The future Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna Romanova was born in an illegal marriage at that time between Peter the Great and Catherine the First on December 18, 1709. Peter the Great, as soon as he learned about the birth of his daughter, even decided to cancel the celebration planned for that day to mark the end of the Russian-Swedish war. Already in the spring of 1711, the illegitimate Elizabeth was declared princess.
Contemporaries note that the girl was distinguished by her love of horse riding, dancing, and was also unusually resourceful, intelligent and expressively beautiful. Elizaveta Petrovna received her education in the Izmailovsky and Preobrazhensky villages, where she was taught foreign languages, geography and history.
Peter made more than one attempt to marry his daughter to numerous applicants from among the nobility and ruling dynasties, but not one of them was crowned with a positive result. Menshikov’s attempts to “bring together” Elizabeth under Peter the Second were doomed to such failures.
In 1730, Pyotr Alekseevich died and the question of a new ruler of Russia arose, but the Supreme Privy Council placed the reign in the hands of Elizabeth’s sister Anna Ioannovna. During the reign of the latter, the country experienced its hard days: the treasury was plundered by palace entertainment and favorites, the prestige of the state fell every day, etc. As a result of the palace coup, Elizabeth still gained power and legally assumed the throne in 1741.
Wanting to restore the state to its former state as soon as possible, Elizabeth decides to continue the reforms begun by Peter the Great and her first order was the abolition of the death penalty in Russia. Also, in 1741, the stage of internal political reforms began: the Senate (a new legislative body) appeared, new laws were drawn up. In addition, Elizaveta Petrovna improves the position of the nobility, abolishes customs duties and thereby activates the “stagnant” Russian market. It was during the reign of this monarch that new academies and universities appeared in Russia, and a second population census was carried out.
The ruler was no less active in her foreign policy. At the very beginning of her reign, Russia waged military operations with Sweden, which sought to take revenge on Russia for its defeat in the Northern War. The result of these actions is the transfer of part of Finland to Russia. After this, Russia enters the War of the Austrian Succession.
Results of the reign of Elizaveta Petrovna: what would the father say?
Once in 1770, when another victory of Russian weapons was glorified in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, this time on the occasion of the defeat of the Turkish fleet in the Battle of Chesme, and the orator-priest, in a fit of eloquence, struck the tomb of Peter the Great with his staff, calling on the reformer to rise up to see the work of his hands descendants, Count Kirill Razumovsky, known for his wit, joked: “Why is he calling him? If Peter stands up, we will all get it!”
At this time, Catherine II was already on the throne, but this meaningful joke should rightly be attributed to the Elizabethan era, especially since Razumovsky himself made his career in those years. Probably, if a miracle had happened, then the daughter from her father would really have received a lot of reproaches during the twenty years of her reign. But of course there would be some kind words.
It is often remembered that Elizabeth left behind 15 thousand dresses, chests of silk stockings, unpaid bills and the unfinished Winter Palace in her wardrobe. And descendants, in memory of that era, came up with humorous lines: “Elizabeth was a cheerful queen, she sings and has fun, but there is no order!”
But there was something else. Elizabeth restored the Senate and gave it powers that it did not have even under her father. The Senate did a lot to restore order in the ministries-colleges and adopted a number of important decisions for the country. The only government body that remained outside the sight of the Senate was the powerful Secret Chancellery. Her activities became even more secret than in the time of Anna Ioannovna. To receive even an insignificant document from the Secret Chancellery, written permission from the Empress was necessary. The authorities allowed only one relaxation. At the very beginning of her reign, Elizabeth graciously ordered that those guilty of incorrectly spelling the imperial title no longer be sent to the Secret Chancellery. Even such a powerful and terrible institution could not overcome the illiteracy of the Russian bureaucracy.
Elizabeth abolished the internal customs that existed in a number of Russian provinces, which contributed to the unification of the country into a single whole. Under Elizabeth, commercial and noble banks were established, which stimulated the development of the Russian economy. And so on.
Elizabeth started a lot, but did not complete it, just like the Winter Palace. In this she turned out to be like her father. Everyone just had their own hobbies. Peter started shipyards and metallurgical plants, but Elizabeth’s love for costume balls also gave something to Russia. Brussels native Teresa opened the first thread lace factory in Moscow, national manufacturers began to make velvet and taffeta, factories appeared for the production of silk and paper fabrics, trellises and hats, and at the same time they began to produce paints in Russia. Even the famous Lomonosov at that time was engaged not only in science, but also in business: in 1752 he received the privilege to found a factory of multi-colored glass and beads and bugles so dear to Elizabeth. Lomonosov founded an entire factory, and received from the state both a substantial loan and 200 serf souls for use.
