The main dates in the life of Emperor Paul I and the most important events of his reign. Paul I

Paul I (Pavel Petrovich; September 20 [October 1], Summer Palace of Elizabeth Petrovna, St. Petersburg - March 12, Mikhailovsky Castle, St. Petersburg) - All-Russian Emperor from November 6 (17), Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Admiral General, son of Peter III Fedorovich and Catherine II Alekseevna.

Image in history

In the Russian Empire, the assassination of Paul I was first published in 1905 in the memoirs of General Bennigsen. This caused shock in society. The country was amazed that Emperor Paul I was killed in his own palace, and the killers were not punished.

Under Alexander I and Nicholas I, studying the history of the reign of Pavel Petrovich was not encouraged and was prohibited; it was forbidden to mention him in the press. Emperor Alexander I personally destroyed materials about his father's murder. The official cause of death of Paul I was declared to be apoplexy.

“We don’t even have a brief, factual overview of the Pavlovian period of Russian history: the anecdote in this case pushed history aside,” historian S.V. wrote about this. Shumigorsky.

Childhood, education and upbringing

The future Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, and then the All-Russian Emperor Paul I, was born on September 20 (October 1), 1754 in St. Petersburg, in the Summer Palace of Elizabeth Petrovna. Subsequently, this palace was destroyed, and in its place the Mikhailovsky Castle was built, in which Pavel was killed on March 12 (24), 1801.

On September 27, 1754, in the ninth year of marriage, Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna gave birth to her first child. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich (Paul's father) and the Shuvalov brothers were present at the birth. On this occasion, Empress Elizabeth issued a manifesto. The birth of Pavel Petrovich caused general joy in Russia, because he continued the dynasty, which was threatened with suppression and a dynastic crisis. The birth of Paul was reflected in many odes written by poets of that time.

The Empress baptized the baby and ordered him to be named Paul. Ekaterina Alekseevna and Pyotr Fedorovich were completely removed from raising their son.

Due to the political struggle, Paul was essentially deprived of the love of those close to him. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna ordered him to be surrounded by a whole staff of nannies and the best, in her opinion, teachers.

The first educator was the diplomat F.D. Bekhteev, who was obsessed with the spirit of all kinds of regulations, clear orders, and military discipline comparable to drill. He began to print a small newspaper in which he talked about all, even the most insignificant, actions of Paul. Because of this, Pavel hated routine work all his life.

In 1760, Elizabeth Petrovna appointed a new head of education for the young prince, prescribing the basic parameters of education in her instructions. He became, by her choice, Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin. He was a forty-two-year-old man who occupied a very prominent position at court. Possessing extensive knowledge, he previously spent several years as a diplomat in Denmark and Sweden, where his worldview was formed. Having very close contacts with the Freemasons, he adopted the ideas of the Enlightenment and even became a supporter of a constitutional monarchy, modeled on Sweden. His brother, General Pyotr Ivanovich, was the Grand Local Master of the Masonic Order in Russia.

Nikita Ivanovich Panin approached the problem thoroughly. He outlined a very wide range of topics and subjects that, in his opinion, the Tsarevich should have understood. . It is possible that a number of “subject” teachers were appointed in accordance with his recommendations.

Among them are the Law of God (Metropolitan Plato), natural history (S. A. Poroshin), dancing (Grange), music (J. Millico), etc. Having begun in the time of Elizabeth Petrovna, classes did not stop during the short reign of Peter III, nor under Catherine II.

The atmosphere of Pavel Petrovich's upbringing was significantly influenced by his environment. Among the guests visiting the prince, one could see a number of educated people of that time, for example, G. Teplov. On the contrary, communication with peers was quite limited. Only children of the best families (Kurakins, Stroganovs) were allowed to have contacts with Pavel; the scope of contacts was mainly rehearsal for masquerade appearances.

He was taught history, geography, arithmetic, the Law of God, astronomy, foreign languages ​​(French, German, Latin, Italian), Russian, drawing, fencing, and dancing. It is interesting that the training program did not contain anything related to military affairs. But this did not stop Pavel from being carried away by him. He was introduced to the works of the Enlightenment: Voltaire, Diderot, Montesquieu. Pavel had good academic abilities. He had a developed imagination, was restless, impatient, and loved books. He read a lot. In addition to historical literature, I read Sumarokov, Lomonosov, Derzhavin, Racine, Corneille, Moliere, Cervantes, Voltaire and Rousseau. He spoke Latin, French and German, loved mathematics, dancing, and military exercises. In general, the Tsarevich's education was the best that could be obtained at that time. The Tsarevich's confessor and mentor was the preacher and theologian, archimandrite, and later Metropolitan of Moscow Platon (Levshin).

One of Paul's younger mentors, Semyon Andreevich Poroshin, kept a diary (1764-1765), which later became a valuable historical source on the history of the court and for studying the personality of the crown prince.

Already in his youth, Paul began to be fascinated by the idea of ​​chivalry, the idea of ​​honor and glory. On February 23, 1765, Poroshin wrote: “I read to His Highness Vertotov a story about the Order of the Knights of Malta. He then deigned to have fun and, tying the admiral’s flag to his cavalry, imagine himself as a Cavalier of Malta.”

The ever-increasing relationship between Paul and his mother led to the fact that Catherine II gave her son the Gatchina estate in 1783 (that is, she “removed” him from the capital). Here Pavel introduced customs that were sharply different from those in St. Petersburg.

The Gatchina troops are usually characterized negatively as rude martinets, trained only in marching and pacing. But the documents indicate otherwise. The surviving exercise plans refute this widespread stereotype. From 1793 to 1796, during exercises, the Gatchina troops under the command of the Tsarevich practiced the techniques of volley fire and bayonet combat. The interaction of various types of troops was practiced when crossing water barriers, conducting an offensive and retreat, and repelling an enemy amphibious assault when landing on the shore. Troop movements were carried out at night. Great importance was attached to the actions of artillery. In 1795–1796, specially separate exercises were held for the Gatchina artillery. The experience gained formed the basis for military transformations and reforms. Despite their small numbers, by 1796 the Gatchina troops were one of the most disciplined and trained units of the Russian army. People from the Gatchina troops were N.V. Repnin, A.A. Bekleshov. Paul's companions were S.M. Vorontsov, N.I. Saltykov, G.R. Derzhavin, M.M. Speransky.

The traditional stage that usually completed education in Russia in the 18th century was travel abroad. A similar voyage was undertaken in 1782 by the then young Tsarevich together with his second wife. The journey is “incognito”, that is, unofficial, without proper receptions and ritual meetings, under the names of the Count and Countess of the North (du Nord).

