(for beginners - in it we watch murders and dismemberment from the best museums in the world, do not read at dinner).
PAUL I
Although this emperor died in 1801, but stylistically his death clearly belongs to the previous century - the era of palace coups.
A group of conspirators broke into his palace - a bunch of drunken evil officers.
It is believed that they hit him with a heavy golden snuffbox in the temple, and then strangled him with a scarf from his uniform.
It was officially announced that the emperor died of apoplexy (stroke).
Illustration by a contemporary artist
A cute joke immediately arose that "Paul I died of an apoplexy blow with a snuffbox to the temple."
Napoleon, a contemporary of the events, also joked sweetly and subtly.
Once, Emperor Alexander expressed his indignation at the fact that the French authorities had kidnapped the Duke of Aegien (a member of the deposed royal family) - kidnapped him on neutral territory, brought him near Paris and shot him in the moat of the Château de Vincennes.
Napoleon replied, as if not knowing the subtext: "If you knew that your father's killers were in a neighboring country near the border, then I'm sure you would do the same to them."
French engraving with the scene of the assassination of Paul I, 1880s
There are no pictures about this murder; under tsarism, information about it was forbidden. At Soviet power no one was particularly interested in the topic.
But images of the emperor's funeral, made by contemporaries, have been preserved.
Here is the guard at the tomb 
Funeral procession (alas, poor quality)
And the decoration in the Peter and Paul Cathedral above the hearse (drawing by Quarenghi) 
CATHERINE THE GREAT
The Empress died at the age of 67, from apoplexy (stroke).
Unknown artist. Portrait of Catherine II
On the morning of November 16, she drank coffee and went to the bathroom. She did not go out for so long that her valet Zakhar Zotov dared to enter the room and saw the body lying on the floor. It was very difficult to lift the heavy body of the empress onto the bed, especially since she twisted her leg when she fell. She died for a very long time: her last breath took place on November 17 at 10 o'clock.
What Catherine's dressing room looked like is unknown.
Here is a late drawing of the 19th century, depicting another room in the Hermitage for intimate purposes - "Paul I's Toilet Room", art. E. Gau. 1877.
However, there is no water closet here - the room was intended for the ceremony of dressing, powdering, etc.
E. Gau. Bathroom of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. 1877. Here is something more familiar to our eyes.
E. Gau. Bathroom Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna. 1850s
Death on the toilet famous theme, which serves to belittle the image of a politician (it’s not for nothing that J. Martin endowed his Tywin Lannister with it. Yes, by the way, one of the rumors about the cause of Catherine’s death, very stupid, said that a dwarf was hiding in a portable toilet donated by Pole enemies, who pierced her from below with a spear Another stupid rumor - about a horse, you know, I don't want to go into the subject).
About the water closet, however, relatively reliable.
Many years later, in 1824, the scoundrel Pushkin did not miss the chance to nail this event with an epigram.
... In the alleys of Sarsky village ...
Dear old lady lived
Pleasant and a little prodigal
Voltaire was the first friend,
I wrote the order, burned the fleets,
And she died while boarding the ship. ()
It is probably good that there are no scenes depicting the death of Catherine, even the British and French who hated her have caricatures. Or is there? Has anyone come across?
UPD: there was a caricature of Cruikshank, tnx Ivan Lapshin
Regarding the death of Catherine, there are no examples of iconography at all, similar to what we saw about the emperors of the 19th century (farewell scene, posthumous portrait, image in a coffin). This is because they were buried by a loving family and a devoted heir, who thus paid tribute to them. And Catherine was buried by her son, who, as you know, hated her, and tried to destroy her memory. Therefore, there are no worthy illustrations about it.
Vincenzo Brenna. The project of the hearse of Catherine II. 1796.
From the funeral of his mother, he also made a circus, but we will talk about this in the next section.
PETER III
Catherine's husband and Paul's father, Emperor Peter III died after spending several months on the throne. His wife overthrew him and sent him to sit locked up in a secluded palace along with the guards loyal to her. There he quickly died, according to the official version - "from hemorrhoidal colic." They say it's from suffocation. Nothing has been proven.
Pavel, whom the usurper mother did not allow to inherit the throne, had complexes all his life, waited for her death, suspected her of the murder of his father. Hence he and "Russian Hamlet." When Catherine died (see above), the new emperor ordered to dig up the body of his father, who was buried thirty years ago not in the honorary Peter and Paul Cathedral, but in the "second-rate" Alexander Nevsky Lavra (because he was not crowned).
Exhumation of the body of Peter III. Pay attention to the open coffin, and how the dead man pulls the handle.
He ordered to dig it out - in order to solemnly rebury it.
At the same time as mother.
Their coffins, with a fresh corpse, and with a skeleton, were placed side by side in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Then Paul personally crowned the body of his father (God, what necrophilia, what symbolism!)
An image of the solemn procession of the reburial has been preserved.
Since Pavel respected his father, the court artists depicted his funeral.
This image is a roll 15.8 m long and 0.75 m wide.
Here are the snippets.
The figure of the "knight of light" in gilded armor, meaning eternal memory about the deceased, which was always to be a consolation to those who mourned the loss. Following him on foot, a "sad knight" in black armor with a sword raised up could mean state mourning.
The imperial regalia of the deceased, on the orders of Paul (a man with an original, as we can see, sense of humor), were carried by those suspected of killing his father - Count A.F. Orlov, Prince P.B. Baryatinsky and P.B. Passek. 
The center of the funeral procession is a chariot with a sarcophagus under a canopy.
Next to her is the emperor with a marshal's baton and cane, followed by Empress Maria Feodorovna with her daughters and retinue
Link to the entire scroll (huge, long, take a look). And here are the individual pieces.
Thank you for the reproductions of the scroll babs71
On the graves of Catherine and Peter, one date was written (the day of burial / reburial), as if they lived a long time and died on the same day.
