Lectures for students on Russian history (Методика освоения содержания предметного образования (История)). Учебное пособие

to Austria when lured him back to Russia. Alexey was imprisoned to island fortress. He faced his father’s raffle inquisition, was almost immediately confronted with an ultimatum that unless he divulged his accomplices he would not get his pardon. Under torture Alexey confessed to every offense his father could imagine, he even named

To find out the truth Alexey was tortured with a knout which is a thick leather whip that it just shreds through skin and 15 to 25 lashes with the network considered standard anything over that would cause death and on the first day alone Alexey get 25 lashes. The Tsar showed no mercy. He sentenced his son to be beaten for two days. In June 1718 Alexis died in the fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul condemned to death by his own father.

I honestly don’t believe that ultimately Peter wanted Alexey dead, he wanted him alive and being the Alexey which Peter wanted, but which is what Alexey couldn’t be. Within a year the wheel of fortune turned and ground down on Peter. His young son, the child of his loved Katherine died. The Russian Empire was left with no male heir and for Russia’s first official Emperor time was running short. On a cold November day in 1724 a vessel fell on rocks on the coast of the Baltic Sea. As being very impulsive person Peter dove into the freezing water to save the 20 sailors onboard. Urinary disease aggravated by alcohol was compounded by the consequence of his brave action and Peter succumbed.

As he lay dying he prepared to write his will. In a single generation Peter the Great had remained Russia. He had transformed an ancient land and isolated secretive Kingdom into a modern open nation and achieved the goal that had set for 30 years before. He had introduced so much that was never before: in particular he ended the xenophobia and religiosity of the old Muscovite way of life. And he ended the isolation of Russia as a country and I think this is terribly important. He introduced a whole new style of statecraft. Peter saw himself not as being a religious keeper of the status quo which the Muscovite Tsars were there.

31

As being a secular hard-working reforming Tsar was capable of creating through force. I think these were the ways in which Peter demonstrated himself to be a real revolutionary. On the brink of death one last task remained, Peter still had to name an heir of empire. He had 15 children from two wives but only two had survived and both of them were female. On a piece of paper, he wrote give it all to but he died without finishing the sentence.

I think ultimately the reason that Peter didn’t point out his successor that he was immortal: he didn’t expect to die as soon as he did, he thought he still had time but it was too late. The giant of the Romanov dynasty had died and left his empire without a ruler. After Peter’s death Russian

Empire stretched from the White Sea to the Caspian Sea and from the Baltic Sea to Pacific Ocean.

Peter’s personality left imprint on the whole history of Russia. Peter was a handsome man with original intellect, 2 meters high, much taller than his contemporaries. Some Peter's reforms were introduced quite brutally: Peter personally cut off the beards of his boyars and cut off parts of their clothes for European fashion. Unlike all earlier Russian Tsars, he didn’t run away from hard physical labor and enjoyed a simple lifestyle. Peter’s personality and his policy had been the source of much debate.

Peter I didn’t completely bridge the gulf between Russia and Western countries, but he achieved considerable progress in development of the national economy, trade, education, science, culture and foreign policy. Russia became great power under Peter I. His internal reforms achieved progress to an extent that no earlier innovator could have envisaged.

Tasks

1.Answer the following questions:

1.How and why Peter got a power?

2.What reforms did Peter I introduce and what was the result?

3.What strengthened Russia’s influence on the Baltic coast?

32

4.Why did Peter assume the title of Emperor and make Russia an Empire?

5.Why did Peter earn the title Great?

2.Watch video “History of Russian Empire” (Matteo Zilli, part 7-10 of 20) and summarize new information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jZN5cZ8U28.

3.Topics for writing essay.

1.Peter the Great – great personality in Russian history.

2.A new era in Russian history after Peter the Great.

3.Cultural rise in Russia under Peter I.

33

Lecture 6. CATHERINE THE GREAT AND ENLIGHTMENT

Part I

Sophia Augusta Frederica born a German princess of Anhalt-Zerbst became well-known as Catherine II. Catherine came to Russia from Germany in 1744 to marry Peter III. She was baptized and got new name after Empress Elizabeth’s mother, Catherine. As Catherine mounted to the Russian throne she did her best to give her people happiness, freedom and wellbeing. She was charitable, good-tempered and loved life.

At one dinner she warned the French ambassador to mind her ambitions: “There never was a woman bolder than I. I have unbridled audacity”. Peter III and Catherine drifted from distant relations to open hostility. Once he succeeded Elizabeth on the throne and he might lock his wife in a convent or dispose of her entirely but while her husband threatened Catherine build defenses and plan for the future. She forged alliances with generals and politicians throughout the Empire and across

correspondence and loyalty became a topic for discussion with Elizabeth and Elizabeth was unsatisfactory her.

Peter certainly had been planted in Catherine's mind but she didn’t like him. There was plotting and people who recognize Peter as being incompetent feared despotic tendencies in his character rallied around Catherine. While Peter and Catherine spark the Empress Elisabeth armies

34

marched into Prussia against King Frederick. The German-born Grand

Duke Peter had idolized all Frederick’s life. Russian conquests shaken

Europe's balance of power. Elizabeth had joined an alliance to quash Germanic Empire.