Relations with Catherine II

Immediately after birth, Pavel was removed from his mother. Catherine could see him very rarely and only with the permission of the Empress. When Paul was eight years old, his mother, Catherine, relying on the guard, carried out a coup, during which Paul’s father, Emperor Peter III, died under unclear circumstances. Paul was to ascend the throne. When Catherine ascended the throne, they swore allegiance to Pavel Petrovich as the legal heir. Empress Catherine II, during her coronation, solemnly promised that her reign would be limited to the period necessary for the installation of a legitimate heir to the throne. But the closer this date became, the less desire there was to keep this word. However, Catherine was not going to give up the fullness of her power and share it, neither in 1762, nor later, when Paul matured. It turned out that the son was turning into a rival, on whom everyone dissatisfied with her and her rule would pin their hopes.

The name of Pavel Petrovich was used by rebels and dissatisfied with Catherine's rule. Emelyan Pugachev often mentioned his name. There were also Holstein banners in the ranks of the rebels. Pugachev said that after the victory over Catherine’s government, “he does not want to reign and is only working in favor of Pavel Petrovich.” He had a portrait of Paul. The impostor often turned to this portrait when making toasts. In 1771, rebel exiles in Kamchatka, led by Beniovsky, swore allegiance to Paul as emperor. During the plague riot in Moscow, the name of Tsarevich Paul was also mentioned. There is information that Catherine, after the coup and accession to the throne, gave a written undertaking to transfer the crown to Paul upon reaching adulthood, which was subsequently destroyed by her. Paul was raised as the heir to the throne, but the older he became, the further he was kept from government affairs. The enlightened empress and her son became complete strangers to each other. Mother and son looked at the same things differently.

Catherine did not love her son. She did not prevent the spread of rumors, and she spread some herself: about Paul’s instability and cruelty; that it was not Peter III who was his father, but Count Saltykov; that he is not her son at all, that on Elizabeth’s orders they placed another child on her. The Tsarevich was an unwanted son, born to please politics and state interests, who bore little resemblance in appearance and in his views and preferences to his mother. Catherine could not help but be annoyed by this. She called Paul's troops in Gatchina "father's army." In addition to Pavel, Catherine also had an illegitimate son from Grigory Orlov, known under the name Alexei Bobrinsky. Her attitude towards him was completely different; the reigning mother forgave him for his carousing, debts and all kinds of misdeeds. By the time Pavel came of age, mutual hostility arose between mother and son. Catherine deliberately did not mark her son’s coming of age. The final break came between Paul and Catherine in May 1783. For the first time, the mother invited her son to discuss foreign policy problems - the Polish question and the annexation of Crimea. Most likely, a frank exchange of views took place, which revealed a complete contrast of views. Paul himself could not bestow positions, awards, or ranks. People who enjoyed Paul's favor fell into disgrace and disgrace at court. Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov was not afraid of disgrace and maintained good relations with Pavel Petrovich. The Tsarevich was a figurehead who did not have any power or influence. Each of the temporary workers of the reigning mother considered it their duty to insult and humiliate the heir.

Empress Catherine wanted to deprive Paul of the throne and transfer the throne to her beloved grandson Alexander. Although Alexander made it clear to his father that he was against these plans, Pavel was afraid that his mother would do this. This can also be confirmed by Alexander’s early marriage, after which, according to tradition, the monarch was considered an adult. From Catherine’s letter dated August 14, 1792 to her correspondent, the French Baron Grimm: “First, my Alexander will get married, and then over time he will be crowned with all sorts of ceremonies, celebrations and folk festivals.” There were rumors at court that a manifesto was being published about the removal of Paul and the proclamation of Alexander as heir. According to rumors, this event was supposed to take place on November 24 or January 1, 1797. That manifesto should have also contained instructions about the arrest of Paul and his imprisonment in Lode Castle (now the territory of Estonia). But on November 6, Catherine died. This version can be confirmed by Catherine’s small will: “I give my Vivliofik with all the manuscripts and whatever is written in my hand from my papers to my dear grandson Alexander Pavlovich, as well as my various stones and I bless him with my mind and heart.”

Domestic policy

Emperor Paul I ascended the throne on November 6, 1796 at the age of 42. During his reign, about 2,251 pieces of legislation were issued. Let’s compare: Emperor Peter I issued 3296 documents, Catherine II – 5948 documents. In addition to legislative documents, Paul I issued 5,614 personal decrees and gave 14,207 orders for the army.

On April 5, 1797, on the first day of Easter, the coronation of the new emperor took place. This was the first joint coronation of the emperor and empress in the history of the Russian Empire. On the day of his coronation, Paul I publicly read the adopted new law on succession to the throne. For the first time, the rules of the regency were established.

With the manifesto on three-day corvee, he prohibited landowners from performing corvee on Sundays, holidays and more than three days a week.

The grain tax, which was ruinous for the peasants, was abolished and the arrears of stifling taxes were forgiven. Preferential sales of salt began (until the mid-19th century, in fact, salt was the people's currency). They began to sell bread from state reserves in order to bring down high prices. This measure led to a noticeable drop in bread prices. It was forbidden to sell serfs and peasants without land, and to separate families during the sale. In the provinces, governors were ordered to monitor the attitude of landowners towards peasants. In case of cruel treatment of serfs, governors were ordered to report this to the emperor. By a decree of September 19, 1797, the duty of peasants to keep horses for the army and provide food was abolished; instead, they began to take “15 kopecks per head, an addition to the capitation salary.” In the same year, a decree was issued ordering serfs to obey their landowners under pain of punishment. The decree of October 21, 1797 confirmed the right of state-owned peasants to enroll as merchants and philistines.

The future Alexander I characterized the last years of his grandmother’s reign this way: “a mess, disorder, robbery.” In a letter to Count Kochubey, dated March 10, 1796, he expressed his opinion about the situation in the country: “Incredible disorder reigns in our affairs, they are robbed from all sides; all parts are poorly governed, order seems to be banished from everywhere, and the empire strives only to expand its borders.” “Never before have crimes been as brazen as they are now,” Rostopchin wrote to Count S.R. Vorontsov, “Impunity and insolence have reached the extreme limit. Three days ago, a certain Kovalinsky, who was the secretary of the military commission and was expelled by the empress for embezzlement and bribery, has now been appointed governor in Ryazan, because he has a brother, a scoundrel like him, who is friendly with Gribovsky, the head of the office of Platon Zubov. Ribas alone steals more than 500 thousand rubles a year.”

In 1796 the governorship was abolished.

