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