Every educated Russian knows that the era of palace coups marked itself in Russia in the 18th century with the activity of a change of power. Over the century, about six rulers of Russia have changed. Reactionary actions were carried out as a result of the confrontation of opposing noble clans with the involvement of the guard. Contemporaries would say that this is the so-called "quiet" revolution - at least a bloody renunciation of monarchs, without military events.

The period of palace coups - 1725 - 1762.
Russia in this era was a state with a weakened economy. The country, like a weather vane, with the accession of one or another ruler, turned in its development. In the absence of a permanently reigning emperor for a long time, it was impossible to lead a single political line. However, each emperor brought his favorable contribution to the development of the country.

Politics of the era of palace coups

As for the internal policy of the rulers, elected at different times, was aimed at strengthening their power. So various councils and colleges were established. For example, Catherine I established the supreme government body - the Privy Council. Anna Ioanovna created the Senate and the Synod.

Elizabeth became famous for her educational policy. Under her reign, science flourished - the key activity was the activity of the scientist, writer M.V. Lomonosov.

Foreign policy of the second quarter of the XVIII century. was an echo of the long work of Peter the Great. Catherine I, and especially his daughter Elizabeth, spoke openly about continuing his course. Thus, three directions in foreign policy were formed:
1. South. War with Turkey and the Crimean Khanate for the opening of a waterway through the Black Sea to Europe. This is how the Russo-Turkish War broke out (1735-1739). As a result, the Crimean territories were recaptured (for example, Perekop, Bakhchisaray). However, according to the results of the peace concluded in Belgrade, Russia could not leave the fleet on the Black Sea.
2.Southeast. Peaceful annexation of the Kazakh steppes (1730 - 1740).
3.Northwestern. The struggle to strengthen Russia's position in the region led to a war with Poland. As a result of the Russo-Swedish War (1733-1735), significant lands in the Baltics were ceded to Russia. The Seven Years' War (1756-1762) turned out to be the bloodiest and, moreover, the most protracted. At first, Elizabeth won victories, spent a lot of money on maintaining the warring army, but she died in the midst of the confrontation, and her nephew Peter, Duke of Holstein, who ascended the throne, turned the war into a new direction - everything that Elizabeth fought for returned to the sphere of influence of Prussia .

Thus, Russia did not gain dominance in the Black Sea.

Rulers of the era of palace coups

The first ruler of Russia at that time is Catherine I, the wife of the deceased Peter I, in January 1725. Together with her, Peter's favorite, A. Menshikov, began to rule the country. At that time, he held many honorary and most significant titles.

Having made an attempt to defend herself against the old well-born opposition, Catherine appointed Peter II, the young prince, as her follower. But the nobility did not support this enterprise and nominated the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth, to the throne. The opposition dealt with Menshikov, depriving him of his titles and sending him to Siberia to settle with his family.

The new government not only did not continue the policy of Peter the Great, but also defiantly moved the capital to Moscow, pushing the significance of St. Petersburg, the fleet and other Peter's innovations and transformations into the background. It seemed that Russia began its development in the opposite direction.

However, in connection with the death of the weak and sickly fifteen-year-old Peter II, he brought Anna Ioanovna to power in 1730. The well-born noble families of the Dolgorukovs, Golitsyns, promoted her candidacy, because they decided that her political figure did not have significant weight, and they could concentrate in their hands of all power. The so-called "conditions" announced by the Privy Council forbade Anna to pursue an active foreign policy, especially military, to give orders for domestic spending. The Privy Council also fully reigned in the army and received full command of it.

However, in Moscow, during her coronation, Anna Ioannovna publicly broke the conditions at the request of the higher nobility. So Anna declared herself the sovereign empress, urgently abolished the Privy Council, and sent all its members into exile or executed.

Anna Ioannovna was an adherent of everything German. What is her favorite Biron alone.

Being near death, the Empress announced that Ivan Antonovich, the grandson of her sister, would rule instead of her. Biron was appointed regent, to whom this was very beneficial. In fact, he received unlimited power in the country. However, Ivan Antonovich's mother Anna Leopoldovna, as well as the princes Minich and Osterman, conceived a new coup.

So, Anna Leopoldovna in 1740 became regent under Ivan Antonovich.

While Anna Ioanovna was making her plans, the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth Petrovna, was preparing a new coup. Her accession took place in 1741 with the support of her closest friends. Elizabeth was also actively supported by the Swedish and Prussian embassies. The reign of Elizabeth was the longest in the era of palace coups - she ruled until 1761. Representatives of the old aristocracy were appointed to the highest posts.

The reign of Elizabeth is marked primarily by the fact that she never executed anyone, and her military victories were successful. The empress, feeling her imminent death, appointed her nephew, Duke of Holstein, Peter as her successor.

Peter III became emperor and established the fashion for everything German in Russia. He returned to Prussia everything that his aunt had won. The aristocracy was unhappy with such a policy.

The guards did not like the drill arranged by the emperor, and she plotted against him and proclaimed his wife, who became Empress Catherine II, to the throne. Some time after the coronation of Catherine, Peter was killed by the guards.

The period of palace coups ended when Emperor Paul I, the son of Catherine II and Peter III, became emperor.

Palace coups- a period in the history of the Russian Empire of the 18th century, when the highest state power was achieved through palace coups carried out with the help of the guards or courtiers. In the presence of absolutism, such a method of changing power remained one of the few ways in which society (noble elite) influenced the supreme power in the state.

The origins of palace coups should be sought in the policy of Peter I. "Decree of Succession" (1722), he maximized the number of potential candidates for the throne. The current monarch had the right to leave anyone as heir. If he did not do this, the question of succession to the throne remained open.

In the political situation that developed in Russia in the 18th century, coups performed a regulatory function in the relationship between the key systems of absolutism - the autocracy, the ruling elite and the ruling nobility.

