The epoch of palace coups is the period of Russian history that occurred after the death of Peter I, when the transfer of power in the state was carried out in violation of the law.
The author of the term is the historian V.O. Klyuchevsky.He also believes that the era of palace coups began in 1725 with the death of Peter the Great, and ended in 1762 after the reign of Catherine II. However, there is a point of view that this troubled time returned in 1801 in connection with the murder of Paul I. Some historians find signs of this era also in the Decembrist uprising.
The main reasons for the palace coups -lack of clear rules of succession to the throne, lack of legal political activity; unresolved contradictions between the monarchical power, the ruling class and the nobility.
Let us consider these reasons in more detail.
In 1722, Peter I issued the "Charter ofsuccession to the throne, "from which the throne could pass to a wide range of persons, and not only to the direct heirs of the monarch. Even for some time before the death of the king there was also the first split. The political group, headed by Apraksin, insisted on the elevation to the throne of grandson Peter I with the appointment of the regent spouse of the monarch, Catherine Alekseevna.
Another group, led by the princeMenshikov, was going to make Catherine an autocratic sovereign. As a result of cunning intrigues and intervention of the army, Ekaterina Alekseevna was elevated to the throne in 1725. After her death in 1727, the question of power arose again. The throne was transferred to Peter II as a result of a series of intrigues.
The reasons for the palace coups were not based ondesire of applicants to change the existing state system or carry out any reforms. A characteristic feature of the era was the battle for power, which is called "in its pure form." All the warring factions were aimed only at gaining power and personal benefits.
The causes of palace coups after 1727were associated with the overthrow of Menshikov, who actually ruled the country for 3 years. Being an experienced and cunning diplomat, he still made an important mistake due to the blindness of the authorities. Having spoiled relations with his allies, he quickly lost everything he had longed for. The actual power passes to Dolgoruky and Golitsyn. And again there is a need to look for the heir to the throne, as Peter II dies of smallpox.
Further, the causes of palace coups were addedsigning of the Conditional clauses, which limited the power of Peter's niece Anna Kurlyandskaya (Anna Ioannovna) who ascended to the throne. She signed this document, giving up a number of powers in favor of the Privy Council. The time of her reign, therefore, was associated with a fierce struggle for power.
After Anna Kurlyandsky publiclysevered the Condition, the Dolgoruky family was practically destroyed, and new persons entered the struggle for supremacy, including the favorite of the Empress Biron, B.Kh. Minikh and A.P. Volynsky.
Причины дворцовых переворотов в России были are connected not only with the political situation, but also with the personalities of people close to the monarch. In some cases, the ruler was only a nominal figure, but in reality the country was ruled by noblemen.
Since the death of Peter I in 1762 in Russiafive rulers changed. Most coups took place with the participation of the Guard. Some researchers compare this period in the history of Russia with the late Roman Empire, when the change of power took place as often, and the army participated in the coups.
So, we considered palace coups,the reasons of which were in the Charter of the succession to the throne left after the reign of Peter I, as well as in the struggle for power between noble families belonging to the ruling elite.
The authorities did not stay in one hand for a long time, rulers in Russia succeeded each other very quickly. The end of the era came only with the accession of Catherine the Great, who was able to bring order to the state.