In 1800, Paul I banned the import of foreign books and the sending of young men abroad to receive an education. The result of these decrees was that the fashion for foreign things began to fade among the nobles. The highest circles of society began to gradually switch from French to Russian. Paul changed the functions of the Senate, and some colleges abolished by Catherine II were restored. The emperor believed that it was necessary to transform them into ministries and appoint ministers to replace collective personal responsibility. According to Paul's plan, it was planned to create seven ministries: finance, justice, commerce, foreign affairs, military, maritime and state treasury. This reform, conceived by him, was completed during the reign of Alexander I.

Paul I can be considered the founder of service dog breeding in Russia - cynology. He ordered the State Economy Expedition, by decree of August 12, 1797, to purchase merino sheep and dogs of the Spanish breed in Spain for the protection of livestock: “To order from Spain a special breed of dogs used there in sheep farms because they are credited with a special ability to keep a herd together and protect from predatory animals, which breed can be bred in Tavria.”

In 1798, Russian Emperor Paul I signed a decree creating a department of water communications.

On December 4, 1796, the State Treasury was established. On the same day, a decree “On the establishment of the position of State Treasurer” was signed. Approved in September 1800 by the “Resolution on the College of Commerce,” the merchants were given the right to choose 13 of its 23 members from among themselves. Alexander I, five days after coming to power, canceled the decree.

On March 12, 1798, Paul issued a decree allowing the construction of Old Believer churches in all dioceses of the Russian state. In 1800, the regulations on churches of the same faith were finally approved. Since then, Old Believers have especially honored the memory of Paul I.

On March 18, 1797, the Manifesto on freedom of religion in Poland for Catholics and Orthodox Christians was published.

On January 2, 1797, Paul abolished the article of the Charter that prohibited the use of corporal punishment to the noble class. Corporal punishment was introduced for murder, robbery, drunkenness, debauchery, and official violations. In 1798, Paul I prohibited nobles who had served as officers for less than a year from asking for resignation. By decree of December 18, 1797, the nobles were obliged to pay a tax of 1,640 thousand rubles for the maintenance of local governments in the provinces. In 1799, the tax amount was increased. According to the decree, in 1799 the nobles began to pay a tax of 20 rubles “from the heart.” By decree of May 4, 1797, the emperor prohibited nobles from submitting collective petitions. The Emperor, by decree of November 15, 1797, prohibited nobles dismissed from service for misconduct from being allowed to participate in elections. The number of voters was reduced and governors were given the right to interfere in elections. In 1799, provincial noble assemblies were abolished. On August 23, 1800, the right of noble societies to elect assessors to the judiciary was abolished. Paul I ordered that nobles evading civil and military service be brought to trial. The Emperor sharply limited the transition from military to civilian service. Paul limited noble deputations and the ability to file complaints. This was possible only with the permission of the governor.

After the changes taking place in the state, it became clear to everyone: reforms are underway in the country. This could not suit everyone. Opposition begins to emerge and discontent begins to brew. Dissatisfied people and the Masonic circle begin to discredit the image of the emperor. Posing as loyal people, taking advantage of all kinds of benefits, they try to denigrate the ruler. The image of the emperor “Paul the tyrant, despot and madman” was created very thoughtfully and at the same time brazenly. The emperor's decrees were distorted and discredited as much as possible. Any document, if desired, can be distorted beyond recognition, and its author can be made an abnormal and mentally ill person [ style!] .

Prince Lopukhin writes in his memoirs: “There were malicious people around the Emperor who took advantage of his irritability, and recently even aroused it in order to make the Emperor hateful for their own purposes.”

In memoirs and history books, tens and thousands of people exiled to Siberia during Pavlov’s time are often mentioned. In fact, in the documents the number of exiles does not exceed ten people. These people were exiled for military and criminal crimes: bribery, grand theft and others. For example, during the reign of Anna Ioannovna, over ten years, as a result of denunciations, more than twenty thousand people were exiled to Siberia, five thousand went missing, and more than thirty thousand were convicted.

Military reform

In the last decades of the reign of Catherine II, a period of decline began in the army. Abuses flourished in the troops, especially in the guard, there was a shortage of personnel, theft, bribes, a drop in the level of discipline, and troop training was at a low level. Only in the regiments of Suvorov and Rumyantsev were discipline and order maintained.

In his book “The Russian Army in the Year of the Death of Catherine II. Composition and structure of the Russian army,” a French emigrant in Russian service, General Count Longeron, writes that the guard is “the shame and scourge of the Russian army.” According to him, things are worse only in the cavalry: “Russian cavalrymen barely know how to stay in the saddle; these are only peasants riding on horseback, and not cavalrymen, and how can they become one when they ride on horseback only 5 or 6 times throughout the year,” “Russian cavalrymen never practice saber techniques and barely know how to wield a saber,” “ old and exhausted horses have neither legs nor teeth”, “in Russia it is enough to be a cavalry officer in order not to know how to ride a horse. I knew only four regimental commanders who knew how to ride horses.”

Emperor Paul I tried to ban the army from engaging in politics. To do this, he sought to stop the activities of political circles in the troops among officers.

“The image of our life as officers after the accession to the throne of Emperor Paul completely changed,” recalled Count E.F. Komarovsky; - under the empress, we only thought about going to society, theaters, wearing tailcoats, and now from morning to evening in the regimental yard; and taught us all like a recruit.”

Paul I signed a decree on November 29, 1796 on the adoption of new military regulations: “Military Regulations on Field and Infantry Service”, “Military Regulations on Field Cavalry Service” and “Rules on Cavalry Service”.

Emperor Paul I introduced criminal and personal liability of officers for the life and health of soldiers. Officers could be disciplined and receive serious punishment. Prohibited officers and generals from going on vacation for more than 30 days a year. Officers were prohibited from making debts. In case of non-payment of the debt, the regiment commander had to deduct the required amount from his salary. If the salary was not enough, the officer was put under arrest until the debt was paid, and the salary was transferred to the creditors. For lower ranks, the emperor introduced 28 calendar days of vacation per year. He forbade taking soldiers to work on estates and engaging them in other work not related to military service. Soldiers were allowed to complain about abuses by commanders.

Under Peter I, the billeting of troops was the responsibility of the townspeople, who allocated premises in their homes for this purpose. Barracks were built only in the new capital - St. Petersburg. Paul decided to put an end to this. The first barracks in 1797 was the Catherine Palace in Moscow, converted for this purpose. At the direction of the emperor, barracks for troops were being built in the country. Paul ordered their construction at the expense of the local nobility and townspeople.

The famous “Pavlovsk” parade has survived to this day, only under a different name - changing the guard. The drill step introduced by Paul also exists in the current army under the name printed for the honor guard.

