The night from January 18 to 19, 1730 was sleepless for many in Moscow. In the imperial residence - the Lefortovo Palace, which was located on the Yauza River - the Russian autocrat Emperor Peter II Alekseevich was dying. Twelve days earlier, on January 6, he caught a bad cold while participating in the Blessing of Water festival on the ice of the Moscow River. Soon smallpox, a frequent visitor to our ancestors, was added to the cold. The king became delirious, the fever intensified, and on the night of January 19, agony began. Doctors, priests, and courtiers who did not leave the sick bed could no longer help their master: without regaining consciousness, Peter II died. According to contemporaries, his last words were: “Harness the sleigh, I want to go to my sister.” The Tsar's sister, Grand Duchess Natalya Alekseevna, died in the fall of 1728.
The night of January 19 was terrible for Russia. Not just an emperor, an autocrat, a fourteen-year-old boy who should have lived and lived died. The last direct descendant of the male branch of the Romanov dynasty, dating back to the founder and first Tsar of the dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, has died. The great-grandson of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the grandson of Peter the Great, and the son of Tsarevich Alexei died. "Who will inherit the throne?" - thought everyone who was in the Lefortovo Palace that night. It has happened more than once in Russian history that after the death of a sovereign who left no direct heir, the horror of an interregnum loomed over the country. The memory of the terrible years of the Time of Troubles at the beginning of the 17th century was still alive, when after the death of the childless Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich and the mysterious death of the last of the sons of Ivan the Terrible - Tsarevich Dmitry, a monstrous bacchanalia began at the throne, civil war, ruin and looting. According to a contemporary, the Russian people were then shackled by “insane silence.” It seemed to everyone that the sky was about to fall on the Russian land, mired in sins and crimes, and Russia would disappear.
The events of the spring of 1682, when the childless Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich died, were also memorable. Then the archers, skillfully warmed up and directed by Princess Sophia, rushed to kill and rob supporters of the family of the new, newly elected tsar, ten-year-old Peter I. Memories of January were still alive

1725. The death of Peter I, who also did not leave a will, almost led to an open clash of court factions. And now, five years later, the ghosts of the Troubles could rise from their graves again. On that winter night of January 19, 1730 in Moscow, in the Lefortovo Palace, the fate of Russia was being decided - a huge country that was sleeping and still knew nothing of anything.
Peter II left neither heirs nor a will. Having come to power in May 1727 thanks to the efforts of Menshikov, he, a twelve-year-old boy, listening to the advice of the secret enemies of his Serene Highness, already in September of the same year got rid of Menshikov, deprived him of his ranks and exiled him to Siberia. Tall and physically developed beyond his years, young Peter quite early fell into the bad company of the then “golden youth” and became friends with Prince Ivan Dolgoruky, who was famous as a young man alien to morality. After the court moved to Moscow at the beginning of 1728, Peter finally plunged into the world of entertainment, out-of-town hunting trips, which became his passion. It is difficult to say what would have awaited Russia if Peter II had not died at the age of fourteen, but lived longer. Of course, personality transformations and character evolution are possible, but it is still difficult to get rid of the impression that in the person of Peter II Russia would receive a king somewhat reminiscent of Louis XV, the French king who became a symbol of debauchery and shamelessness.
But fate decreed otherwise, and therefore the people who found themselves in the palace on the night of January 19, 1730, were painfully thinking about one question: who would come to power? Will it be the descendants of Peter I from his marriage to Catherine I - his twenty-year-old daughter Elizaveta Petrovna or his two-year-old grandson Karl Peter Ulrich, the son of the then deceased Anna Petrovna and Duke of Holstein Karl Friedrich? Or maybe, like after the death of the last king from the ancient Rurik dynasty, a new dynasty will take the throne?
This is exactly what the Dolgoruky princes passionately dreamed of. They also belonged to the Rurikovichs, although to their side branch, and were almost always in the shadows. Only during the short reign of Peter II, thanks to the favor of Ivan Dolgoruky, they moved to the first roles in the state and achieved a lot: wealth, power, and higher ranks. The favorite's father, Prince Alexei, was especially successful
Grigorievich. He courted the young tsar for a long time until he achieved his betrothal to his daughter and Ivan’s sister, Princess Ekaterina Alekseevna Dolgoruka. The solemn engagement took place on November 30, 1729. The wedding was scheduled for January 19, 1730. It seemed that just a little more - and the Dolgorukys would become related to the reigning dynasty and become inaccessible to all their enemies and ill-wishers. Imagine their despair when it became known about the mortal illness of the Tsar-groom! Something had to be done!
And so on January 18, in the house of Alexei Grigorievich Dolgoruky, his relatives gathered for a secret meeting. After some wrangling, a forged will was drawn up, which they decided to announce as soon as Peter II closed his eyes forever. According to this will, the tsar allegedly transferred the throne to his bride, Princess Ekaterina Alekseevna Dolgorukaya. Prince Ivan Dolgoruky even signed for the Tsar on one of the copies of the will. How did the Dolgorukys decide to do this? After all, they were not at all naive simpletons who did not understand that by preparing a fake they were committing a terrible state crime, for which eternal exile to Siberia was the mildest punishment. We do not know what motivated them more - frivolity, arrogance, confidence in impunity or despair. But we have reached the opinion of contemporaries that none of the Dolgoruky clan shone with intelligence. As you know, this quality is very important in politics.

