Tsars and queens of the Russian Empire chronology. © Library of antiques and numismatics, review of antique market prices, ancient maps. Advertising

The history of Russia is rich different eras, each of which left its mark on the life of the country. One of the most intense and controversial reigns was the reign of Peter I the Great, which ended on January 25, 1725 due to the sudden death of the emperor.

Russia without a Tsar? Who ruled after Peter 1

Three years before his death, the autocrat managed to issue a decree that changed the previously existing order of succession to the throne: now the heir became not the eldest son, but the one of the sons whom the father considered worthy to take such an honorable place. This decision was due to the fact that the king’s son, the potential heir to the throne, Tsarevich Alexei, was accused of preparing a conspiracy against own father and, as a result, was sentenced to death. In 1718, the prince died within the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

However, before his death, Peter I did not have time to appoint a new tsar, leaving the country, for the development of which he had made so much effort, without a ruler.

As a result, the next few years were marked by numerous goals aimed at seizing power. Since no official heir had been appointed, those wishing to sit on the throne tried to prove that they had earned this right.

The very first coup, carried out by the guards of the wife of Peter I - by birth Martha Skavronskaya, popularly known as Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova (Catherine I) - brought the first woman in Russian history to power.

The enthronement of the future All-Russian Empress was supervised by an associate of the late Tsar, Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, who became the de facto ruler of the state.

Russia after Peter 1 is a special milestone in world history. The strict orderliness and discipline that had partly characterized the emperor's reign now lost their former force.

who is she?

Marta Skavronskaya (the empress's real name) came from a family of Baltic peasants. She was born on April 5, 1684. Having lost both parents at an early age, the girl was raised in the family of a Protestant pastor.

During the Northern War (between Sweden and Russia), in 1702, Marta, along with other residents, was captured by Russian troops, and then into the service of Prince Menshikov. There are two versions of how this happened.

One version says that Marta became the mistress of Count Sheremetyev, the commander of the Russian army. Prince Alexander Danilovich, the favorite of Peter the Great, saw her and, using his authority, took the girl to his house.

According to another version, Marta became the managing servant of Colonel Baur, where Menshikov set his sights on her and took her into his house. And already here Peter I himself noticed her.

Rapprochement with Peter I

For 9 years Martha was the king's mistress. In 1704, she gave birth to his first son, Peter, and then his second son, Pavel. However, both boys died.

The education of the future empress was carried out by the sister of Peter I, Natalya Alekseevna, who taught Martha to read and write. And in 1705, a girl was baptized into Orthodoxy under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova. In 1708 and 1709, Catherine’s daughters were born from Peter Alekseevich - Anna and Elizabeth (who later took the throne under the name

Finally, in 1712, the wedding with Peter I took place in the Church of John of Dalmitsky - Catherine became a full member royal family. The year 1724 was marked by the solemn coronation of Martha Skavronskaya in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow. She received the crown from the hands of the emperor himself.

Who ruled Rus' and when?

After the death of Peter 1, Russia fully learned what a country is worth without an imperious ruler. Since Prince Menshikov won the favor of the Tsar, and later helped Catherine I become the head of state, to the question of who ruled after Peter 1, the correct answer would be Prince Alexander Danilovich, who actively participated in the life of the country and made the most important decisions. However, the reign of the empress, despite such strong support, did not last long - until May 1727.

During Catherine I’s tenure on the throne, an important role in the politics of Russia at that time was played by the one created even before the empress’s ascension to the throne. Its members included such noble and prominent people in the Russian Empire of that time as Prince Alexander Menshikov (who headed this body), Dmitry Golitsyn, Fyodor Apraksin, Pyotr Tolstoy.

At the beginning of the reign of Catherine I, taxes were reduced and many people sentenced to exile and imprisonment were pardoned. Such changes were caused by the fear of riots due to price increases, which invariably should lead to discontent among ordinary people.

In addition, the reforms carried out by Peter were canceled or modified:

less prominent role in political life the country began to play the Senate;

governors replaced local authorities;

For the improvement of the troops, a special Commission was organized, consisting of flagships and generals.

Innovations of Catherine I. Domestic and foreign policy

For the one who ruled after Peter 1 ( we're talking about about his wife), it was extremely difficult to surpass the reformer tsar in the versatility of politics. Among the innovations, it is worth noting the creation of the Academy of Sciences and the organization of an expedition led by the famous navigator Vitus Bering to Kamchatka.

In foreign policy In general, Catherine I adhered to her husband’s views: she supported the claims of the Holstein Duke Karl Friedrich (who was her son-in-law) to Schleswig. This led to strained relations with England and Denmark. The result of the confrontation was the accession of Russia to the Union of Vienna (which included Spain, Prussia and Austria) in 1726.

Russia after Peter 1 acquired significant influence in Courland. It was so great that Prince Menshikov planned to become the head of this duchy, however local residents revealed dissatisfaction with this matter.

Thanks to the foreign policy of Catherine I and Alexander Danilovich (who ruled Russia after the death of Peter 1 in fact), the empire was able to take possession of the Shirvan region (having achieved concessions in this matter from Persia and Turkey). Also, thanks to Prince Raguzinsky, friendly relations with China were established.

