Palace coups briefly about the main thing. Background and causes: Palace coups

After his death in 1725, the reigning The house broke up into two lines - imperial and royal.

According to the figurative expression of V.O. Klyuchevsky, the period from the death of Peter I to the accession of Catherine II was called the “epoch palace coups”: during this time, six monarchs occupied the Russian throne, receiving it as a result of complex palace intrigues or coups with the direct participation of the guard (a privileged part of the army created by Peter I).

In 1722, Peter I abolished the order of succession to the throne by will or conciliar appointment, replacing it with a personal appointment. But he did not have time to appoint a successor. After his death, representatives of the clan nobility (Golitsyn, Dolgoruky), who recognized Prince Peter as the heir, clashed with the bureaucratic authorities, who staked on Catherine I, and won this fight with the help of the guards regiments. Since that time, the noble guards regiments have become the main weapon of struggle between rival factions. All persons who came to the throne through a palace coup could not do without relying on the guards.

Under these conditions, there could be no question of continuing major reforms. AD Menshikov became the de facto ruler of the country. To help the empress in governing the country, the Supreme Privy Council was created - the highest government agency, the composition of which reflected the compromise of competing political forces. It included A. D. Menshikov, F. M. Apraksin, G. I. Golovkin, P. A. Tolstoy, A. I. Osterman, D. M. Golitsyn and Holstein Duke Karl Friedrich, the husband of Peter’s eldest daughter. Most turned out to be from the inner circle of Peter I.

After the death of Catherine I in 1727, according to her will, the grandson of Peter I, Peter II, was proclaimed emperor, and the functions of regent were transferred to the Supreme Privy Council, in fact, to A.D. Menshikov.

Menshikov's policy caused discontent even among his recent allies. In September 1727 he was arrested and exiled to distant Berezov, where he soon died. Having achieved the predominant influence in the Supreme Privy Council, the aristocratic group seeks to revise the transformations and, if possible, restore the order that existed in Russia before they were carried out.

In January 1730, the young emperor caught a cold during another hunt and died suddenly. During the discussion of possible candidates for the throne, the choice fell on the Duchess of Courland Anna Ioannovna, the daughter of Peter I's brother, Ivan Alekseevich. V deep secret conditions were drawn up, i.e. conditions for Anna Ioannovna's accession to the throne. Prince Golitsyn suggested: “We ought to relieve ourselves ... in order to add willpower. We should send items to Her Majesty.”

Conditions limited the autocracy, but not in the interests of the entire nobility, but in favor of its aristocratic elite of eight people, who sat in the Supreme Privy Council. According to the conditions, the right to conclude peace, establish new taxes, promote promotion, command the army, choose a successor to the sovereign, and much more passed into the hands of the Supreme Privy Council. As S.M. Solovyov: "All guarantees for eight, but against eight for the rest - where are the guarantees?"

These plans did not find support either among the nobles or the guards. Taking advantage of this, Anna Ioannovna proclaimed herself an autocratic empress, abolished the Supreme Privy Council, and sent its most active members to Siberia.

In the reign of Anna Ioannovna, the influence of foreigners reached unprecedented proportions. The tone at court was set by the favorite of the Empress, the Duke of Courland Biron, who enjoyed her boundless confidence. He occupied a dominant position in the court. During the years of the Bironovshchina, foreigners were promoted to lucrative positions, which caused protest from the Russian nobility.

The symbol of the reign of Anna Ioannovna became secret office(the successor of the Preobrazhensky order), who monitored the reliability of Russian citizens and was literally inundated with political denunciations. No one could consider himself safe from "word and deed" (an exclamation that usually began the procedure of denunciation and investigation)
Shortly before her death, the empress appointed herself a successor - Ivan VI - the grandson of Catherine Ivanovna (daughter of Ivan V), and not his mother, but Biron, was appointed regent of the child. In the conditions of general dissatisfaction with Biron, Field Marshal Munnich easily managed to carry out another palace coup, which in November 1740 deprived Biron of the rights of regent. Ivan's mother was proclaimed regent

The coup could not satisfy the interests of broad circles of the Russian nobility, since it still retained the leading position in the state for the Germans. Taking advantage of the weakness of the government and her popularity, Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter I, dressed in a man's dress, appeared in the barracks of the Preobrazhensky Regiment with the words: "Guys, you know whose daughter I am, follow me. Do you swear to die for me?" asked the future empress and, having received an affirmative answer, led them to Winter Palace. So during the next coup, committed on November 25, 1741 in favor of the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth, representatives of the Brunswick family who were on the Russian throne were arrested. The participants in the coup received generous rewards, those of them who did not have a noble rank were elevated to the nobility.

