(1730 – 1740)
With the death of Peter II, the male line of the Romanovs’ house ceased. A meeting of the members of the Supreme Privy Council was held to discuss the question of the heir to the throne.
After long disputes, they decided to elect the daughter of Tsar John Alekseevich, the dowager Duchess of Courland, the niece of Peter the Great, Anna Ioannovna to the throne, with the condition that her power be limited to participation in the management of council members.
Agreeing to the proposed conditions, Anna then rejected them and rules autocraticly, entrusting power to her favorite Biron, who was distinguished by cruelty.
Biron’s time is one of the darkest and most difficult epochs in Russian history and has received a special name – Bironovshchina. Everywhere reigned denunciations and espionage, followed by torture, executions and exile to Siberia.
Not trusting Russian nobles, Anna surrounded herself with foreigners who occupied the most important positions in the state.
From government orders it is necessary to note the following.
Destruction of the Supreme Privy Council.
Establishment of the Cabinet, which included Osterman, Cherkassky and Golovkin.
The abolition of the decree of Peter the Great on the common heritage, since this decree was not consistent with the Russian concepts of the equal rights of all sons to inheritance. Having abolished it, Anna Ioannovna gave the landlords the right to divide the estate among all their children.
Reducing the duration of the noble service to 25 years.
The foundation in St. Petersburg of the first Cadet Corps under the project of Field Marshal Minich, who was in charge of the military affairs.
The Guards regiments were established – equestrian and Izmailovo regiments.
The war with Poland in favor of Augustus III, who was placed on the Polish throne.
The war with Turkey in 1735 – 1739 years.
The successor appointed John Antonovich and the regent of Biron.
1740 – 1741. John VI, the son of Anna Leopoldovna, after the death of Anna Ioannovna, was declared emperor under the care of his mother. The ruler, differing in kindness, was incapable of governing the state. Soon there was a pronounced displeasure against her.
The carelessness of Anna Leopoldovna and the displeasure of the people took advantage of Elizabeth Petrovna, the daughter of Peter the Great. At night, in November 1741, she appeared in the barracks of the Preobrazhensky regiment and addressed the soldiers who followed her to the palace, where they arrested Anna Leopoldovna with her husband and children without any resistance.
John Antonovich was imprisoned in the Shlisselburg Fortress, where he later fell into idiocy and was killed during Mirovich’s attempt to free him.
Anna Leopoldovna was exiled to Kholmogory.