End of the Empress's reign

The power of Catherine I came to an end in May 1727, when the empress died at the age of 44 from lung disease. She was buried in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Before her death, Catherine wanted to make her daughter Elizabeth empress, but once again she listened to Menshikov and appointed her grandson, Peter II Alekseevich, heir and Tsar of Russia, who was 11 years old at the time of his ascension to the throne.

The regent was none other than Prince Alexander Danilovich (this fact once again proves who ruled after Peter 1 in Russia). Menshikov soon married the newly-crowned tsar to his daughter Maria, thus further strengthening his influence on court and state life.

However, the power of Prince Alexander Danilovich did not last long: after the death of the emperor, he was accused of state conspiracy and died in exile.

Russia after Peter the Great is a completely different state, where the first place was not reforms and transformations, but the struggle for the throne and attempts to prove the superiority of some classes over others.

Such a great country as Russia should naturally be very rich in history. And indeed it is! Here you will see what were rulers of Russia and you can read biographies of Russian princes, presidents and other rulers. I decided to provide you with a list of rulers of Russia, where under each one there will be a short biography under the cut (next to the name of the ruler, click on this icon “ [+] “, to open the biography under the cut), and then, if the ruler is significant, a link to the full article, which will be very useful for schoolchildren, students and anyone interested in the history of Russia. The list of rulers will be replenished, Russia really had a lot of rulers and everyone is worthy detailed review. But, alas, I don’t have that much strength, so everything will be gradual. In general, here is a list of the rulers of Russia, where you will find biographies of the rulers, their photographs and the dates of their reign.

Novgorod princes:

Kyiv Grand Dukes:

(912 - autumn 945)

Grand Duke Igor is a controversial character in our history. Historical chronicles provide various information about him, ranging from the date of birth to the cause of his death. It is generally accepted that Igor is the son of the Prince of Novgorod, although there are inconsistencies regarding the prince’s age in different sources...
(autumn 945 - after 964)
Princess Olga is one of the great women of Rus'. Ancient chronicles provide very contradictory information regarding the date and place of birth. It is possible that Princess Olga is the daughter of the one called the Prophetic, or maybe her pedigree comes from Bulgaria from Prince Boris, or she was born in a village near Pskov, and again there are two options: an ordinary family and the ancient princely family of Izborsky.
(after 964 - spring 972)
Russian prince Svyatoslav was born in 942. His parents were -, famous for the war with the Pechenegs and campaigns against Byzantium and. When Svyatoslav was only three years old, he lost his father. Prince Igor collected an unbearable tribute from the Drevlyans, for which he was brutally killed by them. The widowed princess decided to take revenge on these tribes and sent a princely army on a campaign, which was led by a young prince under the tutelage of the governor Sveneld. As you know, the Drevlyans were defeated, and their city of Ikorosten was completely destroyed.
Yaropolk Svyatoslavich (972-978 or 980)
(June 11, 978 or 980 - July 15, 1015)