Empress Elizaveta Petrovna reigned for twenty years from 1741 to 1761. The most legitimate of all the successors of Peter I, raised to the throne with the help of the guards, she, as V.O. Klyuchevsky, "inherited the energy of her father, built palaces in twenty-four hours and traveled from Moscow to St. Petersburg in two days, peaceful and carefree, she took Berlin and defeated the first strategist of that time, Frederick the Great ... her courtyard turned into a theater foyer - everyone was talking about the French comedy, the Italian opera, but the doors would not close, the windows were blowing, the water flowed along the walls - such “gilded poverty”.
The core of her policy was the expansion and strengthening of the rights and privileges of the nobility. The landowners now had the right to exile recalcitrant peasants to Siberia and dispose of not only land, but also the person and property of serfs. Under Elizabeth Petrovna, the Senate, the Chief Magistrate, and the Collegia were restored in their rights. In 1755 Moscow University was opened - the first in Russia.

An indicator of Russia's increased influence on international life was its Active participation in the pan-European conflict of the second half of XVIII v. — in the Seven Years' War 1756-1763.

Russia entered the war in 1757. In the very first battle near the village of Gross-Egersdorf on August 19, 1757, Russian troops inflicted a serious defeat on the Prussian troops. At the beginning of 1758, Russian troops captured Koenigsberg. The population East Prussia swore allegiance to the Empress of Russia - Elizabeth.

The culmination of the military campaign of 1760 was the capture of Berlin on September 28 by the Russian army under the command of Chernyshov. Frederick II stood on the verge of death, but he was saved by a sharp turn in Russian foreign policy, caused by accession to the throne Peter III, who immediately broke off the military alliance with Austria, stopped hostilities against Prussia and even offered Frederick military assistance.

Peter III was on the Russian throne for a short time from 1761 to 1762. The nephew of Elizabeth Petrovna was unable to lead the state. A special censure of Russian society was caused by his admiration for Frederick II, the presence in many of his actions in the expression of his contemporaries of "shakiness and whim." The disorder of the state mechanism was obvious to everyone, which led to a new palace coup. His wife Catherine II, relying on the support of the Izmailovsky and Semenovsky Guards regiments, proclaimed herself Empress in June 1762. The Senate and the Synod swore allegiance to her. An attempt by Peter III to enter into negotiations did not lead to anything, and he was forced to personally sign the act of "spontaneous" oath abdication sent by Catherine.

Thus ended the era of "palace coups".

V Russian Empire the change of power took place mainly through palace coups carried out by noble groups with the assistance of guards regiments. In Russian historiography, this period is called the era of palace coups.

The beginning of the era is considered to be February 8 (January 28, old style) 1725, when Emperor Peter I died without leaving an heir and not having time to implement his decree of 1722, according to which the tsar had the right to appoint himself a successor. Among the contenders for the throne were the grandson of Peter I - the young tsarevich Peter Alekseevich, the wife of the late tsar Ekaterina Alekseevna and their daughters - princesses Anna and Elizabeth. It is believed that at first Peter I was going to leave the throne to Anna, but then he changed his mind and for the first time in Russian history crowned his wife Catherine. However, shortly before the death of the king, the relationship of the spouses deteriorated sharply. Each of the applicants had their supporters. On the day of the death of the emperor, Alexander Menshikov, who supported Catherine, having set up the guards regiments accordingly, lined them up under the windows of the palace - in this way he achieved the proclamation of the queen as an autocratic empress. The way the issue was resolved anticipated subsequent events.

In 1727, during the reign of the grandson of Peter the Great, Peter II, Menshikov himself became a victim of a coup, by that time he had concentrated all power in his hands and completely controlled the young tsar. Menshikov's unexpected illness was taken advantage of by his political opponents, the princes Dolgoruky and Andrey Osterman, who managed to gain influence over the tsar and obtain a decree first on the resignation, and then on Menshikov's exile to Siberia.

After the death of Peter II in 1730, the Supreme Privy Council appointed Anna Ioannovna, the niece of Peter I, as empress, who ruled for 10 years.

In October 1740, Anna Ioannovna died, leaving the Russian imperial throne to her great-nephew, two-month-old baby John Antonovich, under the regency of the Duke of Courland Ernst Biron.

