Paul I is the unloved offspring of the Romanovs, not accepted by his contemporaries and not understood by historians. His biography tells of 46 years of life, filled with resentment and humiliation, of which 4 years fell on his reign.
Childhood and youth
Pavel Romanov, the son of Catherine II and Peter III, was born on October 1, 1754. The firstborn in the Romanov family appeared after 10 years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive an heir. At court, there were even rumors that the real father of the child was the lover of Catherine Alekseevna, but in the imperial family, they preferred to ignore this gossip.
From the very birth of Pavel Romanov, he was surrounded by countless nannies and mentors, but he never got the attention and love from his parents. In addition, his grandmother, the current Empress Elizabeth II, zealously took up the upbringing of the heir. She hoped to make Pavel her successor, so she isolated the child from communication with both parents and peers.
The ban on communication over time justified the expectations of Elizaveta Petrovna: the parents really moved away from their son. Peter III doubted his paternity, and Catherine II was absorbed in thoughts of how to take the throne herself. Her dislike for her husband was gradually transferred to her attitude towards the child.
By order of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the prince was to receive the best education. He was taught painting, fencing, dancing and all kinds of sciences, including astronomy. The boy knew several foreign languages, but his circle of communication consisted exclusively of teachers. He grew up withdrawn and insecure, he had no friends.
As a teenager, Pavel became interested in the art of war, and was very successful in this. Perhaps this has become his only favorite pastime.
Change of emperors
Russian emperors reigning in the second half of the 18th century:
- December 1741 - December 1761 Elizabeth II;
- December 1761 - June 1762 Peter III;
- June 1762 - November 1796 Catherine II.
After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, the throne was taken by the father of Paul I - Peter III. However, this reign was short-lived.
In 1762, as a result of a conspiracy, Peter III was dethroned, and his wife, Ekaterina Alekseevna, took the imperial place. Due to the fact that the legal heir Paul at that time was only 8 years old, Catherine became regent. According to the law, she was supposed to rule the country until her son came of age, but in the end she stayed in power for 34 years.
When Pavel grew up, the empress appointed him admiral-general of the Russian fleet, but at court no one took into account the opinion of the tsarevich. The Empress did not allow her son to enter either the Imperial Council or the Senate.
Personal life of Pavel Romanov
Paul's first marriage took place in September 1773 to the Prussian princess Wilgemina, who was named Princess Natalia Alekseevna. The marriage turned out to be unhappy: the domineering wife despised the prince and cheated on him with Count Razumovsky, whom Pavel considered his friend. Three years later, the princess died in childbirth, and Catherine II, wanting to console her son, told about the betrayal of his wife. Paul took these events hard.
However, in the same year 1776, a chance acquaintance turned his life upside down. In Prussia, he fell in love with the young princess Sophia-Dorothea, the girl answered him with mutual feelings. Their marriage was impulsive, but the union turned out to be happy and lasting. In Russia, the spouse was named Maria Fedorovna, and she gave birth to her chosen one 10 children. The empress planned to make Paul's eldest son, Alexander, her successor, but death interrupted her plans.
Four years of the reign of Emperor Paul I
In November 1796, Paul I became emperor. His first decree was to reburial his father's ashes in the grave next to Ekaterina Alekseevna. So he reunited his parents after their death.
Major reforms:
- `` Decree on succession to the throne '' - the throne must pass from the father to the eldest son, the woman is allowed to take the throne only when the dynasty in the male line breaks down.
- "Military reform" - the strength of the army should lie in the most thorough training of the main personnel, and not in its numbers.
- "Fight against corruption" - the dismissal of officials (even the most distinguished ones) who do not correspond to their positions.
- "Three-day corvee" - the peasants have days off and the opportunity to develop independent farms.
During his four years and four months in power, Paul made many fateful steps for the country. Hundreds of officers and officials were dismissed, and formal positions were abolished. Exhausting exercises began in the army. During these years of reign, the famous commander Alexander Suvorov and Vice Admiral Fyodor Ushakov achieved significant victories for the country.
However, the emperor's impulsive actions were not always justified. He suddenly broke off friendly relations with England, while at the same time went to a rapprochement in the interests of progressive France. As a result, the country lost its largest sales market in Great Britain, and the alliance with Napoleon later turned into war.
The opinions of historians about the personality of Pavel Romanov differ. Some call him a `` tyrant and tyrant '', while others describe him as `` an enlightened, kind, sensitive person, with a great thirst for justice … ''
In March 1801, as a result of a conspiracy, Paul I was killed. According to one version, they demanded that he sign the abdication of the throne, but having received a refusal, they strangled him.
