Stairs. Entry group. Materials. Doors. Locks. Design

Every frankly expressed thought, no matter how false, every clearly conveyed fantasy, no matter how absurd, cannot fail to find sympathy in some soul.

L.N. Tolstoy

The era of palace coups is a period in the history of Russia from 1725 to 1762. This name came into use at the suggestion of Professor V. Klyuchevsky, who used this term to designate an entire era, which accounted for 5 coups d'état. Today we will consider the palace coups in Russia from the point of view of Russian historiography, and we will also study this issue from various points of view, which is important for understanding the essence of events.

Causes and background

Let's start with the main one. Why did the era of palace coups in principle become possible? After all, before it there were more than 25 years of stability under the rule of Peter 1: the country developed, grew stronger, gained authority. Why, with his death, everything collapsed and chaos began? There are several reasons for this, but the main reason for the palace coups was arranged by Peter himself. We are talking about the decree on the succession to the throne of 1722 (the monarch has the right to appoint any successor) and the murder of Tsarevich Alexei. As a result, there is no heir in the male line, the order of succession to the throne has been changed, and no will has been left. Chaos began. This was the premise of subsequent events.

These are the main reasons for the era of palace coups. To perceive them, you need to understand that for many years stability in Russia rested on the firm hand and will of Peter 1. He was the main one in the country. He stood above everyone. Simply put, the state was stronger than the elite. After Peter's death, it turned out that there was no successor, and the elite was already becoming stronger than the state. This always leads to coups and problems within the country. Moreover, subsequent events showed that the elite fought for their position and expanded their privileges with each new ruler. The nobility was finally approved by the elite of the Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility and the Letter of Complaint. In many respects, it was precisely because of this that in the future problems arose for such people as, say, Paul 1, who tried to return the dominant role of the state over the nobles.

The political forces that became the main ones in organizing the coups were the nobles and the guards. They were competently manipulated by various lobbying groups that promoted their ruler, because because of the new system of succession to the throne, anyone could sit on the throne. It is clear that the closest relatives of Peter were selected for this role, but in general, any of these relatives had the right to the throne. And behind each of them there were groups.

Guard and its role

The palace coups of the 18th century are actually revolutions, when armed people removed one ruler and put another in his place. Accordingly, a political force capable of doing this was needed. She became the guard, which was mainly recruited from the nobility. The role of the Guards in the change of supreme power in Russia in 1725-1762 cannot be overestimated. It was these people with weapons in their hands who "made fate."

The strengthening of the role of the guard is connected with the strengthening of the positions of the nobility. The guard, on the other hand, was mainly formed from the nobles, therefore it was the guards who took the most direct part in the coups, pursuing exclusively noble interests.

Domestic politics of the era

The domestic policy of Russia in the second quarter of the 18th century is characterized in two directions:

1. Strengthening the role of the nobility.
2. Strengthening fortresses.

The main direction of domestic policy in the era of palace coups was the strengthening of the nobility and its positions. The strengthening of serfdom for the elite was also an important point, but the strengthening of their rights was much more important. It was by the 60s - 70s of the 18th century that the dominance of the elite over the state was finally formed. And this had far-reaching consequences. As a result, the assassination of Paul 1 took place, who tried to return the leading role to the state, and the Patriotic War of 1812 began in many respects. After all, the violation of the continental blockade by Russia took place precisely under the slogans that the elite and the state were losing money.

The domestic policy of Russia during this period is very interesting, especially when compared with the events of the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR. Below I will give the main events of the era of palace coups, as a result of which the nobility received more and more new privileges. You can compare them with how our current elite was formed. The expansion of the rights of the nobility in the second quarter of the 18th century took place with the following events:

• The nobles began to distribute land and peasants (Peter 1 forbade this). Later there was a recognition of the monopoly right of the nobility to the peasants.
• After 1731, all the estates of the nobles became their full personal property.
• Created special guards regiments for the nobility.
• Noblemen could be enlisted in the Guards regiments from birth. Conventionally, a young man comes to the guard at the age of 15, and he has already 15 years of service.
• Limiting the term of service of nobles in the army to 25 years. The term was limited from all classes only to the nobles.
• Most of the state factories were transferred into the hands of the nobility.
• Distilling became the monopoly of the nobility.
• Establishment of a noble bank.

The list could go on, but I think the point is clear. For 37 years, an elite was formed in Russia, whose interests were higher than the interests of the state. Therefore, this time is also often called turmoil.

Country governance

Palace coups are an era when the person sitting on the throne was only nominally the head of state. In reality, the country was ruled by the favorites and the groups they led. The favorites created the governing bodies of the country, which most often submitted only to them (on paper, to the emperor). Therefore, below is a detailed table that presents the governing bodies of Russia in the second quarter of the 18th century.

A separate question of this topic is why the daughters of Peter 1 did not have preemptive rights in comparison with other heirs? Again, everything depends on the decree on succession to the throne, where each monarch himself appoints a successor: it can be a son, daughter, wife, a stranger, even a simple peasant. Anyone can claim the throne, so the daughters of the first Russian emperor were in the same position as everyone else.

