- Prisoner of the Terem?
*in 1600s, the Terem became important part of the house, where women would spend most of thier lives - restricted freedoms of women in Russian society (why? possibly idea borrowed from Muslim neighbors to the south? - not sure) - Sofia was limited to this until adulthood and then to become a nun
-50% of children at the time would not live to the age of 10 or 11
Sofia became Regent, 1682-89 for her two brothers (Ivan from the Miloslavkii female line - same as Sofia - and Peter I of the Naryshkin femaile line)
- unsuccessful campaigns against the Turks under her, making her regency, in part, unstable- tried to limit Peter I by limiting his education - forced to live outside of Kremlin and with foreigners in the suburbs - spoke 5 languages - learned a lot of trades from the skilled tradesmen residing in the suburbs (mastered over 20 crafts by hanging around with Irishmen, Swiss and Germans)
- propped up the mentally slower Ivan
-Peter forces her into a convent, and Peter's mother becomes principle advisor until he rules on his own
Unfortunate Denouement
- Painting by Ilia Repin
- Novodevichii Convent
- painting depicts Sofia in the convent
Peter Alexeevich "the Great" ruled 1689-1725
Progress through Coercion, or Revolution from Above: Peter Transfigures Russia
(Note* - "Progress Through Coercion" is the title of one of the books on the book list)
- The Great Transfigurer of Russia
-- Preobrazhenya
- Transfiguration of Christ - written by Theophanes the Greek (Feofan Grek)
**** Referring to Peter as the Great Transfigurer would have, at the time, evoked images of the famous icon of the Transfiguration of Christ --- would evoke thoughts of comparrison of Peter to Christ
Early Life
- Born 1672 to Tsar Alexei and Natalia Naryshkina
- Co-ruler with half-brother Ivan V from 1682; half-sister Sophia was regent
- Events of 1689 - "streltsy"
(note* - the streltsy, the Russian versions of the muskateers, were those who handled the muskets. **Musketeers, contrary to the image of sole use of swords, were those who used... muskets) - (use of the streltsy marks a move away from the calvary use of the Russian army as the dominant military arm, to the use of infantry with the use of the technology of small firearms. Improved warfare tactics to incorporate usage of the new technology, and made use of engineers and seige equipment.) (Streltsy = irregular soldiers. Think of them as firearms 101 soldiers - not the best and latest. Though in use, the overall military still not modern, nor particularly sophisticated.)
- 1689 = Sofia leaves from power
****Battle of Orsha, Russians vs. Poles, 1514 - GOOGLE: painting of the battle, by German artist
Early Reign
- "Play compaigns" and White Sea sailing
- Assaults on Azov, 1694-5
- Two delegations abroad (1697-98_:
- Italy (Peter Tolstoy)
- Northwestern Europe ("Grand Embassy")
- Streltsy rebellion, 1698
**Note - Peter never promoted himself, even in his play games, to command. He put others in charge, and by choice started off as a grenadier and worked his way up through the ranks. Knew the life of the regular soldier, in effect.
** - learned to sail in the tributary of the Moscow River, the Yaosa(?)
** - Grandaddy of the Russian Navy = nickname of the boat Peter learned to sail on
** - at one point crashed on the islands of the Monastery
- 1694 - tried to take Turkish fortress on Sea of Azov and failed (remember, in the 1680s Sofia had tried twice and failed)
- Peter assembled a navy, though not well built, but good enough and he took Azov in 1695 (later gave it back in 1711, but retook it in 1739)
- initial failure, and subsequent success after building nacy convinced him of need to modernize (canons, engineering, etc.)
- Peter himself joined delegation to Europe (one who went along was... Peter Tolstoy)
- Peter Tolstoy = from boyar family and progenitor of the Tolstoy writers (Lev Tolstoy descended from him)
- traditional Muscovite (should've supported Sofia, and switched sides at last minute)
- Peter never really trusted him, so punished him by sending him with young apprentices in their 20s to Italy to learn, despite his being at least a generation older
- kept journal. On guard initially in Europe because in "Land of Heretics". Very impressed once in Italy - sees the Roman ruins (at time 1500-1700 year old) - begins to appreciate the grandeur of Old Roman civilization.