IOANN ANTONOVICH
Yes, along the way, I lost something on the unfortunate baby John Antonovich (Ivan VI), who was overthrown by Elizabeth Petrovna and who quietly sat under lock and key throughout her reign. Catherine the Great ascended the throne in 1762, at the same time her husband was strangled (that is, at some point in 1762, 3 emperors were alive in Russia).
John Antonovich lived two years after the reign of Catherine the Great. - Shlisselburg Fortress. He was 23 years old at the time of his death.
Violent death, there is no dispute: the officer Mirovich, who served in the fortress, decided to revolt and proclaim the legitimate emperor as the legitimate emperor.
But the guards had clear instructions, and when Mirovich became too persistent, they refused to surrender and killed Ioann Antonovich.
Mirovich in front of the body of Ivan VI. Painting by Ivan Tvorozhnikov (1884)
Mirovich was later executed, of course.
There is a completely hilarious book by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch "Novels of the Russian Court", which describes in detail, with furs and fogs, how Empress Catherine the Great seduces this very Mirovich in order to provoke the death of a competitor. She promises to save him, but she lies, and he dies on the chopping block with a smile on his lips. Something like that, idiotic, in general, I recommend neighing. The same author also has "Shakhinya", about the courtyard of Elizabeth Petrovna.
The unfortunate John was buried secretly, where no one knows.
ELIZAVETA PETROVNA
Zaonnaya daughter of Peter the Great, who overthrew this very John Antonovich from the throne (really, who is he at all, what is the 7th water on jelly?), She was Peter III's own aunt. Elizabeth died at 52 of natural causes.
Nephew Peter III was looking forward to the death of his beloved aunt (much like his son will wait for the death of his mother). Peter planned to quickly imprison his wife Ekaterina, a snake in a monastery, and marry an ugly Russian mistress. But Catherine played ahead of the curve, and began a PR operation while Elizabeth was still cooling in her grave.
Catherine II at the body of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. German engraving of the 18th century.
The scene at the tomb of Elizabeth was remembered by many contemporaries. According to the memoirs of one of the courtiers, “the emperor had no desire to participate in the ceremonies necessary for the funeral of the late empress, his aunt, and left this care to his wife, who disposed of it in the best possible way, possessing quite political tact.” The subjects were offended by the fun and negligence of Peter and highly appreciated with what reverence for the memory of the Empress Catherine stood for long church services and prayed. hypocrite!
It is this moment that the painting by Nikolai Ge is dedicated to.
Nicholas Ge. Catherine II at the coffin of Empress Elizabeth. 1874.
Here the figure of Peter stands out in the background with a white camisole inappropriate for a funeral.
Dashkova described that the emperor came to the coffin not to mourn his aunt, but "to joke with the ladies on duty, ridicule the clergy, and find fault with the officers about their buckles, ties or uniforms."
Catherine's costume in this picture is copied from a portrait of that time, where the future Empress-Autocrat appears really in deep mourning for her "aunt".
Vigilius Eriksen. Portrait of Catherine. 1762 
A curious detail: in the portrait of Eriksen, the sash on Catherine is blue, the order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Only the autocrat could wear it, therefore, the portrait was painted after the coup and the overthrow of Peter III. And in the picture, the mourning dress is the same, but the ribbon, as expected, is red - the order of St. Catherine. He was favored by the spouses of emperors. The “Imperial” blue ribbon can still be seen on Peter III.
Before Elizabeth and John Antonovich, Anna Ioannovna, Peter II and Catherine I still ruled. However, their death did not leave a tangible mark in the history of Russian art.
But here is a man whose death shocked the country.
PETER THE GREAT
The emperor died at only 52 years old.
According to legend, he saw a boat with women and children run aground in stormy weather and began to save them, caught a cold in the icy water and then fell ill until his death.
But they say that this is just a legend, and Peter actually died from uremia, acute renal failure - which is quite plausible, considering what an unhealthy lifestyle he led from his youth, read A. Tolstoy "Peter the Great", and in the correct version without cuts, otherwise there are options for schoolchildren, and there the "man with a whipped ass" was cut out, because it was indecent.
At autopsy, they found "hardening in the neck of the bladder and Antonov fire" (inflammation).
The death of the titan shocked his contemporaries, no one expected that the madhouse would ever end.
Illustration by Boris Chorikov
There are many portraits that capture this moment. As we have seen, this will not happen again until the era of Nicholas I.
So, Peter the Great is on his deathbed.
From this side - thin. Ivan Nikitin. 
As for a passport - thin. Louis Caravaque 
And from this side, Ivan Niktin (or maybe Tannauer).
and such.
In general, "he definitely died."
Removed the death mask (photo mine) 
and a death paw (my photo) 
The body was laid in a beautifully decorated hall 
Well, you already know how they painted the processions.
And they buried Peter in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which he himself built.
- Reading book: Boris Nakhapetov. Medical secrets of the Romanov family
On this we will finish today's issue, next Wednesday there will be the bloodiest - about the tsars and grand dukes of Moscow and so on.
The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg is the main imperial palace of Russia. The current building of the palace (fifth) was built in 1754-1762 by the Italian architect B.F. Rastrelli in the style of lush Elizabethan baroque with elements of French rococo in the interiors. From the moment construction was completed in 1762 to 1904, it was used as the official winter residence of Russian emperors.
In total, five winter palaces were built in the city during the period 1711-1764. Initially, Peter I settled in a one-story house built in 1703 not far from the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Peter the Great owned the site between the Neva and Millionnaya Street (on the site of the present Hermitage Theatre). In 1708, here, in the depths of the site, a wooden "Winter House" was built - a small two-story house with a high porch and a tiled roof. In 1712, the stone Wedding Chambers of Peter I were built. This palace was a gift from the governor of St. Petersburg, AD Menshikov, for the wedding of Peter I and Ekaterina Alekseevna.