Brief chronology of events

After the death of Peter I, his wife reigns Catherine I(1725-1727). Created with her Supreme Privy Council (1726), who helped her in the administration of the country.

her heir Peter II(1727-1730), grandson of Peter I, moved the capital of Russia from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

The Supreme Privy Council, forcing the signing of "conditions" - conditions limiting the power of the monarch (1730), invited Anna Ioannovna(1730-1740), Duchess of Courland, daughter of Ivan V, to the Russian throne. The future empress first accepted them, and then rejected them. Her reign is known as "Bironism" (name of her favorite). Under her rule, the Supreme Privy Council was liquidated, the decree on single inheritance was canceled (1730), the Cabinet of Ministers was created (1731), the gentry corps was created (1731), the term of noble service was limited to 25 years (1736).

In 1740, the throne inherits five months nephew of Anna Ioannovna Ivan VI(1740-1741) (regents: Biron, Anna Leopoldovna). The Supreme Privy Council was restored. Biron reduced the poll tax, imposed restrictions on luxury in court life, and issued a manifesto on strict observance of the laws.

In 1741, the daughter of Peter - Elizabeth I(1741-1761) makes another coup d'état. Eliminates the Supreme Privy Council, abolishes the Cabinet of Ministers (1741), restores the rights of the Senate, abolishes internal customs duties (1753), creates the State Loan Bank (1754), adopted a decree allowing landlords to exile peasants to settle in Siberia (1760).

From 1761-1762 nephew of Elizabeth I rules, Peter III. He issues a decree on the secularization of church lands - this is the process of converting Church property into state property (1761), liquidates the Secret Chancellery, issues a Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility (1762).

Main dates:

1725-1762 - era of palace coups
1725-1727 - CATHERINE I (second wife of Peter I), years of reign.
1727-1730 - PETER II (son of Tsarevich Alexei, grandson of Peter I), years of reign.
1730-1740 - ANNA Ioannovna (niece of Peter I, daughter of his brother co-ruler Ivan V)
1740-1741 - IVAN VI (second cousin great-grandson of Peter I). Regency of Biron, then Anna Leopoldovna.
1741-1761 - ELIZAVETA PETROVNA (daughter of Peter I), years of reign
1761-1762 - PETER III (grandson of Peter I and Charles XII, nephew of Elizabeth Petrovna).

Table "Palace coups"

The era of palace coups (briefly)

A Brief History of Palace Revolutions

Peter the Great died on January 28, 1725 without appointing his successor to the Russian throne. From that moment on, a long struggle for power began, in which various noble groups participated.

So, in the same year, A. Menshikov, who is a representative of the new tribal nobility, managed to enthrone Catherine the First, Peter's widow. In order to strengthen her own power in 1726, the empress forms the Supreme Privy Council, which included her husband's associates M. Golitsyn, Count P. Tolstoy and A. Menshikov. From 1726 to 1730, this Council actually decided most of the state affairs.

After the death of Catherine the First, the minor (twelve years old) grandson of Peter the Great, Peter the Second, becomes emperor.

In 1727, the princes Dolgorukov were able to get Menshikov's exile from the newly-minted emperor, who concentrated power in his own hands. He was exiled to the town of Berezov, where he died two years later. After that, Peter II, having fallen under the influence of the secret council, transfers power to him. Just three years later, the emperor dies of smallpox and his place on the Russian throne is taken by the wife of the Duke of Courlyadsky and the niece of Peter the Great, Anna Ioannovna, who immediately after accession dissolves the council, repressing all its participants. From 1730 to 1740, the state was ruled by E. Biron, who was the favorite of the Empress. This decade went down in history as a period of embezzlement and rampant cruelty.

Then, in 1740, Anna declares her sister's grandson, who at that time was not even six months old, the heir to the throne, appointing Biron as regent. However, in the fall of that year, the regency was transferred to Anna Leopoldovna as a result of a palace coup.

A year later, in November, after another coup, which was caused by the ongoing German dominance, Elizabeth Petrovna ascends the throne.

After her death, the throne was taken by her nephew Peter the Third, who, during the year of his reign, stopped the war and returned all the lands previously conquered by Russia to the Prussian king. Having made peace with Prussia, he brought the country into a military alliance with Frederick II.

Such a Prussian policy caused discontent everywhere, which led to the strengthening of the authority of his wife, Sophia Frederica Augusta of Zerbst, who received the name Ekaterina Alekseevna after baptism.

Already in 1762, with the help of the Semenovsky and Izmailovsky regiments, she managed to seize power.

History lesson in the 7th grade "Palace coups"

Goals:

educational: identify the causes of palace coups, give a brief description of the emperors of the 18th century; to show that the main driving force behind palace coups is the guard.

developing: to continue the formation of skills to generalize individual events and formulate conclusions, work with textbook illustrations and historical documents; continue to develop in students the ability to evaluate the actions of historical figures.

educational: to form interest in national history.

Basic concepts: Palace coups, Supreme Privy Council, favorite, conditions, “Bironism”.

Equipment: Romanov genealogical tree, portraits of the rulers of the era of palace coups, reproduced text of the “Conditions”, signed by Anna Ioannovna.

During the classes

I. Organizational moment. Psychological attitude to work.

II. Learning new material.

Introduction by the teacher.

The beginning of the 18th century is associated with the activities of Peter I. We examined in detail his reforms in the field of the economy, government, army and navy. And today we will talk about the events that took place in Russia after the death of Peter the Great. The topic of our lesson is “Palace coups”. In the course of the lesson, we will get acquainted with a brief description of the rulers of this era, find out the reasons for palace coups, fill in the table “Palace coups of the 18th century”.

Terms of government Ruler Assistants, support of the ruler

(We draw a table in a notebook during the lesson, getting acquainted with a new topic, students fill out the table on their own, verification is carried out at the end of the lesson)

Conversation with the class.

