of absolutism - the autocracy, the ruling elite and the ruling nobility.
Brief chronology of events
After the death of Peter I, his wife reigned Catherine I(1725-1727). Created under her Supreme Privy Council (1726), who helped her in governing the country.
Her heir Peter II(1727-1730), grandson of Peter I, moved the capital of Russia from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
The Supreme Privy Council, having forced the signing of “conditions” - conditions limiting the power of the monarch (1730), invited Anna Ioannovna(1730-1740), Duchess of Courland, daughter of Ivan V, to the Russian throne. The future empress first accepted them and then rejected them. The time of her reign is known as "Bironovism" (name of her favorite). Under her, the Supreme Privy Council was liquidated, the decree on single inheritance was canceled (1730), the Cabinet of Ministers was created (1731), the Gentry Corps was created (1731), the term of noble service was limited to 25 years (1736).
In 1740 he inherits the throne five month nephew of Anna Ioannovna Ivan VI(1740-1741) (regents: Biron, Anna Leopoldovna). The Supreme Privy Council has been restored. Biron reduced the amount of the poll tax, introduced restrictions on luxury in court life, and issued a manifesto on strict observance of the laws.
In 1741, Peter's daughter - Elizabeth I(1741-1761) carries out another coup d'état. Liquidates the Supreme Privy Council, abolishes the Cabinet of Ministers (1741), restores the rights of the Senate, abolishes internal customs duties (1753), creates the State Loan Bank (1754), a decree is passed allowing landowners to send peasants to settle in Siberia (1760).
From 1761-1762 ruled by nephew of Elizabeth I, Peter III. He issues a decree on the secularization of church lands - this is the process of turning Church property into state property (1761), liquidates the Secret Chancellery, and issues a Manifesto on the freedom of the nobility (1762).
Main dates:
1725-1762 - era of palace coups
1725-1727 - CATHERINE I (second wife of Peter I), years of reign.
1727-1730 — PETER II (son of Tsarevich Alexei, grandson of Peter I), years of reign.
1730-1740 - ANNA IOANNOVNA (niece of Peter I, daughter of his brother-co-ruler Ivan V)
1740-1741 - IVAN VI (second cousin, great-grandson of Peter I). Regency of Biron, then Anna Leopoldovna.
1741-1761 — ELIZAVETA PETROVNA (daughter of Peter I), years of reign
1761-1762 - PETER III (grandson of Peter I and Charles XII, nephew of Elizabeth Petrovna).
Table "Palace coups"
PALACE COUPS
1. During which of the wars of the 16th-18th centuries. Russian troops took Berlin? a) Livonian b) Northern c) Seven Years d) Smolensk
2 . Which of the named persons was a statesman during the reign of Anna Ioannovna?
a) G. Potemkin b) E. Biron c) A. Menshikov d) A. Razumovsky
3 . Which of the following events is associated with the concept of “condition”?
a) accession to the throne of Catherine 1 b) reforms of Peter 1 c) reforms of Paul 1 d) accession to the throne of Anna
4. The daughter of Peter 1, Elizabeth, ended up on the Russian throne
a) according to the will of Peter 1 b) at the request of participants in the peasant uprising
c) at the invitation of the Supreme Privy Council d) as a result of a palace coup
5. Arrange in chronological order
a) the Seven Years' War b) the Azov campaigns c) “Table of Ranks” d) the reign of Ivan VI
6 . Arrange the names of historical figures in chronological order of their activities:
a) Kurbsky b) Lefort c) Ordin-Nashchokin d) I. Shuvalov e) E. Biron f) I. Dolgoruky
7. Read an excerpt from the work of the historian Klyuchevsky and indicate whose reign the historian characterizes:
“It was a blatant challenge to the Russian sense of national honor. But the Germans, after ten years of domination, which embittered the Russians, sat down near the Russian throne, like hungry cats near a pot of porridge, and having had enough to eat, began to gnaw each other in their well-fed leisure.” a) Anna Ioannovna b) Peter 111 c) Catherine 11 d) Elizaveta Petrovna s
8. Read an excerpt from the work of the historian Kamensky and name the ruler in question :
“At the very end of 1761, a 35-year-old man ascended to the Russian throne - nervous, impressionable, intemperate in his impulses and hobbies. He did not know or love the country that he was to rule, and it did not occur to him that he had any responsibilities towards this country, and that its people were not just a crowd of subjects. Having escaped from the cage where he was kept almost his entire adult life, he for the first time felt like an emperor, an autocrat with unlimited power and reveled in freedom, the opportunity to live and reign as he pleased.”
