Anna Ioannovna: years of government, history and services to Russia. Anna Ioannovna

For Russian weapons, 1709 was full of glorious victories. Near Poltava, Peter the Great defeated the army - Russian troops successfully drove them out of the territory of the Baltic states. In order to strengthen his influence in the conquered lands, he decided to marry off one of his many relatives to the Duke of Courland Friedrich Wilhelm.

The sovereign turned to his brother's widow Praskovya Fedorovna for advice: which of her daughters does she want to marry the prince? And since she terribly did not like the stranger-stranger, she chose her unloved seventeen-year-old daughter Anna. This was the future Empress Anna Ioannovna.

Childhood and youthful years of the future empress

Anna was born on January 28, 1693 in Moscow, in the family of her elder brother Peter the Great. She spent her childhood in Izmailovo with her mother and her sisters. As contemporaries noted, Anna Ioannovna was a closed, silent and uncommunicative child. From an early age she was taught literacy, German and French. She learned to read and write, but the princess never mastered dances and secular manners.

Anna's wedding was celebrated on October 31, 1710 in the unfinished Petersburg Menshikov Palace. At the beginning of the next year, Anna Ioannovna and the Duke of Courland left for the capital Mitava. But on the way, Wilhelm died unexpectedly. So the princess became a widow a couple of months after the wedding.

Years before Anne's reign

Peter the Great ordered Anna to remain ruling in Courland. Realizing that his not very smart relative would not be able to serve the interests of Russia in this duchy, he sent Pyotr Bestuzhev-Ryumin along with her. In 1726, when Bestuzhev-Ryumin was recalled from Courland, Ernst Johann Biron, a nobleman who had not studied at the University of Koenigsberg, appeared at Anna's court.

After the death of Peter the Great in the Russian Empire, something completely unheard of happened until then - a woman ascended the throne! Widow of Peter I, Empress Catherine. She ruled for almost two years. Shortly before her death, the Privy Council decided to choose the grandson of Peter the Great, Peter Alekseevich, as emperor. He came to the throne at the age of eleven, but died of smallpox at fourteen.

Conditions, or the Execution of Members of the Secret Society

The Supreme Privy Council decided to call Anna to the throne, while limiting her autocratic power. They compiled the "Conditions", where the conditions were formulated under which Anna Ioannovna was invited to take the throne. In accordance with this paper, without the permission of the Privy Council, she could not declare war on anyone, conclude peace agreements, command an army or guard, raise or impose taxes, and so on.

On January 25, 1730, representatives of the secret society brought the "Conditions" to Metava, and the duchess, agreeing to all restrictions, signed them. Soon the new Empress Anna Ioannovna arrived in Moscow. There, representatives of the metropolitan nobility filed a petition with requests not to accept the conditions, but to rule autocratically. And the Empress listened to them. She publicly tore up the document and disbanded the Supreme Privy Council. Its members were exiled and executed, and Anna was crowned in the Assumption Cathedral.

Anna Ioannovna: years of reign and the influence of a favorite favorite on politics

During the reign of Anna Ioannovna, a cabinet of ministers was created, in which one of the vice-chancellor Andrey Osterman played the main role. The favorite of the Empress did not interfere in politics. Although Anna Ioannovna reigned alone, the years of her reign in Russian historiography are known as Bironovshchina.

In January 1732 the imperial court moved to Petersburg. Here Anna, who had lived in Europe for a long time, felt more comfortable than in Moscow. Foreign policy during the reign of Anna Ioannovna was a continuation of the policy of Peter the Great: Russia is fighting for the Polish inheritance and entering the war with Turkey, during which Russian troops lost one hundred thousand people.

Merits of the Empress to the Russian State

What else did Anna Ioannovna do for Russia? The years of her reign were marked by the development of new territories. The state conquered the steppe between the Bug and the Dniester, but without the right to keep ships on the Black Sea. The great Northern Expedition begins to work, Siberia and the coast of the Arctic Ocean and Kamchatka are explored.

By decree of the Empress, one of the most ambitious construction projects in the history of the Russian Empire begins - the construction of a colossal system of fortifications along the southern and southeastern borders of European Russia. This large-scale construction, which began during the reign of Anna Ioannovna, can be called the first cultural and social project of the Russian Empire in the Volga region. On the eastern borders of the European part of the empire, the Orenburg expedition operates, before which the government of Anna Ioannovna set numerous tasks.

Illness and death of the Empress

While cannons rattled on the borders of the empire and soldiers and nobles died for the glory of the empress, the capital lived in luxury and entertainment. Anna's weakness was hunting. In the rooms of the Peterhof Palace there were always loaded guns, from which the Empress fired at flying birds. She loved to surround herself with court jesters.

But not only could Anna Ioannovna shoot and have fun, the years of her reign were connected with very serious state affairs. The empress ruled for ten years, and all these years Russia built, fought and expanded its borders. October 5, 1740 at dinner, the Empress lost consciousness and, having been ill for twelve days, died.

Accession to the throne

Board of Anna Ioannovna

Domestic politics

Russian wars

Bironovshchina

Appearance and character

End of reign

Footprint in art

Literature

Filmography

Interesting Facts

(Anna Ivanovna; January 28 (February 7), 1693 - October 17 (28), 1740) - Russian Empress from the Romanov dynasty.

The second daughter of Tsar Ivan V (brother and co-ruler of Tsar Peter I) from Praskovya Feodorovna. She was married in 1710 to Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Courland; widowed 4 months after the wedding, she remained in Courland. After the death of Peter II, in 1730 she was invited to the Russian throne by the Supreme Privy Council as a monarch with limited powers, but took all power, dispersing the Supreme Council.

The time of her reign was later called Bironism named after her favorite Biron.

Early biography

From 1682, the brothers Peter I and Ivan V reigned on the Russian throne, until in 1696 the eldest but sickly Tsar Ivan V died. In January 1684, Ivan (or John) married Praskovya Feodorovna Saltykova, who gave birth to the sovereign 5 daughters, of whom only three survived. The eldest daughter Ekaterina later married Duke Karl-Leopold, and her grandson briefly visited the Russian emperor under the name of Ivan VI. The middle daughter Anna was born in 1693 and until the age of 15 she lived in the village of Izmailovo near Moscow with her mother Praskovya Fedorovna.