Directly related to the topic of our lesson are two events that occurred in the last years of the reign of Peter I. Let's recall these events.

- What do you know about the "Case of Tsarevich Alexei"? (The case of Tsarevich Alexei” prompted Peter to change the order of succession to the throne. In 1722 he signed a decree)

- What is the content of the decree of 1722 on the order of succession to the throne?

Continuation of the lecture. Analysis of the current situation.

Peter the Great died on January 28, 1725. He died hard, with excruciating pain. The subjects did not dare to bother him with the question of the heir. Tradition claims that before his death, Peter wrote: “Give everything ...”. The next words were unintelligible. The decree on the right of the emperor to appoint his successor was not used. And the dynastic situation turned out to be difficult ... (we turn to the Romanov family tree) The grandson of the deceased emperor Peter (son of Tsarevich Alexei), his wife Catherine and daughters Anna and Elizabeth had the rights to the throne. There was also relatives along the line of the elder brother Ivan, with whom Peter began to reign in 1682.

But the main contenders turned out to be Ekaterina Alekseevna, the widow of Peter I (Menshikov stood behind her), and his grandson, Peter Alekseevich (representatives of the old boyar families, headed by D.M. Golitsyn, wanted to see him on the throne), who was then 9 years old. Menshikov managed to make better use of the situation, and with the help of some other close associates of Peter, after the death of the emperor, with the support of the guards regiments, he elevated Ekaterina Alekseevna to the throne. Since she did not show state abilities, Menshikov actually became the ruler of the country.

This election opens the era of palace coups in Russia.

Palace coups - a change of power, carried out by a narrow circle of courtiers and guards regiments (we write down the definition in a notebook).

For 37 years from 1725 to 1762, five times with the help of weapons there was a change of rulers on the throne. The beginning of this era was marked by the death of Peter I and the ensuing struggle for power of various groups. And this era will end with the reign of Empress Catherine II for a long 34 years.

Continuation of the teacher's story. So, the first ruler of the era of palace coups was Catherine I. Peter Alekseevich was supposed to succeed the empress. Why did Catherine agree to prefer the son of Tsarevich Alexei to her daughters? Catherine was influenced by Menshikov. Seeing that the health of Catherine I was deteriorating, and she would not live long, the prince decided to intermarry with the royal family, hoping to marry his 16-year-old daughter Maria to Peter II.

In 1727, the reign of Peter II begins.

But luck this time betrayed him. Menshikov fell seriously ill. For more than a month he was unable to do business. At this time, Prince Ivan Alekseevich Dolgoruky acquired influence on Peter II. The tsar ceased to obey Menshikov. On September 8, 1727, the prince was arrested, and then, having been stripped of his ranks and awards, he and his family were exiled to the remote town of Berezov. (note that this city is located on the territory of our region)

Having got rid of a dangerous rival, the Dolgoruky hurried to consolidate their position at court. Ivan Dolgoruky's sister, Catherine, was declared the bride of Peter II. But in January 1730, shortly before the wedding with Princess Dolgoruky, Peter II fell ill with smallpox and died. With him, the Romanov dynasty came to an end in the male line.

The question of succession to the throne was to be decided by the members of the Supreme Privy Council. The attention of the "supreme leaders" was drawn to the daughters of Tsar Ivan Alekseevich - Catherine and Anna. The choice was made in favor of Anna, the widow of the poor Duke of Courland, who lived in Mitau as a provincial landowner, periodically begging for money from the Russian government. At the same time, D.M. Golitsyn declared: “We should relieve ourselves.” It was about inviting Anna Ioannovna to reign, to limit the power of the monarch in favor of the Supreme Privy Council. Anna was offered “conditions”, by accepting which she could become an empress. (we write down the definition of the concept of “Condition” in a notebook).

Let's get acquainted with these conditions (distributed to each desk).

The text of the conditions signed by Anna Ioannovna

without the discretion and consent of the high council, do not submit any decision in state affairs, therefore:

do not declare war and do not make peace;

not to impose any fees and taxes;

not condemn anyone for crimes of lèse majesté to death in the Privy Chancellery alone, and not confiscate the estate of a single nobleman without clear evidence of the above-mentioned crime committed by him;

unquestioningly be content with the annual income determined for the maintenance of her person and the court staff;

do not give government estates to anyone;

not to marry and not to appoint an heir to the throne.

So, in Russia an attempt was made to limit the absolute power of the Russian monarch. Anna signed the terms and went to Moscow. In the meantime, the “conditions” became known at court. They were opposed by the church and such an influential force as the guards, the nobility. When Anna Ioannovna arrived in Moscow, she received a petition from the nobility and guards, in which they asked her "to accept autocracy such as your laudable ancestors had." Anna tore the condition. The Supreme Privy Council was abolished. The ten-year reign of Anna Ioannovna began. The Dolgorukies were arrested and sent into exile in Berezov, where Menshikov, who had been exiled by them, had died shortly before.

In 1730, the reign of Anna Ioannovna begins. There are different opinions about the appearance and character of Empress Anna Ioannovna, sometimes opposite. For some, she "had a terrible look, had a disgusting face, she was so great when she walks head-high among the gentlemen, and is extremely fat." And here is the opinion of the Spanish diplomat Duke de Liria: “The Empress Anna is fat, swarthy, and her face is more masculine than feminine. She is generous to the point of extravagance, loves pomp excessively, which is why her court surpasses all other European courts in splendor. Together with Anna, many Baltic Germans arrived from Courland and held important positions in government. Anna's favorite, E.I. Biron, became the most influential. A contemporary wrote about Biron: “Biron’s character was not the best: arrogant, ambitious to the extreme, rude and even impudent, mercenary, implacable in enmity and a cruel punisher”

V.O. Klyuchevsky gave a description of the period, which received the name of “Bironism”: “The Germans poured into Russia, like rubbish from a holey bag, stuck around the courtyard, sat down on the throne, climbed into all the profitable places in government.”