9 . Review the historical situation and answer the questions.
On November 25, 1741, the guard proclaimed “Petrova’s daughter” empress! Elizaveta Petrovna.
How did she ascend to the throne and why? (Name at least two facts). Name at least three features of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna.
10. Name at least two common features of all palace coups from 1725 to 1762.
11. Correct at least 7 errors (some appear more than once) in the text.
After the death of Peter 1, the question of power arose. The choice fell on the Duchess of Courland Elizabeth. The leaders decided to strengthen autocratic power and sent her “conditions” with an invitation to the throne. These rules were published in all newspapers. But Elizabeth did not sign them. Arriving in Moscow, she learned that almost all the nobles maintain “standards”. Only after this she put her signature on the document.
12. Which of the following events happened in the 18th century? A) opening of the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy
B) opening of the Higher Women's Courses C) opening of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum D) founding of Moscow University
13. Russian troops in the 18th century entered Berlin during... A) Seven Years' War B) Northern War
C) Suvorov’s campaigns D) Ushakov’s campaigns
14. The laid down commission was called upon... A) establish a new order of succession to the throne B) abolish serfdom C) develop a new set of laws D) establish a State Council
15. Secularization is... A) policy of providing economic assistance to entrepreneurs B) active government. Intervention in households life C) state policy aimed at supporting domestic production D) state conversion of church property into state property
16. What three events occurred during the reign of Catherine 2 A) uprising led by Pugachev B) capture of the Izmail fortress by Russian troops C) church reform of Patriarch Nikon D) secularization E) entry of Crimea into Russia E) Battle of Poltava
17. Read the text. Answer the questions.“It remains for us to answer the question that worried both contemporaries and descendants: why did the intention of the rulers to limit the autocracy fail, why did the torn condition become the culmination of the victory of the autocracy? By chance, the Supreme Privy Council was staffed primarily by people from the aristocracy, and representatives of two families: the Dolgorukys and the Golitsyns. The conditions he compiled reflected the interests primarily of these two families. Read the conditions and their preamble, which consisted of 12 points, and you will find only 2, in the implementation of which wide circles of the nobility were interested: the empress’s obligation to take care of the strengthening and expansion of Orthodoxy and the deprivation of the empress’s ability to dispose of the lives and estates of nobles without trial. The remaining 10 points were aimed at satisfying the interests of two aristocratic families and did not mean changing the political system in the country, but limiting the power of the monarch in favor of specific families. The above gives grounds to consider the “loophole” of the supreme leaders to be oligarchic, satisfying the claims of only two families. This is where all subsequent erroneous actions of the supreme leaders originated.” A) Under what name did the described period go down in history? Who compiled the standards? Who was asked to sign them? B) What was the purpose of the conditioning? Why was it not implemented? (3 reasons) Q) How does the author assess the “venture” of the Verkhoviki? What reasons does he give to justify his assessment? (2 reasons)
Training on the topic
“RUSSIA in the era of palace coups”
1. Working with chronology
Fill the table.
An attempt to introduce “standards” | ||
Seven Years' War | ||
Reign of Anna Ioannovna | ||
Reign of Catherine I | ||
Reign of Peter II | ||
Reign of Peter III | ||
The era of palace coups |
2. Working with personalities
3. Working with the circuit
Fill out the genealogy table “Russian Tsars and Emperors of the Second HalfXVII - first halfXVIII centuries." Underline with a solid line the names of those who occupied the Russian throne, and with a dotted line - those who were regents under the minor rulers.
dear auntie "... She could only send letters to her parents drawn up at the College of Foreign Affairs... [She] met a real, reliable ally in the fight against boredom in a book."
G. “[He] has not reached the age when a person’s personality is fully determined, and history hardly has the right to pronounce any sentence about him... Death befell him at a time when he was in the power of the Dolgorukovs; Probably, if he had remained alive, then the Dolgorukovs, through the intrigues of some favorites of fortune, would have suffered the fate of Menshikov.”
