Empress Elizabeth Petrovna

Empress Elizabeth Petrovna

December 18 (29), 1709 in the village of Kolomenskoye, near Moscow, was born the last representative of the Russian branch of the Romanov family, the daughter of Peter I and Catherine I, Elizabeth. Born out of wedlock and being the youngest child in the family, she had almost no chance to take the Russian throne. However, the absence of direct male heirs, political intrigues of internal and external forces, the struggle for the throne between the representatives of the Romanov dynasty, which resulted in a series of palace coups, eventually enabled her to get the crown of her father. The collection of documents features Elizabeth and her age, which continued in Russia for more than 20 years.

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    Elizabeth of Russia (Elizaveta Petrovna)

    The section includes a review, which familiarizes the reader with the state policy of Elizabeth of Russia. It is accompanied by bibliography represented in certain topic blocks, as well as research works and documents, which turn the spotlight on the biography of the Empress and her private correspondence.
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    Beginning of reign

    The section provides materials, which focus the reader’s attention on the accession of Elizabeth to the Russian throne as a result of the palace coup in 1741, and describe her coronation.
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    Legislation

    The ruler’s legislative policy to a great extent characterizes key directions of his state policy. This section represents volumes of the “Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire”, among which are documents, issued in times of Elizabeth of Russia, the list of Imperial decrees of the Empress, arranged in chronological order, and also some of Imperial decrees.
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    Public institutions

    The section contains documents, which represent work of public institutions in Russia during the reign of Elizabeth of Russia.
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    Domestic policy

    The section focuses the reader’s attention on materials, related to the policy of Elizabeth of Russia in social and political, financial and economic and religious life. It also represents peoples’ petitions to the Empress.
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    Foreign policy

    e epoch of Elizabeth of Russia was famous for active diplomatic contacts. The section familiarizes the reader with diplomatic correspondence, materials, which unveil the struggle of court groups on foreign policy issues, and besides documents, related to military actions
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    Science and culture

    The reign of Elizabeth of Russia became golden age of Russian science and culture. The section introduces documents, which describe development of these areas.