Peter 3 smallpox disease. Peter III

Peter III Fedorovich, Emperor of All Russia (1761 - 1762), son of the daughter of Peter I Anna and Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl Friedrich.

He was born on February 10, 1728 in Holstein and received at birth the name of Karl Peter Ulrich. The death of his mother, which followed after 7 days, and the chaotic life of his father, were reflected in the upbringing of the prince, which was extremely stupid and ridiculous. 1739 he remained an orphan. Peter's educator was a rough soldier's temper man von Brumer, who could not give anything good to his pupil. Peter was intended to be the heir to the Swedish throne, as the great-nephew of Charles XII. He was taught the Lutheran catechism, and instilled hatred for Muscovy - the primordial enemy of Sweden. But immediately after her accession to the throne, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna began to take care of her successor, which was necessary to strengthen the throne for herself due to the existence of the Braunschweig family (Anna Leopoldovna and Ivan Antonovich). Peter was brought from his homeland to St. Petersburg in early January 1742. Here, in addition to the Holsteiners Brumer and Berchholtz, Academician Shtelin was assigned to him, who, despite all the labors and efforts, could not correct the prince and put his upbringing to the proper height.

Peter III. Portrait by Pfanzelt, 1762

In November 1742, the prince converted to Orthodoxy and was named Peter Fedorovich, and in 1744 he was married to Princess Sophia August of Anhalt-Zerbst, later Catherine II. In the same year, during a trip with the empress to Kyiv, Peter fell ill with smallpox, which distorted his entire face with mountain ash. His marriage to Catherine took place on August 21, 1745. The life of the young couple was the most unfortunate in terms of the mutual relations of the spouses; at the court of Elizabeth, their situation was rather painful. In 1754, Catherine's son Pavel was born, separated from his parents and taken in by the Empress. In 1756, Catherine gave birth to another daughter, Anna, who died in 1759. At this time, Peter, who did not love his wife, became close to the maid of honor, Count. Elizaveta Romanovna Vorontsova. At the end of her life, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna was very afraid for the future that lay ahead during the reign of her heir, but she died without making any new orders and without officially expressing her last will.

Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich (future Peter III) and grand duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna (future Catherine II)

Peter III marked the beginning of his reign with a number of favors and preferential state orders. Were returned from exile Minich, Biron, Lestok, Lilienfeld, Natalya Lopukhina and others, a decree was given to abolish the oppressive salt duty, granted charter of liberty of the nobility, the secret office and the terrible “word and deed” were destroyed, the schismatics were returned, who fled from persecution under the empresses Elizabeth and Anna Ioannovna, and now they have received complete freedom of faith. But the reason for the adoption of these measures was not the real concern of Peter III for his subjects, but the desire for the first time to gain popularity. They were carried out inconsistently and did not bring people's love to the new emperor. The military and the clergy became especially hostile to him. In the army, Peter III aroused dissatisfaction with a predilection for the Holsteiners and Prussian orders, the destruction of the noble guards, influential in St. Petersburg, the change of Peter's uniforms to Prussian ones, the naming of regiments by the names of their chiefs, and not as before - by provinces. The clergy were dissatisfied with the attitude of Peter III towards schismatics, the emperor’s disrespect for the Orthodox clergy and icon veneration (there were rumors that he was going to change all Russian priests from cassocks into civilian clothes - according to the Protestant model), and, most importantly, with decrees on the management of bishops and monastic estates, turning Orthodox clergy into salaried officials.

Added to this was general dissatisfaction. foreign policy new emperor. Peter III was a passionate admirer of Frederick II and completely submitted to the influence of the Prussian ambassador in St. Petersburg, Baron Goltz. Peter not only stopped Russian participation in the Seven Years' War, which hampered the Prussians to the extreme, but concluded a peace treaty with them to the detriment of all the interests of Russia. The emperor gave Prussia all the Russian conquests (i.e., its eastern provinces) and concluded an alliance with it, according to which the Russians and Prussians were supposed to provide assistance in the event of an attack on any of them in 12 thousand infantry and 4 thousand cavalry. It is said that Frederick the Great personally dictated the terms of this peace treaty with the consent of Peter III. By secret articles of the treaty, the Prussian king undertook to help Peter acquire the duchy of Schleswig from Denmark in favor of Holstein, to assist Prince George of Holstein in the occupation of the ducal throne of Courland and to guarantee the then constitution of Poland. Frederick promised that after the death of the reigning Polish king, Prussia would facilitate the appointment of a successor pleasing to Russia. The last point was the only one that gave some benefit not to Holstein, but to Russia itself. The Russian army, stationed in Prussia under the command of Chernyshev, was ordered to oppose the Austrians, who had previously been allies of Russia in the Seven Years' War.