Read an excerpt from a historical source.

“The night of January 19 was terrible for Russia. The great-grandson of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the grandson of Peter the Great, and the son of Tsarevich Alexei died. Who will inherit the throne? - thought everyone who was in the Lefortovo Palace that night. It has happened more than once in Russian history that after the death of a sovereign who left no direct heir, the horror of an interregnum loomed over the country. The memory of the terrible years of the beginning of the 17th century was still alive, when after the death of the childless Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich and the mysterious death of the last of the sons of Ivan the Terrible - Tsarevich Dmitry, a monstrous bacchanalia began at the throne, civil war, ruin and looting. According to a contemporary, the Russian people were then shackled by “insane silence.” It seemed to everyone that the sky was about to fall on the Russian land, mired in sins and crimes, and Russia would disappear.

The events of the spring of 1682, when the childless Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich died, were also memorable. Then the archers, skillfully warmed up and directed by Princess Sophia, rushed to kill and rob supporters of the family of the new, newly elected king...”

Using the passage and your knowledge of history, choose three true statements from the list given. Write down the numbers under which they are indicated in the table.

1) The emperor whose death is mentioned in the passage was the last direct descendant of the Romanov dynasty in the male line.

2) The events of the late 17th century, which are mentioned in the passage, went down in history under the name “Troubles”

3) The passage talks about the death of Emperor Peter II.

4) After the death of the emperor, which is mentioned in the passage, Elizaveta Petrovna ascended the throne.

5) The fate of the Russian throne during the events described in the passage was decided by the Supreme Privy Council.

6) After the death of the emperor, which is mentioned in the passage, the reign of a new dynasty begins in Russia.

Explanation.

The passage refers to the death of Peter the Second in 1730.

1) The emperor whose death is mentioned in the passage was the last direct descendant of the Romanov dynasty in the male line - YES, that's right.

2) The events of the early 17th century, which are mentioned in the passage, went down in history under the name “Troubles” - NO, incorrect. The Troubles occurred at the beginning of the 17th century.

3) The passage talks about the death of Emperor Peter II - YES, that's right.

4) After the death of the emperor, which is mentioned in the passage, Elizaveta Petrovna ascended the throne - NO, incorrect.

5) The fate of the Russian throne during the events described in the passage was decided by the Supreme Privy Council - YES, that's right.

6) After the death of the emperor, which is mentioned in the passage, the reign of a new dynasty begins in Russia - NO, incorrect.

Answer: 135.

Igor Gladyshkevich 25.11.2016 13:40

In my opinion, the second option is correct. “The memory of the terrible years of the beginning of the 17th century was alive, when after the death of the childless Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich” - the text is talking about the Time of Troubles. And the version indicates the beginning of the 17th century, i.e. just the Time of Troubles.

Valentin Ivanovich Kirichenko

The passage is about the death of Peter the Second in 1730. And these are palace coups.

Irina Gostraya 25.11.2016 19:20

The explanation states: “2) The events of the beginning of the 17th century, which are mentioned in the passage, went down in history under the name “Troubles NO, incorrect. These are palace coups,” but palace coups date back to the 18th century.

Valentin Ivanovich Kirichenko

Empress Anna Ioannovna of Russia was born in Moscow on January 28, 1693, but then only her relatives noticed it. From this day on, one had to live another 37 years to become part of history. Her real birthday should be considered the night from January 18 to 19, 1730, when the autocrat Emperor Peter II Alekseevich died in the imperial residence - Lefortovo Palace on the Yauza River. And a few more days at the end of January, which again determined her fate.