In the autumn of 1940, Anna Ioannovna fell ill. Her only relative was her niece (sister's daughter) Anna Leopoldovna, who was close to the court. Anna Leopoldovna had a son, who was immediately declared heir to the throne. In October 1940, Anna Ioannovna died, having appointed Biron as regent for the young emperor Ivan Antonovich. But Biron failed to retain power. He was hated by Russians and Germans, despised by the guards. The Emperor's parents feared that the regent would take their son away from them and send them to Germany. On November 9, 1740, Biron was arrested by the guards, led by Field Marshal Munnich. Anna Leopoldovna became regent under Ivan Antonovich. Her reign was not marked by any important decisions. The ruler was not interested in anything. In the guard, a mood began to form again in favor of a change of power. The most popular candidate for the imperial throne was the daughter of Peter I and Catherine I - Elizabeth. On the night of November 25, 1945, Elizabeth appeared at the barracks of the Preobrazhensky Regiment and called on the soldiers to serve her in the same way that they served her father. 300 grenadiers followed the woman into the bitter cold.

The French academician Albert Vandal describes this night as follows: A thick layer of hardened snow covered the ground, drowning out any noise. The grenadiers hurriedly followed the sleigh of Elizabeth, silently and full of determination: the soldiers gave a mutual oath not to utter a single word during the journey and pierce the first faint-hearted with a bayonet. And here is how historians write about Elizabeth: - Lively and cheerful, but not taking her eyes off herself, at the same time large and slender, with a beautiful round and ever-blooming face, she loved to impress, and, knowing that a man especially came to her costume, she set up masquerades without masks at court, when men are required to come in full women's attire, in extensive skirts, and ladies in men's court dress. Peaceful and carefree, she was forced to fight almost half of her reign, defeated the first strategist of that time, Frederick the Great, took Berlin. ... a map of Europe lay in front of her at her disposal, but she looked at it so rarely that until the end of her life she was sure of the possibility of traveling to England by land - and she also founded the first real university in Russia - Moscow.

Elizabeth declared her nephew Pyotr Fedorovich, the son of Anna Petrovna, the grandson of Peter I, as her heir. He had a chance to reign for only 186 days. Reviews about him were completely opposite. - Let's turn to the material of our textbook. On page 153 you can learn more about the personality of Emperor Peter III.

- How will you remember this ruler of Russia? On June 28, 1762, Peter III was overthrown and arrested, and a week later he was killed. For 34 years, his wife Catherine II came to the throne.

The era of palace coups is over.

Checking the table “Palace coups of the XVIII century”

- What were the reasons for the palace coups?

lack of a legal order of succession to the throne;

strengthening the role of the guard.

III. Final part. Reflection.

How did I get the material?

I got solid knowledge, mastered all the material - 9-10 points.

Has learned new material partially - 7-8 points.

I didn’t understand much, I still need to work - 4-6 points.

1. Text with errors.

After the death of Peter II, the question of power arose. The choice of the leaders fell on the Duchess of Courland, Elizabeth. The leaders decided to strengthen the autocratic power and, together with the invitation to the throne, sent its conditions (conditions). Conditions were published in all newspapers. Elizabeth did not sign them. Arriving in Moscow, she learned that almost all the nobles maintain conditions. After that, she signed them.

2. Test. What ruler are you talking about?

1. “The king is a tall man with a beautiful face, well-built, with great quickness of mind, quick and definite in answers, it’s a pity that he lacks complete secular refinement. He showed us his hands and let us feel how hardened they were from the work” - this is how it looked in the eyes of foreigners:

Alexey Mikhailovich,

Peter I

Peter II,

Peter III.

2. “Only by signing the terms”, she could become the Russian Empress:

Catherine I,

Anna Ioannovna,

Anna Leopoldovna,

Elizabeth Petrovna.

3. Courland nobleman, distinguished by arrogance, rudeness, who played the main role at the court of Empress Anna Ioannovna. His name has become a household name, they are sometimes called the entire period of 1730-1740.

K. Friedrich,

A.I. Osterman,

E.I. Biron,

A.P. Volynsky.

4. With a call to soldiers in the barracks of the Preobrazhensky Regiment to serve her, as her father began her 20-year reign:

Anna Leopoldovna,

Elizabeth Petrovna,

Catherine II,

Anna Ioannovna.

Homework: § 20-21, notebook entries

IV. self-analysis of the lesson.

The teaching material for the 7th grade on the history of the Fatherland consists of five sections or chapters. The lesson on the topic "Palace coups" opens the fourth chapter - "Russia in 1725-1762." This is a very controversial period of Russian history, full of events, names and dates. This lesson is inextricably linked with the theme of the previous chapter, which deals with the Petrine era, and is directly based on the genealogy of the Romanov family, documents on the order of succession to the throne. During the lesson, students should understand the reasons for palace coups, learn the sequence of emperors changing on the Russian throne, which presents a certain difficulty for seventh graders. I would like to draw the attention of students to the appearance, character, individual characteristics, and actions of the Russian autocrats of this period. It is in this connection that the visual aids used in the lesson were chosen.

The real learning opportunities of this class are very peculiar. A good half of the class are very active, curious, learn the educational material easily, putting in memory the smallest details of what the teacher said, willingly read additional literature on the subject, and prepare messages. The other half of the class, on the contrary, is passive; Therefore, when planning the lesson, I chose precisely such teaching methods: verbal (lecture with elements of dialogue), visual (using portraits, genealogical charts) and practical (filling in the table, working with the document). All this together allowed me, to a certain extent, to maintain the attention of students and their interest in the material presented, in addition, reflecting the factual material in tabular form and fixing the basic concepts of the topic in a notebook will allow negligent students to repeat the material at home in a concise form.

