The Empire of Russia | Page 3

of Schlit.--War With Kezan.--Disasters and
Disgrace.--Immense Preparation For the Chastisement of the
Horde.--The March.--Repulse of the Tauredians.--Siege of
Kezan.--Incidents of the Siege.


CHAPTER XIV.
THE REIGN OF IVAN IV.--CONTINUED.
From 1552 to 1557.
Siege of Kezan.--Artifices of War.--The Explosion of Mines.--The
Final Assault.--Complete Subjugation of Kezan.--Gratitude and
Liberality of the Tzar.--Return To Moscow.--Joy of the
inhabitants.--Birth of An Heir To the Crown.--Insurrection in
Kezan.--The Insurrection Quelled.--Conquest of Astrachan.--The
English Expedition in Search of a North-East Passage to India.--The
Establishment at Archangel.--Commercial Relations Between France
and Russia.--Russian Embassy to England.--Extension of Commerce.


CHAPTER XV.
THE ABDICATION OF IVAN IV.
From 1557 to 1582.

Terror of the Horde in Tauride.--War with Gustavus Vasa of
Sweden.--Political Punctilios.--The Kingdom of Livonia Annexed to
Sweden.--Death of Anastasia.--Conspiracy Against Ivan.--His
Abdication.--His Resumption of the Crown.--Invasion of Russia by the
Tartars and Turks.--Heroism of Zerebrinow.--Utter Discomfiture of the
Tartars.--Relations Between Queen Elizabeth of England, and
Russia.--Intrepid Embassage.--New War with Poland.--Disasters of
Russia.--The Emperor Kills His Own Son.--Anguish of Ivan IV.


CHAPTER XVI.
THE STORMS OF HEREDITARY SUCCESSION.
From 1582 to 1608.
Anguish and Death of Ivan IV.--His Character.--Feodor and
Dmitri.--Usurpation of Boris Gudenow.--The Polish
Election.--Conquest of Siberia.--Assassination of Dmitri.--Death of
Feodor.--Boris Crowned King.--Conspiracies.--Reappearance of
Dmitri.--Boris Poisoned.--The Pretender Crowned.--Embarrassments of
Dmitri.--A New Pretender.--Assassination of Dmitri.--Crowning of
Zuski.--Indignation of Poland.--Historical Romance.


CHAPTER XVII.
A CHANGE OF DYNASTY.
From 1608 to 1680.
Conquests by Poland.--Sweden in Alliance with Russia.--Grandeur of

Poland.--Ladislaus Elected King of Russia.--Commotions and
insurrections.--Rejection of Ladislaus and Election of Michael Feodor
Romanow.--Sorrow of His Mother.--Pacific Character of
Romanow.--Choice of a Bride.--Eudochia Streschnew.--The
Archbishop Feodor.--Death of Michael and Accession of Alexis.--Love
in the Palace.--Successful intrigue.--Mobs in Moscow.--Change in the
Character of the Tzar.--Turkish invasions.--Alliance Between Russia
and Poland.


CHAPTER XVIII.
THE REGENCY OF SOPHIA.
From 1680 to 1697.
Administration of Feodor.--Death of Feodor.--Incapacity of
Ivan.--Succession of Peter.--Usurpation of Sophia.--Insurrection of the
Strelitzes.--Massacre in Moscow.--Success of the Insurrection.--Ivan
and Peter Declared Sovereigns under the Regency of Sophia.--General
Discontent.--Conspiracy against Sophia.--Her Flight to the
Convent.--The Conspiracy Quelled.--New Conspiracy.--Energy of
Peter.--He Assumes the Crown.--Sophia Banished to a
Convent.--Commencement of the Reign of Peter.


CHAPTER XIX.
PETER THE GREAT.
From 1697 to 1702.

Young Russians Sent to Foreign Countries.--The Tzar Decides Upon a
Tour of Observation.--His Plan of Travel.--Anecdote.--Peter's Mode of
Life in Holland.--Characteristic Anecdotes.--The Presentation of the
Embassador.--The Tzar Visits England.--Life at Deptford.--Illustrious
Foreigners Engaged in His Service.--Peter Visits Vienna.--The Game
of Landlord.--Insurrection in Moscow.--Return of the Tzar, and
Measures of Severity.--War with Sweden.--Disastrous Defeat of
Narva.--Efforts to Secure the Shores of the Baltic.--Designs Upon the
Black Sea.