The French formula “The king is dead!” Long live the king!" applicable to all countries and all eras. But that January night when the 14-year-old boy died was truly terrible for Russia. The last direct descendant of the male branch of the Romanov dynasty, dating back to the founder and first Tsar of the dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, has died. Great-grandson of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, grandson of Peter the Great, son of Tsarevich Alexei.

The ominous specter of an interregnum was descending on the country. People still remembered the terrible years of the Troubles of the early 17th century, when after the death of the childless Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich and the mysterious death of the last of the sons of Ivan the Terrible - Tsarevich Dmitry - a civil war and foreign intervention began. The accession of Peter I's sister Sophia in the spring of 1682 was also not without blood. And Peter the Great himself died without leaving a will, which almost led to an open struggle for the throne and crown between court factions.

The highest government body after the death of young Peter II was the Supreme Privy Council. Having gathered for a meeting, the four supreme leaders and a number of other people who joined them developed a common position on the choice of the ruler of Russia. They decided: “You need to choose from the illustrious Romanov family and no other. And since the male line of this house has now been completely interrupted, we have no choice but to turn to the female line and choose one of the daughters of Tsar Ivan.”

Ivan V - the elder brother and co-ruler of Peter the Great - was the son from the first marriage of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. After his death, three daughters remained: Catherine - Duchess of Mecklenburg; Anna - Duchess of Courland and Princess Praskovya.

At Golitsyn’s suggestion, which everyone present agreed with, they chose the middle one - Anna. Why? Anna is already a widow, although still at a suitable age for marriage, therefore, she can give birth to an heir. But the main thing is “she was born among us and from a Russian mother in an old good family, we know the kindness of her heart and her other wonderful virtues.” This also gave the cunning courtiers reason to hope that a woman who has no one to rely on, who has lived for a long time in a foreign land, will not hesitate when they try to shorten her power...

The leaders, interrupting each other, began to dictate conditions to the clerk - limiting the royal power to special conditions. In particular, they forbade the Empress, without the permission of the Supreme Privy Council, to wage war, impose taxes, spend government money, grant ranks and lands, and command the guard and army.

The conditions ended with a remarkable wording: “And if anything according to this promise is not fulfilled, then I will be deprived of the Russian crown.”

A week later, on the evening of January 25, a Moscow delegation arrived in Mitava - the capital of the small German duchy of Courland (now in Latvia). After listening to the conditions, Anna signed the conditions with her own hand. Departure from Mitava was scheduled for January 29.

The newly-minted empress was returning to her historical homeland: Anna was born in the Kremlin chambers, and spent her childhood in Izmailovo, on an island surrounded by a ring of ponds in an intricately shaped wooden palace. There were greenhouses where tangerines, grapes and pineapples ripened for the royal table. In the Izmailovo ponds there were pikes and sterlets with gold rings in their gills, worn during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. These tame fish surfaced to feed at the sound of a silver bell.

As a child, Anna studied French and German, literacy and dance. But all her life she wrote clumsily and illiterately, never learned French, and even danced awkwardly. Childhood ended when Anna was taken to a new city - Petersburg, when she was only five years old. The girl turned out to be the unloved child in the family, and this subsequently significantly affected her character.

Before her crowning, the grown-up Anna still had to get married and settle in a foreign land for a long time. She was married to the Duke of Courland, Friedrich Wilhelm. Not only was his war-ravaged duchy a vassal possession of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and smaller in size than our Tambov district, but the duke himself was a skinny young man, a bully and a drunkard.

On January 8, 1711, the newly married couple left for Mitava. At the first postal station Duderhof, broken by continuous drinking bouts in St. Petersburg, Friedrich Wilhelm died. So still young Anna remained a widow. At first, she continued to live either in Moscow or in St. Petersburg, until Uncle Pyotr Alekseevich finally sent her to Mitava... Anna’s position became even more unenviable. The leaders called a woman of such a fate to become the ruler of Russia.

The subjects saw before them a capricious and suspicious person. But, as often happens, intelligent men miscalculated the abilities of this unfortunate and seemingly harmless woman...

On February 25, 1730, Empress Anna Ioannovna, without hesitation, broke the rules that were taking away her power. The Empress was greatly helped in this by her relative Semyon Andreevich Saltykov, who called on the Preobrazhensky and Cavalry Guards to support her. Guardsmen of the 18th century often decided the fate of the throne and the Fatherland. And the yellowed document with the conditions, torn by a woman’s hand, is still kept in the museum.