Unpopular and unsupported by any section of society, the duke behaved arrogantly, defiantly, and soon quarreled with the parents of the infant emperor.

On the night of 20 (9 old style) November 1740, Field Marshal Burchard Christoph Munnich broke into the Summer Palace with 80 guards and, almost without resistance, arrested Biron. Anna Leopoldovna, the great-niece of Peter I, was declared the ruler of Russia, and his father, Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick, received the title of Generalissimo and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army. Munnich, who hoped to become a generalissimo, resigned.

Anna Leopoldovna was completely incapable of governing the state. The inhabitants of the capital turned their aspirations to Elizabeth - the daughter of Catherine I and Peter I, whose reign was remembered as a time of military victories, order and discipline. The abundance of foreigners at court was also one of the factors that irritated both the guards and the inhabitants of St. Petersburg.

People from Anna Leopoldovna's entourage saw Elizabeth as a threat and demanded that the dangerous rival be removed from St. Petersburg by marrying her off or sending her to a monastery. Such a danger and her own environment pushed Elizabeth to conspiracy. The crown prince's doctor, Johann Lestok, brought her together with the French ambassador, Marquis Jacques Chétardie, who, if Elizabeth came to power, expected Russia to abandon the alliance with Austria and rapprochement with France. Russian changes foreign policy Swedish ambassador Nolken also sought to achieve a revision of the terms of the Nystadt peace of 1721, which secured Russia's possessions in the Baltic states.

On the night of December 6 (November 25, old style), 1741, Elizaveta Petrovna led a company of grenadiers from the Preobrazhensky Regiment to storm the Winter Palace. The soldiers blocked all entrances and exits, arrested Anna Leopoldovna and her family, and proclaimed the princess the empress.

The Empress took care of the successor in advance, already at the very beginning of her reign, declaring her nephew Peter Fedorovich to them.

On January 5, 1762 (December 25, 1761 according to the old style), Elizaveta Petrovna died, Peter Fedorovich became Emperor Peter III. Almost from the first days of his reign, a conspiracy began to mature around the new king, headed by his wife Catherine, the nee princess of Anhalt-Zerbst, who came from an impoverished German princely family.

The couple never got along, but now Peter openly showed disdain for his wife and son, appeared everywhere in the company of his favorite Elizaveta Vorontsova. Catherine understood that she was threatened with prison or expulsion abroad. Active participants in the coup were the Orlov brothers, popular among the guards, Nikita Panin, the tutor of Grand Duke Pavel, and his niece, Princess Ekaterina Dashkova, Hetman of Ukraine Kirill Razumovsky.

On the night of July 7 (June 28, old style), 1762, Alexei Orlov brought Catherine from Peterhof to the barracks of the Izmailovsky regiment in St. Petersburg, where the guards took the oath to the new autocrat. By nine in the morning, Catherine, accompanied by soldiers, arrived at the Kazan Cathedral, where the Semenovsky, Preobrazhensky and Horse Guards regiments soon approached. Her son Pavel Petrovich was also brought here. In the presence of nobles, Catherine was solemnly proclaimed empress, and Pavel heir. From the cathedral she went to the Winter Palace, where the members of the Senate and the Synod took the oath.

On the same day, Peter III arrived with his retinue from Oranienbaum to Peterhof, where he learned about the coup d'état that had taken place. In the evening he went to Kronstadt, hoping to rely on the military forces of the fortress. But Admiral Ivan Talyzin, sent by Catherine, did not allow Peter to land on the shore under the threat of opening fire. Having completely lost his presence of mind, the deposed emperor decided to return to Oranienbaum and enter into negotiations with the empress. When his proposal to share power was left unanswered by Catherine, Peter III signed the abdication. He was sent to a country palace in Ropsha, the Holstein troops loyal to him were disarmed. July 17 (6 old style) former emperor Peter III suddenly and apparently violently died.

After the death of Peter I (1725) and before the coming to power of Catherine II (1762-1796), six monarchs and many political forces behind them were replaced on the Russian throne.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

In 1725, the Russian Emperor Peter I died without leaving a legitimate heir and without transferring the throne to the chosen one. Over the next 37 years, his relatives - contenders for the Russian throne - fought for power. This period in history is called era of palace coups».

A feature of the period of "palace coups" is that the transition supreme power in the state was not carried out by inheritance of the crown, but was committed by guardsmen or courtiers using forceful methods.