One of the greatest names in destiny Kievan Rus- Vladimir the Saint (Baptist). This name is shrouded in legends and secrets; epics and myths were composed about this man, in which he was invariably called by the bright and warm name of Prince Vladimir the Red Sun. And the Prince of Kiev, according to the chronicles, was born around 960, a half-breed, as contemporaries would say. Became his father mighty prince, and his mother was a simple slave Malusha, who was in the service of , from the small town of Lyubech.
(1015 - autumn 1016) Prince Svyatopolk the Accursed is the son of Yaropolk, after whose death he adopted the boy. Svyatopolk wanted great power during Vladimir’s life and prepared a conspiracy against him. However, he became a full-fledged ruler only after the death of his stepfather. He earned the throne in a dirty way - he killed all the direct heirs of Vladimir.
(autumn 1016 - summer 1018)
Prince Yaroslav I Vladimirovich the Wise was born in 978. The chronicles do not indicate a description of his appearance. It is known that Yaroslav was lame: the first version says that from childhood, and the second version says that this was a consequence of one of his wounds in the battle. The chronicler Nestor, describing his character, mentions his great intelligence, prudence, and devotion Orthodox faith, courage and compassion for the poor. Prince Yaroslav the Wise, unlike his father, who loved to organize feasts, led a modest lifestyle. Great devotion to the Orthodox faith sometimes turned into superstition. As mentioned in the chronicle, on his orders the bones of Yaropolk were dug up and, and, after illumination, they were reburied in the church Holy Mother of God. With this act, Yaroslav wanted to save their souls from torment.
Izyaslav Yaroslavich (February 1054 - September 15, 1068)
Vseslav Bryachislavich (September 15, 1068 - April 1069)
Svyatoslav Yaroslavich (March 22, 1073 - December 27, 1076)
Vsevolod Yaroslavich (January 1, 1077 - July 1077)
Svyatopolk Izyaslavich (April 24, 1093 - April 16, 1113)
(20 April 1113 - 19 May 1125) The grandson and son of a Byzantine princess went down in history as Vladimir Monomakh. Why Monomakh? There are suggestions that he took this nickname from his mother, the Byzantine princess Anna, the daughter of the Byzantine king Constantine Monomakh. There are other assumptions about the nickname Monomakh. Allegedly after a campaign in Taurida, against the Genoese, where he killed the Genoese prince in a duel during the capture of Kafa. And the word monomakh is translated as combatant. Now, of course, it is difficult to judge the correctness of this or that opinion, but it was with such a name as Vladimir Monomakh that the chroniclers recorded it.
(20 May 1125 - 15 April 1132) Having inherited a strong power, Prince Mstislav the Great not only continued the work of his father, Prince of Kyiv Vladimir Monomakh, but also made every effort for the prosperity of the Fatherland. Therefore, the memory remained in history. And his ancestors named him Mstislav the Great.
(17 April 1132 - 18 February 1139) Yaropolk Vladimirovich was the son of the great Russian prince and was born in 1082. No information has been preserved about the childhood years of this ruler. The first mention in history of this prince dates back to 1103, when he and his retinue went to war against the Polovtsians. After this victory in 1114, Vladimir Monomakh entrusted his son with the rule of the Pereyaslavl volost.
Vyacheslav Vladimirovich (February 22 - March 4, 1139)
(5 March 1139 – 30 July 1146)
Igor Olgovich (until August 13, 1146)
Izyaslav Mstislavich (August 13, 1146 - August 23, 1149)
(28 August 1149 - summer 1150)
This prince of Kievan Rus went down in history thanks to two great achievements - the founding of Moscow and the flourishing of the North-Eastern part of Rus'. There is still debate among historians about when Yuri Dolgoruky was born. Some chroniclers claim that this happened in 1090, while others are of the opinion that this significant event took place around 1095-1097. His father was Grand Duke Kyiv - . Almost nothing is known about the mother of this ruler, except that she was the prince’s second wife.
Rostislav Mstislavich (1154-1155)
Izyaslav Davydovich (winter 1155)
Mstislav Izyaslavich (December 22, 1158 - spring 1159)
Vladimir Mstislavich (spring 1167)
Gleb Yurievich (March 12, 1169 - February 1170)
Mikhalko Yurievich (1171)
Roman Rostislavich (July 1, 1171 - February 1173)
(February - March 24, 1173), Yaropolk Rostislavich (co-ruler)
Rurik Rostislavich (March 24 - September 1173)
Yaroslav Izyaslavich (November 1173-1174)
Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich (1174)
Ingvar Yaroslavich (1201 - January 2, 1203)
Rostislav Rurikovich (1204-1205)
Vsevolod Svyatoslavich Chermny (summer 1206-1207)
Mstislav Romanovich (1212 or 1214 - June 2, 1223)
Vladimir Rurikovich (June 16, 1223-1235)
Izyaslav (Mstislavich or Vladimirovich) (1235-1236)
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (1236-1238)
Mikhail Vsevolodovich (1238-1240)
Rostislav Mstislavich (1240)
(1240)

Vladimir Grand Dukes

(1157 - June 29, 1174)
Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky was born in 1110, was the son and grandson of. As a young man, the prince was named Bogolyubsky for his particularly reverent attitude towards God and his habit of always turning to Scripture.
Yaropolk Rostislavich (1174 - June 15, 1175)
Yuri Vsevolodovich (1212 - April 27, 1216)
Konstantin Vsevolodovich (spring 1216 - February 2, 1218)
Yuri Vsevolodovich (February 1218 - March 4, 1238)
Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich (1246-1248)
(1248-1248/1249)
Andrei Yaroslavich (December 1249 - July 24, 1252)
(1252 - November 14, 1263)
In 1220, Prince Alexander Nevsky was born in Pereyaslav-Zalesky. While still very young, he accompanied his father on all campaigns. When the young man turned 16 years old, his father Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, due to his departure to Kyiv, entrusted Prince Alexander with the princely throne in Novgorod.
Yaroslav Yaroslavich of Tver (1263-1272)
Vasily Yaroslavich of Kostroma (1272 - January 1277)
Dmitry Alexandrovich Pereyaslavsky (1277-1281)
Andrey Alexandrovich Gorodetsky (1281-1283)
(autumn 1304 - November 22, 1318)
Yuri Danilovich Moskovsky (1318 - November 2, 1322)
Dmitry Mikhailovich Terrible Eyes of Tver (1322 - September 15, 1326)
Alexander Mikhailovich Tverskoy (1326-1328)
Alexander Vasilyevich Suzdal (1328-1331), Ivan Danilovich Kalita of Moscow (1328-1331) (co-ruler)
(1331 - March 31, 1340) Prince Ivan Kalita was born in Moscow around 1282. But exact date, unfortunately not installed. Ivan was the second son of Moscow Prince Danila Alexandrovich. The biography of Ivan Kalita before 1304 was not marked by practically anything significant or important.
Semyon Ivanovich Proud of Moscow (October 1, 1340 - April 26, 1353)
Ivan Ivanovich the Red of Moscow (March 25, 1353 - November 13, 1359)
Dmitry Konstantinovich of Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod (June 22, 1360 - January 1363)
Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy of Moscow (1363)
Vasily Dmitrievich Moskovsky (August 15, 1389 - February 27, 1425)