The greatest hero of them all was the guardsmen Gregoriy Orlov. Gregoriy was the second of the five brothers all of whom were handsome, reckless and dashing. Catherine fell in love with Gregoriy Orlov and he was the one who helped organize the guards to support her bid for the throne. Catherine and the Orlovs brothers dubbed Peter. Russian army had overrun Berlin and Frederick the Great was on his needs, German kingdom was about to be wiped off the map. Grand Duke Peter was in despair at the impending defeat of his beloved Prussia. His aunt the Empress Elizabeth was poised for victory. On Christmas Day 52 years-old surviving child of Peter the Great, the empress of Russia Elizabeth fell dead.

Elisabeth despite her flaws was a role model for Catherine on that a woman can be in charge and have power. The Empress's nephew and heir to the throne was the German Prince Peter III. At Elizabeth's funeral in his first act Tsar Peter III declared peace with Prussia, sparing his hero Frederick from annihilation and infuriating the entire Russian army. He ordered the officer corps changed Russian green uniforms. Peter hated all Russian and dressed them in Prussian blue uniform. He stripped the icons out of the Russian Orthodox Church. He ordered the priests to dress like German Lutheran ministers. Peter III ordered an invasion votes to claim the German homeland.

One-night Peter toasted his impending crusade when his wife Catherine failed to raise her glass, Peter announced to all that her time had run out he was threatening to divorce Catherine and send her to a nunnery and leave her without anything. So, Catherine realized that the moment had come also for her to act. The next night Catherine’s favorite Gregoriy Orlov with his brothers and their fellow guardsmen went to save Catherine and Russia. They deposed Peter easily but the worst was still to come. If you are an Empress the only good ex-emperor is a dead ex-emperor.

35

Orlov and his brothers drag Peter out of St. Petersburg. The conspirators soon sent Catherine a letter soon with the news “the monster was dead”.

In July of 1762 Peter III Tsar of Russia suffered an unfortunate fatal accident he collided with the ambitions of his wife Catherine the Great. The official word was that he had died of hemorrhoids. After Peter III was killed it became even more important that Catherine established that she was a savior of Russia because he was going to crucify Russia. Catherine declared herself as the sovereign ruler of Russia. To depose an unpopular ruler was one thing but for a German princess to claim the crown of Russia – another. Catherine seized the throne with a coup then consecrated her Authority. She went to the cathedral of the Kremlin to be crowned. Catherine immediately orchestrated a brilliant coronation in which she was celebrated as elected by the people.

Catherine would have to transform herself and the Russian nation. Catherine had the hotspot to think that she could rule well indeed. Possibly she knew that she had the talent and she had the backpacking. Catherine had become Russian: she certainly saw herself as legitimate that she was the competent person. She was devoted to Russia and Russian interest and she saved Russia from disaster. During the first years in power Catherine’s attention was directed to strengthening her position. She knew that a number of influential people considered her power illegal but her son Paul as the rightful ruler. Catherine realized that she needed the support of the nobility and army.

In the early reign Catherine had far-reaching plans regarding both domestic and foreign policy. She understood that Russia required general changes. By 1764 Catherine was ready to start working on reforms. Influenced the ideas of the Enlightment monarchs thought that a wise and generous ruler could ensure the well being of their people. In the spirit of Enlightment Catherine carried out her first major reform of legal system. Code of laws was active from 1649 and became less effective. More than two years Catherine worked on the Instruction

of delegates from all levels of society except the serves. Despite many Comission made no progress and Catherine put an end of this in 1768 (after one year). Catherine was strongly opposed to serfdom but she didn’t want to lose the support of nobility, that’s why she did nothing for serves.

Catherine’s government followed a general policy of developing public confidence with the aim of leading Russia to full and equal membership in Europe like Peter did. She expanded the Senate, incorporated Ukraine into the Russian empire by abolishing a selfgoverned Cossack community in Southern Ukraine centered at the Dnieper River that had its own political and administrative center the hetmanship (also known as hetmanate).

Catherine devoted much attention to expanding education. She enlarged the number of elementary and secondary schools. She believed that Russia could be a center of civilization. Under her reign Academy of Science reached new heights. Catherine founded the society for the translation of foreign books into Russian. Comprehensive dictionary of Russian language was published. She filled the rooms of St. Petersburg's palace with art of the great masters, turning it into the world's greatest museum – Hermitage (a museum part of Winter Palace). She also collected admirers, heart powerful friends and devoted men. Under Catherine II Saint-Petersburg was rebuilt and became one of the most beautiful and cultural centers in Europe.

