Coup of 1762

Main article: History of Russia

June 27: Arrest of Pasek - active participant in Catherine's plot

On the eve of the coup of 1762, Emperor Peter III had fun in Oranienbaum with his amusing Holstein guards from among the Germans from Holstein, whom he defiantly preferred to the old Peter's guards from the first days of his reign: the emperor was also the reigning Duke of Holstein. Pyotr Fedorovich did not like Russia and considered his position as a Russian autocrat as an opportunity to use Russian resources to protect the interests of his native Holstein.

On the night of June 28 of the old style, guardsman Alexei Orlov arrived in Peterhof, where Empress Catherine was located. The news he brought was truly terrible for the empress: Pasek, one of the most faithful adherents of Catherine, an active participant in the conspiracy in her favor, who had long been visible in the capital, was arrested. Catherine immediately dressed, Orlov gave her a carriage, and she hastily left for St. Petersburg, realizing that she had broken through an hour to act. Delay threatened complete exposure - and then, at best, a monastery, or even a block, for the hatred of the emperor's wife reached extreme limits in recent months. Peter III, no longer shy, at all spoke of his intention to cut his wife in a monastery, declare the heir to Pavel Petrovich unborn and marry his mistress Lisa Vorontsova.

Pasek was determined to endure any torture, but not to extradite either his accomplices or the empress. This can be judged at least by the fact that when the guards soldiers who swore allegiance to Catherine appeared to release him, he refused to go with them, suspecting a trap. But Catherine could not know anything about this and therefore was forced to act on the basis of the most unfavorable assumptions.

June 28

The departure of Catherine and the Orlov brothers from Peterhof to St. Petersburg to the barracks of the Izmailovsky regiment, Semenovites and horse guards

On the way, two conspirators met the third - the brother of Alexei Orlov and the lover of Empress Gregory (in April of the same year, the couple had a son). Met - and drove in front. From the outside, a complete impression was created that Catherine was being taken to the capital under escort as a prisoner (a subtle calculation, undoubtedly capable of stirring up sympathy for the disgraced sovereign among the people).

The conspirators proceeded straight to the barracks of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky regiment, whose soldiers Orlov and Pasek propagated in advance. Catherine left a tear in front of the soldiers, complaining of oppression and humiliation on the part of her husband (which was true) and ending with a message that Pyotr Fedorovich planned to kill her and even sent the killers. The latter, was pure slander, but it worked: the soldiers sworn to assure Mother Empress that they would not extradite her. After that, a regimental priest was drafted, who led the Izmailovites to the oath of allegiance to Catherine.

Soon, Count Kirill Razumovsky, the commander of the Izmailovsky regiment, arrived at Catherine. This nobleman, recovered by Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna from ordinary Sloboda Cossacks, throughout the short reign of Peter Fedorovich was in the deaf opposition to his government and did not hesitate to ridicule the orders of the Holstein emperor right in his presence. It is not surprising that Kirill Grigorievich immediately joined the uprising. In the printing house of the Academy of Sciences headed by him, a manifesto on the accession of Catherine to the throne was already hastily published.

From the barracks of the Izmailovsky regiment, Catherine, accompanied by Izmailovsky soldiers, proceeded to the guards barracks of the Semenovites and horse guards, who immediately joined the uprising. Only in the Preobrazhensky regiment came out a small hitch, since some of the officers did not sympathize with the coup. But they were promptly arrested by their own subordinates, after which, according to some testimonies, the transfigurers almost on their knees begged Catherine for forgiveness. The oath in all four guards regiments was unhindered. But Catherine had to release the arrested Pasek personally - fearing provocations, he did not want to leave his prison for anything, not making sure that everything was in order with the empress.

The old Elizabethan uniforms were immediately removed from the regimental zeichhaus. The new Prussian model (which differed only in "green" Russian colors) introduced by Peter III, the soldiers were torn to shreds. The bitterness against the government was so great that it reached ugly scenes: for example, an officer's golden chase, torn off by the owner from his "Prussian" uniform, the soldiers attached to a stray dog and whistled her around the city. Grenadier hats of a new model threw each other with laughter instead of balls.