In April 1708, the royal relatives, including Anna Ioannovna, moved to St. Petersburg.

In 1710, Peter I, wishing to strengthen the influence of Russia in the Baltic states, married Anna to the young Duke of Courland Friedrich-Wilhelm, the nephew of the Prussian king. The wedding took place on October 31 in St. Petersburg, in the palace of Prince Menshikov, and after that the couple spent time in feasts in the northern capital of Russia. Barely having left Petersburg at the beginning of 1711 for his possessions, Friedrich-Wilhelm died, as was suspected, due to immoderate excesses at feasts.

At the request of Peter I, Anna began to live in Mitava (now the western part of Latvia), under the control of the Russian representative P. M. Bestuzhev-Ryumin. He ruled the duchy, and for a long time was also Anna's lover. Anna agreed to marry Moritz of Saxony in 1726, but under the influence of Menshikov, who had views of the Duchy of Courland, the marriage was upset. From about that time, a man entered Anna's life who retained a huge influence on her until her death.

In 1718, the 28-year-old Courland nobleman Ernest-Johann Buren entered the office of the Dowager Duchess, who later appropriated the French ducal name of Biron. He was never Anna's groom, as patriotic writers sometimes claimed, he soon became the manager of one of the estates, and in 1727 he completely replaced Bestuzhev.

It was rumored that Biron's youngest son Karl Ernst (born October 11, 1728) was actually his son by Anna. There is no direct evidence of this, but there is indirect evidence: when Anna Ioannovna left Mitava for Moscow in January 1730, she took this baby with her, although Biron himself and his family remained in Courland.

Accession to the throne

After the death of Peter II at 1 am on January 19 (30), 1730, the supreme ruling body, the Supreme Privy Council, began to deliberate on the new sovereign. The future of Russia was determined by 7 people: Chancellor Golovkin, 4 representatives of the Dolgoruky family and two Golitsyns. Vice Chancellor Osterman avoided discussion.

The question was not easy - there were no direct descendants of the Romanov dynasty in the male line.

The members of the Council talked about the following candidates: Princess Elizabeth (daughter of Peter I), Tsaritsa-grandmother Lopukhina (1st wife of Peter I), Duke of Holstein (was married to the daughter of Peter I Anna), Princess Dolgoruky (was betrothed to Peter II). Catherine I in her will called Elizabeth the heir to the throne in the event of the death of Peter II childless, but this was not remembered. Elizabeth scared away the old nobles with her youth and unpredictability, and the well-born nobility generally did not like the children of Peter I from the former maid and foreigner Ekaterina Alekseevna.

Then, at the suggestion of Prince Golitsyn, they decided to turn to the senior line of Tsar Ivan Alekseevich, who until 1696 was a nominal co-ruler with Peter I.

Having rejected the married eldest daughter of Tsar Ivan Alekseevich, Catherine, 8 members of the Council elected his youngest daughter Anna Ioannovna to the kingdom by 8 o'clock in the morning on January 19 (30), who had lived in Courland for 19 years and had no favorites and parties in Russia, which means that arranged for everyone. Anna seemed to the nobles obedient and manageable, not prone to despotism. Taking advantage of the situation, the leaders decided to limit the autocratic power in their favor, demanding that Anna sign certain conditions, the so-called " Conditions". According to " conditions"real power in Russia passed to the Supreme Privy Council, and the role of the monarch was reduced to representative functions.

On January 28 (February 8), 1730, Anna signed " Conditions”, according to which, without the Supreme Privy Council, she could not declare war or make peace, introduce new taxes and taxes, spend the treasury at her own discretion, promote to higher ranks than a colonel, grant estates, deprive a nobleman of life and property without trial, marry, appoint an heir to the throne.

On February 15 (26), 1730, Anna Ioannovna solemnly entered Moscow, where the troops and the highest officials of the state swore allegiance to the empress in the Assumption Cathedral. In the new form of the oath, some of the old expressions that meant autocracy were excluded, but there were no expressions that would mean a new form of government, and, most importantly, there was no mention of the rights of the Supreme Privy Council and the conditions confirmed by the Empress. The change consisted in the fact that they swore allegiance to the empress and the fatherland.

The struggle of the two parties in relation to the new state structure continued. The leaders sought to convince Anna to confirm their new powers. Supporters of the autocracy (A.I. Osterman, Feofan Prokopovich, P.I. Yaguzhinsky, A.D. Kantemir) and wide circles of the nobility wanted to revise the “Conditions” signed in Mitau. The ferment arose primarily from dissatisfaction with the strengthening of a narrow group of members of the Supreme Privy Council.

On February 25 (March 7), 1730, a large group of nobility (according to various sources, from 150 to 800), including many guard officers, appeared at the palace and submitted a petition to Anna Ioannovna. The petition expressed a request to the empress, together with the nobility, to reconsider a form of government that would be pleasing to all the people. Anna hesitated, but her sister Ekaterina Ioannovna decisively forced the Empress to sign the petition. Representatives of the nobility conferred for a short time and at 4 pm filed a new petition, in which they asked the empress to accept full autocracy, and to destroy the clauses of the “Conditions”.

When Anna asked the bewildered leaders for their approval of the new conditions, they only nodded their heads in agreement. As a contemporary notes: It is their happiness that they did not move then; if they showed even the slightest disapproval of the verdict of the nobility, the guardsmen would have thrown them out the window." In the presence of the nobility, Anna Ioannovna tore Conditions and his letter of acceptance.

On March 1 (12), 1730, the people for the second time swore an oath to Empress Anna Ioannovna on the terms of complete autocracy.

Board of Anna Ioannovna

Anna Ioannovna herself was not very interested in state affairs, leaving the affairs to her favorite Biron and the main leaders: Chancellor Golovkin, Prince Cherkassky, Osterman for foreign affairs and Field Marshal Munnich for military affairs.

Domestic politics

Having come to power, Anna dissolved the Supreme Privy Council, replacing it the following year with a cabinet of ministers, which included A. I. Osterman, G. I. Golovkin, A. M. Cherkassky. For the first year of her reign, Anna tried to attend the meetings of the Cabinet accurately, but then she completely lost interest in business and already in 1732 she was here only twice. Gradually, the Cabinet acquired new functions, including the right to issue laws and decrees, which made it very similar to the Supreme Council.