Brief essence of government

Let us briefly consider the essence of the reign of the emperors who were in power in Russia during the period of palace coups:

• Catherine 1 (wife of Peter 1). In 1725, Peter 2 was to become the ruler. The palace, where the decision was made, was besieged by the guardsmen of the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments by order of Menshikov. The first revolution happened. Catherine had nothing to do with state affairs.
• Peter 2 (grandson of Peter 1). Already in 1727 he sent Menshikov into exile. The rise of the old nobility began. Dolgoruky's positions were strengthened to the maximum. Many parties began to form that actively advocated limiting the monarchy.
• Anna Ioannovna (daughter of Ivan 5, brother of Peter 1). Came to the throne after the story of "conditions". The time of her reign was remembered for constant fun, carnivals, balls and the like. Suffice it to recall the ice palace.
• Ivan Antonovich (grandson of Ivan 5). The real power was in the hands of Biron (the continuation of Bironism). Very soon a new conspiracy matured, and the guards came out for a change of ruler.
• Elizaveta Petrovna (daughter of Peter 1). She had little interest in governing the country. Really rules through their favorites.
• Peter 3 (grandson of Peter 1 in the female line). A frankly weak ruler who should not be in power. He got there only thanks to another conspiracy of the elite. Peter 3 kowtowed before Prussia. Therefore, Elizabeth did not appoint him as successor.

Consequences of the era

Palace coups were important for the 18th and 19th centuries of our history. In many ways, it was in those days that the social dynamite that exploded in 1917 was laid. If we talk in general about the consequences of the era of palace coups, then they generally boil down to the following:

1. A strong blow has been dealt to Russian identity.
2. Separation of church from state. In fact, the ideas of Orthodoxy at the state level were completely abandoned.
3. The all-estate state was destroyed, as a result of the formation of an elite - the nobility.
4. Economic undermining of the country. For the carnival era of upheavals in 37 years, the country paid off in the future for more than a century!

This time led to the massive dominance of Russia by foreigners, primarily Germans. The peak of this process fell on the reign of Anna Ioannovna. Many leading positions were held by the Germans and they acted not in the interests of Russia, but in their personal interests. As a result, these 37 years have been a terrible rampant corruption, embezzlement, bribery, anarchy and the power model of the state.

Palace coups

Russia in the era of palace coups

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Very often in the literature they talk about the “insignificance” of the successors of Peter 1. According, for example, N.P. than about the affairs of the state.

After the death of Peter, state ties, legal and moral, break one after another, after this break the idea of ​​the state fades, leaving behind an empty word in government acts. The most autocratic empire in the world, found itself without an established dynasty, with only some placeless remnants of a dying royal house; hereditary throne without legitimate succession to the throne; a state locked in a palace with random and rapidly changing masters; a ruling class of mixed composition, well-born or highly bureaucratic, but itself completely powerless and shuffled every minute; court intrigue, guard action and police investigation - all the content of the political life of the country.

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

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

Legendary Thirty, route

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

The death of Peter the Great marked the end of one era - the period of revival, transformations and reforms, and the beginning of another, which went down in history under the name "era of palace coups", which is studied in the history of Russia in the 7th grade. About what happened in this period of time - 1725-1762 - we are talking today.

Factors

Before speaking briefly about the era of palace coups in Russia, it is necessary to understand what the term “palace coup” means. This stable combination is understood as a forceful change of power in the state, which is carried out through a conspiracy by a group of courtiers and relies on the help of a privileged military force - the guard. As a result, the current monarch is overthrown and a new heir from the ruling dynasty, a protege of a group of conspirators, is enthroned. With the change of the sovereign, the composition of the ruling elite also changes. During the period of coup d'état in Russia - 37 years, six sovereigns have changed on the Russian throne. The reasons for this were the following events:

• After Peter I, there were no direct heirs in the male line: son Alexei Petrovich died in prison, convicted of treason, and the youngest son Peter Petrovich died at an early age;
• Adopted by Peter I in 1722, the "Charter on the succession to the throne": according to this document, the decision on the heir to the throne is made by the ruling monarch himself. Thus, various groups of supporters gathered around possible contenders for the throne - noble groups that were in confrontation;
• Peter the Great did not have time to make a will and indicate the name of the heir.

Thus, according to the definition of the Russian historian V.O. Klyuchevsky, the beginning of the era of palace coups in Russia is considered to be the date of the death of Peter I - February 8 (January 28), 1725, and the end - 1762 - the year Catherine the Great came to power.

