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1725-1762. Historical essay. The era of palace coups
(Material for a historical essay)
The Transfigurationists proclaim Elizabeth Petrovna Empress.
Painting by E.E. Lansere, 1905
1725-1762
1725-1762 - this is in the history of Russia period of palace coups.
During this period, the emperors ruled:
- Catherine I (1725 - 1727)
- Peter II (1727-1730)
- Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740)
- Ivan VI (1740-1741)
- Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761)
- Peter III (1761-1762)
- Catherine II (1762-1796)
General characteristics of the era
During the period of palace coups, the change of monarchs took place not by will, as was necessary according to the “Charter of Succession” of Peter 1 (1722), but as a result of coups, in which the guards and courtiers played a great role, putting their representative of the Romanov dynasty on the throne. In essence, a palace coup is a seizure of power by warring factions, each of which wanted to put its own representative of the Romanov dynasty on the throne.
This period is also called the age of women's rule. Indeed, no other century than the 18th had so many women on the throne. Moreover, two of them - Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II - glorified the country for a long time, strengthening its power and might, significantly increasing the country's international prestige.
Note
Klyuchevsky V.O. defined the boundaries of the era of palace coups. However, there is another point of view that this is the era 1725-1801. It’s just that Klyuchevsky V.O. could not, in his lecture, which he read in the 80s of the 19th century, call the period of the reign of Paul 1 a coup, it was forbidden. Keep that in mind guys on the exam.
The main events, phenomena, processes of the period of the Palace coups
- Improving the system of public administration, strengthening the power of the monarch. During this period, the systems of state administration were constantly reformed, the role of the Senate was reduced and increased, new authorities arose. But one thing remained unchanged - the strong power of the emperor.
- Further strengthening of serfdom. The largest peasant war led by Pugachev E.
- Reforming all aspects of public life.
- Successful foreign policy. Access to the Black Sea, the annexation of the Crimea.
- Further development of culture, all its spheres.
Historical events (phenomena, processes)
- Further strengthening of serfdom. The largest peasant war led by Pugachev E.
| Two personalities who played a significant role in these events (phenomena, processes) |
The period of palace coups was characterized by a deterioration in the position of serfs, an increase in serfdom, and each new ruler made the life of the people more and more unbearable.
Thus, serfdom in the 18th century flourished to unprecedented proportions. The answer was one of the most terrible in terms of bloodshed and huge in scale peasant wars led by Pugacheva E. The tsarist troops under the command of Panina P.I. and Potemkina G.A.. Pugachevshchina is a response to the cruel and powerless situation of the peasants. |
| Terms: serfsserfslandlordspeasant war |
- Further development of culture, all its spheres .
The period of palace coups is the flowering of culture, all its spheres. Architecture, sculpture, literature, painting were especially developed, a professional theater was founded. A feature of the culture of this period is eclecticism, that is, a combination of different styles and trends. So, along with classical works of art, works appear in the Baroque style (architecture), the first elements of romanticism, satire (literature). In painting, portraiture reaches its peak, distinguished by beauty, solemnity and at the same time an attempt to depict the inner world of a person. The most prominent personalities and significant cultural works of the period of the Palace Revolutions:
Antropov A.P.(portraits of Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter III, Catherine II) Argunov I.P.(portraits of Catherine II, an unknown peasant woman in a Russian kokoshnik) Borovikovsky V.L.. (portraits of Lopukhina M.I., Vice-Chancellor A.B. Kurakin) Levitsky D.G.. (portraits of Demidov P.A., Peter III, Catherine II)
Bazhenov A.I..(Pashkov's house) Quarenghi D.(Smolny Institute in St. Petersburg, Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo) Rastrelli V.V.. (The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the Grand Palace in Peterhof, the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo). At this time they created sculptors Falcone E.M.("The Bronze Horseman" in St. Petersburg) and Shubin F.I.(reliefs of the Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra); historian and writer Karamzin N.M., poets Derzhavin G.R. and Kantemir A.D. Volkov A.G.. in 1750 creates the first professional theatre in Yaroslav. Science continues to develop, printing, music, talented Russian travelers make scientific discoveries. Many works created in the 18th century still make up the treasury of Russian culture. NoteIn a historical essay on the Unified State Examination, of course, it is not necessary to list all the representatives of culture. But to name no less three to five nevertheless desirable, and at least two cultural figures to name their works. |
| Terms: arch eclecticism art styles |
Causal relationships
Causal links of these events.
Despite apparent differences, both of these phenomena have a causal relationship.
1. Further enslavement of the peasants pursued goal- to strengthen the power of the landlords, representatives of the elite of society and, of course, the power of the emperor. This explains the reasons for the actions of the rulers, their tightening of laws that allow turning peasants into a thing that can be bought and sold. This is the reason for the Pugachev uprising - the desire of the people to achieve a human attitude towards themselves.
2. The flowering of culture also had its own reasons - the desire to demonstrate the greatness and power of both the country as a whole and the representatives of power, emperors. Luxury, wealth of architecture, ceremonial portraits of the elite of society, glorification in the literature of the reign of emperors (those who criticize - Novikov N., Radishchev A. - were exiled or imprisoned in a fortress).