In 1716, the architect Georg Mattarnovi, on the orders of the king, began the construction of a new Winter Palace, on the corner of the Neva and the Winter Canal (which was then called the "Winter Canal"). In 1720, Peter I and his entire family moved from their summer residence to their winter residence. In 1725, Peter died in this palace.
Later, Empress Anna Ioannovna considered the Winter Palace too small and in 1731 entrusted its reconstruction to F. B. Rastrelli, who offered her his project for the reconstruction of the Winter Palace. According to his project, it was required to purchase houses that stood at that time on the site occupied by the current palace and belonged to Count Apraksin, the Naval Academy, Raguzinsky and Chernyshev. Anna Ioannovna approved the project, the houses were bought up, demolished and construction began in the spring of 1732. The facades of this palace were facing the Neva, the Admiralty and the "meadow side", that is, the palace square. In 1735, the construction of the palace was completed, and Anna Ioannovna moved into it to live. The four-story building included about 70 ceremonial halls, more than 100 bedrooms, a gallery, a theater, and a large chapel.
After the death of Anna Ioannovna, the young emperor John Antonovich was brought here, who stayed here until November 25, 1741, when Elizaveta Petrovna took power into her own hands. Under Elizabeth, the extension to the palace of office premises continued. On January 1, 1752, the Empress decided to expand the Winter Palace, after which the neighboring plots of Raguzinsky and Yaguzhinsky were bought out. At the new location, Rastrelli built new buildings. According to the project he drew up, these buildings were to be attached to the existing ones and be decorated with them in the same style. In December 1752, the Empress wished to increase the height of the Winter Palace from 14 to 22 meters. Rastrelli was forced to redo the design of the building, after which he decided to build it in a new location. But Elizaveta Petrovna refused to move the new Winter Palace. As a result, the architect decides to rebuild the entire building; the new project was signed by Elizaveta Petrovna on June 16 (June 27), 1754.
The fourth (temporary) Winter Palace was built in 1755. It was built by Rastrelli at the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and the embankment of the river. Washers. It was destroyed in 1762.
From 1754 to 1762, the construction of the existing and currently existing palace building was underway, which at that time became the tallest residential building in St. Petersburg. The building included about 1500 rooms. The total area of the palace is about 60,000 sq. m. Elizaveta Petrovna did not live to see the completion of construction, Peter III accepted the job on April 6, 1762. By this time, the decoration of the facades was completed, but many of the interior spaces were not yet ready. In the summer of 1762, Peter III was overthrown from the throne, the construction of the Winter Palace was completed under Catherine II.
First of all, the Empress removed Rastrelli from work. The interior decoration of the palace was carried out by the architects Yu. M. Felten, J. B. Vallin-Delamot and A. Rinaldi under the guidance of Betsky. According to the original layout of the palace, made by Rastrelli, the largest front rooms were on the 2nd floor and overlooked the Neva. As conceived by the architect, the path to the huge “Throne” Hall (which occupied the entire space of the northwestern wing) began from the east - from the “Jordanian” or, as it was formerly called, “Ambassadorial” stairs and ran through a suite of five anterooms. Rastrelli placed the palace theater "Opera House" in the southwestern wing. Kitchens and other services occupied the northeastern wing, and in the southeastern part, between the living quarters and the “Great Church” arranged in the eastern courtyard, a gallery was thrown.
In 1763, the empress moved her chambers to the south-eastern part of the palace; under her rooms, she ordered the chambers of her favorite G. G. Orlov to be placed. In the northwestern risalit, the “Throne Hall” was equipped; a waiting room appeared in front of it - the “White Hall”. A dining room was placed behind the White Hall. Adjacent to it was the "Light Cabinet". The dining room was followed by the “Front Bedchamber”, which became the “Diamond Peace” a year later.
In 1764, Catherine II was transferred from Berlin 317 valuable paintings worth 183 thousand thalers from the private collection of paintings by Johann Ernst Gotzkovsky on account of his debt to Prince Vladimir Sergeevich Dolgorukov. The paintings were placed in secluded apartments of the palace, which received the French name "Hermitage" (a place of solitude); from 1767 to 1775 a special building was built for them to the east of the palace.
In the 1790s, by decree of Catherine II, who considered it inappropriate for the public to enter the Hermitage through her own chambers, a lintel gallery was created with the Winter Palace - "Apollo Hall", with the help of which visitors could bypass the royal apartments. At the same time, Quarenghi also erected a new “Throne (Georgievsky)” hall, opened in 1795. The old throne room was converted into a series of rooms provided for the quarters of the newly married Grand Duke Alexander. The "Marble Gallery" (of three halls) was also created.
In 1826, according to the project of K. I. Rossi, a Military Gallery was built in front of St. George's Hall, which housed 330 portraits of generals who participated in the war of 1812, painted over almost 10 years by D. Dow. In the early 1830s, in the eastern building of the palace, O. Montferrand designed the Field Marshal's, Petrovsky and Armorial halls.
After the fire of 1837, when all the interiors were destroyed, the restoration work in the Winter Palace was led by architects V.P. Stasov, A.P. Bryullov and A.E. Shtaubert.
The modern three-story building has the shape of a square of 4 outbuildings with a courtyard and facades facing the Neva, the Admiralty and Palace Square. The splendor of the building is given by the magnificent decoration of the facades and rooms. The main façade, facing Palace Square, is cut through by the arch of the main passage, which was created by Rastrelli after his work on the repair of the palace in Strelna.
The palace building has 1084 rooms, 1945 windows, 117 stairs (including secret ones). The length of the facade from the side of the Neva is 137 meters, from the side of the Admiralty - 106 meters, the height is 23.5 meters.
