Empress Elizabeth. Her Reign and Her Russia
Contents
European Russia Under Elizabeth-map vii
Russo-Prussian Hostilities, 1757-1761-map viii
Weights and Measures ix
Preface x
Introduction xiii
Chapter 1 Politics at the Beginning of the 1740s
- The Coup of 25 November 1741 1
- Elizabeth's Youth 8
- The Guards 21
- France and Sweden at the Russian Court 28
Chapter 2 Empire of the Nobility
- Peter's Legacy 43
- Domestic Policy, 1740s 55
- Privileges of the Nobility 66
- The Curse of Serfdom 75
Chapter 3 Relations with Europe
- The Legacy of Poltava and Nystadt 83
- Frederick II of Prussia 93
- Politics and Intrigue at the Russian Court 98
- Bestuzhev-Riumin's Politics and Diplomacy 101
Chapter 4 The Seven Years War
- The French Card 109
- St. Petersburg Prepares for War 114
- March on East Prussia, 1757 120
- Zorndorf, 1758 124
- Palzig and Kunersdorf, 1759 130
- Last Campaigns and Withdrawal, 1760-1761 139
Chapter 5 Elizabeth Claims the Throne
- The Question of Rights to the Throne 144
- The Brunswick Family and the Succession 149
- The Zubarev "Plot" 156
- Coronation in Moscow 164
Chapter 6 A Portrait of Elizabeth
- Elizabeth 167
- Elizabeth's Working Style 179
Chapter 7 Brilliance, Baroque, Court, Arts, Palaces
- The Baroque 182
- Palaces 183
- Masquerades 186
- Music 187
- Theater and Opera 189
- Fireworks 198
Chapter 8 Favorites, Factions, Government
- Aleksei Razumovsky 200
- Peter Shuvalov's Ascent 204
- Mikhail Vorontsov's Role 211
- Ivan Shuvalov's Contributions 217
Chapter 9 Grand Duchess Catherine
- Elizabeth's Health, 1759 231
- Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich 233
- Catherine's Quest and Calculations 237
Afterword 248
Illustrations 258
- Empress Elizabeth ii
- Aleksei Bestuzhev-Riumin 102
- Ivan Shuvalov 217
- Catherine Alekseevna 232
- Peter Fedorovich 234
- Aleksei Razumovsky 244
- Mikhail Ilarionovich Vorontsov 252
- Count Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov 252
For Further Reading 253
Index 259