Investigative connections of events.
The consequence of the events was what the government was striving for: strengthening, strengthening, exaltation of those in power and the state.
1. Further enslavement of the peasants further increased their dependence on the landlords, and the landowners received the privileged right to dispose of the peasants, buy, use for their own purposes. Two processes went in parallel during this period: the strengthening of serfdom and the increase in the role of the nobility in society, the increase in their privileges.
2. The development of culture, the spiritual sphere of society is always an indicator of the development of society. Therefore, it is no coincidence that at all times the rulers sought through culture to show the greatness and power of the country and the authorities both to their subjects and guests from other states. So in the 18th century, luxury, wealth, pomp, grandeur, monumentality, strength - everything could be demonstrated through works of art. It is no coincidence that so many talented cultural figures were invited to Russia. To many of them we owe the fact that we can admire their works today.
Historical assessment of the significance of this period for the history of Russia
Palace coups are a controversial period in the history of Russia. There are bright pages in it: increasing international prestige, access to the Black Sea, the annexation of Crimea, improving the management system, reforming, developing culture, and much more. But there are also tragic pages. And they are connected, first of all, with the disenfranchised position of the common people, the strengthening of oppression, as well as with the dominance of foreigners and the fact that a lot during this period was plundered from the treasury by numerous favorites of the empresses, spent on balls, amusements and entertainment (one Ice Palace of Anna Ioannovna what is it worth!)
different period assessment by historians.
By the way, Klyuchevsky V.O. called this period palace coups.
Russian and Soviet historians (Soloviev S.M., Eidelman N.Ya., Platonov S.V.) called this period a significant step back in the development of statehood. The rulers of this era are insignificant compared to the reformer tsar Peter I. So "Bironism" - the period of the reign of Anna Ioannovna - they called a particularly ferocious regime, which can be compared to the reign of Ivan the Terrible, and also noted that this was a lost time for the history of Russia.
Modern historians (D.N. Shansky, A.B. Kamensky, E.V. Anisimov) do not give an unambiguous assessment, noting both positive, progressive moments in the development of the country, and negative phenomena. We join this point of view.
Note
During the period of palace coups, many bright personalities lived and worked. In this article, I do not provide information about them. About the personalities of this period, read the material on my website poznaemvmeste. en
Material prepared: Melnikova Vera Aleksandrovna
Signs of the era of palace coups:
- Uncertainty of the system of succession to the throne. The absence of a ruler with firm rights to the throne.
- The nobility becomes the main political force in society.
- Guards regiments, primarily Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky, became the main weapon in the struggle between various noble groups.
- Palace coups were the main method of political struggle during this period.
- A notable phenomenon in the political life of Russia was favoritism.
January 28, 1725 Peter I dies without leaving a will. A crisis of power arose. The new nobility, led by Menshikov, sought to put the Empress on the throne - Ekaterina Alekseevna (Marta Skavronska), to whom, most likely, Peter himself wanted to bequeath the crown. The old nobility, led by the princes Golitsyn and Dolgoruky, referring to centuries-old traditions, tried to bring the juvenile Peter Alekseevich to power. However, it was not so much about the candidacy of the emperor, but about which of the groups of the aristocracy would actually rule the country.
As a result of a palace coup, Catherine I became empress. 1726 the highest ruling body was created - Supreme Privy Council. Menshikov, Catherine's favorite, led the council.
AT 1727 d. Catherine I dies, bequeathing, at the insistence of Menshikov, the throne to Tsarevich Peter. Menshikov supported his candidacy, because he hoped to marry him to his daughter, thereby further strengthening his power. The same plans were nurtured by A.G. Dolgoruky, who prepared a conspiracy against Peter's favorite. On a trifling matter, A.D. Menshikov was arrested and exiled to the city of Berezov, where he soon died. Preparations begin for the imperial wedding, however, a few days before it, in January 1730 Peter II, whose body was severely weakened by alcoholism, fell ill with smallpox and died. With his death, the male line of the Romanov dynasty was interrupted.
The leaders invite the Duchess of Courland Anna Ivanovna, the niece of Peter I, the daughter of Ivan V, to the throne. The Golitsyns and Dolgoruky tried to limit her power conditions(conditions) that she signed to receive the crown. However, upon arrival in St. Petersburg, Anna Ivanovna quickly becomes convinced that the bulk of the nobility does not support the leaders and breaks this document. In the same year, 1730, she dissolved the Supreme Privy Council. Created instead Cabinet of Ministers.
The reign of Anna Ivanovna can hardly be considered successful. The nearby empress spent her time in hunting and entertainment, often very cruel ( "Ice House", for example). All the highest government positions were held by the Germans, who were alien to the interests of Russia. The favorite of Anna Biron had unlimited power - these years went down in history as Bironism. As a result of the reign of Anna Ivanovna, the army and navy fall into decay, the treasury is plundered.