Moscow princes and Moscow grand dukes

Russian emperors

(22 October 1721 – 28 January 1725) The biography of Peter the Great deserves special attention. The fact is that Peter 1 belongs to the group of Russian emperors who made a huge contribution to the history of the development of our country. This article talks about the life of a great man, about the role he played in the transformation of Russia.
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Also on my website there is whole line articles about Peter the Great. If you want to thoroughly study the history of this outstanding ruler, then I ask you to read the following articles from my website:

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(28 January 1725 – 6 May 1727)
Catherine 1 was born under the name Marta, she was born into the family of a Lithuanian peasant. Thus begins the biography of Catherine the First, the first empress of the Russian Empire.
(7 May 1727 – 19 January 1730)
Peter 2 was born in 1715. Already in early childhood he became an orphan. First, his mother died, then in 1718, Peter II’s father, Alexei Petrovich, was executed. Peter II was the grandson of Peter the Great, who was absolutely not interested in the fate of his grandson. HE never considered Pyotr Alekseevich as the heir to the Russian throne.
(4 February 1730 – 17 October 1740) Anna Ioannovna is known for her difficult character. She was a vindictive and vindictive woman, distinguished by her capriciousness. Anna Ioannovna had absolutely no ability to conduct government affairs, and was not even simply inclined to do so.
(17 October 1740 - 25 November 1741)
(November 9, 1740 – November 25, 1741)
(November 25, 1741 – December 25, 1761)
(December 25, 1761 – June 28, 1762)
() (28 June 1762 - 6 November 1796) Many will probably agree that the biography of Catherine 2 is one of the most fascinating stories about the life and reign of the amazing, strong woman. Catherine 2 was born on April 22\May 2, 1729, in the family of Princess Johanna-Elizabeth and Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerb.
(November 6, 1796 – March 11, 1801)
(Blessed) (March 12, 1801 – November 19, 1825)
(December 12, 1825 - February 18, 1855)
(Liberator) (February 18, 1855 – March 1, 1881)
(Peacemaker) (March 1, 1881 – October 20, 1894)
(20 October 1894 – 2 March 1917) The biography of Nicholas II will be quite interesting to many of the residents of our country. Nicholas II was the eldest son Alexandra III, Russian Emperor. His mother, Maria Fedorovna, was Alexander's wife.

The wife of Peter III, who became empress after dethroning her husband. Being a German princess who converted to Orthodoxy, having no relationship with the Romanov dynasty, nor any rights to the Russian throne, she nevertheless held the reins of power in her hands for more than 30 years. And this time in Russia is usually called the “golden age”.

Catherine pursued her policy in three main directions:

Expanding the territory of the state, strengthening its authority in the world;

Liberalization of methods of governing the country;

Administrative reforms involving the involvement of nobles in the management of local authorities.

During her reign, the country was divided into 50 provinces. The principle of division was a certain number of inhabitants.

The reign of this empress was the era of the heyday of the noble class. The provinces were completely under the rule of their nobles. At the same time, the nobleman was exempt from taxes and corporal punishment. Only a court of equals could deprive him of his title, property or life.

In the foreign policy arena, the main directions of Russia were:

Strengthening its influence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Catherine carefully ensured that only Russian proteges sat on the Polish throne;

Relations with Turkey. In this direction, the struggle was for Russia's access to the Black Sea. As a result, two long military campaigns were carried out, ending in the victory of the Russian troops;

The fight against revolutionary France. Despite the fact that Catherine was a fan of the French enlighteners, she gradually became disillusioned with their ideas and methods, and perceived the revolution in this country rather hostilely. To fight France, it was decided to join forces with Prussia, England and Austria. However, death prevented Catherine from fulfilling her plans.

Such illustrious names as G. Potemkin, A. Suvorov, F. Ushakov, P. Rumyantsev are closely associated with the name of Catherine the Great and the conquests of her period.

The ruler paid great attention to the development of education, main goal which I saw not just an increase in the level of education, but the education of a new generation of people, real citizens of your state.

It was she who became the founder of women's school education in Russia, establishing institutions for the “education of noble maidens.”

However, with all her desire for liberalism, Catherine zealously persecuted dissent and cruelly punished those who disagreed with her government policy. Thus, A. Radishchev was sentenced to death and then “pardoned” by exile to Siberia for his famous “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow”, public activist, writer and publisher N. Novikov was persecuted, some foreign publications were banned, etc. .

In Catherine's era, culture and science actively developed. A thorough study of Russia, its history, geography, ethnography, etc. was carried out. Thanks to the high imperial support, the Academy of Sciences gave the world such people as I. Kulibin, I. Polzunov. The names of D. Fonvizin, G. Derzhavin and others became known in the literature. The empress herself made a valuable contribution to literature by writing memoirs.

Art also developed during this period: painting, sculpture, architecture.

Along with achievements in many areas of life, the reign of Catherine the Great was marked by one of the most famous and major uprisings in Russia - the Pugachev uprising. The reason for this uprising under the leadership of the Cossack E. Pugachev was the further enslavement of the peasants. By posing as Peter III, who miraculously managed to escape death, Emelyan Pugachev managed to unite workers, peasants, representatives of national minorities, and Cossacks. The uprising grew into a real bloody war. Pugachev's army, growing as it advanced, won victories one after another, taking advantage of the fact that most of Russian troops were absent from the country (it was Russian-Turkish war). The months-long struggle ended with the betrayal of Pugachev by his own comrades. After he was handed over to government forces, Catherine ordered his public execution on Bolotnaya Square.