During the reign of Anna, the decree on single inheritance was canceled (1731), the Gentry Cadet Corps was established (1731), and the service of the nobles was limited to 25 years. Anna's inner circle consisted of foreigners (E. I. Biron, K. G. Levenwolde, B. X. Minich, P. P. Lassi).

In 1738, the number of subjects of Anna Ioannovna, residents of the Russian Empire, was almost 11 million people.

Russian wars

B.X. Minich, who commanded the army, began the restructuring of the army in the European manner. The Prussian training system was introduced, the soldiers were dressed in German uniforms, ordered to wear curls and braids, and use powder.

According to Minich's designs, fortifications were built in Vyborg and Shlisselburg, defensive lines were erected along the southern and southeastern borders.

New guards regiments were formed - Izmailovsky and Horse Guards.

Foreign policy in general continued the traditions of Peter I.

In the 1730s, the War of the Polish Succession began. In 1733, King August II died and kinglessness began in the country. France managed to install its protege - Stanislov Leshchinsky. For Russia, this could become a serious problem, since France would create a bloc of states along the borders of Russia, consisting of the Commonwealth, Sweden and the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, when the son of Augustus II August III turned to Russia, Austria and Prussia with a "Declaration of the Benevolent", in which he asked to protect the Polish "form of government" from French intervention, this gave rise to war (1733-1735).

The French fleet was defeated in Gdansk (Danzig). Leshchinsky fled on a French ship. August III became king of Poland.

French diplomacy during the war, in order to weaken the efforts of Russia in the West, tried to ignite the Russian-Turkish conflict. But negotiations with the Turks did not give the desired results, since the Port was at war with Iran. However, in 1735, the war with Turkey nevertheless began because of 20,000 soldiers who were heading to the Caucasus and violated the borders. Tatar troops. Russian diplomacy, aware of the aggressive intentions of the Porte, tried to enlist the friendly support of Iran. For this purpose, the former Iranian possessions along the western and southern shores of the Caspian Sea were transferred to Iran in 1735, concluding the Ganja Treaty. When it became known in Istanbul about the treaty, the Crimean Tatars were sent to Transcaucasia to conquer the lands transferred to Iran.

In the autumn of 1735, 40,000 the corps of General Leontiev, not reaching Perekop, turned back. In 1736, the troops crossed Perekop and occupied the capital of the Khanate Bakhchisaray, but fearing to be surrounded on the peninsula, Minikh, who commanded the troops, hastily left the Crimea. In the summer of 1736, the Azov fortress was successfully taken by the Russians. In 1737, they managed to take the fortress of Ochakov. In 1736-1738 the Crimean Khanate was defeated.

On the initiative of the Sultan's court in 1737, a congress was held in Nemirov on the global settlement of the conflict with the participation of Russians, Austrians and Ottomans. Negotiations did not lead to peace and hostilities resumed.

In 1739, Russian troops defeated the Ottomans near Stavuchany and captured the Khotyn fortress. But in the same year, the Austrians suffer one defeat after another and go to the conclusion of a separate peace with the Porte. In September 1739, a peace treaty was signed between Russia and the Porte. Under the Belgrade Treaty, Russia received Azov without the right to keep the fleet, a small territory on the Right-Bank Ukraine went to Russia; Big and Small Kabarda in the North. The Caucasus and a large area south of Azov were recognized as a "barrier between the two empires."

In 1731-1732, a protectorate was declared over the Kazakh Little Zhuz.

Bironovshchina

In 1730, the Office of Secret Investigation Affairs was established, replacing the Preobrazhensky Prikaz, destroyed under Peter II. In a short time, she gained extraordinary strength and soon became a kind of symbol of the era. Anna was constantly afraid of conspiracies that threatened her rule, so the abuses of this department were enormous. An ambiguous word or a misunderstood gesture was often enough to land in the dungeons, or even disappear without a trace, the call “Word and deed” was revived from “pre-Petrine times”. All those exiled under Anna to Siberia were considered to be over 20 thousand people, for the first time Kamchatka became a place of exile; more than 5 thousand of them were those of which no trace could be found, since they were often exiled without any record in the proper place and with a change in the names of the exiles, often the exiles themselves could not say anything about their past, since for a long time, under torture they were instilled with other people's names, for example: “I don’t remember Ivan’s relationship,” without even informing the Secret Chancellery about it. The executed were counted up to 1000 people, not including those who died during the investigation and executed secretly, of which there were many.

A special resonance in society was produced by the reprisals against the nobles: the princes Dolgoruky and the Cabinet Minister Volynsky. The former favorite of Peter II, Prince Ivan Dolgoruky, was broken on the wheel in November 1739; two other Dolgoruky were beheaded. The head of the family, Prince Alexei Grigoryevich Dolgoruky, had died in exile in 1734 even earlier. Volynsky was sentenced to impalement in the summer of 1740 for bad reviews about the empress, but then they cut out his tongue and simply cut off his head.

Patriotic representatives of Russian society in the 19th century began to associate all abuses of power under Anna Ioannovna with the so-called dominance of the Germans at the Russian court, calling bironism. Archival materials and studies of historians do not confirm the role of Biron in the plundering of the treasury, executions and repressions, which was later attributed to him by writers in the 19th century.

Appearance and character

Judging by the surviving correspondence, Anna Ioannovna was a classic type of lady-landowner. She loved to be aware of all the gossip, the personal life of her subjects, gathered around her a lot of jesters and talkers who amused her. In a letter to one person, she writes: You know our disposition, that we favor such people who would be forty years old and as talkative as that Novokshchenova". The Empress was superstitious, amused herself by shooting birds, and loved bright outfits. State policy was determined by a narrow group of trusted persons, among whom there was a fierce struggle for the mercy of the empress.

The reign of Anna Ioannovna was marked by huge expenses for entertainment events, the costs of holding balls and maintaining the yard, ten times higher than the costs of maintaining the army and navy, under her for the first time an ice town with elephants appeared at the entrance from whose trunks burning oil flows like a fountain, later during the clownish wedding of her court dwarf, the newlyweds spent their wedding night in an ice house.

Lady Jane Rondeau, wife of the English envoy to the Russian court, described Anna Ioannovna in 1733:

The Spanish diplomat Duke de Liria is very delicate in his description of the Empress:

The duke was a good diplomat - he knew that in Russia the letters of foreign envoys are opened and read.