Elizabeth would deserve undeniable praise from her father for the progress that was achieved in the field of education. The same Lomonosov, together with Count Shuvalov, founded the first Moscow University in Russia in 1755. The imperial decree emphasized: “Peter the Great led Russia, immersed in the depths of ignorance, to the knowledge of true well-being, and his daughter, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, wants to follow the same path.”
This was truly a great thing for the country, given the brilliant galaxy of Russian statesmen and public figures, world-famous scientists who came out of the university. The very first faculties of law, medicine and philosophy appeared at the university. A gymnasium was immediately established at the training center, and parents were obliged to warn in advance what career they had chosen for their children. Education was built on this basis. Basic European languages were taught as a compulsory subject. Preference was then given to German and French.
The influx of specialists from abroad continued, but it was placed under strict control. Not a single foreign doctor or teacher could engage in private practice without passing the appropriate exam and obtaining permission.
In 1746, the first international recognition of Russian science came. Voltaire himself expressed a desire to become a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and literally begged for an assignment to write the history of Peter the Great.
The Elizabethan era included many contradictory things. The Empress abolished the death penalty, but did not abolish terrible torture. She was famous for her kindness, but at the same time she mercilessly rotted in prison her not even real, but rather potential political opponents - the fate of the Brunswick family is evidence of this.
In Elizabethan times, Russian foreign policy too often was not based on a well-thought-out state course, but was only a reflection of court intrigues. Several hostile groups fought among themselves for influence over the empress. Her personal physician Lestocq and the French envoy Chetardy persuaded Elizabeth to an alliance with France and Prussia, and Chancellor Alexei Bestuzhev stood for traditional ties with Austria and England. At the same time, the actions of all participants in the political game were largely determined not by principled views, but simply by bribes.
Everyone took bribes, even the head of the foreign policy department, Bestuzhev. The pension he received from the British significantly exceeded his official salary. Lestock can undoubtedly be called the most outstanding bribe-taker of that era. He knew how to collect tribute from everyone: the French, the British, the Swedes, and the Germans paid him a lot of money. On top of that, at the request of Prussia, the German Emperor Charles VII granted the doctor Lestocq the dignity of a count.
The Marquis de la Chetardie constantly begged Paris for money to bribe Russian officials. However, most of this money seems to have ended up in his own pocket. Chétardie preferred to act based not so much on money as on personal charm, desperately seeking the favor of Elizabeth herself. The messenger was all-in. There is evidence that as a man he won, but as an ambassador he failed. The Empress was suggestible, but only to certain limits. Elizabeth liked the charming Frenchman, but she was smart enough not to confuse alcove affairs with foreign policy matters.
All this mouse fuss of foreign agents around the imperial throne during the time of Peter, given his character, was impossible, if only because it was pointless. Menshikov, of course, would gladly take a bribe from anyone, but the political course was determined only by Peter, and no one else. For Elizabeth, unlike her father, there was a constant and sometimes quite dirty struggle. To bring down his opponents, Bestuzhev even resorted to illustrating their correspondence. This know-how, with the light hand of the Prussian king, began to enter into practice just then, surprisingly quickly fitting into the usual aristocratic tools of European diplomacy. Having opened one of Chetardie’s dispatches to Paris, Bestuzhev discovered reasoning there that was very compromising both the author himself and Lestocq. This was precious material for the chancellor, which he did not fail to use.
Through Bestuzhev, the following text fell into the hands of the empress: “We are dealing here with a woman,” wrote Shetardy, “who cannot be relied upon in anything. While still a princess, she did not want to think about anything or know anything, and having become an empress, she only grasps at what, under her power, can give her pleasure. Every day she is busy with various pranks: she either sits in front of the mirror, or changes clothes several times a day - she takes off one dress, puts on another, and wastes time on such childish trifles. She can chat for hours about snuff or a fly, and if anyone talks to her about anything important, she immediately runs away, does not tolerate the slightest effort on herself and wants to act uncontrollably in everything; she diligently avoids communication with educated and well-mannered people; her best pleasure is to be at the dacha or in the bathhouse, in the circle of her servants. Lestok, taking advantage of his many years of influence on her, tried many times to awaken in her the consciousness of his duty, but everything turned out to be in vain: what flies into her ear, flies out of the other. Her carelessness is so great that if today she seems to be on the right path, then tomorrow she will go crazy again, and today she treats those who were considered dangerous enemies by her yesterday in a friendly manner, as if she were her longtime advisers.”