“Vivat our Empress Anna Ioannovna!” - Field Marshal Dolgoruky was the first to exclaim. The old soldier could not even imagine that in the near future he would be accused of insulting the honor of Her Majesty... Anna would deprive him of all ranks and titles and imprison him in a fortress for eight years.

The first attempt to create parliamentarism in Russia stumbled over a lady's heel. And for almost three hundred years it did not make itself felt. Throughout her reign, Anna was not too interested in state affairs. She entrusted them to her favorite, chamberlain Ernest-Johanun Biron. He, as well as a narrow group of people who fought for the favor of the empress, began to determine the policy of the country.

In 1732, the Empress ordered the opening of the 1st Cadet Corps, which trained nobles for military and public service. But already in 1736 she issued a decree that the nobles were given the right to receive education at home and only periodically “appear at shows and undergo examinations.” Needless to say, such people greatly corrupted the military and bureaucratic class...

Anna considered it completely harmful to teach ordinary people to read and write. “Study can distract him from menial work,” she wrote in a 1735 decree.

Judging by the evidence of that era, Empress Anna Ioannovna was something of a typical landowner lady. She loved bright clothes, hunting, entertainment and gossip, and did not disdain gossip about the personal lives of her subjects. She kept a whole regiment of jesters at court.

“She is almost my height, but somewhat thicker, with a slender figure, a dark, cheerful and pleasant face, black hair and blue eyes. His body movements show some kind of solemnity that will amaze you at first glance; but when she speaks, a smile plays on her lips, which is extremely pleasant,” Lady Jane Rondeau, the wife of the English ambassador, describes the Empress.

The history of the city of Zmeinogorsk is inextricably linked with the development by Russian people of the underground riches of Zmeevaya Mountain. The discovery of the Zmeevskoye deposit and its decades-long, but ultimately successful exploration created the preconditions for the emergence of the Demidov mine here. The beginning of regular ore mining led to the formation of a settlement in 1744, which over time turned into the provincial city of Zmeinogorsk.
The city owes its fame and worldwide fame to the Zmeevsky mine, which in the second half of the 18th century was the main source of gold and silver for the Russian Empire. That is why it is possible to restore the initial history of the city only by studying in detail the events associated with the emergence of Russian mining production in Altai.

—

Welcome to our website Zmein-On-Line

Here you can find many videos. You came to us in search of information on the night of January 19th was terrible for Russia.

The site automatically collects the newest and most relevant information that matches your relevant requests. Information becomes available to you using the function. On the site you can find a lot of unique content! The purpose of publishing these collections on the website ZmeinoGorsk.RU Doomed City (aka Zmeinogorsk or Zmeinogorsk) is to discuss information without any personal prejudices!

10 Awkward Moments LIVE!!!))

They did this on federal channels..! The presenters are rocking it live! Everything that accidentally ended up on...

Comedy Club - Ideal Woman

And she will stop a galloping horse and let you watch football. Subscribe to #TNT on social networks: https://vk.com/tvcomedy https://v...

“Wait for me”: Issue dated December 20, 2019

The family of Vasily Ivanovich Malania, who left to work in 1986, came to the studio of the “Wait for Me” program...

Singer Billie Eilish. Evening Urgant. 09.09.2019

Ivan’s guest is the most talked about singer of the last year, the youngest leader of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Billie Eilish!...

"Mysterious Russia": "Volgograd region. Point of destruction of the Earth?"

This place became sacred for all of Russia. The place of bloody battles and the beginning of Victory. Volgograd, Mamayev Kurgan....

A terrible accident in the Moscow region: several cars collided at night, there were deaths - Russia 24

In the Moscow region, the causes of the accident in which four people died are being investigated. On the M5 highway "Ural" "KAMAZ" on...

Kolyma - Birthplace of Our Fear

I don’t know about you, but all my life I’ve heard from my parents: well, be careful, don’t attract too much to yourself...

"The last 24 hours." Issue No. 1

When the investigation reaches a dead end and the crime remains unpunished, desperate people are left...

Once upon a time in Russia - The President of America ended up in Russia

The phrase “You can’t understand Russia with your mind” is most often used by foreigners when talking about our country. I liked it...

Pavel Volya - About dogs, cats and animals (Comedy Club, 2017)

More hahaeks, “Money or Shame”, “Roasting” from my friends - TNT4 TV channel - https://youtube.com/tnt4ru.