Such confusion arose due to the lack of clearly defined rules of succession to the throne in monarchical country, which caused the struggle of supporters of one or another applicant among themselves.

The era of palace coups 1725-1762.

After Peter the Great, the following sat on the Russian throne:

• Catherine I - wife of the emperor,
• Peter II - grandson of the emperor,
• Anna Ioannovna - the emperor's niece,
• Ioann Antonovich - great-nephew of the previous one,
• Elizaveta Petrovna - daughter of Peter I,
• Peter III - the nephew of the previous one,
• Catherine II is the wife of the previous one.

In general, the era of upheavals lasted from 1725 to 1762.

Catherine I (1725–1727).

One part of the nobility, headed by A. Menshikov, wanted to see the second wife of the Emperor Catherine on the throne. The other part is the grandson of Emperor Peter Alekseevich. The dispute was won by those who were supported by the guard - the first. Under Catherine, A. Menshikov played an important role in the state.

In 1727, the Empress died, appointing the young Peter Alekseevich as successor on the throne.

Peter II (1727–1730).

Young Peter became emperor under the regency of the Supreme Privy Council. Gradually Menshikov lost his influence and was exiled. Soon the regency was canceled - Peter II declared himself ruler, the court returned to Moscow.

Shortly before the wedding with Catherine Dolgoruky, the emperor died of smallpox. There was no will.

Anna Ioannovna (1730–1740).

The Supreme Council invited the niece of Peter I, the Duchess of Courland Anna Ioannovna, to rule in Russia. The challenger agreed to conditions that limited her power. But in Moscow, Anna quickly settled in, enlisted the support of part of the nobility and violated the previously signed agreement, returning the autocracy. However, it was not she who ruled, but the favorites, the most famous of which is E. Biron.

In 1740, Anna died, having chosen the baby John Antonovich (Ivan VI) as the heir to her great-nephew under the regent Biron.

The coup was carried out by Field Marshal Munnich, the fate of the child is still unclear.

Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761).

Again, the guards helped the native daughter of Peter I seize power. On the night of November 25, 1741, Elizabeth Petrovna, who was also supported by commoners, was literally brought to the throne. The coup had a bright patriotic coloring. His main goal was to remove foreigners from power in the country. The policy of Elizabeth Petrovna was aimed at continuing the affairs of her father.

Peter III (1761–1762).

Peter III is the orphaned nephew of Elizabeth Petrovna, the son of Anna Petrovna and the Duke of Holstein. In 1742 he was invited to Russia and became heir to the throne.

During the life of Elizabeth, Peter married his cousin, Princess Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbskaya, the future Catherine II.

Peter's policy after the death of his aunt was aimed at an alliance with Prussia. The behavior of the emperor and his love for the Germans alienated the Russian nobility.

It was the emperor's wife who completed the 37-year leapfrog on the Russian throne. She was again supported by the army - the Izmailovsky and Semenovsky guards regiments. Catherine was brought to the throne as once - Elizabeth.

Catherine proclaimed herself Empress in June 1762, and both the Senate and the Synod swore allegiance to her. Peter III signed the abdication.

Personalities of the period of palace coups

The period of palace coups is a bright page in the history of Russia. History is made by people. The article provides information about the most famous personalities of this period - statesmen and military figures, leaders of popular uprisings.

There are assignments No. 18-19 at the exam in history, in which questions on portraits can be given famous people. It will be necessary either to find out what kind of people they are, or to single out the one who was a contemporary of the ruler referred to in task No. 18. Therefore, look at the faces of these people of that distant epoch - epoch palace coups. It was they who were contemporaries of Anna Ioannovna, Elizabeth Petrovna, Catherine II. It was thanks to many of them that Russia became a powerful and strong power.

Personalities	Activity.
Biron E.I. (1690-1772)	Favorite Anna Ioannovna. Significantly influenced the external and internal politics. After the death of the Empress, he was removed. Sent to exile. Peter III returned him to Petersburg, under Catherine II he was the Duke of Courland. (See the historical portrait of Biron on the website: : historical - portrait . en )
Buturlin A.B. (1694-1767)	Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army in the Seven Years' War in 1760-1761. From 1762 - Moscow governor-general.
Vorontsov M.I. (1714-1767)	Member of the palace coup in 1741. Headed the foreign policy of Russia under Elizaveta Petrovna, senator, chancellor.