This alone was more than enough for the empress to change her attitude towards Shetardy and Lestocq. But the note contained not only a damning description of Elizabeth herself, which Bestuzhev himself could probably subscribe to in his heart, but also other interesting information. Chetardy discussed in the dispatch how devoted Lestocq was to him, and that this devotion should be “warmed up” by increasing his annual pension. Next, Chetardy asked for money to pay bribes to several more useful people, and in conclusion he suggested that Paris bribe some Orthodox hierarchs, and in particular the personal confessor of the empress.
It is not surprising that after such a successful interception of the dispatch, Bestuzhev got rid of both Lestocq and Chetardie. The first was sent into exile, the second home to Paris. Together with Bestuzhev, the Austrian and English envoys rejoiced.
The main lever of influence of the Russians on Europe in those days was still a powerful army; it won many victories in the Elizabethan era. During the small Russian-Swedish war of 1741-1743, Russia not only again defeated the old enemy, but also annexed another piece of Finnish land to its possessions. During this period, the Russian soldier more than once actively intervened in big European politics: in 1743, thanks to the Russian army, the issue of succession to the throne in Sweden was resolved, and in 1748, the appearance of the Russian corps on the banks of the Rhine helped end the War of the Austrian Succession and sign the Peace of Aachen. The Russians also took an active part in the so-called Seven Years' War (1756-1763).
At the same time, as in previous times, most victories brought Russia nothing but glory; the success of Russian weapons only strengthened the fear of the Russians in Europe. Russian troops defeated the invincible Frederick and took Berlin, but St. Petersburg was unable to derive any material, territorial or political benefits from this. Before the fall of Berlin, Frederick wrote in panic to his minister Finkenstein: “Everything is lost. I will not survive the destruction of my fatherland!”
The indecisiveness of the Russian commanders saved Frederick’s life, fatherland, and power. Frederick, rightly paying tribute to the courage of the Russian soldier, which he spoke about more than once, also noted the mediocrity of their military leaders. “They act like they're drunk,” he once remarked. And this is the difference between the Elizabethan era and the era of Peter the Great. His commanders and he himself liked to drink, but they fought sober and knew how to benefit from victories.
At the same time, it should be taken into account that the inconsistency of the steps of the Russian commanders of that time was to a large extent explained by the presence of the Prussian “fifth column” in St. Petersburg. Elizabeth herself, who did not love Frederick, demanded decisive action, but during this period she was already seriously ill and could die at any moment. And after her, the famous Prussophile Peter III was to ascend the throne. Given the situation, Russian military leaders did not want to risk their careers. Hence their “drunk gait”, one step forward, two steps back.
Elizabeth came to power in the wake of the struggle against the Germans, and left as her successor an emperor who hated everything Russian and idolized everything German. True, the same Elizabeth managed to choose for the emperor a German woman who sincerely wanted and was able to become Russian. Catherine the Great is also Elizabeth's legacy.
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Results of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna
About the results of Elizabeth’s reign, Solovyov remarked as follows:
“In the absence of a careful study of Russian history of the 18th century, they usually repeated that the time that elapsed from the death of Peter the Great to the accession to the throne of Catherine II was a sad time, unworthy of study, a time in which intrigues, palace coups, and the domination of foreigners were seen in the foreground. But with the success of historical science in general and with a more careful study of Russian history, such views can no longer be repeated. We know that in our ancient history it was not John III who was the creator of the greatness of Russia, but that this greatness was prepared before him in the sad time of princely strife and the fight against the Tatars; we know that Peter the Great did not bring Russia from non-existence into existence, that the so-called transformation was a natural and necessary phenomenon of national growth, national development, and the great significance of Peter lies in the fact that by the power of his genius he helped his people make a difficult transition associated with all kinds of dangers. Science also does not allow us to make a leap from the time of Peter the Great to the time of Catherine II; it forces us, with particular curiosity, to delve deeper into the study of the intervening era, to see how Russia continued to live a new life after Peter the Great, how it understood the material of transformation without the help of the brilliant emperor , as she found herself in her new position, with its light and dark sides, for in the life of a person and in the life of nations there is no age in which both sides would not exist. In the West, where many were worried at the sight of a new powerful power suddenly appearing in the east of Europe, they consoled themselves with the fact that this phenomenon was transitory, that it owed its existence to the will of one strong man and would end with his life. Expectations were not met precisely because the new life of the Russian people was not the creation of one person. There could be no turning back, for neither an individual person nor an entire nation returns from adolescence to childhood and from adulthood to youth; but there could and should have been private deviations from the transformative
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The future Empress of Russia was born before her parents entered into a church marriage, and therefore was considered illegitimate.