There is also a legend that in addition to Biron, she had a lover - Carl Vegele

End of reign

In 1732, Anna Ioannovna announced that the throne would be inherited by a male-line descendant of her niece Elizabeth-Catherine-Christina, daughter of Ekaterina Ioannovna, Duchess of Mecklenburg. Catherine, the sister of Anna Ioannovna, was given by Peter I in marriage to the Duke of Mecklenburg, Karl-Leopold, but in 1719, with her one-year-old daughter, she left her husband for Russia. Anna Ioannovna watched over her niece, who received the name Anna Leopoldovna after baptism into Orthodoxy, as if she were her own daughter, especially after the death of Ekaterina Ioannovna in 1733.

In July 1739, Anna Leopoldovna was married to the Duke of Brunswick Anton-Ulrich, and in August 1740 the couple had a son, John Antonovich.

On October 5 (16), 1740, Anna Ioannovna sat down to dine with Biron. Suddenly she became ill, she fell unconscious. The disease was recognized as dangerous. Meetings began among the higher dignitaries. The issue of succession to the throne was resolved long ago, the Empress named her two-month-old child, John Antonovich, her successor. It remained to decide who would be regent until he came of age, and Biron was able to collect votes in his favor.

On October 16 (27), the ailing Empress had a seizure, which foreshadowed an imminent death. Anna Ioannovna ordered to call Osterman and Biron. In their presence, she signed both papers - about the inheritance after her of Ivan Antonovich and about the regency of Biron.

At 9 pm on October 17 (28), 1740, Anna Ioannovna died at the age of 48. Doctors declared the cause of death gout in conjunction with stone disease. An autopsy revealed a kidney stone the size of a little finger, which was the main cause of death. She was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Footprint in art

Literature

• V. Pikul "Word and deed"
• Anna Ioannovna is one of the main characters in Valentin Pikul's novel Word and Deed.
• M. N. Volkonsky "Prince Nikita Fedorovich"
• I. I. Lazhechnikov. "Ice House"
• Coronation album of Anna Ioannovna

Filmography

• 1983 - Demidovs. 2 series. - Lydia Fedoseeva-Shukshina
• 2001 - Secrets of palace coups. Russia, XVIII century. Film 2. Testament of the Empress. - Nina Ruslanova
• 2001 - Secrets of palace coups. Russia, XVIII century. Film 5. The Emperor's Second Bride. - Nina Ruslanova
• 2003 - Secrets of palace coups. Russia, XVIII century. Film 6. Death of the young emperor. - Nina Ruslanova
• 2003 - Russian Empire. Series 3. Anna Ioannovna, Elizaveta Petrovna.
• 2008 - Secrets of palace coups. Russia, XVIII century. Film 7. Vivat, Anna! - Inna Churikova

• There is a legend according to which, shortly before her death, the Empress was seen talking to a woman very similar to Anna Ioannovna herself. The empress later stated that it was her death.

Anna Ioannovna - Russian Empress, who ruled from 1730 to 1740, the niece of Peter I, the daughter of his brother and co-ruler, Tsar John Alekseevich. Her reign is usually associated with the flourishing of favoritism (Bironism) and a passion for entertainment events in the spirit of the famous Ice House.

However, it would be unfair to reduce the decade of the reign of Anna Ioannovna only to this. For all her ambiguity, Empress Anna managed to contribute to the greatness of Russia.

Izmailovsky princess

Princess Anna was born in 1693. She spent her childhood in the royal palace in Izmailovo. The widowed Empress Praskovya Feodorovna ruled her little world as if there had never been a stormy transformation of Peter I in Russia. Her three daughters, of whom Anna was the middle one, grew up in cloister solitude, like the princesses of pre-Petrine times, communicating only with servants, mothers and nannies, jesters and pious wanderers. However, Praskovya Fedorovna had to come to terms with some new trends: the princesses had teachers - a German and a Frenchman, who taught them to read and write, arithmetic, languages, dances and etiquette. Izmailovo had a court theater and its own orchestra.

Duchess of Courland

When the Northern War ended, Peter decided to strengthen the position of the Russian crown in the duchy of Courland (western part of modern Latvia). For this, in 1709 it was decided to marry the young Duke of Courland Friedrich Wilhelm with one of the Russian princesses. Peter invited Tsarina Praskovya Feodorovna to choose herself which of her daughters was to become a duchess. She pointed to Anna, who by that time was 16 years old. A year later, a magnificent wedding took place in St. Petersburg. Festivities and balls lasted two months. In January 1711, the young went to Mitava, the capital of Courland.

However, before reaching his possessions, Friedrich Wilhelm died on the road. Contemporaries claim that the reason for this was excessive libations. The young duke the day before took it into his head to compete with Peter I, who will outdrink whom. Anna returned to her mother. A year later, Peter nevertheless sent his niece to Courland as a dowager duchess. But not one. Together with her, Peter Bestuzhev-Ryumin left for Mitava, who was ordered to help the young widow and look after her. He looked after. After some time, it became known in St. Petersburg that the already middle-aged Bestuzhev - he was 30 years older than Anna - was her lover.

In 1727, Bestuzhev was returned to St. Petersburg with a scandal. Anna was not killed for her dear friend for long. A few months later, Ernst Johann Biron took possession of the heart of the Duchess of Courland. Anna kept this love until the end of her life.

Empress and autocrat of Russia

In 1730, the young Emperor Peter II died - the son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, the grandson of Emperor Peter. It was the last offspring of the Romanov family in the male line. The result of the noble conspiracy was an invitation to the reign of Anna Ioannovna against the will of Catherine I, who before her death bequeathed the throne to the grandson of Peter the Great, Karl Peter Ulrich (the future Peter III). The conspirators, who are usually called “supreme leaders” in literature, decided that Anna, who had spent many years in a foreign land and, according to rumors, did not shine with either intelligence or talents, would become their obedient tool.

It was decided to limit the power of the empress to the so-called "Conditions" - a document that contained the obligations of Anna Ioannovna not to interfere in state affairs. However, the reality turned out quite differently. Anna obediently signed the "Conditions", but when she arrived in Russia, she discovered that she had supporters. On February 25, 1730, the empress, in the presence of the court and the "supreme leaders", tore up the "Conditions".