After the death of the leader, the uprising was suppressed, and all those responsible were severely punished.

In addition, civil unrest periodically broke out in many parts of the country, but they were not of such proportions.

Thus, the “golden age” was significantly overshadowed, especially in relation to the ordinary population of Russia.

Almost half of Catherine's reign was occupied by wars and riots. Bribery and theft flourished.

However, with all this, during her reign the population of Russia almost doubled, the territory of the state expanded significantly, the army strengthened and the fleet increased (instead of 21 half-rotten battleships, by the end of her reign there were 67 well-equipped ships and 40 frigates). The number of factories and factories increased to 2 thousand (instead of 500), and state income increased 4 times.

The great emperors of Russia represented the alpha and omega, as well as the prosperity of their people. Just as God is the ruler of the Universe, so they were the rulers of their lands. And they had a lot under their control. The very first representative of this title was Peter the Great. And, probably, it is not in vain that the history of the Russian Empire begins with this greatest personality.

Future Great Emperor

Peter was born in Moscow in 1672, on the ninth of June. This was the fourteenth child of Alexei Mikhailovich and his second wife Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. After the death of the Tsar, Peter inherited a country that was very undeveloped compared to the culturally prosperous European countries. While the Renaissance and Reformation swept Europe, Russia rejected Westernization and remained isolated from modernization.

Peter the Great is the first emperor of Russia, who became famous for his numerous reforms and attempts to make his state a great power. He created a strong navy and reorganized the army according to Western standards. Under him, new administrative and territorial divisions of the country were introduced, he initiated a number of changes that affected all spheres of Russian life.

Radical changes and overall development

The first emperor of Russia paid special attention to the development of science. He hired several foreign experts to train his people in all sorts of technological advancements. Focused on the development of trade and industry, modernized the Russian alphabet, introduced Julian calendar, and also under him the first Russian newspaper was created.

Pyotr Alekseevich was a far-sighted and skillful diplomat who abolished archaic forms of government and created the Governing Senate. It was supreme body state power, which regulated all branches of the administration, as well as decisions and innovative achievements in Russian foreign policy.

New territorial possessions

Under the reign of Peter the Great, the state acquired numerous territories, such as Estonia, Latvia and Finland. After battles with Turkey, he gained access to the Black Sea. And in one thousand seven hundred and twelve, Pyotr Alekseevich moved the capital to new town on the Neva - St. Petersburg, founded by him and which soon became a “window to Europe.”

In accordance with the rules and changes of Peter, Russia became a great European power. And in 1721, he proclaimed it an empire; accordingly, Peter Alekseevich himself was given the title of Emperor of All Russia, Great Father of the Fatherland.

Peter was married twice and had eleven children, many of whom died in infancy. The eldest son from his first marriage, Alexei, was convicted of and secretly executed in 1718. Pyotr Alekseevich died on February 8, 1725 without nominating an heir.

Another Peter Alekseevich

Naturally, not only the emperors of Russia ruled; chronology also indicates the presence of four empresses. One of them was Catherine the First. She sat on the throne after Peter the Great. And then the grandson of Peter the Great came to power. He was born on the twelfth of October 1715. His mother died ten days after his birth. And three years later, his father followed his mother.

In 1727, Menshikov urged Catherine the First to sign a will in favor of Peter. And when the empress died, Peter the Second continued the list of Russian emperors.

Menshikov settled the boy in his house and began to control all his actions. Little Peter he was lively, smart, skillful and very much like his great-grandfather. Despite this similarity, he, unlike Peter the Great, did not want to study.

Being too young, Peter the Second could not rule the empire and almost did not participate in the activities Privy Council. This quickly led to disruption state system, since officials were afraid of Peter’s unmotivated actions and did not want to take responsibility for any important decisions.

On November thirtieth, one thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine, Peter the Second was engaged to the eighteen-year-old beauty Ekaterina Alekseevna Dolgorukova. But already in next year On January 6, he caught a cold during a military review and fell ill with smallpox. Died on the nineteenth of January 1730.

After death, a woman sits on the throne again - Anna Ioannovna. And the subsequent emperors of Russia - the chronology shows the ten-year term of her reign - are awaiting their place in the history of the state.

The Baby Emperor or the Struggle for Power

Ivan the Sixth was born in St. Petersburg on August 12, 1740. He was the son of Prince Anton of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Anna Leopoldovna. Twelve days before her death, the empress declared two-month-old Ivan her heir. And Ernst Johann Biron was supposed to serve as regent for the boy until he reached the age of seventeen.

But Ivan’s mother overthrew Biron in 1740 and declared herself regent. And a year later she was overthrown by Elizaveta Petrovna, who was supported by the grenadiers and officers of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. The daughter of Peter the Great, Anna, with her entire family and baby, was arrested by the emperor and imprisoned in a fortress near Riga. Then Emperor Ivan the Sixth was transferred to Kholmogory. There, the bishop's empty house was converted into a prison. There the boy lived for the next twelve years, seeing no one but his jailer.