troops and Russian society were terribly outraged by all this. The hatred of Russians for the Germans and the new order intensified, thanks to the cruelty, tactlessness of the uncle of the Emperor Georg Holstein, who arrived in Russia and was promoted to field marshal. Peter III began to prepare for a war for Holstein interests with Denmark. Denmark, in response, entered Mecklenburg and occupied the vicinity of Wismar. In June 1762 orders were given to the guards to prepare for the war. The emperor wanted to open a campaign after his name day on the 29th, this time not listening to the advice of Frederick II: to be crowned before the start of the war.

Emperor Peter III. Portrait by Antropov, 1762

Meanwhile, Peter III's relationship with his wife Catherine became increasingly strained. The tsar was not a deeply vicious person, as his wife later wrote about him, but he barely maintained an officially correct relationship with her, often interrupting them with rude antics. There were even rumors that Catherine was threatened with arrest. On June 28, 1762, Peter III was in Oranienbaum, and a conspiracy was already prepared in the troops against him, to which some prominent nobles joined. The accidental arrest of one of its members, Passek, hastened the 28 June coup. On the morning of that day, Catherine went to Petersburg and declared herself empress, and her son, Paul, heir. On the evening of the 28th, at the head of the guard, she moved to Oranienbaum. Confused, Peter went to Kronstadt, which was occupied by the supporters of the Empress, and was not allowed to go there. Not heeding Minich's advice to retire to Revel, and then to Pomerania to the troops, the emperor returned to Oranienbaum and signed the abdication.

On the same day, June 29, Peter III was brought to Peterhof, arrested and sent to Ropsha, chosen for his residence, until a decent apartment in the Shlisselburg fortress was finished for him. Catherine left under Peter her lover Alexei Orlov, Prince Baryatinsky and three guards officers with a hundred soldiers. On July 6, 1762, the emperor suddenly died. The cause of death of Peter III in the manifesto published on this occasion was named with obvious mockery "hemorrhoidal cavities and severe colic." At the burial of Peter III, which took place in the Church of the Annunciation of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Catherine was not at the request of the Senate, caused by the proposal of Count N. Panin, to postpone her intention to attend for the sake of health

Literature about Peter III

M. I. Semevsky, “Six months from Russian history of the 18th century.” ("Otech. Zap.", 1867)

V. Timiryazev, "The six-month reign of Peter III" ("Historical Bulletin, 1903, Nos. 3 and 4)

V. Bilbasov, "History of Catherine II"

"Notes of Empress Catherine"

Shchebalsky, Politic system Peter III"

Brikner, "The life of Peter III before accession to the throne" ("Russian Bulletin", 1883).

Peter III Fedorovich Romanov

Peter III (Pyotr Fyodorovich Romanov, birth nameCarl Peter Ulrich of Holstein-Gottorp; February 21, 1728, Kiel - July 17, 1762, Ropsha - Russian emperor in 1761-1762, the first representative of the Holstein-Gottorp (or rather: Oldenburg dynasty, Holstein-Gottorp branches, officially bearing the name "Imperial House of the Romanovs") on the Russian throne, husband of Catherine II, father of Paul I

Peter III (in the uniform of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, 1762)

Peter III

The short reign of Peter III lasted less than a year, but during this time the emperor managed to set against himself almost all the influential forces in Russian noble society: the court, the guards, the army and the clergy.

He was born on February 10 (21), 1728 in Kiel in the Duchy of Holstein (northern Germany). The German prince Karl Peter Ulrich, who received the name Peter Fedorovich after the adoption of Orthodoxy, was the son of Duke Karl Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp and eldest daughter Peter I Anna Petrovna.

Karl Friedrich Holstein-Gottorp

Anna Petrovna

Having ascended the throne, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna summoned the son of her beloved sister to Russia and appointed her heir in 1742. Karl Peter Ulrich was brought to St. Petersburg in early February 1742 and on November 15 (26) was declared her heir. Then he converted to Orthodoxy and received the name of Peter Fedorovich

Elizaveta Petrovna

As a teacher, Academician J. Shtelin was assigned to him, who could not achieve any significant success in the education of the prince; he was fascinated only by military affairs and playing the violin.

Pyotr Fedorovich when he was the Grand Duke. Job portrait

In May 1745 the prince was proclaimed the ruling duke of Holstein. In August 1745 he married Princess Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst, the future Catherine II.