D. “He got himself a special Holstein guard from all sorts of international rabble, but not from his Russian subjects: they were mostly sergeants and corporals of the Prussian army... Considering the army of Frederick II as a model for himself, [he] tried to assimilate the manners and habits of the Prussian soldier."
E. “Russia has COME TO ITSELF. Russian people again appeared in the highest places of government, and when a foreigner was appointed to a secondary position, the [empress] asked: isn’t there a Russian? A foreigner can only be appointed when there is no capable Russian.”
AND. “No matter how hard they tried to reduce the misfortunes of this time in individual particular features, it will forever remain the darkest time in our history of the 18th century, for it was not about private misfortunes, not about material deprivations: the people’s spirit suffered, a betrayal was felt of the fundamental, vital rule of the great transformer, the darkest side of the new life was felt, the yoke from the West was felt, heavier than the previous yoke from the East - the Tatar yoke.”
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Work structure
classicism
Part B
The answer to the task in part B could be word, phrase, combination of letters or letters and numbers.
B1. Place the events of the Seven Years' War in chronological order. Write down the letters that represent the events in the correct sequence, DO NOT make gaps or use commas. For example: A B C D. __________________
A) battle near the village of Kunersdorf
B) entry of Russian troops into Berlin
B) battle near the village of Zorndorf
D) battle near the village of Gross-Jägersdorf
B2. Establish a correspondence between historical figures and the facts of their biography. Write the answer in the left column (first the number, then the corresponding letter, for example 1A, 2B, 3B, 4G)
B3. Read an excerpt from a historical essay and name Name the person in question.
“This man inside out, whose concepts of good and evil are confused, ascended to the Russian throne. Here, too, he retained all the narrowness and pettiness of thoughts and interests in which he was brought up and grew up. His mind, Holstein-like cramped, could not expand in any way to the geographical extent of the boundless empire that had accidentally been given to him. On the contrary, on the Russian throne [he] became even more of a Holstein than he was at home.”
_________________________
B4. Establish a correspondence between a figure in Russian history and the relationship he had with Peter I . Write the answer in the left column (first the number, then the corresponding letter, for example 1A, 2B, 3B, 4G)
B5. Read an excerpt from a historical essay and name Name ruler
“Live and cheerful, but not taking her eyes off herself, at the same time large and slender, with a beautiful round and ever-blooming face, she loved to make an impression... The most legitimate of all the successors and successors of Peter I, but raised to the throne by the rebellious guards bayonets, she... built palaces in twenty-four hours and covered the then route from Moscow to St. Petersburg in two days, regularly paying for each driven horse.”
______________________
Read an excerpt from a historical source and briefly answer questions C1 – C3. Answers involve the use of information from the source and the application of historical knowledge and skills.
“The Empress came out into the hall; standing under the canopy, she let the petitioners in and ordered them to read their petition... Then she made a short speech with such force: that although the reign treaties were very difficult for her, nevertheless, believing, as she was reported, that these are required from all ranks and from the entire Russian people , for the love of her fatherland she signed. And now it is known that she was deceived by lies and flattery, and for the sake of these agreements... she destroys. And having said that, she immediately tore the aforementioned letter, handed to her hand, and threw it on the ground.”
C1. Determine the time of events and the main character.
C2. What letter is the document talking about?
C3. Why did breaking the agreement have no consequences for the main character?
ANSWERS
Training
1. Working with chronology
Fill the table.
Fill the table.
Entry of Russian troops into Berlin | ||
Manifesto on the freedom of the nobility | ||
Opening of Moscow University | ||
An attempt to introduce “standards” | ||
Seven Years' War | ||
Reign of Anna Ioannovna | ||
Reign of Catherine I | ||
Reign of Elizabeth Petrovna | ||
Reign of John VI Antonovich | ||
Reign of Peter II | ||
Reign of Peter III | ||
The era of palace coups |
2. Working with personalities
Fill the table. (The right column indicates the minimum number of facts you need to know.)