- learned how to sail, and passes much of what he'd initially toured with new eyes - becomes STRONG supporter of Peter. ***Outlives Peter, though at this point in 50s
- Peter tried to feign being a traveling student, taking name Peter Mikhailov (of course, people knew he was Tsar, but wanted to go around and learn without trappings of royal court) (Spent 8 months in a shipyard learning how to build a ship, from every step of the beginning to the end - became a skilled shipwright) - (said of all things, he'd rather be an Admiral in the British navy than anything else)
- Peter wanted to know about the House of Commons when in England -- observed from roof, looking down through skylight
- sought to hire specialists to return with them to Russia - to construct canals, create canons, fortresses, hydraulic engineers, etc.
*** 1698 - Had to flea back to Russia due to word of Streltsy rebellion - by the time he got there the rebellion was over. This was the third streltsy rebellion against Peter (1682, 1689, 1698) - thus Peter Livid and executes leaders, and dismantles the streltsy
GOOGLE: Surikov painting "The Morning of the Execution of the Streltsy"
http://www.abcgallery.com/S/surikov/surikov12.html
- Peter learned how to extract teeth (extracted with spoons, sword)
- Helped in axe beheadings (executions)
GOOGLE: Tolstoy's journal of visit to Italy
Great Northern War, 1700-1721 (actually started in 1699)
- Determined the character of the rest of the reign
- V.O. Kliuchevsky's interpretation
- Karl (Charles) XII of Sweden
- Narva, November 1700
- Livonia and Ingria, 1702-03
- St. Petersburg, May 1703
- Poltava, June 1709
****Started with death of King Charles XI, and 16 year old boy came to power - Gustavus Aldovis - popular in Scandinavia - fought in 30yrs War - as a result of victories Sweden became most powerful country in Northern Europe (with death of Charles XI, Russia sees opportunity -- at same time, throne of Poland = vacant -- several countries come into war against Sweden, but it's only Russia that stays in war constantly)
- Kliuchevsky = great Russian historian (Peter wanted to make Russia more powerful, but didn't know how to do it. He was "ad hocing" all the way through his reign. Responded to crisis, to crisis, to crisis. No real plan. Not so much brilliant so much as had strong will and work ethic - perhaps like most of us)
- Great Northern War began with disaster at Narva - Charles's army attacks in blinding snowstorm - men so trained to press on the attack - continue moving forward no matter what and the enemy can't take it --- this is the lesson they'd learned in battle after battle after battle - extremely well disciplined
- Narva = terrible defeat for Russians - lost almost all artillary, supply train, lots of officers. Utter disaster. Charles probably figured "it's over, Russians are defeated", but Peter totally reorganized the Russian army and helped to find new sources of iron for canons. --- Petrozovorsk (founded in 1792 - literally means Peter's factory)
- Peter = first to distinguish between field and heavy seige artillery
- Peter introduced the bayonet, making it an offensive weapon, soldiers charging with fixed bayonets
- by 1702 began to win some victories
- in 1702-3 began to win victories in Ingria, region where St. Petersburg is
- Katherine captured by Russians as prisoner of war
- 1703 = reached mouth of Neva River and St. Petersburg founded
Fortresses
Oreshok (Little Nut), later Shlisselburg (Key)
- on Lake Ladoga (quarter of a million men died here on the Soviet Side during World War II - Ivan VI strangled there - a lot of human suffering in this fortress)
Fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul - established in May 1703 (Older than Washington, and maybe a little older than Richmond, but relatively new for a European city)
- both fortresses have been used as prisons
- How to fight a war?
