Who ruled after Peter 1? Russia after Peter 1

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

Russia without a Czar? Who ruled after Peter 1

Three years before his death, the autocrat managed to issue a decree that changed the existing order of the legacy of the throne: now the heir was not the eldest son, but the son whom the father deemed worthy to occupy such an honorable place. This decision was due to the fact that the son of the tsar, the potential heir to the throne, Tsarevich Alexei, was accused of plotting against his own father and, as a result, was sentenced to death. In 1718 the tsarevich died in the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

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

As a result, the next few years were marked by numerous palace coups, the purpose of which was to seize power. Since no official heir was appointed, those wishing to sit on the throne tried to prove that they deserved this right.

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

Managed the enthronement to the throne of the future empress All-Russian associate of the deceased king, Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, who became the de facto ruler of the state.

Russia after Peter 1 is a special milestone in world history. Strict order and discipline, which in part characterized the emperor's rule, have now lost their former strength.

Catherine I: who is she?

Marta Skavronska (real name of the empress) was from the family of Baltic peasants. She was born on April 5, 1684. Early deprived of both parents, the girl was brought up in the family of a Protestant pastor.

During the Northern War (between Sweden and Russia), in 1702, Marta, along with other inhabitants of the fortress of Marienburg, was captured by Russian troops, and then in service to 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. She saw Prince Alexander Danilovich - a favorite of Peter the Great - and, taking advantage of his authority, took the girl to his house.

According to another version, Martha became the managing servant of Colonel Baur, where Menshikov laid his eye on it and took him to his house. And already here it was noticed by Peter I.

Convergence with Peter I

For 9 years, Marta was the mistress of the king. In 1704 she gave birth to him the first-born son of Peter, and then the second son - Paul. However, both boys were killed.

The future Empress was educated by the sister of Peter the Great, Natalia Alekseevna, who taught Marta to read and write. And in 1705 there was a christening of a girl in Orthodoxy under the name of Mikhailovna Ekaterina Alexeyevna. In 1708 and 1709, the daughter of Catherine from Peter Alekseevich - Anna and Elizabeth (who later took the throne under the name of Elizabeth Petrovna) was born .

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

Who and when ruled in Russia

After the death of Peter 1, Russia fully learned what the country stands without a powerful ruler. Since Prince Menshikov won the favor of the tsar, and later helped Catherine I become the head of state, the question of who ruled after Peter 1 would be the right answer - Prince Alexander Danilovich, who actively participated in the life of the country and took the most important decisions. However, the empress's rule, despite such strong support, did not last long - until May 1727.

While on the throne of Catherine I an important role in the policy of Russia at that time was played by the Supreme Privy Council, created before the Empress ascended the throne. It included such noble and prominent people in the Russian Empire of the time people, like Prince Alexander Menshikov (who headed this body), Dmitry Golitsyn, Fedor Apraksin, Peter Tolstoy.

At the very beginning of the reign of Catherine I, taxes were reduced and many prisoners 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 the inhabitants.

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

• The Senate played a less prominent role in the political life of the country;

• The voevods were replaced by local authorities;

• For the improvement of the troops, a special Commission was set up consisting of flagships and generals.

Innovations of Catherine I. Domestic and Foreign Policy

For the one who ruled after Peter 1 (it is about his wife), it was extremely difficult to surpass the reforming king in the versatility of politics. From innovations it is worth noting the creation of the Academy of Sciences and the organization of the expedition led by the famous seafarer Vitus Bering to Kamchatka.

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

Russia after Peter 1 gained considerable influence in Courland. It was so great that Prince Menshikov planned to become the head of this duchy, but local residents revealed dissatisfaction in this regard.

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

The end of the reign of the Empress

The power of Catherine I came to an end in May 1727, when the Empress died on the 44th year of her life from lung disease. They buried her in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

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

Regent was none other than Prince Alexander Danilovich (this fact once again proves who ruled after Peter 1 in Russia). Menshikov soon married a newly-made Tsar with his daughter Maria, thus further strengthening influence on court and state life.

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

Russia after Peter the Great is already an entirely different state, where the reforms and reforms came first, and the struggle for the throne and attempts to prove the superiority of some estates over others.