Historical | Who is(are)? | What did you do? What happened to him? |
De facto ruler of Russia under Catherine I | 1. Under Peter II, he lost the struggle for power and was exiled; he died in exile |
|
"Higher Ones" | Members of the Supreme Privy Council, who in 1730 planned to invite Anna and limit autocracy | 1. Exiled and/or executed by Anna Ioannovna |
Temporary worker under Anna Ioannovna, whose name is associated with German dominance | ||
1. Won a victory near the village of Gross-Jägersdorf |
||
Russian military leader during the Seven Years' War | 1. Won a victory near the village of Kunersdorf |
|
Russian scientist and poet | 1. The first Russian academician 2. Founder of Moscow University |
|
Favorite of Elizaveta Petrovna | 1. Contributed to the founding of Moscow University and the Academy of Arts |
3. Working with the circuit
1 - Alexey Mikhailovich; 2 – Maria Miloslavskaya; 3 – Natalya Naryshkina; 4 - Fedor Alekseevich; 5 – Sofya Alekseevna; 6 – IvanV; 7 – PeterI; 8 – Evdokia Lopukhina; 9 - CatherineI; 10 – Ekaterina Ioannovna; eleven - Anna Ioannovna; 12 – Alexey; 13 – Anna; 14 - Elizaveta Petrovna; 15 – Anna Leopoldovna; 16 – PeterII; 17 – PeterIII; 18 – CatherineII; 19 – IvanVI Antonovich.
4. Working with the map
5. Working with concepts
1. “Conditions” - agreements signed by Anna Ioannovna at the request of the “supreme leaders” as a condition for her invitation to the throne; torn apart by the empress.
2. “Supreme” – members of the Supreme Privy Council.
3. Favorite - a close associate of the emperor (empress), who enjoys great personal trust of the head of state and has the opportunity to influence state affairs.
4. Secularization of land - transfer of church and monastery lands to the state.
6. Working with sources
A – Elizaveta, B – Anna Ioannovna; B – Catherine II; G – Peter II; D – Peter III; E – Elizabeth; F - Anna Ioannovna.
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Part 1
Part 2
AT 2. 1G2A3D4V
AT 3. Peter III
AT 4. 1V2G3A4D
AT 5. Elizabeth
Part 3
Note. Only brief answers are given here; they may be more detailed. The number of points for each required element of the answer and the total number of points are indicated in parentheses.
C1. 1730, Anna Ioannovna ( Total – 2.)
C2. Conditions. ( Total – 1.)
C3. Autocracy was supported by the nobility. ( Total – 1.)
15 Russia in 1725-1801.
The era of palace coups
After the death of Peter I, the era of palace coups began in Russia, when power passed from one noble group to another, without changing the nature of autocracy. The dispute about the ruler of Russia was often decided by the guard regiments, on which it largely depended on who would occupy the throne.
Peter I died without appointing a successor. This issue had to be decided by the Senate, Synod and generals. Noble boyars, faithful to the traditional custom of succession to the throne, wanted to see the son of Tsarevich Alexei, the young Peter, on the throne. The new aristocracy, which emerged under Peter I, wanted to proclaim Catherine, the widow of Peter I, empress. The choice of the guards turned out to be decisive. The Senate was forced to proclaim Catherine empress.
Catherine I (1725-1727), who ascended the Russian throne, was a poorly educated woman who was unable to rule a huge empire. Even after becoming empress, she did not want to learn to read and write. Nevertheless, she was popular in the army with many supporters of Peter’s reforms. The de facto ruler under Catherine I was Peter I's associate A.D. Menshikov. He proved himself to be a talented, but greedy and unprincipled statesman.
Catherine I could not and did not want to regularly engage in state affairs. That is why in February 1726 a new highest government body was formed - the Supreme Privy Council. Formally, it had only an advisory character, but in fact it decided all the most important state affairs.
The Supreme Privy Council abandoned some of the reforms of Peter I. Under the pretext of cutting costs for the state apparatus, the Chief Magistrate was eliminated. City and provincial magistrates and town halls began to be headed by governors. Judicial and administrative power in the provinces was transferred to governors, and in provinces and districts - to governors. The capitation tax was reduced. The customs tariff of 1724 was partially revised and duties on a number of imported goods were reduced.