Petr Fedorovich ( Grand Duke) and Ekaterina Alekseevna (Grand Duchess

Tsarevich Pyotr Fedorovich and Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna. 1740s Hood. G.-K. Groot.

The marriage was unsuccessful, only in 1754 their son Pavel was born, and in 1756 their daughter Anna, who died in 1759. He had a connection with the maid of honor E.R. Vorontsova, niece of Chancellor M.I. Vorontsov. Being an admirer of Frederick the Great, he publicly expressed his pro-Prussian sympathies during the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763. Peter's open hostility to everything Russian and his apparent inability to deal with state affairs caused Elizabeth Petrovna to worry. In court circles, projects were put forward to transfer the crown to the young Paul during the regency of Catherine or Catherine herself.

Portrait of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich as a child ( , )

Peter and Catherine were granted the possession of Oranienbaum near St. Petersburg

However, the empress did not dare to change the order of succession to the throne. The former duke, who was trained from birth to take the Swedish throne, since he was also the grandson of Charles XII, studied the Swedish language, Swedish law and Swedish history, was accustomed from childhood to treat Russia with prejudice. A zealous Lutheran, he could not reconcile himself to being forced to change his faith, and at every opportunity tried to emphasize his contempt for Orthodoxy, the customs and traditions of the country he was to rule. Peter was neither evil nor treacherous; on the contrary, he often showed gentleness and mercy. However, his extreme nervous imbalance made the future sovereign dangerous, as a person who concentrated absolute power over a vast empire in his hands.

Peter III Fedorovich Romanov

Elizaveta Romanovna Vorontsova, favorite of Peter III

Having become the new emperor after the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter quickly angered the courtiers against himself, attracting foreigners, the guards to government posts, canceling the Elizabethan liberties, the army, making a peace unfavorable for Russia with defeated Prussia, and, finally, the clergy, ordering all the icons to be removed from the churches , except for the most important ones, to shave their beards, take off their vestments and change into frock coats in the likeness of Lutheran pastors.

Empress Catherine the Great with her husband Peter III of Russia and their son, the future Emperor Paul I

On the other hand, the emperor softened the persecution of the Old Believers, signed in 1762 a decree on the freedom of the nobility, abolishing the compulsory service for representatives of the noble class. It seemed that he could count on the support of the nobles. However, his reign ended tragically.

Peter III is depicted on horseback among a group of soldiers. The emperor wears the orders of St. Andrew the First-Called and St. Anne. Snuffbox decorated with miniatures

Many were not happy that the emperor made an alliance with Prussia: shortly before, under the late Elizabeth Petrovna, Russian troops won a number of victories in the war with the Prussians, and Russian empire could count on considerable political benefits from the successes achieved on the battlefields. The alliance with Prussia crossed out all such hopes and violated good relations with Russia's former allies - Austria and France. Even more dissatisfaction was caused by the involvement of Peter III in Russian service numerous foreigners. At the Russian court there were no influential forces whose support would ensure the stability of the reign of the new emperor.

Portrait of Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich

Unknown Russian artist PORTRAIT OF EMPEROR PETER III Last third of the 18th century

Taking advantage of this, a strong court party, hostile to Prussia and Peter III, in alliance with a group of guards, carried out a coup.

Pyotr Fedorovich was always afraid of Catherine. When, after the death of Empress Elizabeth, he became the Russian Tsar Peter III, almost nothing connected the crowned spouses, but they shared a lot. Rumors reached Catherine that Peter wanted to get rid of her by imprisoning her in a monastery or depriving her of her life, and declare their son Paul illegitimate. Catherine knew how harshly the Russian autocrats treated hateful wives. But for many years she had been preparing to ascend the throne and was not going to give it up to a man whom everyone did not like and "slandered out loud without trembling."