o The Battle of Narva = vs. Sweden – November 19, 1700 – part of the Great Northern War
- Resulted in a major defeat for the Russians
o Costs of the loss: weapons and equipment, among other things
§ Thus the need to replace them – use of iron from deposits in Karelia, Urals
§ Sophisticated use of artillery – military had to learn to distinguish between field and siege artillery
§ Bayonet came to be used as an offensive weapon – never seen before in Europe
§ Textile plants were established to manufacture uniforms
- *Essentially, Peter recognized the need to put all the resources of the nation into the war effort --- he helped to modernize the Russian military
- Building an army
- Another response to the defeat at Narva was the implementation policy changes in
a. who had to serve how long (nobles served for life from age 15 – service to the state)
b. one could only become an officer by rising through the ranks – not simply by being a noble
- Nobles serve for life from age 15 (to keep them from passing on property - no retirement age - you could petition for retirement - if you're noble you serve - no privilege - Peter thought of himself as a servant of the state - continued like this for about a century)
- Levy on peasants, one per 75 households (constituted bulk of military conscripts) - not constant, in peacetime was more like 1 of every 300. 1 of every 50 would be severe.
- To pay to build a new army: created a series of taxes
- beard tax, chimney tax, soul tax
* Soul Tax being the major income generator (established in 1718)
- After this tax, the Russian budget was able to stabilize
- in place until the late 1800s, when it was decided that it was a regressive tax –
a tax mostly on the poor
· Look up Novel by Nikolai Gogol – premise of the novel being on the soul tax
BATTLE OF POLTAVA – June 27 (July 8), 1709
- Major Russian victory!
Note: the different dates due to the difference in the calendar used at the time.
- Russians caught Charles’s 8,000 strong (of wagons) wagon train (supply train) – on narrow, poor roads. – Mostly destroyed
- GOOGLE: book by Peter Englund on the Battle of Poltava
o Quote from book: “Most of the Swedish army spent the rest of their lives, over the next half hour, walking over that hot, dusty field.”
o The Swedish army was totally DESTROYED!
o Sweden DONE as a military power
o Russian became a major European and military power
o Russians slaughtered the Cossacks – men, women, and children – in front of the Swedes – all while Sweden is starving – thus Sweden lost its appetite for war – surviving Swedish prisoners who made it back home after release wrote of the helplessness they felt in watching the slaughter
* Peter the Great had an immense cultural impact
- clothing
- language
- law
- military
- social status
- food (ordered potatoes grown in Russian)
- calendar change (introduced the Julian calendar)
- new words:
Empire (imperia), gubertanor
- founded St. Petersburg
- forced the nobles to build houses in St. Petersburg
- prescribed the types of houses nobles, mid-class and low-class citizens had to build
Concern of the succession:
Peter had great concerns over who would succeed him to the throne
- son Alexei greatly displeased Peter - completely unlike his father
- fled Russia, going to Vienna, Austria
--- GOOGLE: painting - Alexei repremanded by Peter at Peterhov
- note the setting in the painting - not a typical Russian interior -- it's Peter's European style world - the checkered floor is a pattern taken from the Dutch
- Peter sitting in an armchair (typically Russians had benches and stools, but not chairs) - paintings on the wall - the painting suggests a broken relationship between father and son - Alexei's girlfriend broke under the pressure of torture (in the case of Alexei's supposed conspiracy) - Alexei then tortured, perhaps even by Peter himself - sentenced and died
http://www.royalhistorian.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Peter_the_Great_Interrogating_the_Tsarevich_Alexei_Petrovich.jpg
When Peter died, he had been in the process of setting up the Academy of Sciences - governmental support of sciences was becoming fashionable in Europe at the time, particularly among the royals/nobles - Peter wanted to establish his own (went to Versailles and Paris, sought advice from Leibnitz) -
* Leibnitz also interpretted a few of Peter's dreams, as well as Katherine's
The Russian Academy of Science became the most important scientific and research institution in the country
- Back to the issue of the succession:
- got rid of his heir, Alexei - other son, Peter, developed slowly - Alexei had a son also named Peter (stronger than Peter the Great's younger son) - Peter the Great died in 1725 likely due to urinary tract infections - NEVER NAMED SUCCESSOR