The chosen structure of the lesson is rational for solving the tasks set, because allows you to effectively use the creative potential of strong students, to form their ability to generalize events and formulate conclusions, weak students get the opportunity to evaluate the actions of historical figures, learn to express their own opinion on the problem posed. Aimed at reflection at the end of the lesson, seventh-graders are responsible for mastering the material, they are less distracted, thus achieving high performance of all students throughout the lesson. Strong students are interested in factual material and the opportunity for dialogue, weak students are interested in visibility and fear for the results of the final test.

The object of strong assimilation is highlighted in the notebook, this ensures the orientation of students in the amount of information received, and overloading students when doing homework is excluded.

One of the unforeseen situations that could happen during the lesson could be the lack of time, provoked by the students' great interest in certain historical figures, or the longer time for working with a document or textbook item, which is required for weaker students. In this case, the table can be checked in the next lesson, you can transfer the verification test (reflection) to the next lesson.

If students have workbooks for teaching materials, A.A. Danilova and L.G. Kosulina, the lesson could have been planned differently. For example, it was possible to complete microgroups of students of different levels and allow them to perform tasks of the corresponding level on their own in a group, and then announce the result. In the second lesson on the topic, summarize what has been learned and conduct a reflection.

During the lesson, there were slight deviations from the plan: more than the planned time had to be devoted to the family tree, the students showed great interest in the current situation in Russia in the first quarter of the 18th century, talked a lot about personalities and their actions, about the unfair, according to children, order of succession to the throne . Therefore, the table check was postponed to the next lesson.

V. Results of reflection:

There were 20 people in the class, 17 students were present at the lesson and wrote the work.

Received solid knowledge, mastered all the material - 9-10 points - 8 people. (47%)

Partially mastered the new material - 7-8 points - 5 students (29%)

We understood little, we still need to work - 4-6 points - 4 people. (23%)

In general, I feel satisfaction from the lesson, the objectives of the lesson, in general, have been achieved. I consider it necessary for myself to improve the forms and methods of conducting a lesson, to differentiate tasks and the material being studied, which so far I have been poorly able to do.

Period of palace coups

The main reason for the frequency and ease of coups was the strengthening of the guards, noble in their composition, in public affairs.

Catherine I - 1725-1727

Domestic politics

Foreign policy

- Supreme Privy Council established

- The landowners were given the right to sell the products of their farms themselves.

Peter II 1727-1730

Domestic politics

Foreign policy

1727 replacement of city administration, instead of magistrates, a governor was put

Anna Ioannovna 1730-1740

Domestic politics

Foreign policy

1730 – created Cabinet of Ministers

1731 – the Office of Secret Investigations was created

- the term of obligatory service of nobles was reduced to 25 years

- repeal of the decree of single inheritance

- the gentry corps was opened for the children of the nobility, after which they became officers

- registration of noble children in the regiments from infancy

1735 – the duties of the prosperous Cossacks were reduced to military service, ordinary Cossacks were equated with peasants

1736 – assignment of hired workers to manufactories forever

1733-1735 – War of Polish Succession

1735-1739 – Russo-Turkish War (Treaty of Belgrade)

1741-1743 – Russo-Swedish war

1742 – the Swedish army capitulated near Helsinsdorf (Abossky peace)

1731 Russia included the lands of the Kazakh Junior Zhuz

1740-1743 – Middle zhuz

Ivan YI Antonovich 1740-1741

Domestic politics

Foreign policy

Elizaveta Petrovna 1741-1761

Domestic politics

Foreign policy

AT - the 2nd census of the taxable population was carried out

1746 - confirmation of the privilege of the nobles to own lands inhabited by serfs

The nobility is freed from punishment by rods and whips

1760 - landowners could exile peasants to a settlement in Siberia without trial, sell peasants into recruits, expand their allotments at the expense of peasants

1754 - abolition of internal customs duties

1755 - Conference at the Imperial Court

1744 - decree to expand the network of elementary schools

The first gymnasiums were opened: 1755 - Moscow,

1758 - Kazan

1755 - foundedMoscow HYPERLINK %D0%B9_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0 %BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%82 %D0%B5%D1%82" university in 1757 - .

1744Porcelain HYPERLINK %D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D1%84%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1 %8B%D0%B9_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4" manufactories near Petersburg

1744 - Smolny Monastery founded

1741 - 1743 Russian-Swedish war (Abossky peace)

1756-1762 - Seven Years' War

1757 – Russian troops led by Apraksin entered East Prussia

19 August 1757 - Battle of

Gross-Jägersdorf

- Apraksin is replaced by Fermor

- August 1757 - Fermor flees the battlefield in East Prussia

- Fermor is replaced by Saltykov

1759 – Battle of Kunersdorf

1760 – Russian troops entered Berlin (Saltykov is replaced by Buturlin)

1761 – the fortress of Kolsberg is taken

Peter III 1761 - 1762

Domestic politics

Foreign policy

« Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility» according to which the nobles were exempted from compulsory service to the state

- ended the Seven Years' War, returned all conquered territories to Frederick II

Catherine II 1762-1796

Domestic politics

Foreign policy

Politics of enlightened absolutism:

- unlimited power of the monarch, who develops an ideal system of laws

- secularization of church land ownership

- enlightenment of the people, dissemination of scientific knowledge in society

1765 - establishment of the noble Free Economic Society

1765 – allowed to exile peasants to hard labor (punishment for complaining about the landowner)

1767-1768 – work of the Legislative Commission

1771 – prohibition of the public sale of serfs for the debts of landlords

1773-1775 – peasant war led by E. Pugachev

1775 – introduction of the right to open businesses without government permission