AT 1740 Anna Ivanovna dies, having bequeathed the throne to the two-month-old Ivan VI Antonovich, the son of her niece Anna Leopoldovna. Biron was appointed regent. In the same year, Minich overthrew Biron and Anna Leopoldovna herself became regent.
AT 1741 A palace coup took place, as a result of which the youngest daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth, came to power. Ivan VI was imprisoned in a fortress and twenty-three years later he was killed there by order of Catherine II.
A very patriotic Elizabeth begins the revival of the army and navy, pays attention to the development of science and education. AT 1755 city, on the initiative of M.V. Lomonosov and with the participation of P. Shuvalov and E. Dashkova opened Moscow State University. In 1756 the death penalty was abolished. Under the empress there is a ruling body Conference at the Imperial Court.
At the same time, the courtyard is full of luxury, holidays, fireworks, carnivals are held almost daily - this devastates the treasury. To please her favorite Alexei Razumovsky (a native of Ukraine), Elizabeth restores the hetmanate, canceled by Peter after the betrayal of Mazepa. Kirill Razumovsky, Alexei's brother, becomes hetman. Russia's entry into the Seven Years' War in 1757 showed the relatively low combat effectiveness of the Russian army. Nevertheless, in general, the reign of Elizabeth can be assessed as quite successful.
Before death, in 1761 Elizaveta Petrovna bequeaths the throne to her nephew, the son of Peter's eldest daughter Anna, Peter III. Stupid and frivolous (the empress herself called him "the Holstein devil"), he was incapable of governing the state. In an attempt to strengthen his authority, he 1762 publishes Manifesto on the freedom of the nobility, which abolished the compulsory service of the nobility, introduced by Peter. However, this event did not save the emperor: in the same year he was overthrown and soon killed. His wife, Catherine II, becomes Empress.
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"
About lecturer
Orlov Igor Borisovich — Doctor of History, Professor, Deputy Head of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
Lecture plan
1. Causes of palace coups;
2. The special role of the guard;
3. The problem of favoritism;
4. The Supreme Council and the fate of "conditions";
5. Anna Ioannovna and "Bironism";
6. Board of Elizabeth Petrovna;
7. The struggle of the nobles for the abolition of compulsory service and the Decree on the liberty of the nobles;
8. The palace coup of 1762 and its consequences.
annotation
Within the framework of this lecture, the historical period of 1725-1762 is considered, which received in historiography at the suggestion of V.O. Klyuchevsky name "the era of palace coups". The reasons for the folding of the monarchical regime, "limited by regicide" were the lack of not only clear mechanisms for the transfer of power, but also a broad popular support for the regime. Precisely because of this, the adoption of political decisions by the government strongly depended on the position of the guards. In this regard, "the ten-day constitutional-aristocratic monarchy of the XVIII century." (Supreme Privy Council and "conditions") can be regarded as an opportunity to change autocratic rule with a variant of a constitutional monarchy. Further, in this lecture, such elements of the political system of the period 1725-1762 as favoritism, the guards corporation, the “dominance” of foreigners, the Secret Chancellery, the presence of bodies standing above the Senate (Supreme Council, Cabinet of Ministers, Conference at the Highest Court) are considered. We observe how, during the period under review, the Russian nobility is gradually freed from compulsory service. Thus, a departure is made from the model of the noble bureaucracy conceived by Peter I in the direction of an all-class bureaucracy. In general, we can conclude that the European landmarks of the period of palace coups prepared the ground for the spread of the ideology of the Enlightenment in Russia. The movement along this path implied not only the fall of the role of the Church, but also the abolition of the traditional model of the Russian monarchy over time.
Questions on the topic of the lecture
1. Why did the 18th century become the “epoch of palace coups”?
2. What is the reason for the comparative ease of carrying out revolutions in Russia in the 18th century?
3. How to explain the fact of the wide co-option of foreigners in the state power structures of the Russian Empire of the XVIII century?
4. How to assess the "conditions" proposed by the "supervisors" to Anna Ioannovna: as an aristocratic reaction or an attempt to introduce constitutional government?
5. Was there continuity in relation to the era of Peter I in the era of palace coups?
Literature
1. Alkhazashvilli D.M. The struggle for the legacy of Peter the Great. M., 2002.
2. Anisimov E.V. Elizabeth Petrovna. M., 2002.
3. Anisimov E.V. Russia without Peter. SPb., 1994.
4. Gordin Ya.I."Between slavery and freedom". January 19-February 25, 1730 St. Petersburg, 1994.
5. Mylnikov A.S. Peter III: Narrative in documents and versions. M., 2002.
6. Pavlenko N.I."Chicks of Petrov's Nest". M., 1994.
7. Pavlenko N. Ekaterina I. M., 2004.
8. Petrukhintsev N.N. The reign of Anna Ioannovna: Formation of the internal political course and the fate of the army and navy. SPb., 2001.
9. Kamensky A.B. From Peter I to Paul I: Reforms in Russia in the 18th century. Holistic analysis experience. M., 1999.