- Issue becomes those who Peter placed in power vs. the nobles
- many among Peter's appointees and beneficiaries support Katherine as his heir
- foreigners supported her, in fear of what would happen to them if the Moscow nobles retook power
- Tolstoy, one of the Moscow nobles, threw his support behind her
* The Privy Council set up to help her rule
The Time Between the "Greats"
1725-1762
or "Sots, Sadists and Nymphomaniacs"
**Between Peter the Great and Catherine the Great
Rulers
- Catherine I (1725-27). Widow of Peter I
- Peter II (1727-30). Grandson of Peter I
- Anna Ioannovna (1730-40). Niece of Peter I (daughter of Ivan V)
- Ivan VI Antonovich (1740-41). Grand-nephew of Anna
- son of duke of Brunswick
- Regencies: Ernst Johann Biron (1740); mother Anna Leopoldovna
- Elizabeth Petrovna (1741-61). Daughter of Peter I
- Peter III (1761-62). Grandson of Peter I (son of Anna)
- Also duke of Holstein and putative heir to throne of Sweden
- Husband of Catherine (Sophia Dorothea of Anhalt-Zerbst)
Catherine I
- Supreme Privy Council
- Dominated first by Menshikov, then the Dolgorukiis
- Academy of Sciences
*most of the seats of the Privy Council given to the "new people" - the ones Peter had brought up to power
* family from Moscow with the most power on the Council --- Dolgorukiis (remember - decendants of Yuri Dolgorukii - oldest of the Moscow nobility) - Note: consider the fact that the Dolgorukii's are on the same council as... Menshikov, a man whose father had sold meatpies on streets of Moscow (this thanks to Peter the Great)
Academy of Sciences:
Leonard Euler - most famous mathemetician in Europe after death of Isaac Newton - buried in St. Petersburg
- Menshikov = driving force during Catherine's reign
- Menshikov wanted his daughter to marry Catherine's son (to become grandfather of Emperor - this move not favored by the nobles)
----- overplayed his hand, even losing support of previous supporters (lost everything - titles, property, and exiled to Siberia - on journey his wife died of illness)
GOOGLE: Menshikov and family in exile --- Note: the interior of the building in the painting - might be referred to as "true Russia"
Peter II
- Veksel Statue (1729)
- Returned capital to Moscow
One of the Dolgorukii's tries to get their daughter married into the ruling family - to Peter II. Capital moved back to Moscow. --- Peter the Great had established premise of marriage to foreigners to stop noble families from internally competing for access to throne, but Dolgorukii's seen as being "of the top pedigree"
- Peter II died of smallpox day before coronation and wedding
- who to give crown to?
(sidenote: Duke of Mechlenberg - many towns/counties in America named after him - such as Mechlenburg, Va)
Anna Ioannovna (could be described as "overdone")
- Duchess of Courland - E. J. Biron
- "Conditions of 1730"
- Unpopular because of:
- Out-of-fashion court entertainments
- Two wars
- Undeclared in Poland (1733-35)
- With Turkey (1735-39)
- Expenditures
- Positives for nobles:
- Creation of Cadet Academy
- One son could avoid service
- Ballet academy
Paintings regarding Anna, by painter Valery Jakobi:
-Anna's "Cabinet" of Ministers
-Anna's Jesters
-Anna's Ice Palace
Most prefer autocracy over having a noble family assuming power - supported Anna over those who "are no better than we are" - Conditions of 1730 preserved
Biron - University graduate from U of Kernigsberg
- came to St. Petersburg with Anna
(last name given to her, pronounced Yoannovna is to associate her with Germans) - her era remembered popularly as a very bad time --- notion was that Biron was running Russia
Supreme Privy Council initially dominated by Menshikov and foreigners - as well as the Dolgorukiis (oldest nobility of Moscow) - Recall Yuri Dolgorukii
*Ivan Dolgorukii = strongest of the family
Petrine changes to Russia = under threat by the Dolgorukii's following Peter's sudden death
- Peter tried to marry sister off to Duke of Corline
- niece to Duke of Holstein
*Anna needed support from Supreme Privy Council, who had supported Catherine
- tried to place limitations on Anna (the Dolgorukiis influence seen on the council in this way - the 'conditions' ---- however, the 'foreign' and Petrine members of the council opposed threat of Dolgorukii oligarchy and did not immpose nor support the 'conditions' - thus autocracy continues with full power)
Era - the time of the "Bironovshchina" (because name not Russian, the -ov suffix is added to Russianize the name) - Biron held strong influence on Anna - after her fall, sent into exile for years until Catherine II allowed him to leave Russia - returned to Curland to try to reform it and increase status of peasants and decrease status of nobles, to which the Curland nobles backlashed against him and installed son in power