Georg Christoph Groot. Portrait of Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich (later Emperor Peter III

Six months after Peter III ascended the throne on January 5, 1762, a group of conspirators led by Catherine's lover Count G.G. Orlov took advantage of Peter's absence at court and issued a manifesto on behalf of the imperial guard regiments, according to which Peter was deprived of his throne, and Catherine was proclaimed empress. She was crowned Bishop of Novgorod, while Peter was imprisoned in Vacation home in Ropsha, where he was killed in July 1762, apparently with the knowledge of Catherine. According to a contemporary of those events, Peter III "allowed himself to be overthrown from the throne, like a child who is sent to sleep." His death soon finally freed Catherine the way to power.

in the Winter Palace, the coffin was placed next to the coffin of Empress Catherine II (the hall was designed by the architect Rinaldi)

After official ceremonies, the ashes of Peter III and Catherine II were transferred from the Winter Palace to the Cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress

This allegorical engraving by Nicholas Anselin is dedicated to the exhumation of Peter III

Tombs of Peter III and Catherine II in the Peter and Paul Cathedral

Hat of Emperor Peter III. 1760s

Ruble of Peter III 1762 St. Petersburg silver

Portrait of Emperor Peter III (1728-1762) and a view of the monument to Empress Catherine II in St. Petersburg

Unknown North Russian carver. Plaquette with a portrait of Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich. St. Petersburg (?), Ser. 19th century. Mammoth tusk, relief carving, engraving, drilling Peter III, his relatives and his entourage ":
Part 1 - Peter III Fedorovich Romanov

There were incomprehensible characters in Russian history. One of these was Peter III, who, by the will of fate, was destined to become the Russian emperor.

Peter-Ulrich, was the son of Anna Petrovna, the eldest daughter, and the Duke of Holstein Cal - Friedrich. The heir to the Russian throne was born on February 21, 1728.

Anna Petrovna died three months after the birth of the boy, from consumption. At the age of 11, Peter-Ulrich will also lose his father.

The uncle of Peter Ulrich was the Swedish king Charles XII. Peter had rights both to the Russian and to the Swedish throne. From the age of 11, the future emperor lived in Sweden, where he was brought up in the spirit of Swedish patriotism and hatred of Russia.

Ulrich grew up as a nervous and sickly boy. It was connected to a greater extent with the manner of his upbringing.

His teachers often took humiliating and severe punishments in relation to the ward.

The character of Peter-Ulrich was simple-minded, there was no particular malice in the boy.

In 1741, the aunt of Peter Ulrich, became the Empress of Russia. One of her first steps at the head of state was the proclamation of an heir. As a successor, the Empress named Peter Ulrich.

Why? She wanted to establish her paternal line on the throne. Yes, and her relationship with her sister, Peter's mother, Anna Petrovna, was very, very warm.

After the proclamation of the heir, Peter-Ulrich came to Russia, where he converted to Orthodoxy and received a new name at baptism, Peter Fedorovich.

When Empress Elizaveta Petrovna first saw Peter, she was unpleasantly surprised. The heir had a mediocre mind, had a low level of education and an unhealthy appearance.

An educator Jacob Shtelin was immediately assigned to Pyotr Fedorovich, who tried to instill in his student a love for Russia and teach the Russian language. In 1745, Peter III married Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst. At baptism, the lady received the name Ekaterina Alekseevna, and again, by the will of fate, after some time she occupied the Russian throne and entered history under the name.

Relations between Peter Fedorovich and Ekaterina Alekseevna immediately went wrong. Catherine did not like the infantilism and limitations of her husband. Peter, however, was not going to grow up, and continued to indulge in children's amusements, played soldiers, and with great rapture. On December 25, 1761, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died and Pyotr Fedorovich ascended the Russian throne, although it is worth noting that he did not have time to be crowned.

First of all, having ascended the Russian throne, he did an unprecedented thing. Let me remind you that Russia participated in the battlefields of which the military genius was tempered. The Seven Years' War developed so successfully that it was possible to put an end to the existence of the German state, well, or at least to oblige Prussia to pay a huge indemnity and knock out profitable trade agreements from it.

Peter III was a longtime and great admirer of Frederick II, and instead of benefiting from a successful war, the emperor concluded a gratuitous peace with Prussia. This could not please the Russian people, who, with their courage and blood, achieved success on the battlefields of that war. This step cannot be characterized otherwise as betrayal or tyranny.

In the domestic political field, Peter III launched an active activity. In a short time he published great amount legal acts, apart from which stands the manifesto on the freedom of the nobility - the liquidation of the Secret Chancellery, which was engaged in political crimes and the fight against dissent. Under Peter, the persecution of the Old Believers was stopped. In the army, he imposed the Prussian order, in a short time set against himself a significant part of Russian society.

Pyotr Fedorovich did not act within the framework of a specific political program. According to historians, most of his actions were chaotic. Public dissatisfaction intensified, which eventually turned into a coup d'état in 1762, after which Catherine Alekseevna, the wife of Peter III, came to the throne, whom Russian history will remember as Catherine II.