In 1797, by decree of Paul I, the Pioneer Regiment was formed - the first large military engineering unit in the Russian army. Emperor Paul I, soon after ascending the throne, took up the problem of the lack of good and accurate maps in Russia. He issues a decree of November 13, 1796 on the transfer of maps of the General Staff to the jurisdiction of General G.G. Kuleshov and about the creation of His Imperial Majesty's Drawing Depot, which on August 8, 1797 was transformed into His Majesty's Own Card Depot. Pavel I is the founder of the courier service in Russia. This is a military communications unit. The Courier Corps was created by decree of the emperor on December 17, 1797. Emperor Paul I changed the concept of the regimental banner in the army. Since 1797, Paul ordered that regimental banners be issued only to dragoon and cuirassier regiments. Since the time of Peter I, regimental banners and standards were classified as service property. Pavel Petrovich transferred them to the category of regimental shrines.

He established a solemn ceremony for the consecration of standards and banners in the army, the procedure for presenting shrines to regiments, and taking the oath under regimental banners. While pronouncing the words of the oath, the warrior held onto the banner with one hand and raised the other up.

Under Peter I, a regular army appeared in Russia and the recruitment of soldiers began, one person from each peasant household. The soldier's service was for life. Recruits were branded. Only those who were completely unsuitable for it were dismissed from service. Emperor Paul I limited the service life of soldiers to 25 years. Introduced a pension for those dismissed from service for health reasons or more than 25 years of service, with the maintenance of such soldiers in mobile garrison or disabled companies. The emperor ordered the dead and deceased soldiers to be buried with military honors. Paul established the concept of “unblemished service.” With “unblemished service” for a period of 20 years, the lower ranks were forever exempt from corporal punishment. In 1799, Paul I introduced the silver medal “For Bravery,” which was awarded to lower ranks. For the first time in Europe, the awarding of soldiers with the insignia of the Order of St. Anna for twenty years of impeccable service. In 1800 it was replaced by the badge of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1797, Paul, by his decree, established a holiday for all holders of Russian orders.

Before this, orders or awards for soldiers simply did not exist, not only in Russia, but also in Europe. Napoleon was the second person in the history of Europe to introduce awards for soldiers in France, after Paul. Under Paul, the soldiers' punishments were commuted. They were punished less cruelly than under Catherine II or in subsequent reigns. The punishment was strictly determined by the regulations in force. For cruel treatment of lower ranks and soldiers, officers were subjected to severe penalties.

Emperor Paul I introduced criminal and personal liability of officers for the life and health of soldiers. Officers could be disciplined and receive serious punishment. He forbade officers and generals to go on vacation for more than 30 days a year. Officers were prohibited from making debts. In case of non-payment of the debt, the regiment commander had to deduct the required amount from his salary. If the salary was not enough, the officer was put under arrest until the debt was paid, and the salary was transferred to the creditors. For lower ranks, the emperor introduced 28 calendar days of vacation per year. He forbade taking soldiers to work on estates and engaging them in other work not related to military service. Soldiers were allowed to complain about abuses by commanders.

In the military regulations adopted by the troops of the Russian Empire in 1796, for the first time clear practical instructions were given for the training of recruits: “Officers and non-commissioned officers should always notice soldiers who made mistakes under arms or in their positions, and those after a parade or exercise, or when change from guard, teach; and if a soldier knows exactly what he should do, but makes a mistake, he should be punished.” Pavel Petrovich was not alone in his views on the need for corporal punishment in the army. This view was shared by many before and after Paul. Suvorov in his book “The Science of Victory” wrote on this issue: “Whoever doesn’t take care of a soldier gets his chopsticks, and whoever doesn’t take care of himself gets his chopsticks.”

The Emperor introduced sheepskin sheepskin coats and felt boots for sentries in the winter season; in the guardroom there should be as many pairs of felt boots as necessary so that each shift of sentries would wear dry felt boots. This rule of guard duty has survived to this day.

There is a widespread legend about a horse guards regiment sent in full force to Siberia. In fact. After conducting military exercises with the wording “their reckless actions during maneuvers,” the regiment commander and six colonels were arrested. The regiment was sent to Tsarskoye Selo. According to eyewitnesses, during the trial Pavel Petrovich uttered the word Siberia several times. This is how gossip arose about the regiment being sent to Siberia, which began to be taken seriously.

Military uniforms introduced under Paul I are often criticized. This uniform was not invented and developed by Grigory Potemkin. In Austria, in anticipation of a war with the Ottoman Empire, Emperor Joseph II, co-ruler of Maria Theresa, decides to replace his uniform with a more suitable one for the upcoming military operations in the Balkans. Wigs and braids were not removed from military uniforms. This uniform is very similar to the “Potemkin” uniform, the same jacket, trousers, short boots. Russia at that time was also planning to fight with Turkey.

Warm winter clothes were introduced for the first time with the new “Pavlovian” uniform: special warm vests and, for the first time in Russian military history, an overcoat. Before that, since the time of Peter I, the only warm thing in the army was the epancha - a cloak made of simple material. The soldiers had to buy their own winter clothes from their own funds and wear them only with the permission of their superiors. The overcoat saved the lives of thousands of soldiers. According to a medical examination in 1760, “rheumatic” diseases and respiratory diseases were most common in the Russian army. Why did the officers perceive the innovations so negatively? This is not a matter of convenience. It was a protest against the orders introduced by Paul. With the introduction of a new uniform and a change in the order in the army, the nobles understood that the end of Catherine’s liberties was coming.

The Emperor reviewed and changed the Naval Charter of Peter the Great. The Pavlovsk fleet charter has remained almost unchanged to this day. Pavel Petrovich paid great attention to the organization, technical support and supply of the fleet.

The new charter differed for the better from Peter’s. But its main difference was the clear regulation of service and life on the ship. In the “Petrine” charter, almost every article contains a penalty for its violation. Punishments are rarely mentioned in the “Pavlovian” charter. It was a humane charter. It no longer provided for the position and duties of an executioner on the ship. Pavel Petrovich abolished pitching - this is when the offender was tied to a rope and dragged underwater on it from one side of the ship to the other. The charter introduced new positions in the fleet - historiographer, professor of astronomy and navigation, draftsman.

Foreign policy

The Privy Councilor and Secretary of State of Emperor Paul I since 1796 was Fyodor Maksimovich Briskorn. In 1798, Russia entered into an anti-French coalition with Great Britain, Austria, Turkey, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. At the insistence of the allies, the experienced A.V. Suvorov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian troops, as the best commander in Europe. Austrian troops were also transferred to his jurisdiction. Under the leadership of Suvorov, Northern Italy was liberated from French domination. In September 1799, the Russian army made Suvorov's famous crossing of the Alps. However, already in October of the same year, Russia broke the alliance with Austria due to the Austrians’ failure to fulfill allied obligations, and Russian troops were recalled from Europe.