- Osterman (foreign affairs)
- Munich (military head)
-note, both Germans (Petrine leaders)
However, not quite true that Russia was a German dominated society (though this was popular impression under Anna's reign)
- Anna: backwards, or outdated sensibilities in regard to court entertainment
--- seemed out of touch (forced, for example, a 80 year old man to marry a young 20 something girl - to spend "honeymoon" in ice castle where they froze to death --- this for her humor/pleasure) - she was a nut
-- fought two unpopular wars (one undeclared --- King of Poland died (Petrine King of Poland), Augustus II - France had a candidate to put on the Polish throne as opposed to Russian candidate... Russia got candidate elected through war) - expensive
second war 1735-39: against Turkey to gain back Azov
- problems with Malaria (due to drinking brackish water) - tens of thousands died - in the end Victorious and area becomes permanent part of Russia, but dissatisfaction with her and her German leaders at top running Russia for supposed benefit of Germans and not of Russians
- she moved capital BACK to St. Petersburg -- remained capital until 1918 when Bolsheviks removed capital back to Moscow (still St. Petersburg calls itself the Northern or cultural capital)
*Nobles gained some things under Anna:
- recall, Peter required nobles to serve for lifetime, but in 1730s Anna issued decree that if there are several sons in family, one of the sons DOESN'T have to serve and may stay on estate
- Cadet academy established, open only to sons of nobles - entered military as officer if graduate of academy (this a change from Petrine order that even nobles had to rise through ranks, starting from the bottom)
--- Later on second academy established --- both housed in Menshikov's former palace - continued all the way down to Bolshevik Revolution
Anna: gross, "bathroom" sort of humor, but also established the first ballet school in Russia, promoting Italian troops of dancers and opera singers in Russian court (first operas in Russia under her) -- so, one side of personality being vulgar, yet also a patron of high culture -- a bit of a paradoxical individual (both a person looking backward, while simultaneously looking forward) - (perceived as supporting German control of top leadership - but retook Azov for Russia) - opposed by Moscow nobles, yet they had certain gains under her - indeed paradoxical legacy
Ivan VI = Anna's grand nephew (reign didn't last long - his mother's regency not particularly popular -- perceieved as having too much German influene)
1741 = regency of Ivan VI's mother overthrown - Russia being taken back from the foreiners (this is how it was perceived) - coup lead by Elizabeth, who was put up to it by Swedes and French (particulary the French)
--- at one point, Elizabeth lost courage (fear of consequences if failed) - but funded and prodded on by Swedes and French
- Ivan VI and mother kept in Russia in captivity (originally in monastery, then boy sent to Shlisselburg)
Elizabeth
- got support of guard units and overthrew regency at Winter Palace and she became Empress - she left running of Russia largely up to advisors (her cabinet)
- Wars:
- Russo-Swedish War, 1741-43
- Austrian Succession, 1746-48
- Seven Years War, 1756-63
Under her certain individuals rose to power:
- Never formally officially married (similar to Elizabeth I of England)
- several boyfriends - Cossack, soloist singer (Razimovsky) taken as male lover - he helped her create a singing school (possibly had a couple of children by him - became a serious couple for a while) --- in 1743 went to Ukraine so he could show her his home village - she spent money to fix up church there
---- put his younger, educated brother in head leadership of Ukraine, and eventually in charge of academy of science --- Razimovsky family rose to top aristocracy levels in Russia due to such patronage
GOOGLE: Razimovsky quartets
Later on, she had another favorite - Shuvalov. - Two capable cousins - one rose to high levels in finance an one in military. Their younger cousin, Ivan Shuvalov was then introduced to her - and he founded Moscow University - first University in Russia
---she signed decree for creation of the University on the day of his mother's birthday, Tatiana (her being named so as she had been born on St. Tatiana's Day) - thus mother, in a way, immortalized - though of peasant origin. (continued Petrine legacy, in efffect)
1740 - war of Austrian succession --- France, Britain, and Russians all pulled into war (Russia pulled in during last two years of war) --- French on Prussian side, - Brithish and Russians on Austrian side. --- though not very involved in the fighting, the very presence of the Russians helped to bring the war to an end (now moving onto the European stage)