Peter died in the suburbs of St. Petersburg under mysterious circumstances. Some believe that he was crippled by a transient illness, while others believe that conspirators, supporters of Catherine II, helped him die. It is possible to characterize the short reign of Peter III, which lasted about six months, from December 1761 to July 1762, in one word - a misunderstanding.

In 1761 on Russian throne ascended Emperor Peter 3 Fedorovich. His reign lasted only 186 days, but during this time he managed to do a lot of evil for Russia, leaving a memory in history about himself as a cowardly person.

For history, the path to the power of Peter is interesting. He was the grandson of Peter the Great and the nephew of Empress Elizabeth. In 1742, Elizabeth named Peter her heir, who after her death would lead Russia. Young Peter was engaged to the German princess Sophia of Tserbskaya, who, after the rite of baptism, received the name Catherine. As soon as Peter became an adult, a wedding was played. After that, Elizabeth was disappointed in her nephew. He, loving his wife, spent almost all the time with her in Germany. He was more and more saturated with the German character and love for everything German. Pyotr Fedorovich literally idolized the German king, the father of his wife. In such circumstances, Elizabeth was well aware that Peter would be a bad emperor for Russia. In 1754, Peter and Catherine had a son, who was named Pavel. Elizaveta Petrovna, in infancy, demanded Pavel to come to her and personally took up his upbringing. She instilled in the child a love for Russia and prepared him to rule a great country. Unfortunately, in December 1761, Elizabeth died and, according to the will, Emperor Peter 3 Fedorovich was placed on the Russian throne. .

At this time, Russia took part in the Seven Years' War. The Russians fought with the Germans, before whom Peter bowed so much. By the time he came to power, Russia had literally destroyed the German army. The Prussian king was in a panic, he tried several times to flee abroad, and his attempts to renounce power were also known. The Russian army by this time had almost completely occupied the territory of Prussia. The German king was ready to sign peace, and he was ready to do it on any terms, if only to save at least partially his country. At this time, Emperor Peter 3 Fedorovich betrayed the interests of his country. As mentioned above, Peter bowed to the Germans, and adored the German king. As a result, the Russian emperor did not sign a pact on the surrender of Prussia, and not even a peace treaty, but concluded an alliance with the Germans. Russia received nothing for winning the Seven Years' War.

The signing of the shameful alliance with the Germans played a cruel joke on the emperor. He saved Prussia (Germany), but at the cost of his life. Returning from the German campaign, Russian army resented. For seven years they fought for the interests of Russia, but the country gained nothing because of the actions of Pyotr Fedorovich. These sentiments were shared by the people. The emperor was called none other than "the most insignificant of people" and "a hater of Russian people". On June 28, 1762, Emperor Peter 3 Fedorovich was dethroned and arrested. One week later, a certain Orlov A.G. in the heat of a drunken brawl, he killed Peter.

The bright pages of this period have also been preserved in the history of Russia. Peter tried to restore order in the country, took care of the monasteries and churches. But this is not able to block the betrayal of the emperor, for which he paid with his life.

F. Rokotov "Portrait of Peter III"

“But nature was not as favorable to him as fate: the probable heir to two alien and large thrones, according to his abilities, he was not suitable for his own small throne” (V. Klyuchevsky)

Childhood

Before the adoption of Orthodoxy, the All-Russian Emperor Peter III Fedorovich bore the name Karl-Peter-Ulrich. He was the son of the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl-Friedrich and Tsesarevna Anna Petrovna (daughter of Peter I). Thus, he was the grandson of Peter I and the great-nephew of the King of Sweden, Charles XII. Born in Kiel, the capital of Holstein. He was only 3 weeks old when his mother died and 11 years old when his father died.

His upbringing was entrusted to Marshal Brumer, it was reduced to barracks order and training with the help of a whip. Nevertheless, he was prepared to take the Swedish throne, so they brought up in him the spirit of Swedish patriotism, i.e. spirit of hatred for Russia.

The current Empress Elizaveta Petrovna was childless, but she wanted the throne to be inherited by a descendant of Peter I, so for this purpose she brings her nephew, Karl-Peter-Ulrich, to Russia. He accepts Orthodoxy and, under the name of Peter Fedorovich, is declared Grand Duke, heir to the throne with the title of Imperial Highness.

L. Pfantzelt "Portrait of Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich"

In Russia

Peter was sickly, did not receive proper upbringing and education. In addition, he had a stubborn, irritable and deceitful character. Elizaveta Petrovna was struck by the ignorance of her nephew. She assigned a new tutor to him, but he never made any significant progress from him. And a sharp change in lifestyle, country, environment, impressions and religion (before the adoption of Orthodoxy, he was a Lutheran) led to the fact that he was completely disoriented in the world around him. V. Klyuchevsky wrote: "... he looked at serious things with a childish look, and treated children's undertakings with the seriousness of a mature husband."

