The history of Russia is rich in different eras, 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 I the Great, which ended on January 25, 1725 due to the sudden death of the emperor.
Russia without a king? Who ruled after Peter 1
Three years before his death, the autocrat managed to issue a decree that changed the previous order of succession to the throne: now it was not the eldest son who became the heir, but one of the sons whom the father considered worthy to take such an honorable place. This decision was due to the fact that the son of the king, the potential heir to the throne, Tsarevich Alexei, was accused of preparing a conspiracy against his 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 king, leaving the country, for the development of which he had put so much effort, without a ruler.
As a result, the next few years were marked by numerous palacecoups aimed at seizing power. Since no official heir was appointed, those wishing to sit on the throne tried to prove that it was they who deserved this right.
The very first coup carried out by the guards of the wife of Peter I - by birth of Marta Skavronskaya, popularly known as Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova (Catherine I) - brought to power the first woman in the history of Russia.
He led the enthronement of the future Empress of All Russia 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 The strict orderliness and discipline that partly characterized the emperor's reign are no longer valid.
Catherine I: who is she?
Marta Skavronskaya (real name of the Empress) was from a family of B altic peasants. She was born on April 5, 1684. Having lost both parents early, the girl was brought up in the family of a Protestant pastor.
During the Northern War (between Sweden and Russia), in 1702, Martha, along with other residents of the Marienburg fortress, was captured by Russian troops, and then in 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, a favorite of Peter the Great, saw her and, using his authority, took the girl to his house.
According to another version, Marta becamemanaging servants with Colonel Baur, where Menshikov laid eyes on her and took her to his house. And already here Peter I himself noticed her.
Rapprochement with Peter I
For 9 years, Marta was the king's mistress. In 1704, she gave birth to his first child - the son of Peter, and then the second son - Pavel. However, both boys died.
The future empress was educated by the sister of Peter I, Natalia Alekseevna, who taught Marta to read and write. And in 1705, the girl was baptized into Orthodoxy under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova. In 1708 and 1709, Catherine's daughters from Peter Alekseevich - Anna and Elizabeth (later took the throne under the name of Elizabeth Petrovna) - were born.
Finally, in 1712, the wedding with Peter I took place in the church of John of Dalmitsky - Catherine became a full member of the 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 and when ruled in Russia
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, the correct answer to the question of who ruled after Peter 1 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.
While staying onOn the throne of Catherine I, an important role in the politics of Russia at that time was played by the Supreme Privy Council, created even before the ascension to the throne of the Empress. It 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 convicted of exile and imprisonment were pardoned. Such changes were caused by the fear of riots due to price increases, which invariably had to lead to discontent among the townsfolk.
In addition, the reforms carried out by Peter were canceled or modified:
- the Senate began to play a less prominent role in the political life of the country;
- voivods changed local authorities;
- a special Commission was organized for the improvement of the troops, consisting of flag officers and generals.
Innovations of Catherine I. Domestic and foreign policy
For the one who ruled after Peter 1 (we are talking about his wife), it was extremely difficult to surpass the reformer tsar in the versatility of politics. Of 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 the views of her husband: she supported the claims of the Holstein Duke Karl Friedrich (who was her son-in-law) to Schleswig. This led to an aggravationrelations with England and Denmark. The result of the confrontation was the accession of Russia to the Vienna Union (which included Spain, Prussia and Austria) in 1726.
Russia after Peter 1 gained significant influence in Courland. It was so great that Prince Menshikov planned to become the head of this duchy, but local residents revealed dissatisfaction about this.
Thanks to the foreign policy of Catherine I and Alexander Danilovich (that's 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 on this issue from Persia and Turkey). Also, thanks to Prince Raguzinsky, friendly relations were established with China.
End of Empress reign
The power of Catherine I came to an end in May 1727, when the Empress died at the age of 44 from a 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 obeyed Menshikov and appointed her grandson, Peter II Alekseevich, who was 11 years old at the time of 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-made tsar to his daughter Maria, thus further strengthening his influence on court and state life.
However, the power of Prince Alexander Danilovichdid not last long: after the death of Emperor Peter II, he was accused of a state conspiracy and died in exile.
Russia after Peter the Great is already a completely different state, where not reforms and transformations came to the fore, but the struggle for the throne and attempts to prove the superiority of some classes over others.