Vorontsov R.I. (1707- 1783)	Statesman, senator, since 1760 - Chairman of the Legislative Commission. His daughter Ekaterina was the favorite of Peter III, so Vorontsov himself was the most influential figure in the reign of Peter III.
Golitsyn D.M. (1665-1737)	One of the initiators of the invitation to the throne of Anna Ioannovna and the limitation of her power by the Supreme Privy Council. In 1737 - deprived of all ranks, imprisoned in Shlisselburg fortress and died there.
Golovkin G.I. (1660-1734)	In 1726-1730 he was a member of the Supreme Privy Council, an opponent of Menshikov. He destroyed the will of Catherine I, according to which the throne was transferred to the daughters of Peter I, was the initiator of the invitation to the throne of Anna Ioannovna, under her until her death he was the first cabinet minister.
Dashkova E.R. (1744 – 1810)	The princess, an active participant in the coup of 1762, took part in the creation of the Free Russian Assembly at Moscow University. From 1783 - director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. From the same 1783 - President of the Russian Academy. In 1796, Paul I sent her into retirement, then into exile. After his death, she was engaged in charity and scientific activities.
Dolgorukov V.M. (1722-1822)	Warlord, prince. Participated in the war with Sweden in 1741-1743, led the capture of the Crimea in 1771, for which he received the title Crimean. From 1780 - commander in chief in Moscow.
Kosciuszko Tadeusz (1746-1817)	Supervisor Polish uprising in 1794.
Minikh B.K. (1683-1767)	In Russian service since 1713. Under Anna Ioannovna, President of the Military Collegium. He commanded the Russian army in the war with Turkey in 1735-1739. Later he had no political influence.
Orlov A.G. (1737-1808)	State and military figure. An active participant in the coup of 1762, one of the influential figures under Catherine II, the Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet in the war with Turkey, won in 1770 at Chesma. Received the title of prince Chesme. He brought out a breed of Oryol trotters. During the reign of Paul I was abroad, he returned in 1801.
Orlov G.G. (1734 – 1783)	military and statesman, favorite of Catherine II, one of the leaders of the coup of 1762. Count, commander of artillery, in 1771 led the suppression of the plague riot in Moscow. Creator and first president Free Economic Society from 1765. From 1775 - retired, went abroad.
Osterman A.I. (1686-1747)	In the Russian service since 1703, a member of the Supreme Privy Council, educator and mentor of Peter II. Since 1731 - the actual head of the domestic and foreign policy of Russia. After the coup of 1741, he was exiled to Berezov.
Panin N.I. (1718-1783)	Statesman, participant in the coup of 1762 Pavel's tutor, headed the board of foreign affairs in 1763-1781.
Panin P.I. (1721-1789)	Military leader, participant in the Seven Years' War and wars with Turkey, in 1774 he led the troops, who suppressed the Pugachev uprising.
Poniatowski Stanislav August (1732-1798)	The last Polish king, ruled in 1764-1795. In politics, he focused on Russia.
Potemkin G.A. (1739-1791)	Statesman and military figure, favorite Catherine II. Member of the palace coup in 1762. From 1774 - President of the Military Collegium. Participant Turkish war 1768-1774.Suppressed the Pugachev uprising. In 1775 - the initiator of liquidation Zaporozhian Sich. In 1783 - achieved accession Crimea to Russia, received the title Tauride. Supervised the creation of the Black Sea Fleet. The commander-in-chief of the army in the war with Turkey in 1787-1791, Suvorov A.V., Kutuzov M.I. were under his command. Ushakov F.F.
Pugachev Emelyan (? 1740- 1775)	leader Peasants' War , originally from the Cossacks. Under the name of Peter III, he led the uprising of the Yaik Cossacks in August 1773, in September 1774 he was extradited by conspirators, in 1775 he was executed in Moscow on Bolotnaya Square. (See the historical portrait of Pugachev on the website: : historical - portrait . en )
Razumovsky A.G. (1728-1803)	The last hetman of Ukraine. From 1746-1765 - President of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. He supported Lomonosov M.V., under Catherine II - Member of the State Council.
Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky P.A. (1725 – 1796)	Outstanding commander. Member of all Russian wars since 1741. One of the organizers of the Russian regular army, the creator of new forms of combat. Outstanding military theorist. His works: "Instructions", 1761; "Rite of Service", 1770; "Thoughts", 1777. They served as military training aids.
Salavat Yulaev (1752-1800)	Bashkir national hero, associate of Pugachev. Since 1774 he was taken prisoner and sent to eternal penal servitude.
Saltykov P.S. (1698-1772)	A military leader, participated in the war with Poland in 1734, with Sweden in 1741-1743 .. in the Seven Years' War he commanded troops in 1759-1760, won a number of victories. From 1764 - Governor-General of Moscow. Dismissed after the plague riot in 1771.
Suvorov A.V. (1730-1800)	Great Russian commander, Count Rymniksky (from 1789), Prince of Italy (from 1799), Generalissimo (from 1799). Participant of the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763 and wars with Turkey under Catherine II, won a number of victories. In 1799 he brilliantly conducted the Swiss and Italian campaigns. Author of military-theoretical works: "The Science of Winning""and" Regimental institution. He did not lose a single battle, his strategy was offensive. (See the historical portrait of Suvorov A. on the website: : historical - portrait . en )
Ushakov F.F. (1744-1817)	Outstanding Russian naval commander, admiral since 1799. Participant in both wars with Turkey under Catherine 2.
Cherkassky A.M. (1680-1742)	He was in major government posts under Anna Ioannovna, supported her. And after her death in 1740 he was appointed chancellor.
Shuvalov P.I. (1710-1762)	Actual head of government under Elizaveta Petrovna. In the 50s, he determined the internal policy of Russia, which was based on the ideas of " enlightened absolutism". The author of many reform projects in the economy and finance, participated in the reorganization of the army.