Returning from Altai in 1926, Roerich visited the city of Novosibirsk (as Novonikolaevsk was officially called from February 1926), where he stayed for exactly a week, from August 27 to September 3. The first paragraph of the chapter “Altai” of N. Roerich’s famous and more than once republished book “Altai-Himalayas” ends with the following phrase: “The Great Ob is the homeland of the wife and the snake.” Its meaning is obscure, but those who remember the content of the “Revelation of John” will see here a reminiscence of the apocalyptic plot about a wife who fled from the serpent into the desert. The snake released water after it, but the earth collapsed and swallowed it. A researcher of Old Believer movements will remember that this plot is persistently repeated in the lists of “Travelers”, which tell about the path to Belovodye. Two more places in the Altai chapter will attract our attention. Mention of the last battle of people predicted by someone unknown, which was to take place on the banks of the Katun and Biya (sources of the Ob). And the briefly mentioned mysterious disappearance of the author’s painting “The Call of the Serpent,” painted shortly before the Trans-Asian journey. Leaving Novosibirsk, Nicholas Roerich promised to return. But only in the 60s, his son Yuri donated 60 paintings bequeathed to the city. And shortly before his death, N.K. Roerich painted the painting “The Doomed City,” depicting city walls entwined with a monstrous Serpent. There are cities founded by chance, by coincidence. There are those who grew up out of necessity.

In addition to the great emperors and empresses, there were also figures in Russian history whose stay on the throne left an extremely small mark on history and was practically forgotten by their descendants.

Against the backdrop of the era of great reforms Peter the Great the reign of his grandson and namesake looks like a complete misunderstanding, a strange quirk of fate. However, to a certain extent, Peter I himself is to blame for this quirk.

The grandson of Peter the Great suffered an unenviable fate from birth. His father and mother, son of Peter I Tsarevich Alexey And German Princess Sophia-Charlotte of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, did not have loving feelings for each other. Moreover, Sofia-Charlotte hoped to the last to avoid marriage with a “Muscovite”, but her hopes were not justified.

The marriage of this couple was the result of high diplomacy and agreements between Peter I, Polish King Augustus II And Austrian Emperor Charles VI.

Europe of the 18th century was not surprised by dynastic marriages, and therefore Sophia-Charlotte, resigned to her fate, did what she was supposed to do - she began to give birth to princesses and princes for her husband. Born in the summer of 1714 Natalya Alekseevna, and October 12 (23), 1715 - Petr Alekseevich, grandson and full namesake of the emperor.

The young Tsarevich’s mother died ten days after the birth of her son, and by the age of three, Peter Alekseevich remained an orphan - his father, Tsarevich Alexei, was sentenced to death by Peter the Great for treason.

Wine and curses for the Grand Duke

However, his own father, who perished in the dungeons of his grandfather, managed to negatively influence the boy. Not experiencing warm feelings for a child from an unloved woman, Alexey Petrovich assigned two women who abused alcohol to his son as nannies. The nannies solved the problem of the baby’s whims simply - they gave him wine to drink so that he would fall asleep faster. Thus began the soldering of the future emperor, which continued for the rest of his life.

Peter the Great initially did not consider his grandson as the heir to the throne: in the same 1715, less than three weeks after the birth of Peter Alekseevich, Petr Petrovich, son of the emperor. It was to him that Peter I intended to transfer the throne. But the boy was sickly, weak, and died in 1719.

Thus, after the death of his father and brother, Peter Alekseevich remained the only heir to the emperor in the male line. From birth, he bore the official title “Grand Duke” - starting with him, such an official name displaces the previously accepted “prince” from the Russian tradition. Although in colloquial rather than official speech, the princes survived until the very end of the monarchy in Russia.

Peter the Great, having lost his son, began to pay more attention to his grandson, but still did not follow him too closely. Somehow, having decided to test his knowledge, he discovered the complete inadequacy of the teachers assigned to him - the boy did not know how to communicate in Russian, he knew a little German and Latin, and much better - Tatar curses.

The emperor, who was not above assault, beat up the teachers, but, oddly enough, the situation did not change - Pyotr Alekseevich’s education was conducted extremely poorly.

The grandson of Peter I was in love with his daughter

In 1722, by Decree on Succession to the Throne, Peter the Great determined that the emperor himself had the right to appoint an heir. After this decree, Pyotr Alekseevich’s position as an heir began to shake.

But in 1725, Peter the Great died without leaving a will. A fierce struggle for the throne broke out between various factions, but in the end Prince Menshikov enthroned the wife of Peter the Great, Catherine I.

Her reign was short-lived, two years. At the end of it, the Empress designated Peter Alekseevich as the heir, indicating that if he had no male descendants, his heir in turn would become Elizaveta Alekseevna, daughter of Peter I.