Board of Anna Ioannovna

For a long time in Russian history and fiction there was an idea of ​​the "dark decade" of the reign of Anna Ioannovna, of Bironism and the dominance of the Germans at court. However, recent historical research suggests that this is partly an exaggeration. In fact, Anna and the people with whom she surrounded her throne were able to do a lot of useful things for Russia.

The program of the reign of Anna Ioannovna was reduced to the following main tasks:

The task of reforming the army was set in connection with the need to reduce costs, since even in the previous reign the question arose of an exorbitant tax burden on the peasantry;

There was also talk about the need to review the staffing of state institutions in order to streamline their work and reduce costs;

She declared the need to create a fair and equal court for all;

The Senate has been reformed. His work, interrupted in the previous reign, was restored on the basis of Peter's decrees.

The Empress did a lot to reform the fleet. Under her, shipbuilding resumed, regular exercises began again in the Baltic Sea. The Military Naval Commission was established, which played a decisive role in the development of the Russian fleet. Finally, in 1732, the closed port in Arkhangelsk was reopened and restored, and the shipyard in Solombala was also launched.

During the reign of Anna, a decisive blow was dealt to the Crimean Khanate, Russia captured the Turkish fortress of Khotyn, received the fortress of Azov, part of the territory of the Right-Bank Ukraine, territories in the North Caucasus, and a protectorate of the Russian crown was also declared over the union of Kazakh tribes - the Younger Zhuz.

However, the activities of the Secret Chancellery, interrogations under torture, exile and executions seriously overshadowed the reign of Anna Ioannovna, who was suspicious and very afraid of conspiracies, and left a gloomy imprint on him.

All this was called "Bironism", since public opinion placed all the blame for the activities of the Secret Chancellery on the favorite of the Empress. Subsequently, archival documents showed Biron's non-involvement in the investigative cases of the Secret Chancellery. Moreover, with all his undisguised dislike for the Russian people, Biron was able to benefit our country: it was he who began competent breeding horse breeding in Russia, for which he had a real passion.

Rather faceless heirs came to replace the Great Peter, and the fate of Peter's reforms turned out to be dramatic. The period (epoch) of palace coups in Russian history is usually called 1725–1761, when the supreme power in the Russian Empire passed from hand to hand mainly through coups that were carried out by noble groups with the support and assistance of the guards.

During this time, six monarchs changed on the Russian throne: Catherine I (1725–1727), Peter II (1727–1730), Anna Ioannovna (1730–1740), John VI Antonovich (1740–1741), Elizaveta Petrovna (1741–1761 ) and Peter III (1761–1762).

Causes and essence of "palace" coups. The death of Peter I caused a legal crisis in the state. The issue of succession to the throne was never regulated by the emperor. Among the reasons that caused a series of palace coups in the Russian Empire, one can attribute the presence of a fairly large number of direct and indirect heirs of the Romanov dynasty, claiming the throne. Finally, not the last role in the destabilization of the political situation in Russia after the death of Peter I was played by the corporate interests of the nobility and noble nobility. The main and only task of all court groups was to keep power in their hands.

The main driving force behind the palace coups was the noble guards, who realized their military strength and political significance.

At their core, palace coups were not state coups, because. did not pursue the goal of radical changes in political power and state structure. The exception, according to historians, was the events of 1730 associated with the accession of Anna Ioannovna.

In Russian historiography, the features of palace coups were highlighted. Various palace groups, seeking to elevate their protege to the throne, acted as their initiators. The most important consequence of the coups was the strengthening of the economic and political positions of the nobility. The change of rulers on the Russian throne did not mean serious political upheavals, but it had a certain impact on the development of the state and society. The main conspiracies were interspersed with the so-called "small coups", as a result of which high government officials fell into disgrace. An important phenomenon of this period was the flourishing of favoritism.

Domestic and foreign policy. The lawlessness around the Russian throne began immediately after the death of Peter I. Two candidates were considered: Peter, the son of Tsarevich Alexei, who was supported by the old aristocracy (Dolgoruky, Golitsyn, Saltykov, Lopukhin, etc.) and the emperor's widow Catherine, whom she wanted to see in the role of empress " new nobility ”(A. Menshikov, P. Tolstoy, I. Buturlin and others), who understood that Peter II would not forgive them for the death of his father.

Catherine I (1725–1727). With the help of A.D. Menshikov, a former favorite of Peter I, and his supporters managed to bring Catherine I to power. She turned out to be completely unprepared for state activity. A. Menshikov himself became the actual ruler.

In 1726, the Supreme Privy Council was established under the empress. This body represented a kind of compromise between representatives of the Russian aristocracy, who claimed to rule. The Senate was deprived of its functions and subordinated to the "supervisors".

The Supreme Privy Council received the status of the highest institution in the state, which had broad powers. Its functions included: appointment of senior officials; solving financial issues; supervision of the army and navy; control over the organs of political investigation; relations with foreign states.

The decree of August 4, 1726 divided the right to sign all the laws of the Russian Empire between the Empress and members of the Supreme Privy Council. Catherine I could not and did not want to personally govern the state. The short reign of Catherine I was marked by the beginning of a retreat from the general line of reforms of Peter I.

The Chief Magistrate was liquidated. The activities of local magistrates were subordinated to governors and governors. A regional reform was carried out, which restored the division of the country into counties (instead of Peter's provinces). State salaries to officials were replaced by accidences - payments from petitioners for the consideration of their cases. Their introduction contributed to the flourishing of bribery and extortion.

Under the reign of Catherine I, an attempt was made to stabilize the economic situation by some reduction in the size of the poll tax. Arrears for the past years, it was decided to collect from the landowners. The collection of the poll tax was entrusted to the voivode (which Peter I refused at one time).

During the reign of Ekaterina Alekseevna, Russia did not wage wars. Among the measures in the field of foreign policy that contributed to the strengthening of Russia's international positions, one can distinguish: the signing of an alliance treaty with Austria and Prussia; attempt to establish diplomatic and economic cooperation with China.

In May 1727, Catherine I died at the age of 43 from consumption.

Peter II (1727–1730). The successor of Catherine I (at the insistence of A. Menshikov) was the 12-year-old grandson of Peter the Great - Peter II. His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov was appointed regent for the newly-made emperor.