A mysterious prisoner or the death of another emperor

Many representatives of the royal family, who were supposed to take their place on the throne, had a difficult fate. And perhaps this was one of the reasons why some emperors of Russia (the chronology indicates their names) voluntarily renounced power in favor of one of their relatives.

But what happened next to the matured Ivan the Sixth? Rumors about his imprisonment in Kholmogory are spreading more and more, and the reigning lady transfers him to where he was placed in solitary confinement. The prisoner's identity was kept in deep secrecy. Even the jailers did not know who they were guarding. Ivan was kept in terrible conditions. The only source of light for him was candles.

The guards reported that the young man's mental abilities were impaired, Ivan lost his memory and did not have the slightest idea of who he was. His stuttering was so strong that it became almost impossible to understand what the prisoner was saying, nevertheless, Ivan the Sixth remembered his real name.

The deposed emperor was dangerous for the German princess who had seized the Russian throne, and she ordered him to be guarded very carefully, and if there was an attempt to free the prisoner, to kill him. And soon after this, on the night from the fourth to fifth of July 1764, second lieutenant of the Smolensk infantry regiment Vasily Mirovich, at the head of the rebel soldiers, tried to save Ivan, and the prisoner was immediately executed. So the list of Russian emperors was replenished with one more name. Unhappy Ivan the Sixth, who was never able to take his rightful place.

Grandson of two emperors of Russia and Sweden

All emperors of Russia, by order of succession or by way of occupying the throne, are one way or another indicated in the historical archives. And one cannot fail to mention here Peter the Third, who ruled Russia for only six months. He was born on February twenty-first in one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight in northern Germany. This was the only son of Anna Petrovna and Karl Friedrich. Grandson of two emperors - Peter the Great and Charles the Twelfth.

The boy showed interest in art, loved military parades and dreamed that one day he would become a world-famous warrior. At the age of fourteen he was brought to Russia to his aunt, reigning Elizabeth. On August 21, 1745, Peter married Princess Anhalt-Zerb, who took the name Catherine. The political marriage arranged by Petra's aunt was a disaster from the very beginning.

The Emperor who hated the Russian state and its people

Catherine was a woman of amazing intelligence, and Peter remained a child in the body of an adult man. They had one son, Pavel, future emperor, and daughter Anna, who dies in childhood. All the emperors of Russia, in order, occupying the throne and governing the state, basically tried to bring maximum benefit to the country. But Peter the Third became an exception. He hated Russia. Didn't care about Russian people, and could not stand the Orthodox Churches.

After Peter the Third took his place on the throne, he abolished his aunt's foreign policy, took Russia out of Seven Years' War, and contemporaries considered this step as a betrayal of the Russian victims of the war. But at the same time, experts who are interested in the history of the emperors of Russia suggest that perhaps this decision of Peter III was part of a pragmatic plan for the influence of the Russian state in the West.

Reforms or services to the state

However, Peter the Third during his reign organized a number of internal reforms that today seem very democratic. He proclaimed freedom of religion, abolished the secret police, and prohibited the murder of serfs by their owners. He also created the first state bank.

The reign of many emperors in Russia ended tragic death. The same thing happened with Peter the Third. There are many speculations about his death, but in fact he became a victim of a conspiracy by his own wife Catherine, who dreamed of getting rid of him in order to take the throne. On June twenty-eighth, 1762, Peter was arrested and soon killed.

Paul's Tyrannical Rule

Some names of Russian emperors cannot be mentioned with special gratitude or pride. For example, Paul the First, who ruled the country for five tyrannical years before he was killed. He was born in St. Petersburg in 1754. His parents are the future Emperor Peter the Third and Catherine the Second. His mother did not consider him as a future ruler and sent him to live on an estate in Gatchina. And Catherine prepared his son Alexander to take the place of the future emperor.

But after the death of the empress, Paul seized the throne, and his first decree was to establish the right of primogeniture to the throne, and not the choice of a successor by the emperor himself. Believing that Russia needed an absolute monarchy, he began to reduce the power and privileges of the nobility. To ideals French Revolution not distributed in the country, it outlaws foreign books and travel outside the state.

Numerous changes in Paul's domestic and foreign policies, coupled with his despotic attitude and fits of rage, caused rumors to spread about his mental instability. And on the twenty-third of March 1801, Paul the Third was killed. And his son Alexander ascended the throne.

Pupil of grandmother Catherine

Alexander was born in St. Petersburg on December 12, 1777. He was raised by Catherine the Great, who did not love her son Paul at all and did not think that he was capable of ruling the country. She saw her grandson as the future emperor. He was well versed in European culture, history and politics and was brought up in the free-thinking spirit of the Empress's court.

But the hatred between Paul and Catherine forced him to play two different roles. Under his grandmother, he adhered to the principles of human rights and civil freedom, and enjoyed opera and philosophy. And next to my father there was strict military discipline and endless training. Soon Alexander turned into a natural chameleon, became secretive and easily changed his views in accordance with the circumstances.