**** War of Austrian succession (1740-48) began when Prussian seized Austrian province. - in mid-1750s, Austria begins another war (The Seven Years War) to retake formerly seized province (resulting in a world war) --- changes the alliances of Europe - Austrians and English no longer allied -- French and Prussians no longer allied --- Russia no longer allied with Prussia ---
(GOOGLE - research both wars - worth knowing for exam - likely)
-- both wars constitute beginnings of major shifts in alliance and culture in Europe, and constitutes strong Russian influence in European affairs
The second war: the Seven Years War (in America referred to as the French and Indian War) - also fought in Africa and India (you could call it the first world war in history
- The Russian army, in 1760, occupied Berlin for two or three weeks (it was a raid, and they knew they couldn't hold the city) - all countries exhausted with little money, but fairly clear Prussia would lose --- on Christmas Day 1761 (by old Russian calendar, Elizabeth died --- and her heir pulled Russia out of war - thus saving Frederick) - Prussia survived
Her heir - her sister's son (her nephew) - with relatives from Holstein on father's side - 14 year old boy who had been in line to be king of Sweden, which he preferred - but family felt it was more important for him and family to be Emperor of Russia --- HE HATED RUSSIA - forced to marry a foreigner (again, Petrine legacy) --- His name was Karl Ulrech - took name Peter to become Peter III
- Succession:
- Karl Ulrich, nephew (Anna's son), invited 1743
- took name Peter III, Emperor of Russia rather than King of Sweden
- Exploration
- Vitus Bering and Aleksei Chirikov, Alaska, 1741-42
*It was Peter who first hired Vitus Bering - sent him to explore the Pacific Coast (Russia had reached the Pacific Coast in the 1670s - discovered that America and Russia were in fact NOT connected. Two ships, the St. Peter and the St. Paul.... on his 1741-42 exploration sailed the Bering Straits and found the Elusian Islands.)
Another man on the exploration = Gaorg Stellar (Stellar's Sea Lion, Stellar's Eagle, and discovered the Sea Cow which went extinct in the 1750s)
- Bering died off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula due to not eating well --- due to not taking Stellar's dietary advice
Society
- Serf owner's power strengthened
- Already under other rulers:
- serf could not join army without landlord consent, 1727
- Lords could decide on extent of corporal punishment, 1736
- Serfs could not leave estate to work without permission, 1736
- Serfs not asked to swear allegiance to Elizabeth, 1741
- Female could not marry "outside" w/o permission, 1756
- Serf ownership limited to dvoriane, 1758
- Lords could exile serfs to Siberia for offenses, 1760
- Result?
- Increased disturbances especially on monastery and industrial lands
- Improvement of peasants, inability to pay taxes
*this period of the century referred to as the Golden Age of the landlords as power over peasant serfs increased dramatically
- could landlords could beat serfs to death
- could allow or deny a peasant's right to join the military
- could allow or deny permission for a serf to work in another town
- in 1741, some of every group of people represent their respective groups to swear alleigance to Elizabeth (nobles, artisans, Cossacks, free peasants), but FORGET the serfs (probably unintentional, but shows that serfs have reached lowly status of being simply forgotten as people - they're chattel, not people.
Finally, people outside of the nobility could not own serfs
"dvoriane" = "landlord"
Landlords could send any serf to Siberia for any reason he/she wanted, and then use it as a credit against the number of serfs they owed to military service.
Major price increase in Russia following major price increase in Western Europe. Landlords however want to live more like nobles in Western Europe, and monasteries and the Church spent more on higher priced goods ---- thus peasants asked and required to produce more. This squeezes them even harder than ever before. -- Peasants on Church and Industrial lands really suffer highly
--- peasants become even MORE impoverished with COMPLETE inability to pay taxes
Economy
- Internal tolls on trade abolished (especially between Ukraine and Russia), 1753
- Commercial Bank and Bank for Nobility, 1754
- New tariff - high import and export duties (for revenue), 1757
- Urban guilds continued to deteriorate (since Peter I)
*Peter Shuvalov
*Move to abolish internal tolls taken in Russia before in France (removal of internal tolls so that it keeps prices on national goods low, and keeps them thus competitive for foreign trade).