- streamlining peasant duties

1775 – provincial reform

1775 – liquidated Zaporizhzhya Sich

1785 – Complaint to the nobility

1785 – Complaint letter to cities

1768-1774 - Russo-Turkish War

( Kyuchuk - Kaynajir Treaty)

1783 – incorporation of Crimea into Russia

1783 – Treaty of Georgievsk signed on Russia's protectorate over Eastern Georgia

1787-1791 – Russo-Turkish War

( Yassy peace treaty)

1772 – first section of the Commonwealth

Russia withdrew - eastern Belarus and part of Lithuania

1793 - second division of the Commonwealth

Russia moved away - all of Belarus with Minsk and Right-bank Ukraine

1795 – third section of the Commonwealth

Russia retreated - the main part of Lithuania, Western Belarus, Western Volyn, Courland

1788-1790 – Russo-Swedish war

1790 – first anti-French coalition

1795 – second anti-French coalition

1798 – third anti-French coalition

Pavel I Petrovich 1796 - 1801

Domestic politics

Foreign policy

- The strictest censorship was introduced, the import of foreign books was prohibited

1796 – decree« About the succession»

1797 – decree« About the three-day corvee»

- weakening the persecution of the Old Believers

« Degraded letter to the nobility »

- the need to appear in the regiments of all noble children recorded from childhood

- introduction of taxes for the nobility for the maintenance of the administration

- restriction of freedom to noble assemblies

- resumed caning of nobles - non-commissioned officers

- ban on mistreatment by officers of soldiers

- participation in the anti-Napoleonic coalition

1798 – F.F. Ushakov captured the fortress on the island of Corfu, took the Ionian Islands,

Liberated Naples, entered Rome

1799 – A.V. Suvorov made the Italian and Swiss campaigns (crossing the Alps through the St. Gotthard pass)

1800 – defection to Napoleon

1801 – sending Russian troops to capture British India

11 March 1801, the last palace coup, the assassination of Paul I

Life and customs of the population of Russia in the first half of the 19th century.

8th grade, history

Lesson type: introduction to new material

The purpose of the lesson: to acquaint students with the living conditions of the main classes of the Russian Empire.

Planned results:

Personal: fostering a sense of self- and mutual respect; development of cooperation skills when working in a group.

Meta-subject: development of speech; the formation of skills to compare; development of students' independence;

Subject: development of skills to work with a textbook; to compare the characteristics of representatives of various classes of Russia in the first half of the 19th century.

Preliminary preparation: ahead of the task for students: read the paragraph about the life of different classes in Russia; teachers: preparation of handouts.

Scheme of the content of the lesson.

Guys, what century are we living in? And what surrounds a person in the 21st century, what are the conditions of his life?

Are you curious to know in what conditions people lived 2 centuries ago?

Then I propose to actively work today in the lesson. Because the topic of our lesson sounds like this: Life and customs of the population of Russia in the first half of the 19th century.

So what are our goals for ourselves?

Creation of a problem situation.

Educational and cognitive activity

Distribute responsibilities by group: who is responsible for what task, the selection of material.

Each group represents one of the estates (nobility, peasantry), receives a package with tasks:

Describe the dwelling, tell about its interior decoration ...

Tell us about the clothes of the estates ...

Make a menu for the estate ...

How did representatives of the class spend their leisure time (free time) ...

Introduction and instruction.

Distribution of roles in the group.

Performance monitoring and evaluation

Presentation of the results of the work of the groups.

Student responses.

Do the groups have questions for each other?

(Since everything is clear to everyone, then I'll ask you a question.) Guys, does a time machine exist? And if it existed, where would you go? And I can tell you what exists, it is our fantasy, imagination. I suggest you write an essay "One day of my life in Russia of the 19th century." But do not forget that you will be representatives of one of the estates. In addition, in the lesson you studied the life of people, but did not study the custom, and you will also do this at home. It would be absolutely great if you turn to additional sources.

Each group reports the results of their work within 3-5 minutes.

And now let's sum up our work, and for this we will return to the goals that we have set for ourselves.

GIM. Room 23. The era of palace coups, continued. Previous report in the article.

According to the figurative expression of V.O. Klyuchevsky, the period of Russian history after the death of Peter I until the accession of Empress Catherine II was called the “epoch of palace coups”. For 37 years, six rulers have changed on the Russian throne. After Peter I, his second wife, Catherine I, ruled. After her death, the grandson of Peter I, Peter II, ascended the throne. He was replaced by the niece of the first emperor, Anna Ioannovna, followed by the great-nephew of Anna Ioannovna, Ioann Antonovich. Then the "daughter of Petrov" - Elizabeth Petrovna - reigned, she was inherited by the grandson of Peter I - Peter III. Finally, in 1762, Catherine II ascended the throne.

On the right side of the hall there is a row of portraits representing a succession of Russian emperors and their favorites from the second quarter of the 18th century.

The gallery opens with a portrait of Catherine the Great.


Next to her is His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov.




Next - a portrait of the young Emperor Peter II.




On the opposite wall from the window, after Osterman and Biron, we will see a portrait of the niece of Peter I, Empress Anna Ioannovna.


In conclusion, let's pay attention to the portrait of Peter's daughter, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

Showcases 1 - 3. The era of palace coups. Fight for the throne

Catherine I

(Showcase 1, to the right of the hall entrance).

After the death of Peter I, with the support of Menshikov and the guards, Catherine I takes the throne. She rules for two years from 1725 until her death in 1727. Her kingdom was not marked by anything special. The first showcase contains a portrait of the Empress with a pedigree.

The era of palace coups. A.D. Menshikov

(Showcase 2).


In 1727, with the support of the old aristocratic families, Peter II came to the throne. He was a boy, for three years there was a struggle for influence on the young sovereign. In this struggle, A.D. Menshikov is defeated, he is sent into exile in Berezov, depriving him of all ranks, orders and wealth. Icon "Sign" - relic. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov blessed his son with this icon.