The material was prepared by Melnikova Vera Alexandrovna

Almost the entire 18th century in history is considered the period of palace coups, which began due to the absence of an heir appointed by Peter I. The most important role in the change of power was played by the guards, as well as numerous noble groups.

Palace revolutions cover the period from 1725 to 1762 of the 18th century. For almost forty years the country was in a state of political instability. During this time, six monarchs reigned on the Russian throne: Catherine I, Peter II, Anna Ioannovna, Ivan Antonovich with the actual regency of Anna Leopoldovna, Elizaveta Petrovna and Peter Fedorovich. Most of them came to power through the use of armed force. The main reason for this situation is the lack of legislative framework, which officially determines the monarch's successor. In 1722, Peter I adopted a law on the heir, where he abolished the previously adopted forms of popular election or hereditary succession.

The main document, which expressed the personal will of the sovereign in choosing a successor, was to be a will. However, Peter himself never compiled it and did not express his will, which entailed far-reaching political consequences. The law of Peter I on the succession to the throne lasted until 1797. It was replaced by a new one, developed by Paul I, who legally established the succession of the throne through the male line.

The salient features of this period are:

• favoritism, permissiveness of temporary workers,
• the increased influence of the guardsmen, who became the backbone and support of the ruling regime,
• expansion of the privileges of the nobility,
• deterioration of the position of the peasantry.

Background and reasons

Background of the palace coup

Causes of palace coups

1) Contradictions between various noble groups in relation to the Petrine heritage. 2) The sharp struggle of various groups for power, which most often boiled down to the nomination and support of one or another candidate for the throne. 3) The active position of the guard, which Peter brought up as a privileged support of autocracy, which, moreover, took upon itself the right to control the conformity of the personality and policy of the monarch to the legacy that her beloved emperor left. 4) The passivity of the masses, who are absolutely far from political life capital Cities. 5) Aggravation of the problem of succession to the throne in connection with the adoption of the Decree of 1722, which broke the traditional mechanism for the transfer of power.

1) Moving away from the national political tradition, according to which the throne is only for the direct heirs of the king, Peter himself prepared a crisis of power. 2) A large number of direct and indirect heirs claimed the Russian throne after the death of Peter; 3) The existing corporate interests of the nobility and tribal nobility manifested themselves in their entirety. When analyzing the era of palace coups, it is important to pay attention to the following points. Firstly, the initiators of the coups were various palace groups that sought to elevate their protege to the throne. Secondly, the most important consequence of the coups was the strengthening of the economic and political positions of the nobility. Thirdly, driving force coups was the guard. Indeed, it was the Guard during the period under review that decided the question of who should be on the throne.

The supreme legislative bodies under the imperial persons in the era of palace coups:

Name	Period of activity	Emperors
Supreme Privy Council		Catherine I, Peter II
Cabinet of Ministers		Anna Ioannovna
Conference at the Imperial Court		Elizaveta Petrovna
Imperial Council