** Under Elizabeth in the 18th century - attempts to reinvigorate the economy (attempted stimulus)
Shuvalov: - concerned the nobles are spending too much money abroad (such as on fine furniture - a product not commonly produced in Russia. Attempt to discourage such foreign spending by placing high import duties.)
Shuvalov rose to prominence under Elizabeth. Shuvalov Palace
Culture:
- Writers emerged (the first genteration of Russian writers --- first non-religious... first secular writers and Russian literature, though not particularly popular today)
- Vasilii Trediakovskii (poet)
- Mikhail Lomonosov (poet, historian, chemist, etc.) - (a free peasant from the far north, near Arkhangelsk. The counterpart to Trediakovskii.) - (entered a Church-run school for literature at age 18 and mastered much Latin by end of first year. Interest in science and sent to several Universities in Western Europe. Famous scientist in Russia, and first Russian to gain admittance into Russian Academy of Science. -- In some ways like Benjamin Franklin in the United States - in fact did much of the same as Benjamin Franklin. Did exactly the same types of experiments as Franklin as about the same time and neither one knew of the other. ---- invented the Russian lightning rod, as did Franklin in America.) - (in the 1600s, the only place to get fine porcelain from was China, thus why it's called "China". Japanese figure out how to make fine China, and though not quite as good, they provide booming business to Dutch and other European countries. France then figures out how to produce fine China, and so does Saxony. Lomonosov brings it back from Saxony to Russia - resulting in the founding of the third fine China producer in Europe.) - (Became an honorary member of the American Philosophical Society).
- Antioch Cantemir (poet, diplomat) - Romanian. Russian ambassador to England.
- Alexander Sumarokov (dramatist) - first great Russian playwright (his plays had political and social themes. Supported by the government, and thus his plays were equally supportive of the government.)
- Fedor Volkov (actor) - Elizabeth established a theater, and he eventually became head of the theater
- Institutions founded
- University of Moscow, 1755 (named after Lomonosov --- Moscow University named for Lomonosov) ---- Shuvalov's University signed into existence on St. Tatiana's Day in honor of his mother
- Academy of Fine Arts, 1757
****Point: Russia moving toward Western culture
Peter III, 1761-62 (Peter the Great's grandson)
- Duke of Holstein
- Married his second cousin, 1745
- Son born 1754 (Paul)
- Three deeds
- Reversal of foreign policy
- Emancipation of nobility
- Secularization of church lands
- Overthrown, June 28, 1762 (o.s.)
Peter III
- NOT a fan of Russia, Russian language, Russian Orthodoxy
- began drinking heavily at age of 11 or 12
- his second cousin chosen to be his wife/bride
- tradition to pick spouse from insignificant state in Germany
- 9 years of a childless marriage - when she did have son, possibly that it was
from an affair, so possible that her son Paul may not really have been
Romanov. - Peter hated Russia - not interested in culture or learning.
- Liked marching troops around and playing with his toy soldiers.
- He tried to send her to a convent, and there was a coup staged to
overthrow him. In her memoirs, she potrays him as a nut, ousting him
after only 6 months on throne.
- In his short reign:
reversed foreign policy, changed Russian army uniform to look like Prussian army uniform. (oddly, remained Catherine the Great's policy for 20 years of her reign.)
He also said that the nobility no longer had to serve (except in wartime, nobles no longer have to serve, and can travel abroad as freely as they want. They can even serve in militaries of other countries, except those with whom Russia is at war.) It's possible that his law to emancipate the nobles was created as a drunken joke. In addition, there's no longer a justification for serfdom. The deal had been that the nobility served the state, and in return the state/crown ensured that the serfs made it possible for the nobility to live on the land via productivity. -- Finally, secularized church lands to give it to the peasants in response to uprisings among peasants. The Church then received salaries from the state, depending on the state instead of owning and gaining wealth from large tracts of land. Gave the land to the peasants.
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