This is the only surviving item associated with the name of Menshikov in Moscow. (Some items are exhibited in St. Petersburg). They buried the Most Serene Prince on the banks of the river, the grave was washed away during the flood.

The era of palace coups. Peter II

Among the favorites at the court of Peter II, the main place is occupied by the princes Dolgoruky. It is believed that Ivan Dolgoruky began to introduce the young emperor to entertainment establishments too early. Obviously, at the age of 15, a boy does not want to study, but wants to have fun, so Dolgoruky was in favor. Young Pyotr Alekseevich died unexpectedly, falling ill with smallpox. In February, during the blessing of water, he went to the cut down Jordan in a light uniform, without warm clothes. He caught a cold, caught smallpox and “burned out” in two weeks, on the eve of his wedding.

His unexpected death put Russia in a strange difficult position - who will rule? There are no direct descendants in the male line from the Romanov dynasty. Only women's remained. Then they turned to the line of the brother of Peter I, Tsar John Alekseevich.

The era of palace coups. Anna Ioannovna. History of the call to the kingdom

(Showcase 3).

The co-ruler of Peter, Ivan, had two daughters - Catherine and Anna. Catherine was married to the Duke of Mecklenburg. At first, as a married, European lady, they wanted to invite Ekaterina Ioannovna. But then they remembered that her husband, the Duke of Mecklenburg, had a habit of interfering in all matters when he was asked and not asked. Fearing that the entire Duchy of Mecklenburg would come to Russia with Catherine, they did not call her. They turned to the second daughter of Ivan Alekseevich, Dowager Duchess Anna Ioannovna. She lived in distant Courland (part of modern Latvia).

Her fate was sad. Peter married his niece to the Duke of Courland. But on the way to the duchy, the husband died from heavy drinking. Anna Ioannovna left St. Petersburg as a relatively happy young wife. She came to Courland as a widow. Her uncle, Peter I, did not allow her to return to Russia, and she spent over 15 years in very cramped circumstances. She didn't even have enough money to lead a decent life. The local nobility did not like the Russian duchess and she was a hostage in political games.

But in 1730, fate from a poor state brought her to the Russian throne. Anna Ioannovna was invited to Russia as an empress. But with reservations, that is, conditions, the so-called "conditions", in which the nobility limited her rights. For the first time in Russian history, it was decided not just to invite, but to limit the rights of the autocrat to the throne.

The era of palace coups. Conditions

At the head of the conspiracy was Dmitry Mikhailovich Golitsyn and the Supreme Privy Council. D. M. Golitsyn is an outstanding figure in Russian history. A man of great intelligence, education, a relative of Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn, a reformer, adviser to Sofia Alekseevna. They secretly came up with the famous conditions, which soon became known to many. The Moscow nobility intervened in the matter. When the Moscow nobles heard that the Empress was being invited and her rights to the throne were being restricted, they were indignant. The nobles were divided into two parties - one believed that it was necessary to preserve the monarchy in its original form. Others (also for the first time in Russian history) said - well, the empress was limited in her rights, but they did not consult with us. We also want to put forward our conditions. Thus, for the first time in history, the Russian nobility creates its own projects to limit power.

Several condition projects have been created. Studying the history of conditions is like reading a detective novel - everyone tried to send his messenger to Mitava, get ahead of his rival, tell Anna Ioannovna to sign one thing and not another, etc.

Anna Ioannovna arrived in Moscow, stopped near Moscow in the village of Tainitskoye and began to understand that she had support. There are people in the court who stand up for her full rights! The newly-made empress was absolutely not going to fulfill any conditions. She decided to act in a proven way and bribed the guards. Not so much with money, but with pity - she built shelves, said that the widow was offended, they did not give all the rights, brought a glass of vodka with a silver ruble. The guards supported her and the matter ended with the fact that Anna Ioannovna tore all the conditions and reigned as a full-fledged empress.
In case 4 you can see the cuirass of 1730 (the year of Anna's accession to the throne) with the monogram of the Empress.



One of the swords bears the inscription “Vivat, Anna”.

On the exposition (showcase 3) we see a document - Anna Ioannovna's manifesto on the abolition of the Privy Council and the restoration of the Governing Senate. That is, the monarchy, as before in Russia, remained absolute.

The era of palace coups. John Antonovich - heir to the throne

(Showcase 6)


Another curious story is connected with the era of palace coups - the story of John Antonovich. Anna Ioannovna died in 1740. Since she did not have the right to remarry, she had no children. But an heir was needed. The Empress summoned her niece, Anna Leopoldovna, the daughter of Ekaterina Ivanovna's sister, married her to Anton Ulrich of Brunswick. (Portrait of Anna Leopoldovna is on the left above showcase 6).


From this marriage a boy was born, Ioann Antonovich. This boy, her great-nephew, the Empress declared heir to the throne.

Showcase 6 (in the center of the right wall)

When Anna died, the heir was only a few months old. The collection of the State Historical Museum has a unique image of Ivan Antonovich, who lies in a cradle, around him are muses, nymphs, geniuses, a solemn light overshadows him, on a blanket is the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the highest Russian order.

The boys of the royal family received this order immediately after birth.

The era of palace coups. John Antonovich - the fate of the deposed emperor

A few months later, a new palace coup changed the fate of the baby emperor. Elizaveta Petrovna came to power. For the first three years the boy lived in exile with his parents in Kholmogory. Then he was taken away from his parents and sent to the Shlisselburg Fortress. In it, he spent 21 years in complete isolation with boarded up windows. No one taught him science. It is believed that one of the commandants, out of pity, taught him to read so that he could read the Gospel and Holy Scripture - the only books that the unfortunate Ivan Antonovich was allowed to have. They even took him to the bathhouse at night.