Despite the restructuring and many innovations, the main planning scheme of the palace retained the ideas of F.-B. Rastrelli. Palace buildings are formed around the inner Great Courtyard. Light courtyards were created in the northwestern and southwestern wings on the site of the Throne Hall and the Opera House, around which enfilades of living quarters were formed. From the east, the Small Hermitage, built along the Black Passage, adjoins the Winter Palace. The buildings of the St. George's Hall, the Great Church, the southeast and northeast wings of the palace go into this passage; the space is divided into a system of yards and pits: “Small” and “Large Church” yards (from the Big Church located here, founded back in 1763), “Church” and “Garage” (from the garage located here) pits, “Kitchen Yard” .
In the 1840s, a unique heating system was installed in the building with Ammos furnaces, which were located in the basements, and heated clean air entered the premises through the fire channels (later, a water-air system would be created on this basis). In 1886 the Winter Palace was electrified.
The facades of the palace changed their color palette several times. The original color had a very light warm ocher color, with the emphasis on the order system and the plastic decor with white lime paint. The minutes of the Chancellery from the buildings speak of the release of lime, chalk, ocher and blackling (red earth, which after processing was used as a pigment) for these works. In later documents, there are such names as “pale yellow with white”, “under the color of a wild stone”. The roof was tinned.
Before the fire of 1837, there were no fundamental changes in the color of the palace, with the exception of the roof, which in 1816 changes its color from white-gray to red. In the course of the post-fire repair, the color of the facade was made up of slaked Tosno lime, ocher, Italian mummy and part of the Olonets earth, which was used as a pigment and had an ivory hue, while the roof was painted with iron minium, giving it a brown-red color.
In the second half of the 1850s - 1860s, under Emperor Alexander II, the color of the facades of the palace changed. The ocher becomes more dense. The order system and plastic decor are not stained with an additional color, but acquire a very slight tonal highlight. In fact, facades are perceived as monochrome.
In the 1880s, under Emperor Alexander III, the coloring of the facades was carried out in two tones: a dense ocher expression with the addition of red pigment and a weaker terracotta tone. With the accession of Nicholas II in 1897, the emperor approved the project of painting the facades of the Winter Palace in the color of the “new fence of the Own Garden” - red sandstone without any tonal highlighting of the columns and decor. All the buildings on Palace Square were painted in the same color - the headquarters of the Guards Corps and the General Staff, which, according to the architects of that period, contributed to the unity of perception of the ensemble.
The terracotta-brick color of the palace was preserved until the end of the 1920s, after which experiments and the search for a new color scheme began. In 1927, an attempt was made to paint it gray, in 1928-1930. - in brown-gray tones, and the copper sculpture on the roof - in black. In 1934, an attempt was made to paint the palace with oil paint for the first time. orange color with white paint highlighting the order system, but the oil paint had negative impact on stone, plaster and stucco decoration. In 1940, a decision was made to remove the oil paint from the façade.
With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, in order to camouflage the palace, they painted it with reversible adhesive gray paint. In 1945-1947, a commission consisting of the chief architect of Leningrad N. V. Baranov, the head of the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Monuments N. N. Belekhov, representatives of the Leningrad City Executive Committee, the State Construction Control, the State Hermitage Museum and scientific consultants decided to paint the walls of the palace with chromium oxide with adding emerald pigment; columns, cornices, interfloor rods and window frames - in white; stucco decoration, cartouches, capitals - with ocher, while it was decided to leave the sculpture black.
For almost 400 years of the existence of this title, it was worn completely different people- from adventurers and liberals to tyrants and conservatives.
Rurikovichi
Over the years, Russia (from Rurik to Putin) has changed its political system many times. At first, the rulers had a princely title. When, after a period of political fragmentation, a new Russian state, the owners of the Kremlin thought about taking the royal title.
This was done under Ivan the Terrible (1547-1584). This one decided to marry the kingdom. And this decision was not accidental. So the Moscow monarch emphasized that he was the successor. It was they who bestowed Orthodoxy on Russia. In the 16th century, Byzantium no longer existed (it fell under the onslaught of the Ottomans), so Ivan the Terrible rightly believed that his act would have serious symbolic significance.
Such historical figures as had a great influence on the development of the whole country. In addition to the fact that Ivan the Terrible changed his title, he also captured the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, starting Russian expansion to the East.
Ivan's son Fedor (1584-1598) was distinguished by his weak character and health. Nevertheless, under him the state continued to develop. The patriarchate was established. Rulers have always paid much attention to the issue of succession to the throne. This time he stood up especially sharply. Fedor had no children. When he died, the Rurik dynasty on the Moscow throne came to an end.
Time of Troubles
After Fyodor's death, Boris Godunov (1598-1605), his brother-in-law, came to power. He did not belong to the royal family, and many considered him a usurper. Under him, due to natural disasters, a colossal famine began. The tsars and presidents of Russia have always tried to keep calm in the provinces. Due to the tense situation, Godunov failed to do this. Several peasant uprisings took place in the country.
In addition, the adventurer Grishka Otrepiev called himself one of the sons of Ivan the Terrible and began a military campaign against Moscow. He really managed to capture the capital and become king. Boris Godunov did not live up to this moment - he died from health complications. His son Fyodor II was captured by the associates of False Dmitry and killed.
The impostor ruled for only a year, after which he was overthrown during the Moscow uprising, inspired by disgruntled Russian boyars who did not like that False Dmitry surrounded himself with Catholic Poles. decided to transfer the crown to Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610). IN Troubled times Russia's rulers changed frequently.
The princes, tsars and presidents of Russia had to carefully guard their power. Shuisky did not hold her back and was overthrown by the Polish interventionists.
First Romanovs
When in 1613 Moscow was liberated from foreign invaders, the question arose of who should be made sovereign. This text presents all the tsars of Russia in order (with portraits). Now it's time to tell about the ascension to the throne of the Romanov dynasty.
The first sovereign of this kind - Michael (1613-1645) - was just a young man when he was put to rule a vast country. His main goal was the struggle with Poland for the lands occupied by it during the Time of Troubles.