CHAPTER XX.
CONQUESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF PETER THE GREAT.
From 1702 TO 1718.
Peter takes Lake Lagoda and the Neva.--Foundation of St.
Petersburg.--Conquest of Livonia.--Marienburg Taken by Storm.--The
Empress Catharine.--Extraordinary Efforts in Building St.
Petersburg.--Threat of Charles XII.--Deposition of
Augustus.--Enthronement of Stanislaus.--Battle of Pultowa.--Flight of
Charles XII. to Turkey.--Increased Renown of Russia.--Disastrous
Conflict with the Turks.--Marriage of Alexis.--His Character.--Death of
his Wife.--The Empress Acknowledged.--Conquest of Finland.--Tour
of the Tzar to Southern Europe.


CHAPTER XXI.
THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION OF ALEXIS, AND DEATH
OF THE TZAR.

From 1718 to 1725.
The Tzar's Second Visit to Holland.--Reception in France.--Description
of Catharine.--Domestic Grief.--Conduct of Alexis.--Letters from His
Father.--Flight To Germany.--Thence to Naples.--Envoys Sent to Bring
Him Back.--Alexis Excluded from the Succession.--His Trial for
Treason.--Condemnation and Unexpected Death.--New Efforts of the
Tzar for the Welfare of Russia.--Sickness of Peter.--His
Death.--Succession of the Empress Catharine.--Epitaph to the Emperor.


CHAPTER XXII.
THE REIGN OF CATHARINE I., ANNE, THE INFANT IVAN AND
ELIZABETH.
From 1725 TO 1769.
Energetic Reign of Catharine.--Her Sudden Death.--Brief Reign of
Peter II.--Difficulties of Hereditary Succession.--A Republic
Contemplated.--Anne, Daughter of Ivan.--The Infant Ivan Proclaimed
King.--His Terrible Doom.--Elizabeth, Daughter of Peter the Great,
Enthroned.--Character of Elizabeth.--Alliance with Maria
Theresa.--Wars with Prussia.--Great Reverses of Frederic of
Prussia.--Desperate Condition of Frederic.--Death of
Elizabeth.--Succession of Peter III.


CHAPTER XXIII.
PETER III. AND HIS BRIDE.

From 1728 TO 1762.
Lineage of Peter III.--Chosen by Elizabeth as her Successor.--The
Bride Chosen for Peter.--Her Lineage.--The Courtship.--The
Marriage.--Autobiography of Catharine.--Anecdotes of Peter.--His
Neglect of Catharine and his Debaucheries.--Amusements of the
Russian Court.--Military Execution of a Rat.--Accession of Peter III. to
the Throne.--Supremacy of Catharine.--Her Repudiation
Threatened.--The Conspiracy.--Its Successful Accomplishment.


CHAPTER XXIV.
THE CONSPIRACY; AND ACCESSION OF CATHARINE II.
From 1762 to 1765.
Peter III. at Oranienbaum.--Catharine at Peterhof.--The Successful
Accomplishment of the Conspiracy.--Terror of Peter.--His Vacillating
and Feeble Character.--Flight to Cronstadt.--Repulse.--Heroic Counsel
of Munich.--Peter's Return to Oranienbaum.--His Suppliant Letters to
Catharine.--His Arrest.--Imprisonment.--Assasination.--Proclamation
of the Empress.--Her Complicity in the Crime.--Energy of Catharine's
Administration.--Her Expansive Views and Sagacious
Policy.--Contemplated Marriage with Count Orlof.


CHAPTER XXV.
REIGN OF CATHARINE II.
From 1765 to 1774.

Energy of Catharine's Administration.--Titles of Honor Decreed to
Her.--Code of Laws Instituted.--The Assassination of the Empress
Attempted.--Encouragement of Learned Men.--Catharine Inoculated for
the Small-Pox.--New War