All items associated with his name and short reign were destroyed, including the melting down of coins with his image. Documents with his names, portraits were destroyed everywhere. The museum really has a unique image. Only three or four of these have survived. Also on display are his mother's documents, coins, and seals.

By 1764, everyone forgot about Ivan Antonovich, there were only rumors about a mysterious prisoner. One of the guards, lieutenant Vasily Mirovich, decided to release him. There is a version that it was a provocation initiated by Catherine II to get rid of her rival to the throne. But while Mirovich with a small detachment stormed the fortress, the guards killed the prisoner. They had a special order to eliminate the disgraced ruler at the slightest attempt at release.

The era of palace coups. Elizaveta Petrovna

According to the canons of the 18th century, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna had no rights to the throne. She was born before the official marriage of her parents, in addition, her mother was not a royal family. Such “baggage” for a long time kept “daughter Petrova” from claiming the throne.

The exposition presents a ceremonial portrait of Elizaveta Petrovna.



Many such portraits were painted, since the portrait of the emperor had to be in every office. Sometimes there was even a throne under the portrait, that is, the emperor, as it were, was invisibly present in official places. Elizabeth is depicted in a ceremonial court dress. On the shoulders - a mantle, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

Seven Years' War. Showcases 10 and 11

Showcases 10 and 11. GIM. Hall 23

The reign of Elizabeth Petrovna was of particular importance in the history of Russia in the middle of the 18th century. Petrov's daughter continued her father's reforms, it was under her that the international authority of Russia was strengthened, especially thanks to her participation in the Seven Years' War against the Prussian King Frederick the Great.

The Seven Years' War had a pan-European significance; all of Europe watched its course. The artifacts are located in case 10, under the portrait of Elizaveta Petrovna.


In case 10 there is a snuffbox with the image of Friedrich and battle scenes.


The Prussian King Friedrich is a talented commander. Snuffbox with a portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna.


Snuff boxes with portraits testify to the popularity and interest in Europe to the personalities of Elizabeth Petrovna and Frederick the Great - the main opposing forces in the Seven Years' War.

Showcase 11 in the GIM collection is dedicated to the Seven Years' War with Prussia, where Russia won victories at first.


The exposition presents unique monuments - coins, which are both German and Russian coins. (On the one hand, the German thaler, on the other hand, the Russian ruble).


Russian coins were minted for circulation on the territory of Prussia. From 1759 to 1761, East Prussia was annexed to Russia, the population took an oath of allegiance to Elizaveta Petrovna, and such money was in circulation.

The era of palace coups. Peter III

The last deposed emperor was the grandson of Peter I and Catherine I, the son of their daughter Anna Petrovna, the nephew of the reigning Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter Fedorovich. He was orphaned very early and it is believed that his early orphanhood played a tragic role in his fate - no one was involved in his upbringing, he was left in the care of lackeys, who early taught him to drink. They brought him to Russia under Elizabeth Petrovna as the heir to the throne. But at the Russian court, too, no one was particularly happy to see him, Pyotr Fedorovich did not have the best reputation.

It was Peter III who adopted the manifesto on the freedom of the nobility. From now on, the first free estate appeared in Russia - the nobility. They had the right to choose the type of service or not to serve at all, that is, to lead the life they considered necessary.

Peter III did not like the Russian army. He alienated the Russian officers from himself, brought the Holstein nobles closer, their guards. This was one of the reasons that led to a conspiracy against him. But the main reason was the betrayal of Peter III in relation to the Russian Empire. He made peace with Prussia and gave Prussia all the gains that Russia had made during the Seven Years' War. On display is a symbolic painting of Peter III reconciling with Frederick the Great (case 11).


A curious snuffbox depicting three European monarchs (case 11).




Dislike for Peter III provoked a conspiracy, as a result of which a woman came to power, the wife of Peter Fedorovich, who generally had no rights to the throne - Catherine II. The exposition of other halls tells about her reign.

Previously, a portrait of Peter III hung on a narrow wall between the arches of the exit to the 24th hall. Now a battle scene hangs here - a conclusion on the capture of the Ochakov fortress.

Masquerade sleigh

A unique item in the hall's collection is a masquerade sleigh. In the XVIII century, a tradition appeared to hold masquerades, carnivals, processions. Similar sledges were also used during holidays. The sledges were fastened to the train (there are special loops on the sides of the sleigh for attaching them to the train). Discharged characters were sitting in the sleigh. The Austrian-made sledge is a characteristic object of the era.

Showcase 13. Trumpets for horn orchestra

The exposition contains a rare set of musical instruments, these are pipes for a horn orchestra. Each trumpet played only one note of a certain pitch. It is impossible to play anything else on it, therefore, to perform even a simple melody, a whole orchestra and several musicians were needed.
The museum managed to collect a unique collection of horns - by the beginning of the 19th century they had disappeared, such an orchestra was expensive and it was ruinous to maintain it.

Most of the horns were melted down, but they managed to collect the collection. The sound of the music performed was reminiscent of an organ.
In the window there is an engraving - an illustration of this kind of orchestra.

Showcase 15. M.V. Lomonosov

In the wall between the windows there is a portrait of M.V. Lomonosov, the first Russian scientist, and his personal belongings.





An interesting bottle for experiments with oil. This alembic is made from a quarter, a special type of travel ware designed to transport and store liquids. The cube was used to conduct experiments on the distillation of liquids in the first Russian chemical laboratory created by Lomonosov.


Nearby is a small icon of the Savior, made by Lomonosov himself. The image was made of glass by order of Countess Shuvalova. Many clearly see in the image of the Savior a portrait of Peter I himself.


There are also books, documents that represent the breadth of M.V. Lomonosov's work - his poems, historical writings, scientific works and a fireworks program - Lomonosov developed a program for the holidays.

In the window is an engraving depicting fireworks. Fireworks - it was a whole fiery performance, which was conceived according to a certain system and the script was written, as for a theatrical performance.