However, representatives of the old aristocracy prepared a conspiracy against A. Menshikov. As a result, by the autumn of 1727, Peter II got out of Menshikov's control and declared himself a full-fledged ruler. The fall of Menshikov meant, in fact, a palace coup. Power ended up in the hands of the old Moscow aristocracy (princes Dolgoruky, A.I. Osterman), who tried to forget the political and economic legacy of Peter the Great and distract the boy tsar from public affairs.

Financing of the fleet practically ceased, the country's armed forces fell into decline, the capital of the state was moved to Moscow (1728), the rights of the nobility associated with trade and manufactories were expanded. In the conditions of a tough struggle for power and influence on the emperor, representatives of the old aristocracy were practically forgotten about the Petrine legacy.

During the short reign of the teenage emperor, there were no significant changes in the state and public life of the Russian Empire. January 19, 1730 Peter II died. With his death, the male line of the Romanov dynasty was interrupted. The question of succession to the throne again sharply arose, since the emperor did not appoint a successor for himself.

Anna Ioannovna (1730–1740). The Russian aristocracy, headed by Prince D.M., took advantage of the current situation. Golitsyn, who had a strong position in the Supreme Privy Council. It was decided to invite the niece of Peter I, the Duchess of Courland Anna Ioannovna, to the Russian throne.

Her accession was stipulated by a number of "conditions" - conditions for accession to the throne, which severely limited her power, which she was obliged to share with the Supreme Privy Council. According to the "conditions", Anna Ioannovna was not allowed to marry, appoint a successor to herself, declare war and make peace, introduce new taxes, grant and take away estates without trial, and promote to the ranks above the colonel. Violation of these conditions by the empress entailed the deprivation of her crown.

However, the plans of the leaders caused dissatisfaction with the local nobility, who wanted to equalize their rights with the old nobility. On February 25, 1730, supporters of the accession of Anna Ioannovna - senators, generals and nobles, in the amount of 800 people. filed a petition demanding a revision of the "Conditions" of the Supreme Privy Council. Another 160 nobles demanded not to sign the document, which she did with relief. The restriction of autocratic power, conceived by the tribal aristocracy, did not happen.

Historians called the reign of Anna Ioannovna "Bironism" - after her favorite Ernst Biron. The all-powerful favorite was engaged in the appointment and removal of officials, and the spending of public funds was under his control. The grant of various privileges depended on the power of Biron. With the permission of the Empress, Biron introduced a huge number of foreigners into the highest circles of the country's government, pushing the Russian aristocracy.

Nevertheless, along with numerous foreigners, representatives of the Russian nobility, G.I. Golovkin, A.M. Cherkassky, A.P. Volynsky and others. It was under Anna Ioannovna that the amount of salaries received by Russian and foreign officers was equalized (under Peter I, foreign officers received 2 times more than Russians). Also in 1728-1738. the number of foreign generals in the Russian army has decreased from 58% to 51%.

Thus, modern historians insist that the image of "sinister Bironovism" is not true, but they do not deny that, in general, the era of Anna Ioannovna deserved notoriety.

The beginning of her reign was marked by political repression. Political terror fell upon almost all of the Russian nobility and other segments of the population. In March 1731, an organ of political investigation and repression was created - the Secret Chancellery. The main task of this censorship body was to control public opinion and the attitude of different sections of society to power. The main feature of the repressive activities of the punitive bodies of Anna Ioannovna was special attention to the nobility.

A characteristic feature of Anna Ioannovna's domestic policy was a further retreat from the political and economic legacy of Peter I. The role of the Senate fell sharply. Instead of the Supreme Privy Council, the Cabinet of Ministers was established (1731), headed by A. Osterman. In 1731, the Berg College was liquidated, which caused damage to the development of mining plants. In 1735, a decree was issued, according to which the signatures of the three Cabinet Ministers were equated with the signature of the Empress.

The government of Anna Ioannovna showed special concern for the nobility. Peter's decree on single inheritance (1731) was canceled, which gave the landowners the right to divide their estates. In 1731, the gentry corps was created, which led to the release of the nobility from the obligation to begin military service as soldiers. In 1736, by a special decree, the military service of the nobles was limited to a 25-year term, and one of the sons of a noble family was generally exempted from military service.

In parallel with the growth of the privileges of the nobility, there was a process of further enslavement of the peasants. They were forbidden to start factories and engage in trade (1731-1732). The landowners were given the right to determine the punishment for serfs for escaping (1736). The number of duties of the peasants in favor of the landowners increased sharply.

The Imperial court in 1732 moved to St. Petersburg. Foreigners admired the splendor and splendor of the imperial court. Thanks to Anna Ioannovna, Italian opera and billiards became known in Russia. The 2nd expedition of Bering to the shores of Alaska was organized, M.V. Lomonosov.

The foreign policy of Russia during the reign of Anna Ioannovna as a whole continued the work of Peter the Great. The Russian Empire participated in two wars. Together with Austria in the war for the "Polish inheritance" (1733-1735) on the side of August III, as well as in the war with Turkey (1735-1739) for access to the Black Sea and to suppress the raids of the Crimean Tatars. The war did not solve the assigned tasks, and ended with the signing of the Belgrade Peace Treaty: access to the Black Sea was not achieved. The positive results of the foreign policy activities of the government of Anna Ioannovna should be recognized as the continuation of the course of Peter I in relation to strengthening the southern borders of the empire.

Of particular note is the success of Russia during the reign of Anna Ioannovna in the field of foreign trade. In this regard, the Russian Empire was of great interest: in the west - England (Russian-English treatise on trade in 1734), and in the east - China. Anna Ioannovna died on October 17, 1740 at the age of 47.

Ivan VI Antonovich (October 1740 - November 1741). After the death of Anna Ioannovna, the 2-month-old Ivan VI Antonovich of Brunswick was elevated to the Russian throne, bypassing the daughter of Peter I, Princess Elizabeth, the son of the Empress Anna Leopoldovna's niece, 2-month-old. Biron was appointed regent for the infant. However, in November 1740, Field Marshal Munnich with 80 grenadiers arrested Biron. The regent was the mother of Ivan VI - Anna Leopoldovna (1740-November 1741).

