The Empire of Russia | Page 3

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 with Turkey.--Capture of Crimea.--Sailing of the Russian Fleet.--Great Naval Victory.--Visit of the Prussian Prince Henry.--The Sleigh Ride.--Plans for the Partition of Poland.--The Hermitage.--Marriage of the Grand Duke Paul.--Correspondence with Voltaire and Diderot.


CHAPTER XXVI.
REIGN OF CATHARINE II.
From 1774 to 1781.
Peace with Turkey.--Court of Catharine II.--Her Personal Appearance and Habits.--Conspiracy and Rebellion.--Defeat of the Rebels.--Magnanimity of Catharine II.--Ambition of the Empress.--Court Favorite.--Division of Russia into Provinces.--internal Improvements.--New Partition of Poland.--Death of the Wife of Paul.--Second Marriage of the Grand Duke.--Splendor of the Russian Court.--Russia and Austria Secretly Combine to Drive the Turks out of Europe.--The Emperor Joseph II.


CHAPTER XXVII.
TERMINATION OF THE REIGN OF CATHARINE II.
From 1781 to 1786.
Statue of Peter the Great.--Alliance Between Austria and Russia.--Independence of the Crimea--The Khan of the Crimea.--Vast Preparations for War.--National Jealousies.--Tolerant Spirit of Catharine.--Magnificent Excursion to the Crimea.--Commencement of Hostilities.--Anecdote of Paul.--Peace.--New Partition of Poland.--Treaty with Austria and France.--Hostility to Liberty in France.--Death of Catharine.--Her Character.


CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE REIGN OF PAUL I.
From 1796 to 1801.
Accession of Paul I. to the Throne.--Influence of Hereditary