In 1801, at the age of twenty-three, Alexander was crowned king. The handsome and charming emperor was extremely popular. True to the ideals of his liberal school, he embarked on a series of social reforms. Torture was prohibited, and new law allowed peasants to buy themselves out of serfdom. Administrative, financial and educational changes followed.

Triumph of the Great Monarch

During the reign of the Russian emperors there were many different wars and battles. But one of the most important, even called the Patriotic War, was the war with Napoleon. For Alexander, this was a divine mission, something more than just a war between two countries. It was a battle between good and evil. And when Alexander, after the victory, entered Paris at the head of his troops, he turned into one of the most powerful monarchs. It was a triumph of his reign.

IN last years reign, the emperor becomes especially obsessed with God and Christianity. And when he died on November 19, 1825, many rumors began to circulate that the king secretly abdicated the throne and became a monk. What kind of emperors of Russia there really were and what kind of thoughts were in their great minds, even history does not know.

Nicholas's childhood and reign

Nicholas the First was the ninth child of Paul the First and Maria Feodorovna. Born on the twenty-fifth of June, 1796. As a child he was rude and mischievous. He received his education first from a Scottish nanny, and then from General Gustav Lambsdorff. Lacking a broad and inquisitive mind, Nikolai did not like to study. The young prince perked up only when the lessons came to an end and he was allowed to put on military uniform and participate in war games.

Nicholas was not raised as a future emperor and already at the beginning of his reign he was faced with an event that shocked him. This is the Decembrist uprising. Five leaders were executed and about one hundred and twenty were exiled to Siberia. Understanding the need for reforms, the king was nevertheless afraid that the changes would shake the foundations of the empire, which he was obliged to pass on to his descendants. There were other obstacles to reform - these were the emperor's immediate relatives, whose views had a huge influence on his actions.

Nicholas's slogans were Orthodoxy, autocracy and nationality. His reign marked the heyday absolute monarchy in Russia. He died on the eighteenth of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five from pneumonia. And finally, the last emperors of Russia. The chronology marks their years of reign. These were Alexander the Second and Alexander the Third, as well as Nicholas the Second. This is where the story of the Russian emperors ends.

Reign of Nicholas's son

Alexander II, the eldest son of Nicholas I, was born on April 17, 1818. He received a wonderful education. He knew several languages, studied the art of war, finance and diplomacy. WITH early age traveled a lot.

Having become emperor, Alexander issued a law on the emancipation of the peasants. The serfs now received a more dignified life. And since they became free citizens, it was necessary to reform the entire local system of government. During the reign of Alexander, the judicial system was reformed, all social classes became equal before the law. The pressure on censorship was eased and people began to have more freedom of speech.

Despite numerous reforms to improve the lives of the Russian people, Alexander II became a target for revolutionaries. A member of a terrorist group assassinated the emperor in 1881.

Personification of the Russian bear

Alexander the Third was born on the twenty-sixth of February, 1845. Strong, menacing, desperate patriot, he became the embodiment of the legendary Russian bear. Came to power at a critical moment for the empire. One half of society was dissatisfied with the slow pace of reforms, the other was afraid of change. The economy has not yet recovered from the war with Turkey. The widespread terror unleashed by the revolutionaries led to the formation of a counter-revolutionary group of monarchists.

The emperor did not like foreigners and pursued a policy of Russification. This led to outbreaks of Russian nationalism and Jewish pogroms. He firmly adhered to the principle of "Russia for the Russians" and strengthened the power of the administration. Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov died of nephritis in 1894. And he came to power the last Emperor Russia Nicholas II.

The tragic ending of the imperial family

Interesting fact! Royal titles consist of three different structural formations. The title of Emperor of Russia also has its own forms, one of which is full. And this title of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II consisted of one hundred and thirteen words.

Nicholas II was born in 1868. In 1894, Nicholas becomes emperor. Despite his thorough education, he felt that he was not ready for the responsibility that was imposed on him. And many contemporaries note that he looked confused and confused.

For most of his reign he followed his father's policies. He was stubborn and very slow to accept the need for change due to the events of 1901. Even though his powers had become limited, the last Emperor of Russia tried to act as if he were still an autocrat. Nicholas wanted to go back in time and restore the power of his ancestors.

After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the situation of the imperial family became very difficult, and a year later, early on the morning of July 17, Nicholas II, his wife and children were shot. Thus ended the reign of the emperors in Russia, and another starting point began in the history of the country.

Peter I Alekseevich, nicknamed the Great, Reigned April 27, 1682 - January 28, 1725

(May 30, 1672 - January 28, 1725) - the last king of All Rus' (since 1682) and the first All-Russian Emperor (since 1721).

As a representative of the Romanov dynasty, Peter was proclaimed tsar at the age of 10 and began to rule independently in 1689. Peter's formal co-ruler was his brother Ivan (until his death in 1696).

WITH youth showing interest in science and foreign lifestyles, Peter was the first of the Russian tsars to make a long trip to the countries Western Europe. Upon returning from it, in 1698, Peter launched large-scale reforms Russian state And social order. One of Peter’s main achievements was the solution to the task posed in the 16th century: the expansion of Russian territories in the Baltic region after the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Northern War, which allowed him to accept the title of Russian Emperor in 1721.