Elizaveta Petrovna did not give up her intention to secure the throne for a descendant of Peter I and decided to marry him. She herself chose his bride - the daughter of an impoverished German prince - Sophia-Friederike-Augusta (in the future Catherine II). The marriage took place on August 21, 1745. But their family life failed from the first day. Peter insulted his young wife, repeatedly announced that she was being sent abroad or to a monastery, and was fond of the ladies-in-waiting of Elizabeth Petrovna. He developed a passion for carousing. However, Peter III had two children: son Paul (future Emperor Paul I) and daughter Anna. Rumor has it that the children were not his.

G.-K. Groot "Pyotr Fedorovich and Ekaterina Alekseevna"

Peter's favorite pastimes were playing the violin and war games. Already married, Peter did not stop playing with soldiers, he had a lot of wooden, wax and tin soldiers. His idol was the Prussian King Frederick II and his army, he admired the beauty of the Prussian uniforms, the bearing of the soldiers.

Elizaveta Petrovna, according to V. Klyuchevsky, was in despair at the character and behavior of her nephew. She herself and her favorites were worried about the fate of the Russian throne, she listened to proposals to replace the heir with Catherine or Pavel Petrovich with the preservation of the regency for Catherine until he came of age, but the empress could not finally decide on a single proposal. She died - and on December 25, 1761, Peter III ascended the Russian throne.

Domestic politics

The young emperor began his reign by pardoning many criminals and political exiles (Minich, Biron, etc.). He abolished the Secret Chancellery, which had been operating since the time of Peter I and was engaged in secret investigation and torture. He announced forgiveness to the repentant peasants who had previously disobeyed their landowners. Prohibited the persecution of dissenters. Issued a Decree of February 18, 1762, according to which the compulsory military service for the nobles, introduced by Peter I. Historians doubt that all these innovations were dictated by the desire for the good for Russia - most likely, there are more actions of court dignitaries who tried in this way to increase the popularity of the new emperor. But she continued to be very low. He was charged with disrespect for Russian shrines (he did not honor the clergy, ordered the house churches to be closed, the priests to take off their vestments and put on worldly clothes), as well as the conclusion of a “shameful peace” with Prussia.

Foreign policy

Peter led Russia out of the Seven Years' War, during the hostilities East Prussia was annexed to Russia.

The negative attitude towards Peter III intensified after he announced his intention to move to recapture Schleswig from Denmark. In his opinion, she oppressed his native Holstein. The guards were especially worried, which, in fact, supported Catherine in the upcoming coup.

coup

Having ascended the throne, Peter was in no hurry to be crowned. And although Frederick II in his letters persistently advised Peter to carry out this procedure as soon as possible, the emperor for some reason did not heed the advice of his idol. Therefore, in the eyes of the Russian people, he was, as it were, an unreal tsar. For Catherine, this moment was the only chance to take the throne. Moreover, the emperor has publicly stated more than once that he intends to divorce his wife and marry Elizaveta Vorontsova, the former maid of honor of Elizabeth Petrovna.

On June 27, 1762, P. Passek, one of the main organizers of the conspiracy, was arrested in the Izmailovsky barracks. Early in the morning, the brother of Ekaterina's favorite A. Orlov brought Ekaterina from Peterhof to St. Petersburg, where the Izmailovsky and Semenovsky regiments swore allegiance to her, and her Manifesto was urgently read out in the Winter Palace. Then the rest swore allegiance to her. Peter III at that time was in his favorite castle in Oranienbaum. Having learned about the events that had taken place, he hurried to Kronstadt (on the advice of Munnich), but by that time the soldiers had already sworn allegiance to Catherine. He returned lost and, despite the fact that Minich offered him various ways way out of the situation, did not dare to take any action and rewrote the act of abdication drawn up by Catherine. He was sent first to Peterhof, and then to Ropsha, where he was taken under arrest. While Catherine was thinking about what to do with the deposed emperor, her close associates killed him (by strangulation). It was announced to the people that Peter III had died of "hemorrhoidal colic."

L. Pfantzelt "Portrait of Emperor Peter III"

Frederick II commented on his death: He allowed himself to be overthrown like a child sent to sleep."

Peter III was Russian Emperor for only 186 days.