She was born on December 18, 1709. Various celebrations were planned for this day, due to the successes in.
Peter I solemnly entered Moscow, and the monarch was immediately informed that his daughter had been born. As a result, they celebrated not the military successes of the state, but the birth of the daughter of Peter I.
In March 1711, Elizabeth was recognized as the daughter of august parents and proclaimed princess. Even in childhood, courtiers, as well as foreign ambassadors, noticed the amazing beauty of the daughter of the Russian monarch.
She danced excellently, had a lively mind, resourcefulness and intelligence. The young princess lived in the villages of Preobrazhenskoye and Izmailovskoye, where she received her education.
She studied foreign languages, history, and geography. She devoted a lot of time to hunting, horse riding, rowing, and, like all girls, she was very concerned about her appearance.
Elizaveta Petrovna excelled in horse riding; she felt very confident in the saddle and could give odds to many cavalrymen.
Peter dreamed of marrying his daughter to a representative of a noble ruling dynasty, but none of the dynastic marriage projects came to fruition. During the reign of Catherine I, they again tried to find a groom, this time from the “smaller” ruling dynasties, and again it did not work out.
Under Peter II, Menshikov tried to find a husband for Elizabeth, but also to no avail. Osterman proposed marrying Peter II to Elizabeth, but the princess was categorically against it.
In 1730, quite unexpectedly, Pyotr Alekseevich dies of illness. According to the will of Catherine I, it was Elizaveta Petrovna who was to take the Russian throne. But this did not happen.
The Supreme Privy Council considered that Elizabeth's sister, Elizabeth, had greater rights to the throne. Elizabeth’s relationship with Anna Ioannovna did not work out. Paradoxically, she was more or less friendly with Anna Ioannovna’s favorite.
The new empress reduced the annual expenses for the maintenance of Elizabeth Petrovna, allocated from the treasury from 100 thousand rubles to 30 thousand. In 1740, Anna Ioannovna dies, leaving Ivan Antonovich as heir to the throne, regent, under whom she becomes.
The reign of Anna Ioannovna had anti-Russian features. The dominance of foreigners in important government positions could not but please representatives of the Russian nobility. The nobles pinned great hopes on the daughter of Peter I; they believed that she would be able to restore the shaky power of Russia after the death of her father. Elizaveta Petrovna had many supporters, including guards officers.
On the night of November 25, 1741, together with Shuvalov, Vorontsov, and Lestok, Elizaveta Petrovna came to the barracks of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. She addressed the soldiers and officers with a speech: “You know whose daughter I am, follow me!” Before this, she made the soldiers promise not to kill innocent people.
The soldiers rushed to the Winter Palace, where they carried Elizaveta Petrovna in their arms, and arrested Anna Leopoldovna’s family. The coup was bloodless. In the morning, she published a manifesto that asserted her legal rights to the Russian throne. Elizabeth, in the uniform of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, took the oath of the guards, and met the approval and jubilation of the crowd of people.
Her accession caused an unprecedented surge in Russian national self-awareness. The people, offended by the dominance of foreigners who had ruined the country's prestige for more than a decade and plundered the state treasury, broke into their homes. Even Minich and himself got it.
Elizaveta Petrovna’s domestic policy boiled down to “restoring the principles of Peter.” After rewarding supporters of the coup and punishing opponents, it was necessary to move on to state affairs. The first thing in Russia was to abolish the death penalty.
Even ardent opponents of the coup, represented by foreign ministers, were pardoned. In December 1741, Elizaveta Petrovna began internal political reforms. A Senate appeared, which under the empress became the highest state body, and the cabinet of ministers was abolished.