After the death of Catherine I in 1727, according to her will, Peter II, the 11-year-old grandson of Peter I, ascended the throne. He reigned in 1727-1730. In an effort to strengthen his influence in the state, Menshikov tried to marry Tsarevich Peter to his 15-year-old daughter Maria. In May 1727, the engagement was announced. As the emperor's father-in-law, Menshikov expected to remain the de facto ruler of the country.
A struggle developed between Menshikov and the Dolgoruky princes for influence over the young emperor. The Supreme Privy Council, which continued to hold power under Peter II, decided in September 1727 to arrest Menshikov. He was accused of high treason and theft of the treasury. In fact, it was another palace coup. Deprived of ranks, titles and orders, Menshikov was exiled with his entire family to Siberia, to the Berezov fortress, where he died in 1729.
The composition of the Supreme Privy Council was changed and turned into a government body, in which the final say belonged to the old noble nobility. The Council now had 8 members, including four princes Dolgoruky and two princes Golitsyn. Peter II practically did not take part in government affairs. In January 1728, the imperial court moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Some boards were also transferred there. The construction of the navy was stopped.
The Dolgoruky princes tried to consolidate their influence on Peter II by marrying him to Catherine, the 17-year-old daughter of A.G. Dolgoruky. However, on January 18, 1730, in the 15th year of his life, a few days before his wedding, Peter II died suddenly. He didn't leave a will. With his death, the direct male line of the Romanov family was cut short. The issue of the heir to the throne had to be decided by members of the Supreme Privy Council.
After long consultations, without the participation of members of other higher institutions, the “higher-ups” came to the conclusion that the most acceptable candidate for the throne for them was Anna Ivanovna - the middle daughter of Ivan V, half-brother of Peter I. Before ascending to the throne, she had to sign a special document - “conditions” (conditions).
According to the “conditions”, she could not, without the consent of the Supreme Privy Council, start and end wars, introduce new taxes, appoint military positions above the colonel, deprive nobles of property and give them land. Command of the guard passed to the Supreme Privy Council. The new empress had to undertake not to marry and not to appoint an heir without the permission of the “sovereigns.” In case of violation of the “standards”, Anna Ivanovna was deprived of the Russian crown.
After some thought, Anna Ivanovna agreed to everything that was demanded of her and signed the “conditions”. The announced conditions for her accession to the throne caused discontent among many nobles. The Guard also did not support the “supreme leaders”.
In Moscow, where Anna Ivanovna arrived for the coronation, she met with a group of nobles who were ready to confront the Supreme Privy Council. Convinced of the support of not only these nobles, but also the guard, Anna Ivanovna on February 25, 1730, abandoned her promises to the “supreme leaders” and declared herself an autocratic empress. The aristocracy's attempt to limit autocratic power failed.
In March 1730, the Supreme Privy Council was abolished, and its most active members were executed or sent into exile. The dominant position at court was taken by the favorite of the Empress E. I. Biron. Without holding official government positions, Biron enjoyed the unlimited trust of Anna Ivanovna. He actually directed the entire domestic and foreign policy of Russia. A. I. Osterman helped him determine the government course, and Field Marshal B. K. Minikh helped him decide all military affairs.
Anna Ivanovna was forced to expand the rights and privileges of the nobility. On March 17, 1731, she canceled the Decree on Single Inheritance, introduced by Peter I in 1714. From now on, all nobles were given complete freedom to inherit estates. Beginning in 1731, cadet corps were created, which allowed nobles to become officers, bypassing hard military service. In March 1731, the Secret Chancellery was recreated - a body of political investigation and trial. The office was equated to a collegium and removed from the control of the Senate. In total, during the reign of Anna Ivanovna, about 10 thousand people were arrested for political reasons.
In October 1740, Anna Ivanovna died. She appointed Ivan Antonovich, the recently born son of her niece Anna Leopoldovna, as her successor to the Russian throne. Ivan VI was the great-grandson of Tsar Ivan V. Biron was appointed regent for the infant emperor until he was 18 years old. He received the right to manage all state affairs - both internal and external.