These were the biographies of the rulers and the dates of the reign until the middle of the 17th century. After Michael, his son Alexei (1645-1676) ruled. He annexed left-bank Ukraine and Kyiv to Russia. So, after several centuries of fragmentation and Lithuanian rule, the fraternal peoples finally began to live in one country.
Alexei had many sons. The eldest of them Fedor III(1676-1682), died at a young age. After him came the simultaneous reign of two children - Ivan and Peter.
Peter the Great
Ivan Alekseevich was unable to govern the country. Therefore, in 1689, the sole reign of Peter the Great began. He completely rebuilt the country in a European manner. Russia - from Rurik to Putin (in chronological order consider all the rulers) - knows few examples of such an epoch so full of changes.
A new army and navy appeared. To do this, Peter started a war against Sweden. The Northern War lasted 21 years. During it, the Swedish army was defeated, and the kingdom agreed to cede its southern Baltic lands. Petersburg was founded in this region in 1703 - new capital Russia. Peter's success made him think about changing his title. In 1721 he became emperor. However, this change did not abolish the royal title - in everyday speech, monarchs continued to be called kings.
The era of palace coups
Peter's death was followed by a long period of unstable power. The monarchs succeeded each other with enviable regularity, which was facilitated. As a rule, the guards or certain courtiers were at the head of these changes. During this era, Catherine I (1725-1727), Peter II (1727-1730), Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740), Ivan VI (1740-1741), Elizabeth Petrovna (1741-1761) and Peter III (1761-1762) ruled ).
The last of them was of German origin. Under the predecessor of Peter III, Elizabeth, Russia waged a victorious war against Prussia. The new monarch renounced all conquests, returned Berlin to the king and concluded a peace treaty. With this act, he signed his own death warrant. The guards organized another palace coup, after which Peter's wife Catherine II was on the throne.
Catherine II and Paul I
Catherine II (1762-1796) had a deep state mind. On the throne, she began to pursue a policy of enlightened absolutism. The Empress organized the work of the famous statutory commission, the purpose of which was to prepare a comprehensive project of reforms in Russia. She also wrote the Order. This document contained many considerations about the transformations needed for the country. The reforms were curtailed when a peasant uprising led by Pugachev broke out in the Volga region in the 1770s.
All the tsars and presidents of Russia (in chronological order, we listed all the royal persons) took care that the country looked worthy on the foreign arena. She was no exception. She led several successful military campaigns against Turkey. As a result, Crimea and other important Black Sea regions were annexed to Russia. At the end of Catherine's reign, three partitions of Poland took place. So the Russian Empire received important acquisitions in the west.
After the death of the great empress, her son Paul I (1796-1801) came to power. This quarrelsome man was not liked by many in the St. Petersburg elite.
First half of the 19th century
In 1801 there was another and the last palace coup. A group of conspirators dealt with Pavel. His son Alexander I (1801-1825) was on the throne. His reign was Patriotic war and Napoleon's invasion. The rulers of the Russian state have not faced such a serious enemy intervention for two centuries. Despite the capture of Moscow, Bonaparte was defeated. Alexander became the most popular and famous monarch of the Old World. He was also called "the liberator of Europe".
Inside his country, Alexander in his youth tried to implement liberal reforms. Historical figures often change their policies as they age. So Alexander soon abandoned his ideas. He died in Taganrog in 1825 under mysterious circumstances.
At the beginning of the reign of his brother Nicholas I (1825-1855) there was an uprising of the Decembrists. Because of this, conservative orders triumphed in the country for thirty years.
Second half of the 19th century
Here are all the tsars of Russia in order, with portraits. Further, we will talk about the main reformer of the national statehood - Alexander II (1855-1881). He became the initiator of the manifesto on the liberation of the peasants. The destruction of serfdom allowed the development of the Russian market and capitalism. The country began to grow economically. The reforms also affected the judiciary, local government, administrative and conscription systems. The monarch tried to raise the country to its feet and learn the lessons that the lost started under Nicholas I presented him.
But Alexander's reforms were not enough for the radicals. Terrorists attempted several times on his life. In 1881 they were successful. Alexander II died from a bomb explosion. The news came as a shock to the whole world.
Because of what happened, the son of the deceased monarch Alexander III(1881-1894) forever became a hard reactionary and conservative. But he is best known as a peacemaker. During his reign, Russia did not conduct a single war.
The last king
Alexander III died in 1894. Power passed into the hands of Nicholas II (1894-1917) - his son and the last Russian monarch. By that time, the old world order with the absolute power of kings and kings had already outlived itself. Russia - from Rurik to Putin - knew a lot of upheavals, but it was under Nicholas that there were more than ever many of them.
In 1904-1905. the country experienced a humiliating war with Japan. It was followed by the first revolution. Although the unrest was suppressed, the king had to make concessions public opinion. He agreed to establish a constitutional monarchy and a parliament.
The tsars and presidents of Russia at all times faced a certain opposition within the state. Now people could elect deputies who expressed these sentiments.
In 1914 the First World War. No one then suspected that it would end with the fall of several empires at once, including the Russian one. In 1917 broke out February Revolution, and the last king had to abdicate. Nicholas II, together with his family, was shot by the Bolsheviks in the basement of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg.
Alexander II is one of the most prominent Russian monarchs. Alexander Nikolaevich was nicknamed among the people Alexander the Liberator.
The people really have something to call Alexander II like that. The emperor carried out a number of important vital, for, reforms. The course of his policy was distinguished by a liberal tinge.
Alexander II initiated many liberal initiatives in Russia. Its paradox historical figure in the fact that the monarch, who gave the people unprecedented freedom to the village, was killed by the revolutionaries.
It is said that the draft constitution and the convocation State Duma, was literally on the emperor’s table, but his sudden death put an end to many of his undertakings.
Alexander II was born in April 1818. He was also the son of Alexandra Feodorovna. Alexander Nikolaevich was purposefully prepared for accession to the throne.