The beginning of the reign of Anna Leopoldovna is associated with active state activity. The first events of Anna Leopoldovna had a pro-noble orientation. All noble families who suffered during the repressions of Biron (Volynsky, Golitsyn, Dolgoruky and many others) were granted amnesty. The Secret Office was subordinated to the power of the regent. The main decrees of the former regime related to the privileges of the nobility were confirmed (including the decree of 1736 on the 25-year service of the nobles). The war with Sweden began victoriously (summer 1741).

However, the activities of Anna Leopoldovna were distinguished by inconsistency, which was especially evident in personnel policy. Important government positions were still distributed to foreigners.

In November 1741, Russian society was alarmed by Anna Leopoldovna's attempt to pass a new law on succession to the throne, which would give her the rights of an autocratic empress. The law was not adopted, but the authority of the Brunswick family fell sharply. Once again, Russian society experienced an upsurge of patriotism, wanting to get rid of German dominance and continue the transformation of Great Peter. As his successor, not only the nobles, but all the estates of the Russian Empire saw Elizaveta Petrovna. Under these conditions, a new palace coup was being prepared.

Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761). On November 25, 1741, with the help of the Guardsmen of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, as well as their supporters (I. Lestok, the favorite of A. Razumovsky and the Shuvalov brothers), the daughter of Peter the Great, Elizabeth, ascended the throne. As a result of a palace coup, the infant emperor Ivan VI Antonovich was overthrown. The entire Braunschweig family was arrested and imprisoned in Kholmogory. The leading ministers of the former reign were also exiled to Siberia.

The main goal of her reign, Elizabeth proclaimed a return to the policy of Peter I. Unlike Anna Ioannovna, the new empress tried to take an active part in public affairs. The domestic policy of Elizabeth Petrovna is characterized by the following important events. The Cabinet of Ministers was abolished (but the rights of the Senate were not restored). The personal office of Her Imperial Majesty was created (since 1756 - the Conference, in whose staff 10 of her closest assistants were enrolled). Some state institutions - the Chief and city magistrates, some colleges (berg- and manufactory colleges) were restored. Many foreigners were removed from the spheres of government and education and replaced by Russians. Recruitment duty was facilitated (Russia was divided into 5 districts, each of which in turn supplied a recruit from 100 revision souls). The peasants were forgiven arrears for 17 years (1741), but at the same time indirect taxes were increased.

The socio-political and legal position of the nobility was strengthened, which resulted in the transformation of the nobles into a privileged closed class. The position of the peasantry was worsened (in fact, human trafficking was legalized); it was allowed to exile objectionable peasants to Siberia without trial and court order (1760).

In 1754–1755 internal customs duties were eliminated, which contributed to the development of the all-Russian market. In the sphere of trade, the policy of protectionism was continued. In fact, the death penalty was abolished, although its legal abolition did not happen, but during the reign of Elizabeth not a single death sentence was signed.

In the field of education and culture: Moscow University (1755) and the Academy of Arts (1757) were opened; Russian professional theater was established (1756). The architectural activity was characterized by the flourishing of the Baroque and Rococo styles.

The foreign policy of Elizabeth Petrovna continued the traditions of Peter the Great. The main foreign policy tasks of this period include the preservation and strengthening of Russia's positions in the Baltic lands, as well as the fight against aggressive Prussia, which was striving for hegemony in Central and Eastern Europe. Elizaveta Petrovna died on December 25, 1762.

Peter III (December 1761 - June 1762). After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, her nephew, a supporter of Prussia, Peter III, appeared on the Russian throne.

His reign began with the destruction of the results of the brilliant victories of the Russian army. The war with Prussia was ended. Russia returned to Prussia all the conquered territories and turned into an ally of Prussia in the war with Austria.

The activities of Peter III offended the national feelings of the Russian people, who perceived the new emperor as a temporary misunderstanding in the history of Russia. The palace coup of 1762 thwarted the plans of Peter III - Russia withdrew from the war and annulled the treaty with Prussia.

In historiography, his personality evokes diametrically opposite assessments: from traditionally negative (a fan of everything Prussian) to very positive (much of what was put into practice under Catherine II began under Peter III). It is worth noting that a series of important measures in the field of domestic policy is associated with the name of Peter III.

The Manifesto was signed on February 18, 1762 on the liberty of the nobles (the nobles received the right to leave military or civil service and retire when they wished; corporal punishment was abolished; the right to freely travel abroad was granted). The secret office was liquidated (February 21, 1762), which did not mean the end of the repressive policy, but the pernicious role of secret denunciations was recognized. An unsuccessful attempt was made to withdraw the guards from St. Petersburg and deprive them of the opportunity to influence the political life of the country.

The secularization of church lands was announced and the transfer of their management from the jurisdiction of the Synod to the hands of the newly created College of Economy. An attempt was made to resolve the situation of the Old Believers who were persecuted by the official church and state authorities (a ban on the persecution of Old Believers for religious reasons, which can be regarded as a step towards instilling freedom of conscience in Russian society), etc.

An analysis of the activities of Peter III allows us to see in him a very far-sighted politician. Although to a greater extent he was aware of himself as the duke of Holstein, and not the Russian emperor.

The unpopular measures of the domestic and foreign policy of Peter III led to the fact that the emperor became a victim of the 6th coup (June 28, 1762), which was led by his wife Catherine II. Peter III was soon killed.

Letter to A.G. Orlova to Catherine II about the murder of Peter III:

“Mother, merciful sovereign! How can I explain, describe what happened: you will not believe your faithful slave; but as before God I will tell the truth. Mother! Ready to go to death; but I don't know how it happened. We died when you do not have mercy. Mother - he is not in the world. But no one thought of this, and how can we think of raising our hands against the Sovereign! But, Empress, a disaster happened. He argued at the table with Prince Fyodor, before we had time to separate him, he was already gone. We ourselves do not remember what we did; but everyone is guilty, worthy of execution. Have mercy on me, at least for my brother. I brought you a confession, and there is nothing to look for. Forgive me or tell me to finish soon. The world is not nice; angered you and ruined souls forever.

Thus, the main consequences of the dramatic era of "palace coups" were: the strengthening of the positions of the nobility; domestic political instability: a departure from Peter's reforms.

Questions and tasks

1. What are the main features of palace coups.

2. What reasons can be identified that contributed to the creation of an unstable political situation in the country during this period?