Biron's regency lasted only 3 weeks. In November 1740, another palace coup took place, led by Field Marshal B. K. Minich. Biron was arrested and exiled to Siberia. Anna Leopoldovna became regent for her young son Ivan VI. Proclaimed ruler, she actually played no role in governing the state. The government was headed first by Minich and then by Osterman.
Anna Leopoldovna's reign turned out to be short-lived. On the night of November 25, 1741, another palace coup was carried out. Elizaveta Petrovna, daughter of Peter I, was proclaimed empress.
The reign of Elizabeth Petrovna was marked by a return to the Petrine order. Russian dignitaries once again occupied the highest positions in the state. In December 1741, it was announced that the full power it had enjoyed during Peter the Great's time was being returned to the Senate. The Senate remained the highest body for legislation and public administration.
There was a further expansion of the rights and privileges of the nobility. The collection of taxes from the peasants was transferred to the hands of the landowners, who were assigned a monopoly right to own serfs and land. They also received the right to exile peasants to Siberia, counting them instead of recruits. In 1754, the Noble Bank was established, which provided loans to nobles on very favorable terms. In the same year, internal customs duties were abolished, which opened up wide opportunities for trade in agricultural and industrial goods.
In 1756-1763 The Seven Years' War was going on in Europe. Two coalitions took part in it. One of them included Great Britain, Portugal, Prussia and some German states, the second included France, Spain, Austria, Sweden, Saxony, Russia and most of the German states.
On August 19, 1757, the Russian army under the command of General S. F. Apraksin defeated the Prussian army in the battle of Groß-Jägersdorf. However, Apraksin, instead of taking advantage of this victory, gave the order to retreat from East Prussia to Lithuania. Soon the Russian army launched a new offensive. On August 1, 1759, in the general battle of Kunersdorf, Russian troops almost completely destroyed the army of the Prussian Emperor Frederick II. In September 1760, Russian troops occupied Berlin for some time. By 1761, Prussia's defeat became obvious.
On December 25, 1761, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna died, and this saved Frederick II from complete collapse.
Elizaveta Petrovna had no children, so in November 1742 she declared the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, the son of her elder sister Anna Petrovna, the heir to the Russian throne. At the age of 2 months he lost his mother, and at the age of 10 years - his father.
Karl Peter Ulrich arrived in Russia as a 14-year-old boy in 1742. In Orthodoxy, he took the name Peter Fedorovich. Having become Russian Emperor, Peter III focused mainly on entertainment. He left government to the court nobility, who carried out a number of important reforms.
In February 1762, a Manifesto was published on the abolition of the Secret Chancellery. At the same time, torture was abolished during the investigation of crimes. Shortly before this, a Manifesto was adopted on the granting of liberty and freedom to the entire Russian nobility. The manifesto abolished compulsory service for nobles - both military and civilian. They could freely travel abroad and hire themselves into the service of other sovereigns. Corporal punishment for nobles was abolished. The manifesto transformed the nobility from a serving class into a privileged class. In March 1762, a Decree was issued on the secularization of monastic and church lands.
An admirer of the Prussian emperor, Peter III immediately stopped hostilities and returned to defeated Prussia all its territories occupied by Russian troops. On April 24, 1762, Russia concluded an alliance treaty with Prussia. Thus, Peter III nullified all Russian victories in the Seven Years' War and actually saved Prussia from capitulation.
The officers and guards were very dissatisfied with the results of the war with Prussia. Peter III announced that he was going to withdraw the guard from St. Petersburg and send it to fight with Denmark. Russia did not need this war, but it corresponded to the interests of Schleswig-Holstein - the homeland of Peter III. Added to all this was Peter III’s obvious disrespect for all Russian rituals and customs, his drunkenness, and various obscene antics. The emperor's opponents took advantage of the general discontent. They were led by the wife of Peter III, Ekaterina Alekseevna.
On June 28, 1762, a palace coup took place, as a result of which Catherine II was proclaimed the Russian Empress. The next day, Peter III signed his abdication of the throne. Soon the deposed emperor was killed by a group of officers led by A.G. Orlov.
Many expected that Catherine II would declare herself regent for the young heir Paul, the son of Peter III, and transfer the rule to him upon reaching the age of 18. This did not happen. Thus, Catherine II made a double seizure of power. She took it from her husband and did not give it to her son.
