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Why was Russia different from the rest of Europe?. Feudalism and serfdom cont’d in Russia until the 1800s. Russia was Eastern Orthodox and had been influenced by Constantinople not Rome – so no Reformation. Why was Russia different from the rest of Europe?.
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Why was Russia different from the rest of Europe? • Feudalism and serfdom cont’d in Russia until the 1800s. • Russia was Eastern Orthodox and had been influenced by Constantinople not Rome – so no Reformation.
Why was Russia different from the rest of Europe? • Mongol rule had shielded them from Renaissance and Exploration • Only one seaport due to location and weather – so no Exploration.
A series of Russianleaders called czars, including Ivan the Terrible, tried to strengthen Russia and weaken Russian boyars or nobles. • After an initial “good” period, Ivan creates a ruthless police state & persecutes or severely punishes anyone who opposed him.
The Boyars • Russian nobles, most called themselves Princes. • 10th – 17th Centuries were the “real” rulers of Russia. • Positions in society were based on service your family did for the Czar and owning land. • Pretty much had no checks on their local power. • Could change your loyalty to different princes, depending on what they would give you in return.
The Boyars • Dressed more like Arabs with beards that you were never supposed to trim. • Separate society from women. • Women weren’t often seen – let alone heard! • Covered hair and no shape to clothing.
The Boyars • Lived on their feudal estates with their own armies and self-sufficient economies. • Little interest in the outside world. • Do you see Muslim influence?
The Church = Russian Orthodox • One of the oldest Christian religions. • Does not recognize the Pope or Catholic Church. • They believe they practice the Christian religion of the Roman Emperor Constantine.
Russian Orthodox Church • Ruled by the Patriarch. • Urged people to not be corrupted by outside influences. • Urged the serfs to remain loyal without questioning the Boyars. • Life is suffering, but heaven will be your reward.
The Serfs • At the time of Peter the Great, they made up 95% of the population in Russia. • They were essentially slaves – bound to the land and bound to the noble.
The Serfs • Had absolutely no say about anything in their lives.
Over these three levels of society were the CZARS • Czar = Caesar / Emperor. • Sometimes in books as Tsar. • Technically had absolute power. • But few czars had been powerful enough to make the boyars and the church obey him.
Romanov Dynasty(1613-1917) Romanov Family Crest
After Ivan died, Russia entered a Time of Troubles with no strong leaders. This ended when Romanov rulers restored order. • 1696 Peter the Great becomes the ruler of Russia. Russia was still a land of nobles and serfs, and was isolated and backwards
Before Peter: The Time of Troubles • The belief in “blue blood” was also with the Russian Czars. • 1600 – the last of the “Rurik” czars died with no children. • Family had ruled since 900 AD. • WHO SHOULD BE CZAR?
The Time of Troubles • “Smutnoya Vremya”’ • No czar and wars broke out between the boyars. • Sensing weakness and the chance to take land – Poland and Lithuania invaded. • Russia was in chaos!
The Romanovs become Czar • A distant relative of the last Rurik czar. • Started a dynasty in 1613 that would last until 1918. • This is NOT the Hapsburg double-headed eagle! • It is the Romanov symbol.
The Pendulum of Russian History Pro-WestFor Progress & ChangeEncourage New Ideas,Technologies, etc. Anti-WestIsolationistXenophobicUltra-Conservative • Intellectual elites • Merchants/businessmen • Young members of the middle class. • A few Tsars • Most Tsars • Russian Orthodox Church • Military • Boyars • peasants REFORM-MINDEDLEADER DEMAGOGUE
Would the daughter of Peter the Great let a baby rule? • Elizabeth took the throne. • Infant Ivan was imprisoned. • Never left his prison. • Not allowed contact except with guards. • No education. • Effort to “rescue” him and make him czar failed and he was killed by his guards in 1764.
Empress Elizabeth aka Czarina • Continued her father’s westernization, but had censorship of ideas she did not agree with. • Waged years of war against Prussia. • Frederick the Great • Could be kind and generous. • Abolished the death penalty. • “Had to be the bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral.” • “It is all about ME.”
Empress Elizabeth • Selected a nephew to become the next czar. • The future Peter III • Put some special thought into deciding who his wife should be. • Selected German Princess Sophia Augusta Frederika of Anhalt – Zerbst. • Known in history as ___
Huh? • How does a German princess become the Czarina of Russia? • What happened to her husband?
Her husband Peter - • Not very smart • Not good looking • Loved everything PRUSSIAN not Russian. • Cheered on Frederick the Great against his aunt.
Peter and Catherine • Were NOT a good couple. • Peter preferred male-looking German women for mistresses rather than being with his wife. • Empress Elizabeth wanted a son from Peter and Catherine. • Blamed Catherine • What is a woman to do?
1762: Elizabeth dies • Peter ends the war with Frederick the Great at a great loss to Russia. • Peter puts his Prussian Guards above the Russian nobles. • Plans to divorce Catherine. • Monastery for her! • Marry a German mistress.
Catherine’s current lover helps hatch a plan! • Gregori Orlov • Stage a Coup d’Etat. • A takeover of the government. • Imprison Peter. • Make Catherine the Czarina.
The “bloodless” coup • When Peter traveled to Prussia, Catherine, with the help of the palace guard, overthrew him. • Three days later, Peter dies, and many accuse Catherine, who also murdered two other claimants to the throne.
It Worked! • Peter was so hated that people welcomed Catherine to the throne. • Peter ended up being murdered. • By Gregori Orlov • Paul always harbored a hatred of his mother for not making him czar and killing his “father.”
Catherine the Great – what happened with Prince Orlov? • She never married again. • She kept many lovers. • Would enjoy, give them land, serfs, and money as a “pension”. • But expected the men to be loyal to her for life. • Some say 11 lovers, others say 300 lovers in her life.