The future Emperor received a very worthy education. The prince's teachers were smartest people of his time.
Among the teachers were Zhukovsky, Merder, Kankrin, Brunov. As you can see, the ministers themselves taught science to the future emperor. Russian Empire.
Alexander Nikolayevich was a gifted man, he possessed equal abilities, he was a good-natured and sympathetic person.
Nicholas I was the third son of his wife, Maria Feodorovna. As soon as Nikolai Pavlovich was born (06/25/1796), his parents recorded him on military service. He became the chief of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, with the rank of colonel. Three years later, the prince put on the uniform of his regiment for the first time. In May 1800, Nicholas I became the chief of the Izmailovsky regiment. In 1801, as a result palace coup, his father, Paul I, was killed.
The real passion of Nicholas I was military affairs. Passion for military affairs, apparently passed on from his father, and at the gene level. Soldiers and cannons were the favorite toys of the Grand Duke, for which, together with his brother Mikhail, he spent a lot of time. To the sciences, unlike his brother, he did not gravitate.
On July 13, 1817, the marriage of Nicholas I and the Prussian princess Charlotte took place. In Orthodoxy, Charlotte was named Alexandra Feodorovna. By the way, the marriage took place on the birthday of his wife. The joint life of the royal couple was happy. After the wedding, he became an inspector general in charge of engineering.
Alexander I was the eldest son, born on 12.12. 1777, while in office. Since the relationship between father and grandmother did not work out, the Empress took her grandson from his parents.
Catherine II, immediately inflamed with great love for her grandson and decided what she would make of the newborn ideal emperor.
Alexander was brought up by the Swiss Laharpe, who was considered by many to be a staunch republican. The prince received a good education Western pattern.
Alexander believed in the possibility of creating an ideal, humane society, he sympathized with the French Revolution, felt sorry for the Poles deprived of statehood, and was skeptical of the Russian autocracy. Time, however, dispelled his belief in such ideals ...
Alexander I became Emperor of Russia after the death of Paul I, as a result of a palace coup. The events that took place on the night of March 11-12 affected the life of Alexander Pavlovich. He was very worried about the death of his father, and guilt haunted him all his life.
Pavel I was the son of and. Born on September 20, 1754. WITH early years he was taught literacy and various sciences: history, mathematics, foreign languages and geography.
According to the recollections of his teachers, Paul was a man of a lively mind, beautifully gifted by nature. His childhood was difficult, he lost his father early. Moreover, he lost, as he himself believed, through the fault of his mother. Pyotr Fedorovich, Pavel loved very much and could not forgive his mother for his death.
At the age of 17, Catherine II married her son to Princess Wilgemina, who was named Natalya Alekseevna at baptism. During childbirth, Natalia died.
In 1776 he married a second time. The wife of the heir to the Russian throne was Sophia-Dorota, who at baptism took the name Maria Feodorovna. Maria Feodorovna was related to the Prussian king. Apparently under the influence of his wife, he began to like many German customs.
Russia for Russians, and in Russian (Emperor Alexander III)
Alexander III - a significant figure in. During his reign, no Russian blood was shed in Europe. Alexander III ensured long years of calm for Russia. For his peace-loving policy, he entered Russian history as a "tsar-peacemaker."
He was the second child in the family of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna Romanov. According to the rules of succession, Alexander was not prepared for the role of ruler. The throne was to take the elder brother - Nicholas.
Alexander did not envy his brother at all, did not feel the slightest jealousy, watching how Nicholas was being prepared for the throne. Nikolai was a diligent student, and Alexander was overcome by boredom in the classroom.
The teachers of Alexander III were such distinguished people as the historians Solovyov, Grott, the remarkable military tactician Dragomirov, and Konstantin Pobedonostsev. It was the latter who had a great influence on Alexander III, largely determining the priorities of the internal and foreign policy Russian emperor.
When Peter was three years old, the tsar-father gave him a children's saber. At the end of 1676, Alexei Mikhailovich died. Peter's half-brother Fedor ascends the throne. Fedor was concerned that Peter was not taught to read and write, and asked Naryshkin to devote more time to this component of education.
Until the end of the 17th century, monarchs celebrated the merits of their subjects either with donated lands or memorable gifts - “a fur coat from the royal shoulder”. Returning from a European tour, Peter I decided not to scatter estates and "fur coats" and introduce the practice of awarding honored people with awards.
The most skillful jewelers who worked in Russia were involved in the manufacture of order signs issued to cavaliers. Almost all the best craftsmen contributed to the production of state awards, including the well-known badges of orders made in the workshop of Carl Faberge. The Order is not just an award, it is a clot of our history, behind most of the awards there are both bright events from the past of the country, and the deeds of representatives of the most prominent families who have contributed to the development of Russia.
Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George.
established on November 26, 1769 by Empress Catherine 2, was intended to be awarded solely for military merit, as stated in the statute: “Neither a high breed, nor wounds received from the enemy give the right to be granted this order, but it is given only to those who distinguished themselves especially courageous act." It was also envisaged to award it for serviceable service of at least 25 years in officer ranks.
Signs of the Order of St. George are worn on the ribbon of colors of the Russian state emblem(black eagle on a gold background) - three black and two yellow (orange) stripes, called St. George's Ribbon.
The Order of St. George had four degrees.
Pyotr Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky, Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Mikhail Barclay de Tolly.
Duke of Wellington, Karl-John, aka Jean Bernadotte (later King Karl XIV Johan of Sweden), Wilhelm I, King of Prussia, Louis de Bourbon.