(Marta Samuilovna Skavronskaya, married to Kruse; after converting to Orthodoxy, Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova; April 5, 1684 - May 6, 1727)

Russian empress from 1721 as the wife of the reigning emperor, from 1725 as the reigning empress; second wife of Peter I, mother of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

(12 (23) October 1715, St. Petersburg - 19 (30) January 1730, Moscow) - Russian Emperor, who succeeded Catherine I on the throne.

Grandson of Peter I, son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich and German Princess Sophia-Charlotte of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, last representative the Romanov family in the direct male line.

(January 28 (February 7) 1693 - October 17 (28), 1740) - Russian empress from the Romanov dynasty.

(12 (23) August 1740, St. Petersburg - 5 (16) July 1764, Shlisselburg) - Russian emperor from the Brunswick branch of the Romanov dynasty. Reigned from October 1740 to November 1741. Great-grandson of Ivan V.

Formally, he reigned for the first year of his life under the regency of first Biron, and then his own mother Anna Leopoldovna. The infant emperor was overthrown by Elizaveta Petrovna, spent almost his entire life in solitary confinement, and already during the reign of Catherine II he was killed by guards at the age of 23 while trying to free him.

(born Karl Peter Ulrich, German Karl Peter Ulrich, fully German Karl Peter Ulrich von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf); (10 (21) February 1728, Kiel - 6 (17) July 1762, Ropsha) - Russian emperor in 1762 , the first representative of the Holstein-Gottorp (Oldenburg) branch of the Romanovs on the Russian throne. Since 1745 - sovereign Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.

(born Sophie Auguste Friederike von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg, in Orthodoxy Ekaterina Alekseevna; April 21, 1729, Stettin, Prussia - November 6, 1796, Winter Palace, St. Petersburg) - Empress of All Russia 1762 to 1796 year.

The daughter of the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, Catherine came to power in a palace coup that overthrew her unpopular husband Peter III from the throne.

Catherine's era was marked by the maximum enslavement of the peasants and the comprehensive expansion of the privileges of the nobility.

Under Catherine the Great, the borders of the Russian Empire were significantly expanded to the west (divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) and to the south (annexation of Novorossiya, Crimea, and partly the Caucasus).

System government controlled under Catherine the Second, for the first time since the time of Peter I, it was reformed.

(December 12 (23), 1777, St. Petersburg - November 19 (December 1), 1825, Taganrog) - Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia (from March 12 (24), 1801), Protector of the Order of Malta (from 1801), Grand Duke of Finland (since 1809), Tsar of Poland (since 1815), eldest son of Emperor Paul I and Maria Feodorovna. In official pre-revolutionary historiography he was called the Blessed One.

At the beginning of his reign he spent moderately liberal reforms, developed by the Secret Committee and M. M. Speransky. In foreign policy he maneuvered between Great Britain and France. In 1805-1807 he participated in anti-French coalitions. In 1807-1812 he temporarily became close to France. He led successful wars with Turkey (1806-1812), Persia (1804-1813) and Sweden (1808-1809). Under Alexander I, the territories of Eastern Georgia (1801), Finland (1809), Bessarabia (1812), and the former Duchy of Warsaw (1815) were annexed to Russia. After Patriotic War 1812 led the anti-French coalition of European powers in 1813-1814. He was one of the leaders of the Congress of Vienna of 1814-1815 and the organizers of the Holy Alliance.

(April 17, 1818, Moscow - March 1, 1881, St. Petersburg) - Emperor of All Russia, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland (1855-1881) from the Romanov dynasty. The eldest son of first the grand ducal, and since 1825, the imperial couple Nikolai Pavlovich and Alexandra Feodorovna.

(February 26, 1845, Anichkov Palace, St. Petersburg - October 20, 1894, Livadia Palace, Crimea) - Emperor of All Russia, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland from March 1, 1881. Son of Emperor Alexander II and grandson of Nicholas I; father of the last Russian monarch, Nicholas II.

During the reign of Alexander III Russia has not waged a single war. For maintaining peace, the monarch received the official nickname Tsar-Peacemaker.

(May 6, 1868, Tsarskoe Selo - July 17, 1918, Yekaterinburg) - Emperor of All Russia, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland (October 20, 1894 - March 2, 1917). From the Imperial House of Romanov. Colonel (1892); in addition, from the British monarchs he had the ranks of admiral of the fleet (May 28 (June 10), 1908) and field marshal of the British army (December 18 (31), 1915).

The reign of Nicholas II was marked economic development Russia and at the same time the growth of socio-political contradictions in it, revolutionary movement which resulted in the revolution of 1905-1907 and the February Revolution of 1917; in foreign policy - expansion into Far East, the war with Japan, as well as Russia’s participation in the military blocs of European powers and the First World War.

Nicholas II abdicated the throne during the February Revolution of 1917 and was under house arrest with his family in the Tsarskoe Selo Palace. In the summer of 1917, by decision of the Provisional Government, he and his family were sent into exile in Tobolsk, and in the spring of 1918, the Bolsheviks moved him to Yekaterinburg, where in July 1918 he was shot along with his family and associates.