Catherine and Orlov • Had a son together. • He was raised by both his parents and made noble. • Alexsai did a great deal of traveling in the west. • Gregory Orlov, broken at not getting Catherine to marry him, went west for five years, came home a “broken” man. • Died after marrying his niece in retaliation against Catherine.
Catherine the Great • Did not get along with her son at all. • Took her grandsons, Alexander and Nicholas and raised them, intending to make one of them the czar over their father.
Catherine the Great • Set forth new efforts with an effective ruler to keep going with Peter the Great’s reforms.
Catherine the Great • Died before she could make her choice law in 1796. • Ruled Russia for 34 years • Not bad for a non-Russian woman! • Paul took over and tried to undo everything his mother had done. • Made it law no woman could rule in Russia. • He was murdered five years later.
Catherine the GreatAn Enlightened Ruler Reorganized government, so she knew what was happening throughout Russia. Codified laws (wrote them down!) State-sponsored education for boys and girls.
Enlightened Despots • Catherine the Great of Russia (r. 1762-1796) • German born wife of Czar Peter III • Controlled government after Peter III’s accidental(?) death • Increased European culture in Russia • Peasant Reforms • Territorial Expansion • Corresponded with Diderot
Catherine the Great • Russia • Catherine II became ruler, 1762 • Dreamed of establishing order, justice, supporting education, culture • Read works of, corresponded with Voltaire, Diderot • Reforms • Drafted Russian constitution, code of laws • Considered too liberal, never put into practice • Limitations • Intended to free serfs, but would lose support of wealthy landowners • Catherine had no intention of giving up power • Became tyrant, imposed serfdom on more Russians than ever before
Catherine the Great of Russia • Modernized the Russian army and government • Studied in France during the Enlightenment • Tried to link Russia to the West through trade and diplomatic relations • Increased Russia’s territory, especially against the Ottomans (Turks) – sought to link Russia to its Slavic neighbors to the south
Catherine II • Catherine II • German by birth, husband of Peter III; easily assimilated • Practical sense and great energy (five in the morning); corresponded with Diderot • Trained Alexander on the Western Model; Swiss La Harpe • continued Westernization, modernization started by Peter I • Estrangement of upper class from their own people • Summoned a Legislative Commission from which obtained valuable information • Legal codification, restrictions on the use of torture, religious toleration except Old Believers • Unscrupulous foreign policy but accepted practice of the day, main builder of modern Russia • Eastern Question • Greek Project • Defeated the Turks but checked by balance of power • Three Partitions of Poland • Black Sea, Odessa • Potemkin villages • “You write only on paper but I have to write on human skin” 8 1762 – 1796
Catherine II • Failure to reform serfdom; peasant rebellion discouraged further efforts • Pugachev’s rebellion (1773) • Worked upon by Old Believers • Recalled Stephen Razin • Class antagonism profound • Emelian Pugachev, dubbed Peter III, headed an insurrection in the Urals • Imperial manifesto proclaimed end of serfdom, taxes, and military consription • Famine dispersed rebels • Betrayed, body drawn and quartered • Catherine responded with repression • Conceded more powers to the landlords; shook off Peter I’s compulsory state service • Culmination of serfdom,; Moscow Gazette “For sale, two plump coachmen” • Russian Empire with the consent of the serf-owning gentry 8 1762 – 1796
Personality Traits of Catherine II • Spent hours alone reading French romances, Roman literature, and the works of philosophers like Voltaire and Diderot • She was generous, considerate, and humane. • She was a German princess. When she married, she changed her name, religion, and learned Russian to truly be a Russian czarina. • She was known as the “Little Mother” to her people. • She spoke freely with her advisers. • She was open about her lovers. There were at least 12 of them over her lifetime. When she tired of them, she would send the off with money, gems, and thousands of serfs. • Most likely had to suppress her longings for her homeland, but was a great queen for her adoptive country
Personality Traits (cont.) • She rose at 6 AM. She would rub her face with ice to wake up and would drink 5 cups of black coffee. She also worked 15 hour days. • She wanted to know everything. She was an avid learner. • She was passionate, energetic, curious, and had a desire to create and control. • She had a profound understanding of human nature and the impact of public opinion. • She found her husband to be inept ruler. When she learned that he was going to divorce her she planned to overthrow him. On June 28, 1762 the army sided with Catherine and Peter was arrested and murdered four days later and she took the throne in 1762 and she ruled until 1796. • Her lovers included: Serge Saltuikov, a court chamberlain; Stanislav Poniatowski, a member of one of Poland’s grand families – would love Catherine his entire life; Simon Zorich, a major in the Hussars; Ivan Rimsky-Korsakov, a talented musician with an amazing voice; Alexander Lanskoy, the youngest of Catherine’s favorites, almost loved him like a mother, but then died of diphtheria
Takes Power Honoring Peter I Early Reforms • Husband became Czar Peter III • Catherine and many nobles grew angry at his incompetent, weak rule • Catherine seized power, was declared czarina of Russia • Catherine saw self as true successor of Peter the Great • Worked to build on his westernization efforts • To emphasize legitimacy of her claim, built statue honoring Peter • Influenced by European thinkers—believed strong, wise ruler could improve life for subjects • Reformed legal, education systems • Removed restrictions on trade; promoted science, the arts Catherine the Great Russia’s next important ruler was actually a German princess who came to Russia to marry a grandson of Peter the Great. She became known as Catherine the Great.
She was born a Germany, yet married Elizabeth’s nephew Peter, who was heir to the throne.
As a young girl and the rest of her life, she devoured books. Learning helped her to escape the palace intrigues of the Peter’s aunt, Tsarina Elizabeth.