3. What role did the guards play in the events of the palace coups?

4. Describe the main directions of domestic policy in 1725–1762.

5. What was the departure from Peter's reforms in the policy of his successors?

Anna Ioannovna Romanova
Russian empress

Years of life: 1693-1740
Years of government: 1730-1740

The second daughter of Ivan V Alekseevich (brother and co-ruler of Tsar Peter I) and Praskovya Fedorovna Saltykova, niece.

Anna Ioanovna short biography

At the age of 3, Anna was left without a father, lived with her mother and sisters Ekaterina and Praskovya in the village of Izmailovo until the age of fifteen. Studied history, reading, calligraphy, geography, foreign languages, dances.

On October 31, 1710, she was married off by her uncle Peter I to Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Courland. This marriage was concluded in order to secure Russia's right to use the Courland (Baltic) ports. The celebrations on the occasion of the wedding went on for two months, during which time the newly-made husband Friedrich caught a cold and, having left with his wife for the capital of Courland, Mitava, on January 9, 1711, he died 40 km from St. Petersburg. Despite the death of the duke, Peter ordered Anna to live in Mitava and did not allow her to stay in Russia for a long time.

Conditions of the reign of Anna Ioannovna

After her death, Anna was invited on January 25, 1730 to the Russian throne by the Supreme Privy Council at the suggestion of V. L. Dolgorukov and D. M. Golitsyn. Believing that 37-year-old Anna Ioannovna has no supporters and connections in Russia, they made this decision.

According to the agreements, Anna Ivanovna agreed to govern the country only together with the Supreme Privy Council, and it was to become the highest governing body. She did not have the right to legislate, impose taxes, dispose of the treasury, declare war and make peace. Without the approval of the members of the Council, she could not grant estates and ranks. Anna could not marry and appoint an heir to the throne without the consent of the Supreme Privy Council. In case of non-fulfillment of the conditions, she was deprived of the crown.

Empress Anna Ioannovna

However, having come to power, Anna Ioannovna immediately dissolved the Supreme Privy Council (1730), restored the importance of the Senate, established the Cabinet of Ministers (1731), which included G. I. Golovkin, A. I. Osterman, A. M. Cherkassky. Church matters were entrusted to Feofan Prokopovich. Next, the Office of Secret Investigation Affairs was recreated, headed by A.I. Ushakov (the central body of political investigation).

Shortly before the coronation, Anna Ioannovna issued a manifesto on a nationwide oath to the heir appointed by the empress. On April 28, 1730, in Moscow, in the Assumption Cathedral, Feofan Prokopovich celebrated the wedding and anointing of Empress Anna to the kingdom.

During the reign of Anna Ivanovna, the decree on uniform inheritance was canceled (1731), the Gentry Cadet Corps was established (1731), and the service of the nobles was limited to 25 years. Anna's inner circle consisted mostly of foreigners (E. I. Biron, K. G. Levenwolde, B. X. Minich, P. P. Lassi). Under Anna, the ruler, the chamber junker Ernest-Johann Biron had a huge influence on the course of state affairs - favorite of Anna Ioannovna until the end of life.

The years of the reign of Anna Ioannovna - Bironovshchina

"Bironovshchina", which personified political terror, embezzlement, disrespect for Russian traditions, licentiousness, has become one of the dark pages in Russian history. Pursuing a pro-noble policy, Anna Ioannovna was irreconcilable to manifestations of noble opposition. Anna did not forgive Golitsyn and Dolgoruky for their speeches in January - February 1730 and were later imprisoned, exiled, and executed.

In 1740, Anna Ivanovna and her entourage dealt with Cabinet Minister L.P. Volynsky and his followers, who sought to limit the influence of foreigners on the domestic and foreign policy of Russia.

During the reign of Anna, a military reform was carried out in the army under the leadership of B.X. Minich, the Izmailovsky and Horse Guards regiments were formed.
In 1733 - 1735. Russia contributed to the approval of the Elector of Saxony Stanislaw August (August III) on the Polish throne. The war with Turkey (1735 - 1739) ended with the Belgrade peace unfavorable for Russia.

The successes of Anna Ioannovna's policy

By order of Empress Anna, construction began in the Kremlin, casting
Tsar Bell: Architect I.F.Michurin drew up the first plan of Moscow in Russian history, focused on streamlining urban development. To control the strengthening of customs control around Moscow, the Kompaneisky shaft was laid. In 1732, a decree was issued on the installation of glass lanterns in Moscow, thereby laying the foundation for street lighting in the city. In 1732, she consecrated the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

In 1732, Anna ordered the opening of the 1st Cadet Corps, which trained the nobles for military and public service, but at the same time, in 1736, she limited the obligation of this service to 25 years. The nobles were given the right to receive education at home and only periodically "appear for reviews and undergo examinations." Anna Ioannovna considered it harmful to teach ordinary people to read and write, since “learning can distract them from menial work” (decree of 1735). By another decree, on October 29, 1735, she ordered the establishment of schools for the children of factory workers.

The successes of the foreign policy of Anna's reign in the 1730s. confirm trade agreements between Russia and Spain, England, Sweden, China and Persia.
Anna 1 Ioannovna went down in history as a lover of "curiosities" (dwarfs and giants, strange animals and birds, storytellers and witches), she really liked the jokes of jesters.

Judging by the surviving correspondence, Empress Anna Ioannovna was a classic type of lady-landowner. She loved to gossip about the court, the personal life of her subjects, and gathered around her many jesters who amused her. She was superstitious, amused by shooting at birds, loved bright clothes.

On August 12, 1740, the niece of the Empress, Anna Leopoldovna, who was married in 1739 to the Brunswick prince Anton-Ulrich, had a son, Ivan, whom the Empress declared heir to the Russian throne. And E.I. Biron was appointed his regent.

On October 17, 1740, Anna Ioannovna, at the age of 47, died of a "stroke" in St. Petersburg, and 2-month-old Ivan, under the regency of the Duke of Courland Biron, became the Russian sovereign Ivan VI Antonovich.

Doctors indicated the cause of death was gout in conjunction with stone disease. An autopsy revealed a kidney stone the size of a little finger, which allegedly was the main cause of death.

Anna Ioannovna was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

In literature, her image is reflected in the novel “Word and Deed” by Valentin Pikul, “Prince Nikita Fedorovich” by M. N. Volkonsky, “Ice House” by I. I. Lazhechnikov.

Anna Ioannovna had no children.