The new Senate was tasked with drawing up a new Code - a set of laws. Elizabeth increased the privileges of the nobles in every possible way. For example, noble children began to be enrolled in regiments from birth. This made it possible to begin real service already with the rank of officer.
Customs duties were abolished, which accelerated the development of the market in Russia. In 11744 - 1747, the second revision census of the country's population took place. The poll tax was reduced.
The economy, agriculture and industry moved forward. The country's development was slow but sure. Cultural growth and scientific growth began. The Academy of Sciences, Moscow University, the first public theater, various large gymnasiums, and the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg appeared, which gave great Russian artists to world culture.
Elizaveta Petrovna's foreign policy was quite active. In the first years of her reign, she fought with Sweden, thirsting for revenge for the defeat in the Northern War. The new war ended with the defeat of the Swedes; in addition to confirming its rights to Peter’s conquests, Russia received part of Finland.
After this, many European powers began to seek an alliance with Russia, whose army again began to represent great power. Russia also took part in the War of the Austrian Succession. In 1756, ““ began,” during which the Russian Empire and its allies almost defeated Prussia, but on December 15, 1761, the empress died, and her successor signed a “peace treaty.”
In general, the reign of Elizaveta Petrovna can be described as positive. Russia restored its damaged authority in Europe by demonstrating its military might. The Russian state developed in all spheres of society.
Economy, politics, culture, education... Everything was in motion. The dynamics of the development of the Russian Empire were positive, although they did not have a high pace.
The biography of Elizaveta Petrovna is very interesting. Her personality is actually quite colorful, she was a bright person, and a great historical figure.
Elizaveta Petrovna Romanova was born on December 18, 1709 in a marriage between and that was not legalized by the church at that time. Upon learning of the birth of his daughter, Peter the Great canceled the celebrations planned for that day to mark the successful end of the Russian-Swedish war. In March 1711, the illegitimate Elizabeth was declared princess.
Elizabeth was distinguished by her amazing beauty, sharp mind, resourcefulness, love of dancing and riding horses. Elizaveta received her education in the villages of Preobrazhenskoye and Izmailovskoye, where she studied history, geography and foreign languages.
Numerous attempts by Peter the 1st to marry his daughter to a representative of a noble ruling dynasty were in vain. Menshikov’s attempts to find a worthy match for Elizabeth ended in the same way. Osterman even offered to marry her to Pyotr Alekseevich, but the princess refused.
In 1730, Pyotr Alekseevich died, and the question arose of who would take the Russian throne. According to the will of Catherine the 1st, this place was assigned to Elizabeth. However, the Supreme Privy Council decided that the princess’s sister, with whom they had far from warm relations, should take the throne.
During her reign, Anna managed to significantly reduce the country's prestige and ruin the state treasury. 10 years later (in 1740) Anna died, leaving the throne to her nephew. He was still young, and Anna Leopoldovna became his regent. Dissatisfied with everything that was happening inside the country, Elizabeth, together with her supporters, decided to do so and ascended the throne (1741).
Wanting to bring the country to the state it was in at the beginning of the reign of Peter the Great, Queen Elizabeth abolished the death penalty in Russia. In 1741, internal political transformations began: the highest state body appeared - the Senate, which compiled a new set of laws. Elizabeth also directed her actions towards expanding the opportunities of the nobles. The abolished customs duties have significantly improved the development of the Russian market.
In 1744-1747 The second population census in Russia was carried out. The poll tax has been reduced. The country's economy, industry and agriculture began to develop rapidly. The cultural and scientific growth of the Russian state began: Moscow University, the Academy of Sciences, many gymnasiums, the First Public Theater and the Academy of Arts were opened in St. Petersburg, which gave great Russian artists to world culture.
Elizabeth was very active in her foreign policy. During the beginning of her reign, Russia fought with Sweden, who wanted to avenge the defeat in. However, this war ended in another failure for the Swedes, and part of Finland went to Russia. Victory in this war led to the desire of many European countries to enter into an alliance with Russia. Russia had a chance to take part in the War of the Austrian Succession.
In 1756, the war began, as a result of which Russia, together with its allies, practically destroyed Prussia. However, in December 1761, Elizaveta Petrovna died, and her nephew, whom she appointed as a successor, concludes a peace treaty.
The reign of Elizabeth Petrovna can be considered quite favorable for the Russian Empire. Elizabeth's biography is fascinating and interesting. This is a bright person and a significant historical figure.