Interesting Facts
Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called
The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, established in 1698. Named in honor of the Apostle Andrew, who has been revered as the patron saint of the Russian land since Kyiv princes. In the spring of 1698, during the famous Great Embassy, Peter I visited England and met with the local king, William III. Apparently, something bribed the English king in the ambitious Russian ruler, and he invited him to become a member of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. On the one hand, it was a great honor: the members of the oldest knightly order in Europe were the most respected and influential people on the planet - in the amount of 24 people. On the other hand, having accepted the “English garter”, the Russian sovereign formally became a subject of the British king. Peter refused. This was the first and last refusal of the tsar of the Romanov dynasty from "British citizenship": I, Nicholas I, II, Alexander III and Nicholas II were holders of this order. However, the tsar-reformer liked the idea. Upon his return to the Russian Land, in August 1698, Peter established his own order - the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the patron saint of Rus'. The monarch even independently created sketches of the award order, which were very reminiscent of the emblem of the Scottish Order of the Thistle. From now on, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (with a break from 1917-1997) became main award Russia.
It was worn on a blue moire ribbon over the right shoulder (width 10 cm).
Some Russian cavaliers of the order of the 1st degree
Pyotr Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky, Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Mikhail Barclay de Tolly.
Some foreign holders of the order
1st Class Duke of Wellington, Karl-John, also known as Jean Bernadotte (later King Karl XIV Johan of Sweden), Wilhelm I, King of Prussia, Louis de Bourbon.
Interesting Facts
In the entire history of the order, only four people have become full cavaliers: Mikhail Kutuzov, Mikhail Barclay de Tolly, Ivan Paskevich-Erivan Prince of Warsaw and Ivan Dibich-Zabalkansky. The 4th degree of the order until 1855 was also given for length of service in officer ranks (subject to participation in at least one battle).
Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine
Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine, established on November 24, 1714, in the general hierarchy Russian orders took second place, after the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. It was these orders, in addition to being intended to be awards for outstanding deeds for the benefit of the state, that were the dynastic insignia of the Russian Empire. These decorations were awarded to members of the Imperial House already at baptism, representatives of foreign Ruling Houses - during the formation of political and dynastic unions, as well as to reinforce them.
The Order of St. Catherine had two degrees - a large cross - intended for persons of royal blood and a smaller cross, or cavalry - such a degree was awarded to applicants from the highest nobility, including foreign subjects. Those who were awarded them were called either ladies of the grand cross or cavalry ladies.
Ribbon: Red with a silver border, 10 cm wide, worn over the right shoulder (for the 1st degree). Cavalry ladies wore signs on a ribbon bow with an order motto embroidered on it.
In 1711, the Prut campaign of the Russian army against the Turks ended in failure: 38,000 Russian soldiers were surrounded. Only the bribery of the Turkish commanders saved our troops from complete disaster. It is interesting that the lion's share of the bribe to the "Ottoman generals" was the jewelry of Empress Catherine I, wife of Peter I. The Tsar, mindful that "diamonds are the best friends of girls", two years later established a generously precious stones Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine (another name is the Order of Liberation) and awarded them to his wife. From now on, this order has become the highest "female" award of the Russian State: it had two degrees, and it was awarded to all princesses of royal blood (by birth), the most noble ladies of the country and the most deserved (merits and spouses of ladies were taken into account).
Interesting Facts
In 1727, the son of Alexander Menshikov, Alexander Alexandrovich, became a cavalier of the order, becoming the only man awarded. He received the order for his shy, "ladies'" character. The custom of bandaging baby girls with a pink ribbon goes back to the aforementioned custom of awarding each born Grand Duchess the Order of St. Catherine. The color of the sash is pink.
Order of Saint Vladimir
The Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir was established on September 22, 1782 on the twentieth anniversary of the coronation of Empress Catherine II. It is intended to encourage military and civil service. It has four degrees, of which the first two are called the degrees of the Grand Cross. The order ribbon consists of three stripes of equal width black - red - black.
A cavalier of the Order of St. Vladimir should never have taken off his badges, they were always worn. When receiving other higher degrees of the order, only their place on the uniform could change.
The order in 4 degrees was established by Catherine II in 1782 on the 20th anniversary of her reign. for awarding both military officials and civil servants. The number of gentlemen was not limited. The statute of the order says: “The Imperial Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir was established as a reward for feats performed in the field public service, and in recompense of labor, for the benefit of the public lifted.
Some Russian cavaliers of the order of the 1st degree
Vladimir Dal, Ivan Gannibal, Thaddeus Bellingshausen, Mikhail Miloradovich, Metropolitan Ambrose (Podobedov)
Some foreign cavaliers of the order of the 1st degree
August I, Duke of Oldenburg, Josef Radetzky, Austrian commander.
Interesting Facts
In the entire history of the order, only four people have become full cavaliers: Mikhail Kutuzov, Mikhail Barclay de Tolly, Ivan Paskevich-Erivan Prince of Warsaw and Ivan Dibich-Zabalkansky. The 4th degree of the order until 1855 was also given for length of service in officer ranks (subject to participation in at least one battle). Since 1845, those who were awarded only the orders of St. Vladimir and St. George of any degrees received the rights of hereditary nobility, while other orders required the highest 1st degree.
Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky
Back in February 1722, in connection with the celebration of the Peace of Nystadt, Peter 1 intended to establish an order as a reward solely for military merit. This becomes clear from the surviving records of that time, which mention the development of a new order - St. Alexander, at the same time the first 40 badges of this award and a red ribbon were made. The death of the emperor prevented the implementation of the plan. The first awards began only in May 1725, but the date of the establishment of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky is August 30, 1725, St. Alexander Nevsky, when Empress Catherine 1 laid on herself the signs of this order. Together with her, another 22 people received the award, almost all of them were already knights of the hordes. Saint Andrew the First-Called.
The order had one degree, was worn on a red moire ribbon dressed over the left shoulder.
Since 1797, the badge of the order adorned with diamonds has become a special, highest degree of award issued from the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty. In total, from 1797 to 1917, 1275 people were awarded with diamond signs of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, of which 24 people with swords, and five people were awarded twice.