England itself took almost no part in the war. She lent money at interest to the warring states and actually profited from this war. In 1799, the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte dispersed the revolutionary parliament (Directory, Council of Five Hundred) and seized power. Emperor Paul I understands that the fight against the revolution is over. Napoleon ended it. Bonaparte deals with the Jacobins and allows French emigrants to return to the country. Pavel Petrovich sought to end the war. In his opinion, it has ceased to have meaning. England did not benefit from ending the war in Europe. Having seized power, Napoleon began to look for allies in foreign policy and strive for rapprochement with Russia.

Moreover, an idea emerged of a plan to create a coalition of united fleets: France, Russia, Denmark and Sweden, the implementation of which could deal a mortal blow to the British. Prussia, Holland, Italy and Spain join the coalition. Until recently, lonely France now found itself at the head of a powerful allied coalition.

An agreement on an alliance is concluded on December 4-6, 1800 between Russia, Prussia, Sweden and Denmark. In fact, this meant a declaration of war on England. The British government orders its fleet to seize ships belonging to countries of the hostile coalition. In response to these actions, Denmark occupied Hamburg and Prussia occupied Hanover. The allied coalition concludes an agreement on an export ban. Many European ports become closed to the British Empire. A shortage of bread could lead to famine and crisis in England.

The reason for the formation of a powerful coalition against England was the dominance of the British fleet in the seas, which led to the concentration of world trade in the hands of the British and put other maritime powers at a disadvantage.

When Russia changed the course of its foreign policy towards rapprochement with France, British Ambassador Charles Whitward understands the change in attitude towards him. During the first years of Paul's reign, he praised the emperor and his policies. However, on the eve of his deportation, in his report dated March 6, 1800, he wrote: “The Emperor literally went crazy... Since he ascended the throne, his mental disorder began to gradually intensify...”. The emperor became aware of this. The British ambassador was asked to leave the Russian capital and the borders of the state. Whitward was the first to spread rumors about Pavel Petrovich's madness.

After the British managed to capture Malta in September 1800, Paul I began to create an anti-British coalition, which was to include Denmark, Sweden and Prussia. Shortly before his murder, he, together with Napoleon, began to prepare a military campaign against India in order to “disturb” English possessions. At the same time, he sent the Don Army to Central Asia - 22,500 people, whose task was to conquer Khiva and Bukhara. The campaign was hastily canceled immediately after the death of Paul by decree of Emperor Alexander I.

Order of Malta

After Malta surrendered to the French without a fight in the summer of 1798, the Order of Malta was left without a Grand Master and without a seat. For help, the knights of the order turned to the Russian Emperor and Defender of the Order since 1797, Paul I.

On December 16, 1798, Paul I was elected Grand Master of the Order of Malta, and therefore the words “... and Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem." The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem was established in Russia. The Russian Order of St. John of Jerusalem and the Order of Malta were partially integrated. The image of the Maltese cross appeared on the Russian coat of arms.

On October 12, 1799, the knights of the order arrived in Gatchina, who presented their Grand Master, the Russian Emperor, with three ancient relics of the Hospitallers - a piece of the tree of the Holy Cross, the Philermos Icon of the Mother of God and the right hand of St. John the Baptist. Later in the fall of the same year, the shrines were transported from the Priory Palace to St. Petersburg, where they were placed in the court church of the Savior Not Made by Hands in the Winter Palace. In memory of this event, in 1800, the Governing Synod established a holiday on October 12 (25) in honor of “the transfer from Malta to Gatchina of a part of the tree of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, the Philermos Icon of the Mother of God and the right hand of St. John the Baptist.”

Pavel signs a decree accepting the island of Malta under Russian protection. In the Calendar of the Academy of Sciences, by order of the Emperor, the island of Malta should be designated “a province of the Russian Empire.” Paul I wanted to make the title of grandmaster hereditary and annex Malta to Russia. On the island, the emperor wanted to create a military base and fleet to ensure the interests of the Russian Empire in the Mediterranean Sea and southern Europe.

After the assassination of Paul, Alexander I, who ascended the throne, renounced the title of grandmaster. In 1801, at the direction of Alexander I, the Maltese cross was removed from the coat of arms. In 1810, a decree was signed to stop awarding the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Malta became a British colony in 1813, after the victory of the British fleet under the command of Admiral Nelson over the French in Egypt at the Nile. Gained independence on September 21, 1964 and became a republic, but remained a country within the British Commonwealth.

Conspiracy and death

Contrary to the prevailing point of view, in the era of Paul I there was not one, but several conspiracies against the emperor. After the coronation of Emperor Paul I, a secret organization called the Kanal Workshop appeared in Smolensk. The goal of those who were part of it was to kill Paul. The conspiracy was discovered. Participants were sent into exile or hard labor. Pavel ordered the destruction of materials about the investigation of the conspiracy.

During Paul's reign, there were three cases of alarm in the troops. This happened twice during the emperor’s stay in Pavlovsk. Once in the Winter Palace. Rumors spread among the soldiers about a conspiracy against the emperor. They stop listening to the officers, even wound two and break into the palace.

Another conspiracy is formed in 1800. Meetings of the conspirators took place in the house of Olga Zherebtsova, Zubova’s sister. Among the conspirators were the English ambassador and Zherebtsova's lover Whitward, the governor and head of the secret police Palen, Kochubey, Ribbas, General Bennigsen, Uvarov and others. Palen decided to bring Alexander to his side. The income and welfare of a large part of the Russian nobility depended on trade in timber, flax, and grain with Britain. Russia supplied cheap raw materials to England, and in return received cheap English goods, which hindered the development of its own processing industry.

Paul I was killed by officers in his own bedroom on the night of March 12, 1801 in the Mikhailovsky Castle. The conspiracy included A.V. Argamakov, Vice-Chancellor N.P. Panin, commander of the Izyum Light Horse Regiment L.L. Bennigsen, P.A. Zubov (Catherine’s favorite), Governor General of St. Petersburg P.A. Palen, commanders of the Guards regiments: Semenovsky - N.I. Depreradovich, Cavalry Guard - F.P. Uvarov, Preobrazhensky - P.A. Talyzin, and according to some sources - the emperor's adjutant wing, Count Pavel Vasilyevich Golenishchev-Kutuzov, immediately after the coup was appointed commander of the Cavalry Guard shelf. The British ambassador also supported the dissatisfied. The soul and organizer of the conspiracy was P.A. Palen - Governor General of St. Petersburg. The archives of Panin, Zubov, Uvarov, the leaders of the conspiracy, were bought by the royal family and destroyed. There are many inaccuracies and ambiguities in the surviving information. The exact number of conspirators is unknown. In the surviving information, this figure fluctuates around 150 people.