Rice. 1. Death of Peter the Great

Distinctive features

The palace coups of 1725-1762 had several common features:

• Favoritism : around a possible contender for the throne, a group of persons was formed - favorites, whose goal was to be closer to power and have influence on the balance of power. In fact, the nobles close to the sovereign concentrated all power in their hands and completely controlled the sovereign (Menshikov, Biron, princes Dolgoruky);
• Reliance on the Guards Regiment : guards regiments appeared under Peter I. In the Northern War, they became the main striking force of the Russian army, and then were used as the personal guard of the sovereign. In other words, their privileged position and proximity to the king played a decisive role in their "fate": their support was used as the main striking force in palace coups;
• Frequent change of monarchs ;
• Appeal to the legacy of Peter the Great : each new heir, claiming the throne, demonstrated the intention to strictly follow the course of Peter I in foreign and domestic policy. However, often what was promised went against the current affairs and deviations from his program were observed.

Rice. 2. Portrait of Anna Ioannovna

Chronological table

The following chronological table presents all six Russian rulers whose reign is historically associated with the era of palace coups. The first line answers the question which of the rulers opened the gap in the political life of Russia in the 18th century - Catherine I. Other monarchs follow in chronological order. In addition, it is indicated with the help of which forces and court groups, each of them came to power.

TOP 4 articleswho read along with this

Some historians believe that the era of palace coups does not end with the advent of Catherine II. They name other dates - 1725-1801, relating to the administration of the state of Alexander I.

Rice. 3. Catherine the Great

The era of palace coups led to the fact that noble privileges expanded significantly.

What have we learned?

According to the new decree of Peter I on changes in the order of succession to the throne, the person entitled to inherit the royal throne in Russia was indicated in the current monarch. This document did not contribute to the establishment of order and stability in the state, but on the contrary, it led to the era of palace coups, which lasted 37 years. This period includes the activities of six monarchs.

Topic quiz

Report Evaluation

Average rating: 4.7. Total ratings received: 702.

The era of domestic coups, which will be briefly described below, is often called the "golden age of women's rule." At the same time, it is a series of brutal conspiracies and overthrows. What were the reasons for such phenomena? What happened after that? Who were the main characters? Now we'll find out.

Epoch briefly about the causes and features of the period

So, palace coups are a change of monarchs as a result of some kind of conspiracy or similar action. Distinctive features are: the active participation of the guard, that is, on whose side military power ends up, he usually wins, as well as participation in coups by a narrow circle of people. That is, agitation was maximally reduced. As for the reasons, there are several. The main one is the publication by Peter the Great of the decree on succession to the throne. Its essence was that the monarch who rules can himself, without any pressure from outside, publish the name of his successor. The era of palace coups, a brief summary of which can be found in any textbook, originates precisely from the moment when the first emperor dies without naming the next monarch. This became a fundamental component of all other subsequent events.

briefly about successive monarchs

Peter the Great's successor is his wife, Catherine. She was not very concerned about state problems, and it was for this that she created a special body - the Supreme Privy Council. Catherine was in power for a short time - only two years. She was replaced by the grandson of Peter the Great - The struggle for his environment was serious, and the princes Dolgoruky won it. But this young creature, too, is dying. Now comes the time of Anna Ioannovna. For ten years, the country falls into "Bironism" - this is the period of time when the German favorites of the Empress actually ruled the state. At the very beginning, she zealously broke the rules and dissolved the governing body created by Catherine the Great. After her, the throne passes into the hands of very dubious personalities, the so-called Brunswick dynasty. she was regent under the young Ivan, but could not stay there for more than 9 months. As a result - another coup. And so Elizaveta Petrovna ascends the throne. The guards provided the new empress with enormous support, and she firmly occupied the throne for 20 years: this time can be called the heyday of Russian society in all understandings. After her, Peter III, a small-minded young man who was a fan of everything Prussian, received power. It is no coincidence that the one that took place in 1762, when Catherine II began to rule Russia, belongs to the era of palace coups. That's who really stayed there for a long time and brought the country to a new level with his enlightened policy.

Palace coups- a period in the history of the Russian Empire of the 18th century, when the highest state power was achieved through palace coups carried out with the help of the guards or courtiers. In the presence of absolutism, such a method of changing power remained one of the few ways in which society (noble elite) influenced the supreme power in the state.

The origins of palace coups should be sought in the policy of Peter I. "Decree of Succession" (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 succession to 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 reigns Catherine I(1725-1727). Created with her Supreme Privy Council (1726), who helped her in the administration of 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, forcing 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. Her reign is known as "Bironism" (name of her favorite). Under her rule, 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, the throne inherits five months nephew of Anna Ioannovna Ivan VI(1740-1741) (regents: Biron, Anna Leopoldovna). The Supreme Privy Council was restored. Biron reduced the poll tax, imposed restrictions on luxury in court life, and issued a manifesto on strict observance of the laws.

In 1741, the daughter of Peter - Elizabeth I(1741-1761) makes another coup d'état. Eliminates 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), adopted a decree allowing landlords to exile peasants to settle in Siberia (1760).

From 1761-1762 nephew of Elizabeth I rules, Peter III. He issues a decree on the secularization of church lands - this is the process of converting Church property into state property (1761), liquidates the Secret Chancellery, issues a Manifesto on the Liberty 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"