In the history of Russia, John Antonovich (1740-1764) remains one of the most unusual rulers. He occupied the throne while still an infant, and was expelled from there at the same unconscious age. Most of his life fell on imprisonment, from which he could not get out. This is a vivid example of the sad fate of a person who claims power by virtue of his origin.
Heir
Newborn John Antonovich was born in the family of Anna Leopoldovna and Anton Ulrich. These were the most noble parents that a boy could have in Russia. The mother was the niece of Empress Anna Ioannovna and the granddaughter of Tsar John V. The father was of German origin and had the title of Duke of Brunswick.
The Empress Anna had no children, which is why the throne, after her death in 1740, passed to the closest male relative (great-nephew). This ambiguous choice was also connected with the fact that the dying ruler wanted to leave power to the descendants of her father John, but not Peter. Therefore, in her will, she indicated that after the baby, the throne would pass to other children of her niece Anna Leopoldovna.
Biron's Regency
Of course, the child needed a regent who could lead the state untilthe formal holder of power is growing. Neither the mother nor the father of the baby were suitable for this role due to the lack of organizational skills and a simple interest in governing the country. Therefore, the German Biron, the favorite of the old empress, was appointed to such a high, but dangerous position.
However, Biron did not rule for long. During the life of the Empress, he enjoyed her favor, but after her death he remained surrounded by enemies and ill-wishers. When he was the favorite, the Duke of Courland and Semigallia broke many destinies and crossed the path of many prominent officials. He was dissatisfied with the army, which did not want to see a foreign German head of state.
Mother's reign
Therefore, literally on the second week of the reign of the baby, Biron was removed from power by the St. Petersburg guards, who replaced Anna Leopoldovna as regent. But she was distinguished by an apathetic character and, over time, gave the reins of government to other Germans. First it was Field Marshal Munnich, and then the gray cardinal Osterman. All of them appeared in St. Petersburg in the post-Petrine era, when a wave of newcomers Germans literally flooded Russia - they were appointed to leading positions in the state.
It is interesting that the official papers that were drawn up during the period we are considering called the infant king John III. This tradition has developed since the time of Ivan the Terrible (the first Russian tsar). However, much later, in the 19th century, historians began to use numbering, according to which the little emperor was already the Sixth. In this case, the countdown is from John Kalita -the first Moscow prince with that name, who ruled back in the 14th century, during the Golden Horde.
Link to the North
But already in 1741, the guards changed their views again. Everyone was tired of the dominance of foreigners, and many sided with the daughter of Peter the Great, Elizabeth. The coup was carried out quickly. When it became clear that Ivan Antonovich would no longer be ruler, it was decided to send him and his family to the North, into exile. This place was the city of Kholmogory.
Ioann Antonovich, for whom 1741 became a turning point, now lived in a small house, isolated from his parents. Mother died a few years later, unable to withstand the harsh climate. Throughout the reign of Elizabeth, attempts continued to erase from historical memory a small period of the reign of this family. In particular, the coins of Ivan Antonovich, minted in the year of his tenure on the throne, were hastily melted down. And people trying to pay with such money began to be detained and accused of high treason.
Efforts aimed at the disappearance of John and his parents from state chronicles were so successful that even when the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty was celebrated in the 20th century, not a single mention was made of the child, including on the monuments set for the anniversary.
Shlisselburg Fortress
In 1756, the ex-emperor John Antonovich was transferred from Kholmogory to the Shlisselburg fortress. The conditions of his detention deteriorated significantly. Since arriving at the new place, he has not seen a singlehuman face, he was forbidden to leave the cell. All this could not but affect the mental state of the now young man. Witnesses stated that he was inadequate, although during the time spent in the North, the guy learned to read and write and even knew that he had once been an emperor.
Meanwhile, Catherine II came to power. John Antonovich became a figure that various adventurers and those who wanted to seize power tried to take advantage of. One of them was Lieutenant Vasily Mirovich. In 1764, he persuaded half of the fortress guards to revolt and release the former emperor. However, the prisoner's personal guards had secret instructions from St. Petersburg, commanding to kill John in case of any danger. And so they did. Mirovich was captured and publicly executed in the capital.