Family

Gerhardt von Kügelgen. Portrait of Paul I with his family. 1800. State Museum-Reserve "Pavlovsk" Pictured from left to right: Alexander I, Grand Duke Konstantin, Nikolai Pavlovich, Maria Fedorovna, Ekaterina Pavlovna, Maria Pavlovna, Anna Pavlovna, Pavel I, Mikhail Pavlovich, Alexandra Pavlovna and Elena Pavlovna.

Paul I was married twice:

• 1st wife: (from October 10, 1773, St. Petersburg) Natalya Alekseevna(1755-1776), born. Princess Augusta Wilhelmina Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt, daughter of Ludwig IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. Died during childbirth with a baby.

• 2nd wife: (from October 7, 1776, St. Petersburg) Maria Fedorovna(1759-1828), born. Princess Sophia Dorothea of ​​Württemberg, daughter of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg. Paul I and Maria Feodorovna had 10 children:
  • Alexander Pavlovich(1777-1825) - Tsarevich, and then Emperor of All Russia from March 11, 1801.
  • Konstantin Pavlovich(1779-1831) - Tsarevich (from 1799) and Grand Duke, Polish governor in Warsaw.
  • Alexandra Pavlovna(1783-1801) - Hungarian palatine
  • Elena Pavlovna(1784-1803) - Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1799-1803)
  • Maria Pavlovna(1786-1859) - Grand Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
  • Ekaterina Pavlovna(1788-1819) - 2nd Queen Consort of Württemberg
  • Olga Pavlovna(1792-1795) - died at the age of 2 years
  • Anna Pavlovna(1795-1865) - Queen Consort of the Netherlands
  • Nikolai Pavlovich(1796-1855) - Emperor of All Russia from December 14, 1825
  • Mikhail Pavlovich(1798-1849) - military man, founder of the first Artillery School in Russia.

Illegitimate children:

• Great, Semyon Afanasyevich(1772-1794) - from Sofia Stepanovna Ushakova (1746-1803).
• Inzov, Ivan Nikitich(according to one of the versions).
• Marfa Pavlovna Musina-Yuryeva(1801-1803) - from, presumably, Lyubov Bagarat.

Military ranks and titles

Colonel of the Life Cuirassier Regiment (July 4, 1762) (Russian Imperial Guard) Admiral General (December 20, 1762) (Imperial Russian Navy)

Awards

Russian:

• (03.10.1754)
• (03.10.1754)
• Order of St. Anne 1st class. (03.10.1754)
• Order of St. Vladimir 1st class. (23.10.1782)

foreign:

• Polish Order of the White Eagle
• Prussian Order of the Black Eagle
• Swedish Order of the Seraphim
• Sicilian Order of St. Ferdinand 1st class.
• Sicilian Order of Saint Januarius (1849)
• Neapolitan Constantinian Order of St. George
• French Order of the Holy Spirit
• French Order of Our Lady of Carmel
• French Order of Saint Lazarus

Paul I in art

Literature

• Alexandre Dumas - "Fencing Teacher". / Per. from fr. edited by O. V. Moiseenko. - True, 1984
• Dmitry Sergeevich Merezhkovsky - “Paul I” (“drama for reading”, the first part of the trilogy “The Kingdom of the Beast”), which tells about the conspiracy and murder of the emperor, where Paul himself appears as a despot and tyrant, and his killers as guardians for the good of Russia.

Cinema

• "Suvorov"(1940) - film by Vsevolod Pudovkin with Apollo Yachnitsky as Pavel.
• "Ships storm the bastions"(1953) - Pavel Pavlenko
• "Katharina und ihre wilden Hengste"(1983) - Werner Singh
• "Assa"(1987) - a film by Sergei Solovyov with Dmitry Dolinin in the role of Pavel.
• "Emperor's Steps"(1990) - Alexander Filippenko.
• "Countess Sheremeteva"(1994) - Yuri Verkun.
• "Poor, poor Paul"(2003) - Viktor Sukhorukov.
• "Adjutants of Love"(2005) - Avangard Leontiev.
• "Favorite"(2005) - Vadim Skvirsky.
• "Maltese cross "(2007) - Nikolay Leshchukov.
• "Alternative history" (2011)

Monuments to Paul I

Monument to Paul I in the courtyard of the Mikhailovsky Castle

On the territory of the Russian Empire, at least six monuments were erected to Emperor Paul I:

• Vyborg. In the early 1800s, in Mon Repos Park, its then owner Baron Ludwig Nicolai, in gratitude to Paul I, erected a tall granite column with an explanatory inscription in Latin. The monument has been safely preserved.
• Gatchina. On the parade ground in front of the Great Gatchina Palace I. Vitali, representing a bronze statue of the Emperor on a granite pedestal. Opened on August 1, 1851. The monument has been safely preserved.
• Gruzino, Novgorod region. On the territory of his estate, A. A. Arakcheev installed a cast-iron bust of Paul I on a cast-iron pedestal. The monument has not survived to this day.
• Mitava. In 1797, near the road to his Sorgenfrey estate, the landowner von Driesen erected a low stone obelisk in memory of Paul I, with an inscription in German. The fate of the monument after 1915 is unknown.
• Pavlovsk. On the parade ground in front of the Pavlovsk Palace there is a monument to Paul I by I. Vitali, which is a cast-iron statue of the Emperor on a brick pedestal covered with zinc sheets. Opened June 29, 1872. The monument has been safely preserved.
• Spaso-Vifanovsky Monastery. In memory of the visit of Emperor Paul I and his wife Empress Maria Feodorovna to the monastery in 1797, an obelisk made of white marble, decorated with a marble plaque with an explanatory inscription, was built on its territory. The obelisk was installed in an open gazebo, supported by six columns, near the chambers of Metropolitan Plato. During the years of Soviet power, both the monument and the monastery were destroyed.
• Saint Petersburg. In 2003, a monument to Paul I was erected in the courtyard of the Mikhailovsky Castle by sculptor V. E. Gorevoy, architect V. P. Nalivaiko. Opened on May 27, 2003.