The Empire was expanded in almost every direction: from Eastern Europe to Alaska America's Pacific Northwest. The territory of Russia was increased greatly from 11 to 50 provinces. The population grew in some times. She founded 144 cities and towns – more than 4 city a year. Catherine reign was supreme: she pursued reform, promoted local government, opened schools and universities. She encouraged Russian elites to challenge tradition. The entire Russian elite felt as though they were having a honeymoon period with the Empress because they finally

37

discovered that they had an Empress who spoke the same language as they did, the language of the Enlightenment, who had the same goals as they did. Catherine made Russia a state based on law not based on personal rule and the elite applauded the Empress. In 1762 in the age of enlightenment philosophers and writers heralded the rights of man, the belief that reason could perfect human society. Catherine saw herself as a priestess of the liberal movement. The rights of man were confronted by the Empress Catherine with a dangerous paradox for Russia where the economy was built on the slave labor of the serfs Human Rights were an explosive ideal.

It was enormous staff between sections of educated society and peasant’s population. Russia became increasingly difficult to govern.

Catherine’s high ideals didn’t apply to peasants but empress knew her power depended on the loyalty of the nobility. So, emancipation of serves would be undermined and perhaps dispossessed the aristocracy which would bring her own downfall.

Catherine II attempted to increase Russian territory at the weaker neighbors (Poland and Ottoman Empire). She sent troops to help Polish King for suppressing revolt and supporting Russian influence there. War

an alliance with the polish opposition, Russia was supported by Great Britain. In 1772 Austria and Russia annexed Polish territory during the First Partition of Poland. After long-lasting negotiations, 2 years later, Catherine wrote down the peace with Turkey. Russia received a territorial concession on the Black Sea coast. Russian merchant ships could sail in the Black Sea.

With Austria’s support Catherine began to conduct so aggressive policy which led to a new war (1787). Russian army totally defeated Turkish army after four years. Result of it was a large territory on the Black Sea coast and annexation The Crimean Peninsula. Polish nationalists started revolt against Russian influence in Poland. But after the Second and The Third partitions of Poland Polish state was divided into parts between Russia, Prussia and Austria and Poland didn’t exist anymore.

38

In villages along the Volga, the peasants took matters in their own hands. In 1773 Cossack and army deserter – Emelian Pugachev proclaimed himself as Catharine’s dead husband – Peter the third and tried to get power. Pugachev settled up a court and started issuing edicts. He promised to give freedom the serfs and divide up the land. So, this was quite revolutionary and attractive for many parts of the population. After a year the rebellion gripped the Volga River basin. Many people followed Pugachev to Moscow from the South. The rebels murdered hated landowners and sacked their homes. Catherine sent Russian army headed by A. Suvorov against Pugachev and forces of rebellions were defeated. In 1774 the Pretender was captured, brought to court in an iron cage, interrogated and executed. His peasant revolt died with him. After this Catherine renamed the river Yaik (the center of Cossak revolt) into the

Ural. The revolt was a major landmark in Catherine’s reign. She concluded to strengthen local authority.

Human rights ended for Catherine where they threatened her absolute rule. It's been said by people who were in her entourage that she developed a fear of the common people and conviction that it was much too early to free the serves. Like Tsar Peter the Great Catherine was committed to reform. There's a very clear logic in Russian expansion. Territorial expansion brings aristocracy many benefits. The state itself is a sort of deal between the tsar and the aristocracy and both of them gain tremendously from expansion.

Catherine knew that one territorial goal had always tantalized the tsars to expand – shores of the Black sea. Seizing the Black sea coast from the Ottoman Empire would become the Tsarina's enduring obsession. In 1768 Catherine's army marched to the years of warfare with Ottoman Turks and their allies. She could not be a general in the field, but she paid a lot of attention to the armed forces made sure that they were loyal to her; she gave them all sorts of favors. One victorious commander in the Turkish campaigns was Gregoriy Potemkin, he had special favor of the Empress. Soon his positioning eclipsed old favorite Gregoriy Orlov. Potemkin was tall, one-eyed; he

39

lost an eye in the battle, greasy, brutish. All those qualities repulsed most women and he was satisfying the Empress. Potemkin gained a lot of power in the Empire. The moody battle-scarred warrior became the Empress's closest advisor and the great love of her life. He was awarded chambers in the Winter Palace and for years he could be seen roaming about in the halls at night. It appeared that they had a very passionate affair and may have been secretly married.

Catherine used someone who grew into a great statesman. One of the great statesman and all of Russian history was G. Potemkin. Potemkin enlisted in Russian-Turkish war and planned of dismembering of the Ottoman Empire. The first step was conquering the strategic Black Sea Peninsula – the Crimea. The Crimea dominated over the Black Sea, controlling of it would give Russia a commanding southern stronghold. In 1784 Russia officially took control of the Peninsula. The Empress gave Potemkin the title of the Prince of the Crimea to show her gratitude. After 20 years on the throne the Empress

of St. Petersburg. The Magnificent Bronze Horseman became a symbol of her legitimacy, one more link in the chain between a German princess and the dynasty of the Romanovs. She wanted to make clear to them that she was going to follow the kind of policy that Peter the Great had that Russia was going to be great again and she actually was offered the title of the great in the first year of her reign and she rejected and said this is absurd, this is only something that posterity can decide. Catherine now considered herself truly Russian. Once when doctors came to bleed the Empress she joked that she hoped they would drain the last drop of her German blood.

At the end Catherine’s legacy was shaped by blood, blood in the streets of Paris over a thousand miles away, the blood of the French