In 1727, 11-year-old Grand Duke Peter Alekseevich became Emperor Peter II. There is a desperate struggle between political parties for influence over him, one of which is made up of representatives of ancient boyar families, the other - associates of Peter the Great.

Peter II himself does not interfere in political passions - he spends time in the circle of “golden youth”, where he falls under the influence of the Dolgorukov princes, one of whom, Ivan, becomes his favorite.

In this cheerful circle, the 11-year-old emperor is drunk, introduced to debauchery, taken hunting - entertainment that is not suitable for Pyotr Alekseevich’s age takes the place of his studies.

Perhaps only two people maintained a sincere and warm relationship with him - his own sister Natalya Alekseevna and dear aunt Elizaveta Petrovna. “Auntie” was 17 years old by that time.

The young emperor, however, felt not kindred, but loving feelings for Elizabeth, even intending to marry her, which led the courtiers into confusion.

Fight for the Emperor

However, the wishes of Peter II were fulfilled only when they did not run counter to the intentions of those who influenced him. To the Almighty Menshikov managed to push competitors away from the emperor, and he began to prepare his wedding with one of his daughters - Maria. With this marriage, the Most Serene Prince hoped to further strengthen his own power. However, his enemies did not sleep, and, taking advantage of Menshikov’s illness, which lasted several weeks, they managed to turn Peter II against the prince.

In September 1727, Menshikov was accused of treason and embezzlement, and he and his family were exiled to Berezov. Maria Menshikova, the former bride of Peter II, also went there.

But this was not a victory for the young emperor, but for the Dolgorukovs, who soon also controlled Peter II, just as Menshikov had controlled him before.

At the end of February 1728, the official coronation of Peter II took place in Moscow. Under the influence of the Dolgorukovs, the emperor intended to return the capital to Moscow. The Dolgorukovs received the most important government posts, thereby achieving enormous power.

In November 1728, Peter II suffered another blow - the 14-year-old girl died Natalya Alekseevna, one of the few who could still restrain the emperor, who was devoting more and more time to entertainment rather than to study and state affairs.

After the death of his sister, Peter II spent more and more time on feasts and hunting pleasures.

Engagement

State affairs were left to chance, foreign ambassadors wrote that Russia now most resembles a ship that goes at the will of the wind and waves, with a drunken or sleeping crew on board.

Some government dignitaries, who were concerned not only with filling their own wallets, expressed indignation that the emperor did not pay due attention to state affairs, but their voices had no influence on what was happening.

Princess Ekaterina Alekseevna Dolgorukova. 1798 Photo: Public Domain

The Dolgorukovs decided to implement the “Menshikov plan” - to marry a representative of their family, a 17-year-old princess, to Peter II Ekaterina Dolgorukova. On November 30, 1729, their engagement took place. The wedding was scheduled for January 19, 1730.

The Dolgorukovs, continuing to take the emperor to feasts and hunting, celebrated their victory. Meanwhile, the discontent of other representatives of the nobility was brewing against them, as earlier against Menshikov. At the very beginning of January 1730, the emperor’s educator tried to persuade Peter II to abandon his marriage to Ekaterina Dolgorukova and reconsider his attitude towards this family. Andrey Ivanovich Osterman and Elizaveta Petrovna. Whether they succeeded in sowing doubts in the soul of Peter II is unknown. In any case, he did not officially express his intentions to abandon the marriage.

“I’ll go to my sister Natalia!”

On January 6, 1730, in a very severe frost, Peter II, together with Field Marshal Minich and Osterman hosted a parade dedicated to the blessing of water on the Moscow River. Returning to the palace, he rode standing on the back of his bride's sleigh.

A few hours later, the emperor developed a high fever in the palace. The doctors who examined Peter II made a terrible diagnosis for that time - smallpox.

The body of the 14-year-old monarch was by that time seriously undermined by endless drinking bouts and other “adult” entertainment. The young emperor's condition deteriorated rapidly.

The Dolgorukovs made a desperate attempt to save the situation by persuading Peter II to sign a will in favor of his bride, but the emperor fell into unconsciousness.

The decline lasted about two weeks. On the night of January 19 (January 29, new style) 1730, on the eve of the appointed wedding day, Peter II woke up and said: “Pawn the horses. I’ll go to my sister Natalia.” A few minutes later he was gone.

Along with the death of Peter II, the Romanov family was extinguished.

The 14-year-old grandson of Peter the Great became the last of the Russian monarchs to be buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.