see also

Notes

Literature

• Alexandrenko V. Emperor Paul I and the British. (Extract from Whitworth’s reports) // Russian antiquity, 1898. - T. 96. - No. 10. - P. 93-106.
• Bashomon L. Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich in France in 1782. Notes of Bashomon [Excerpts] // Russian antiquity, 1882. - T. 35. - No. 11. - P. 321-334.
• Boshnyak K.K. Stories of an old page about the time of Paul I, recorded by the page's son / Recorded by A.K. Boshnyak // Russian antiquity, 1882. - T. 33. - No. 1. - P. 212-216.
• The time of Paul and his death. Notes from contemporaries and participants in the event of March 11, 1801/ Comp. G. Balitsky. 2 - Part 1, 2 - M.: Russian story, Education, 1908. - 315 p.
• Geiking K.-G. background. Emperor Paul and his time. Notes of a Courland nobleman. 1796-1801 / Trans. I. O. // Russian antiquity, 1887. - T. 56. - No. 11. - P. 365-394. ,

He could not have children due to chronic alcoholism and, interested in the birth of an heir, turned a blind eye to the closeness of her daughter-in-law, first with Choglokov, and then with the chamberlain of the Grand Duke’s court, Saltykov. A number of historians consider Saltykov’s paternity to be an undoubted fact. Later they even claimed that Paul was not Catherine’s son. In "Materials for the biography of Emperor Paul I" (Leipzig, 1874) it is reported that Saltykov allegedly gave birth to a dead child, who was replaced by a Chukhon boy, that is, Paul I is not only not the son of his parents, but not even Russian.

In 1773, not even 20 years old, he married Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Darmstadt (in Orthodoxy - Natalya Alekseevna), but three years later she died in childbirth, and in the same 1776 Pavel married a second time, to Princess Sophia of Württemberg. Dorothea (in Orthodoxy - Maria Feodorovna). Catherine II tried to prevent the Grand Duke from participating in discussions of state affairs, and he, in turn, began to evaluate his mother’s policies more and more critically. Pavel believed that this policy was based on love of fame and pretense; he dreamed of introducing strictly legal governance in Russia under the auspices of the autocracy, limiting the rights of the nobility, and introducing the strictest, Prussian-style, discipline in the army.

In 1794, the Empress decided to remove her son from the throne and hand him over to her eldest grandson Alexander Pavlovich, but did not meet with sympathy from the highest state dignitaries. The death of Catherine II on November 6, 1796 opened the way for Paul to the throne.

The new emperor immediately tried to undo what had been done during the thirty-four years of Catherine II’s reign, and this became one of the most important motives of his policy.

The emperor sought to replace the collegial principle of organizing management with an individual one. An important legislative act of Paul was the law on the order of succession to the throne, published in 1797, which was in force in Russia until 1917.

In the army, Paul sought to introduce Prussian military order. He believed that the army is a machine and the main thing in it is the mechanical coherence of the troops and efficiency. In the field of class politics, the main goal was to transform the Russian nobility into a disciplined, fully serving class. Paul's policy towards the peasantry was contradictory. During the four years of his reign, he gave away gifts to about 600 thousand serfs, sincerely believing that they would live better under the landowner.

In everyday life, certain styles of clothing, hairstyles, and dances, in which the emperor saw manifestations of freethinking, were banned. Strict censorship was introduced and the import of books from abroad was prohibited.

The foreign policy of Paul I was unsystematic. Russia constantly changed allies in Europe. In 1798, Paul joined the second coalition against France; At the insistence of the allies, he placed Alexander Suvorov at the head of the Russian army, under whose command the heroic Italian and Swiss campaigns were carried out.

The capture by the British of Malta, which Paul took under his protection, accepting the title of Grand Master of the Order of St. in 1798. John of Jerusalem (Order of Malta), quarreled him with England. Russian troops were withdrawn, and in 1800 the coalition finally collapsed. Not content with this, Paul began to draw closer to France and conceived a joint struggle against England.

On January 12, 1801, Pavel sent the ataman of the Don Army, General Orlov, an order to march with his entire army on a campaign against India. A little over a month later, the Cossacks began their campaign, numbering 22,507 people. This event, accompanied by terrible hardships, was, however, not completed.

Paul's policies, combined with his despotic character, unpredictability and eccentricity, caused discontent in various social strata. Soon after his accession, a conspiracy began to mature against him. On the night of March 11 (23), 1801, Paul I was strangled in his own bedroom in the Mikhailovsky Castle. The conspirators burst into the emperor's chambers demanding that he abdicate the throne. As a result of the skirmish, Paul I was killed. It was announced to the people that the emperor had died of apoplexy.

The body of Paul I was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

Pavel I (1754-1801), Russian Emperor (since 1796).

Born on October 1, 1754 in St. Petersburg. Son of Peter III and Catherine II. He was brought up at the court of his grandmother, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

There were rumors that Elizabeth hoped to transfer the crown to her grandson, bypassing the unloved heir Peter. She entrusted the care of raising the boy to the dignitary N.I. Panin, who managed to give Pavel a good education for that time. The future emperor learned several languages ​​and was versed in music, mathematics, fortification, military and naval affairs.

After Catherine II's accession to the throne, he received the official title of heir. However, the coup and the death of his father left a fatal imprint on his character. Pavel became secretive, suspicious, and constantly feared attempts on his life. In everything he tried to imitate the late Peter III, just like him, he saw an example to follow in the Prussian king Frederick II the Great. Paul's ideal was the Prussian military system and the Prussian police state.

Living in Gatchina since 1783, Pavel organized his court and small army according to the Prussian model. He was married twice: from 1773 to Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Darmstadt (in Orthodoxy Natalya Alekseevna), and after her death to Princess Sophia Dorothea of ​​Württemberg (in Orthodoxy Maria Fedorovna). From the latter, Paul had four sons and six daughters; but family life did not soften his character.

After the death of Catherine II, Paul ascended the throne.

From the very beginning, he contrasted his policy with everything done during his mother’s long 34-year reign. It is not surprising that the new emperor’s attempts to reform the army and state apparatus resulted in opposition from the highest administration. His desire to stop abuses in the army resulted in a series of repressions against the generals and middle officers. The introduction of uncomfortable army uniforms based on the Prussian model caused grumbling among the military personnel. The offended officers resigned en masse.

The idea of ​​limiting serfdom was reflected in the Decree of 1797 on the introduction of a three-day corvee. However, this law did not really apply.

An important feature of Paul's foreign policy was the fight against the French Revolution. Censorship was rampant in Russia, the import of foreign books was not allowed, private printing houses were closed, and there was even a ban on wearing round “French” hats. In a coalition with Prussia and Austria, Russia waged wars against France, winning victories in Italy and Switzerland thanks to A.V. Suvorov, and in the Mediterranean thanks to F.F. Ushakov. However, at the height of the anti-French campaign, Paul broke off relations with the allies and relied on an alliance with Napoleon I.

After Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of France, Paul saw in him the only force capable of curbing the revolution. Paul acted recklessly by joining the economic blockade of England carried out by France. England was the largest buyer of Russian grain, cast iron, canvas, linen and wood on the European market. The blockade hit both the landowners' economy and peasant industries hard. Paul's campaign to India, which he was preparing, undermined relations with England to no less a degree.

On the night of March 24-25, 1801, the emperor was killed by conspirators in his new residence - Mikhailovsky Castle in St. Petersburg.

Although, because of his father’s jokes on the topic “it’s unknown where his wife got her children from,” many consider the father of Paul I to be Ekaterina Alekseevna’s favorite, Sergei Saltykov. Moreover, the first-born was born only after 10 years of marriage. However, the external similarity between Paul and Peter should be considered as a response to such rumors. The childhood of the future autocrat cannot be called happy. Because of the political struggle, the current Empress Elizabeth I Petrovna was afraid for Paul the First, protected him from communication with his parents and surrounded him with a real army of nannies and teachers who curry favor with high-ranking officials rather than worry about the boy.

Pavel the First in childhood | Runiverse

The biography of Paul I claims that he received the best education that was possible at that time. The extensive library of Academician Korf was placed at his personal disposal. Teachers taught the heir to the throne not only the traditional Law of God, foreign languages, dancing and fencing, but also painting, as well as history, geography, arithmetic and even astronomy. It is interesting that none of the lessons included anything related to military affairs, but the inquisitive teenager himself became interested in this science and mastered it at a fairly high level.

When Catherine II ascended the throne, she allegedly signed an obligation to transfer the reign to her son Paul I when he reached adulthood. This document has not reached us: perhaps the empress destroyed the paper, or maybe it is just a legend. But it was precisely such a statement that all the rebels dissatisfied with the rule of the “Iron German,” including Emelyan Pugachev, always referred to. In addition, there was talk that already on her deathbed, Elizaveta Petrovna was going to transfer the crown to her grandson Paul I, and not to her nephew Peter III, but the corresponding order was not made public and this decision did not affect the biography of Paul I.

Emperor

Paul the First sat on the throne of the Russian Empire only at the age of 42. Right during the coronation, he announced changes in the succession to the throne: now only men could rule Russia, and the crown was passed on only from father to son. By this, Paul unsuccessfully hoped to prevent the palace coups that had become more frequent recently. By the way, for the first time in history, the coronation procedure took place simultaneously for both the emperor and the empress on the same day.

The disgusting relationship with his mother led to the fact that Paul I chose the method of leading the country to actually contrast his decisions with its previous ones. As if “to spite” the memory of Ekaterina Alekseevna, Pavel the First returned freedom to convicted radicals, reformed the army and began to fight serfdom.

But in reality, all these ideas did not lead to anything good. The liberation of the radicals would come back many years later in the form of a Decembrist uprising, the reduction of the corvee remained only on paper, and the fight against corruption in the army grew into a series of repressions. Moreover, both the highest ranks, who one after another were deprived of their positions, and ordinary military personnel remained dissatisfied with the emperor. They grumbled about the new uniform, modeled on the Prussian army, which turned out to be incredibly uncomfortable. In foreign policy, Paul the First became famous for his fight against the ideas of the French Revolution. He introduced the strictest censorship in book publishing; French books and French fashion, including round hats, were banned.

During the reign of Paul the First, thanks to commander Alexander Suvorov and Vice Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, the Russian army and navy achieved many significant victories, collaborating with Prussian and Austrian troops. But later Paul I showed his fickle character, broke off relations with his allies and formed an alliance with Napoleon. It was in Bonaparte that the Russian emperor saw the force that could stop the anti-monarchist revolution. But he was mistaken strategically: Napoleon did not become a winner even after the death of Paul the First, but because of his decision and the economic blockade of Great Britain, Russia lost its largest sales market, which had a very significant impact on the standard of living in the Russian Empire.

Personal life

Officially, Pavel the First was married twice. His first wife, Grand Duchess Natalya Alekseevna, was by birth the German Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Darmstadt. She died two years after the wedding during childbirth. The first son of Paul I was born dead. That same year, the future emperor married again. The wife of Paul the First, Maria Feodorovna, was called Sophia Maria Dorothea of ​​Württemberg before marriage, and she was destined to become the mother of two rulers at once, Alexander I and Nicholas I.

It is interesting that this marriage was not just beneficial for the state, Pavel really fell in love with this girl. As he wrote to his family, “this blonde with a pleasant face captivated the widower.” In total, in union with Maria Feodorovna, the emperor had 10 children. In addition to the two above-mentioned autocrats, it is worth noting Mikhail Pavlovich, who founded the first Russian Artillery School in St. Petersburg. By the way, he is the only child born during the reign of Paul the First.

But falling in love with his wife did not stop Paul the First from following the generally accepted rules and having favorites. Two of them, ladies-in-waiting Sofya Ushakova and Mavra Yuryeva, even gave birth to illegitimate children from the emperor. It is also worth noting Ekaterina Nelidova, who had enormous influence on the emperor and it is believed that she tried to lead the country with the hands of her lover. The personal life of Paul I and Ekaterina Nelidova was more intellectual than carnal in nature. In it, the emperor realized his ideas of romantic chivalry.

When those close to the court realized how much the power of this woman had increased, they arranged a “replacement” for the favorite of Paul I. Anna Lopukhina became his new lady of the heart, and Nelidova was forced to retire to Lode Castle, in the territory of present-day Estonia. It is curious that Lopukhina was not happy with this state of affairs, she was burdened by the status of the mistress of the ruler Paul the First, his “knightly” manifestations of attention, and was annoyed that these relationships were being put on display.

Death

During the several years of Paul the First's reign, despite the change in succession, at least three conspiracies were organized against him, the last of which was successful. Almost a dozen officers, commanders of the most famous regiments, as well as government officials on the night of March 24, 1801 entered the emperor’s bedroom in the Mikhailovsky Castle and committed the murder of Paul I. The official cause of his death was apoplexy. It is worth noting that nobles and ordinary people greeted the news of death with poorly controlled glee.

The perception of Paul the First by subsequent generations is ambiguous. Some historians, especially during the reign of his successor Alexander I, and then in Soviet times, created the image of a tyrant and tyrant. Even the poet in his ode “Liberty” called him “a crowned villain.” Others try to emphasize Paul the First’s heightened sense of justice, calling him “the only romantic on the throne” and “the Russian Hamlet.” The Orthodox Church even at one time considered the possibility of canonizing this man. Today it is generally accepted that Paul the First does not fit into the system of any known ideology.