Catherine's prayer service in Kazan Cathedral and moving to the Winter Palace

Soon after Catherine arrived in St. Petersburg, an impressive military fist of ten thousand fighters of all three "arms" appeared in her hands. Accompanied by this impressive force, Catherine went to the Kazan Cathedral, where she defiantly, prayed, and then departed for the Winter Palace. By this time, the palace was already under the protection of guards soldiers with guns. On the bridge leading from St. Petersburg to Oranienbaum, a guard was also put up in order to stop any connection between the rebellious city and the emperor. However, someone managed to send news to the emperor through a servant.

Performance on the balcony of the Winter Palace of Catherine with Tsarevich Pavel in front of the soldiers. Declaring her an autocrat, and Paul the heir

They sent for Tsarevich Pavel. Awakened by the soldiers who appeared to him, the boy was mortally frightened (this horror survived for the rest of his life), however, his teacher Nikita Panin managed to calm the child down. The son was taken to his mother, who went out with him to the balcony of the Winter Palace, solemnly showed the prince to the soldiers and stated that she was handing them the fate of her son and heir. The enthusiastic roar of the crowd was her answer.

It is noteworthy that Peter III transferred his hatred of his wife to his son, whom he categorically refused to recognize as legally born. Therefore, he did not declare the young Pavel Petrovich heir upon his accession to the throne. Now Catherine took advantage of his gaffe, declaring herself the autocratic empress, and Paul - her heir, contrary to the wishes of the highest aristocracy, who dreamed of seeing young Paul on the throne, and Catherine - only a regent.

Peter III leaves Oranienbaum for Peterhof to celebrate name day

Meanwhile, Peter Fedorovich himself with his retinue on the morning of June 28, 1762 left Oranienbaum and went to Peterhof to celebrate his name day there. Catherine was supposed to meet him. However, arriving in Peterhof, the emperor was surprised to find it empty. Neither Catherine nor her servants were in the Peterhof Palace. While Pyotr Fedorovich was lost in guess what this could mean, and the maids of honor fought in hysterics, a messenger from St. Petersburg arrived, who said that the empress had arrived there and that the entire guard had sworn allegiance to her. A note given to them read: "Guard regiments rebelled. Empress ahead. Beats 9 o'clock. She goes to the Kazan Church. It seems that all the people are fond of this movement, and your Majesty's faithful subjects are not found anywhere. "

Minich offers Peter III to move to Kronstadt and rely on the sailors, but the emperor refuses and sends for the Holstein

Count Minikh, an old associate of Anna Ioannovna, who had fallen out of favor under Elizabeth and was rescued from exile by the new sovereign, suggested that Peter Fedorovich sail by sea to Kronstadt, who still remained faithful to the previous oath. The strong Kronstadt garrison, and most importantly - the navy in Kronstadt could be opposed to the rebellious metropolitan garrison and then talk with the empress from a position of strength. Moreover, the guards, who had lost their habit of firing under Elizabeth, did not represent a serious force compared to the sailors who were sailors in the campaigns of the recent Seven Years War.

However, the emperor continued to be at a loss. Frivolously despising the people, faith and customs of the country he was called upon to rule, Pyotr Fedorovich suddenly discovered with horror that he simply had no one to rely on, except for a handful of foreigners - his amusing Holstein guard, despite the fact that it was generally a good fighting force. After her, he orders to send, ordering to arrive with a full set of ammunition and artillery.

Peter III sends his mistress Roman Vorontsov's father to Catherine, but he swears allegiance to Catherine

At the same time, the father of the royal mistress Roman Vorontsov goes to the capital as an envoy to Catherine. Peter hoped for the popularity of this dignitary among the people and his influence on the empress. The degree of "popularity" of Vorontsov among the people can be judged at least by the nickname he received: Roman - Big Pocket. As for the empress, the father of a woman who openly slept with her husband could hardly be authoritative for her.

Vorontsov, arriving in St. Petersburg and seeing the popular support that Catherine was surrounded by, immediately swore allegiance to her and no longer returned to Peter III. The former head of the Secret Chancellery abolished by Peter III, Alexander Shuvalov, did the same. The commander of the guards artillery, Frenchman Vilbois, in love with Catherine, also did not slow down to join the uprising.

On June 28-29, 1762, envoys often traveled from the emperor to the empress - but none of them returned. State the men quickly realized on whose side the power was, and hurried to leave the sinking ship under a plausible pretext.