The Alexander Cavaliers, when awarded, made a one-time contribution to the Chapter in the amount of 200 rubles. (from 1860 - 400 rubles, for comparison: the annual salary of a major general in the 1870s was 1110 rubles, a lieutenant - 340 rubles) part of the funds remained at the disposal of the Chapter, and part was transferred to the disposal of the "Alexander Committee for the Wounded" .
Some Knights of the Order
Alexander Menshikov, Mikhail Golitsyn, Alexander Suvorov, Mikhail Kutuzov.
Interesting Facts
On July 29, 1942, a new Order of Alexander Nevsky was established in the USSR for awarding commanders Red Army.
Order of the White Eagle
At the beginning, this was the highest state award in Poland. After most of the Commonwealth passed to the Russian Empire, the Russian emperor decided to include the "White Horde" in the list of Russian orders. In 1831, the Order of the White Eagle was added by Nicholas 1 to the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders. In seniority, he followed the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.
The Provisional Government of Russia retained the Order of the White Eagle, slightly changing it appearance. Instead of crowns, a ribbon bow appeared above the Russian imperial eagle of blue color. On the breast stars, the motto, reminiscent of the king, was replaced by bay leaves.
Some Knights of the Order
Hetman Mazepa, Ivan Tolstoy, Dmitry Mendeleev.
Interesting Facts
In 1992, the order was restored as the highest state award in Poland. The Grand Master of the Order is the President of Poland. The first restored orders were awarded to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Pope John Paul II.
Order of Saint Anne
The Order of St. Anne was established in 1735 by Duke Karl Friedrich of Holstein, in memory of the wife of Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter 1. After the arrival in Russia of his son Karl Peter Ulrich, the future Emperor Peter 3, the order was transferred to Russia. In 1797, Paul 1 officially introduced the Order of St. Anna into the award system of Russia.
The first awarding of this order was carried out only as an imperial dynastic award. The right to award gave the rank of colonel and above. On the day of Paul's coronation on April 16, 1797, the Order of St. Anne was added to the state orders of the Russian Empire and was divided into three degrees (later there were four).
In 1913, those awarded with the Golden St. George's Arms received the right to attach a small St. George's white cross to it. At the same time, the Cavalier of St. Anne of the 4th Art. could simultaneously mount the Annensky red cross on the same weapon.
Some Knights of the Order of Basil
Golovnin, Alexander Suvorov, Sergei Volkonsky, Izmail Semenov.
Interesting Facts
Those awarded with any degree of the Order of St. Anne automatically became hereditary nobles, but since 1845 this position has been changed. It was found that henceforth only the 1st degree of the order gives hereditary nobility, and the remaining degrees - only personal. The exceptions were those of the merchant class and Muslim foreigners, who, when awarded any of the degrees of the order, except for the 1st, did not become nobles, but received the status of "honorary citizens".
Order of Saint Stanislaus
The Order of St. Stanislaus was established in 1765 by the Polish king August Poniatowski in honor of Stanislav, the patron saint of Poland. In 1831 Nicholas 1 was added to the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders.
The Order of St. Stanislaus could be awarded to any citizen of the Russian Empire or the Kingdom of Poland, “who, by virtue of his success in Christian virtues or excellent zeal for service in the military field, both on land and at sea, or civil, or in private life, by committing some either a feat for the benefit of mankind or society, or the region in which he lives, or the whole Russian state, will draw special ... attention to itself.
By analogy with the Cavalier Dumas of the Orders of St. George, St. Vladimir and St. Anna, the Statute of 1839 says about the establishment of the Cavalier Duma of the Order of St. Stanislaus from twelve senior cavaliers of each degree: “For the final award of the Order of St. Stanislaus of the 3rd degree ".
From 1831 to 1917, more than 5 thousand people were awarded the 1st degree. The most common order of the Russian Empire. As an illustrative example, we can cite the statistics of awards during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. when 37,475 orders of St. Stanislaus were issued, including 84 awards of the 1st class. with swords (1 for non-Christians), 823 without swords (15 for non-Christians), 5,391 signs of the 2nd art. with swords (272 for non-Christians), 6,122 signs of the 2nd art. without swords (143 for non-Christians), 11,312 signs of the 3rd st. with swords (344 for non-Christians) and 12,620 signs of the 3rd art. without swords (261 for non-Christians).
Order of Saint John of Jerusalem
Established in 1113; in Russia - since 1797
On October 27, 1798, the Chapter (Holy Council) of the Order of Malta elected the Grand Master of the Order of Emperor Paul I, which was confirmed by the manifesto of December 16, 1798 “On the acceptance by His Imperial Majesty of the title of Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and on the location of this order” . The order was divided into 3 degrees: the Grand Commander's Cross, the Commander's Cross and the Cavalier's Cross.
The badge of the order is a Maltese cross in white enamel with stylized lilies in the corners of the cross, under the Maltese crown. The cross was attached in the form of a pendant to the armature of knightly regalia or a trophy. The Grand and Commander's Crosses were worn around the neck on a black sash (6.5 cm wide); Cavalier Cross (smaller) - on the chest, in the buttonhole of the uniform. Each degree corresponded to a star worn on the left side of the chest.
Two degrees were envisaged for rewarding women - the Grand Cross and the Small Cross.
The badge of the first degree of the order was worn on a black wide ribbon thrown over the left shoulder, the badge of the second degree was worn on the left side of the chest.
For the "lower" military ranks, the so-called "donat" was established - a small copper Maltese cross, on three ends of which (lower and two transverse) there was enamel. From October 10, 1800, this cross was awarded to soldiers and non-commissioned officers for 20 years of impeccable service (instead of the insignia of the Order of St. Anna).
In 1810, Alexander 1 issued a Decree on the termination of the awarding of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and in 1817 the order ceased to exist in Russia. From 1798 to 1817, about 2,000 signs of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem were awarded in the Russian Empire.