Admiral Ivan Talyzin led the garrison of Kronstadt to the oath of Catherine. Arriving Peter is not allowed on the island

Admiral Ivan Talyzin arrived in Kronstadt from Catherine with an order - to swear the Kronstadt garrison and fleet to the empress, prevent Peter III from landing in Kronstadt and prevent, if possible, his flight abroad.

Talyzin arrived in Kronstadt, where he announced to the commandant Nummers about the change (without specifying the fate of the former emperor). Nummers, who himself was burdened by the need to serve an insane and absolutely unpatriotic sovereign, expressed the joyful submission of the new government and immediately led the garrison and ship teams to the oath. Sent shortly before by Emperor Peter Fedorovich, General Devier, by order of Talyzin, was arrested by soldiers of naval battalions.

When Peter decided to seek salvation in Kronstadt, he was greeted there with an alarm signal, according to which soldiers and sailors took places on the fortress walls. The gunners stood at the cannons with lit wicks. The yacht and galley with the deposed emperor and his retinue on board stopped at the bon and sent a man to Kronstadt with the news of the arrival of the sovereign. In response, a decisive one was heard from the walls: "We have not a sovereign, but an empress! Galleys away! " I had to hastily retreat.

Minih offers Peter to sail to Prussia and lead the Russian army there to go to St. Petersburg, but he decides to return to Oranienbaum

In the memoir literature, there is evidence that Field Marshal Minich suggested that Peter III sail to Revel, where, having transferred to a military vessel, go to Prussia, where the Russian active army was still located (the Seven Years War had not yet ended, even though Russia, thanks to the "efforts" of Peter III, went over to the side of Frederick II and gave the Prussian crown back to East Prussia). According to Minih, the emperor could stand at the head of this army and lead it to the rebellious Petersburg. The emperor refused - his retinue, consisting mainly of ladies, was too frightened by the inhospitable reception in Kronstadt, and the galley captain referred to the fatigue of the rowers. The proposal of Minikh to put the male part of the retinue on the oars instead of tired rowers finally turned against his proposal of all those present: this very retinue willingly received awards from the hands of the emperor, but did not want to hit his finger for his salvation.

As a result, Peter Fedorovich ordered to return to Oranienbaum. In fairness, it is worth recognizing the adventurousness of Minih's plan, if one really existed. Firstly, it was visible to everyone with what dizzying speed the capital's troops went over to Catherine's side. What were the reasons to assume that the army in Prussia would treat the coup differently? And secondly, in Kronstadt there were guns and had their own ships. Try Peter to go to Revel - it would be easy to disperse his tiny squadron with artillery or send a chase.

June 29

Peter asks Catherine to let him go to Holstein and is ready to transfer the throne to her

As a result, Peter landed in Oranienbaum and sent new parliamentarians to the empress - with a request to release him to Holstein with Lisa Vorontsova and agree to transfer the rule of the Russian Empire to his wife.

Peter signs the abdication of the throne

Meanwhile, Catherine, dressed in military uniform, came out of St. Petersburg at the head of the guard. The guards seriously believed that they would have a battle against the amusing Holstein in Peterhof. However, they found Peterhof empty.

Soon, the chamberlain from Oranienbaum brought a letter from the former emperor, written in the most conciliatory and even humiliated intonations. There was no answer. Instead of answering the deposed emperor, the act of abdication drawn up by Catherine was brought: "During my short and autocratic reign in the Russian Empire, I learned from experience that I do not have sufficient forces for such a burden, and the management of such a state is not only autocratic, but whatever form exceeds my concepts, and therefore I noticed a hesitation, which could be followed by perfect destruction to my eternal ingloriousness. So, having realized all this in good faith, I voluntarily and solemnly declare to all of Russia and the whole world that for the rest of my life I have renounced my rule of the remembered state, not wanting to reign like this neither spontaneously nor under any other form of government, not even to harass it never through any outside help. In the certificate of which I swear before God and the whole universe, having written and signed this abdication with my own hand. "

On June 29 (July 10), 1762, on the day of his name day, Peter III abdicated (presumably first in Oranienbaum orally, then in Peterhof, signing the abdication act).

The former emperor was sent to Ropsha under the supervision of the guards guard led by Alexei Orlov.

July 6: Death of Pyotr Fedorovich in Ropsha

In Ropsha, under "mysterious circumstances," Peter died on July 6. According to the official version, he was killed by hemorrhoids, according to unofficial versions.