Paul I:
Paul was born on the 1st October 1754
Paul I was the offspring of Catherine the Great and ?. There is a question of who Paul's biological father is, Catherine claims that it was Peter III but there is reason to believe that the father was one of her lovers, such as Sergey Saltykov.
Paul never developed good relations with his mother, Catherine, as she never allowed him to participate actively in government affairs.
Catherine wanted to name her grandson, Alexander, as her heir, however this was denied and Paul was crowned czar of Russia from 1796 to 1801. During Paul's rein, in an effort to strengthen the autocracy, reversed many of Catherine’s policies; he re-established centralized administrative agencies she had abolished in 1775, increased bureaucratic control in local government, and sought to impose limits on the authority of the nobles. In the process he provoked the hostility of the nobles, and, when he introduced harsh disciplinary measures in the army and displayed a marked preference for his Gatchina troops, the military, particularly the prestigious guards units, also turned against him
Death:
As a result of his inconsistent policies, as well as his tyrannical and capricious manner of implementing them, a group of highly placed civil and military officials, led by Count Peter von Pahlen, governor-general of St. Petersburg, and General Leonty Leontyevich, Count von Bennigsen, gained the approval of Alexander, the heir to the throne, to depose his father. On March 23, 1801, Paul was assassinated in his bedchamber.
Paul I was the offspring of Catherine the Great and ?. There is a question of who Paul's biological father is, Catherine claims that it was Peter III but there is reason to believe that the father was one of her lovers, such as Sergey Saltykov.
Paul never developed good relations with his mother, Catherine, as she never allowed him to participate actively in government affairs.
Catherine wanted to name her grandson, Alexander, as her heir, however this was denied and Paul was crowned czar of Russia from 1796 to 1801. During Paul's rein, in an effort to strengthen the autocracy, reversed many of Catherine’s policies; he re-established centralized administrative agencies she had abolished in 1775, increased bureaucratic control in local government, and sought to impose limits on the authority of the nobles. In the process he provoked the hostility of the nobles, and, when he introduced harsh disciplinary measures in the army and displayed a marked preference for his Gatchina troops, the military, particularly the prestigious guards units, also turned against him
Death:
As a result of his inconsistent policies, as well as his tyrannical and capricious manner of implementing them, a group of highly placed civil and military officials, led by Count Peter von Pahlen, governor-general of St. Petersburg, and General Leonty Leontyevich, Count von Bennigsen, gained the approval of Alexander, the heir to the throne, to depose his father. On March 23, 1801, Paul was assassinated in his bedchamber.
Artful Thinking:
Source: Portrait of Catherine II and Peter III
This image of Catherine and Peter shortly after their marriage, encapsulates Peter and Catherine's relationship perfectly.
In this portrait we can see that they do not look intimate or in love at all, evidence of this is:
Catherine, on the other hand, looks very modest and acts as though she is happy to be there, holding Peter's hand even though, in reality, it was the opposite. This portrait displays her determination to continue her marriage to Peter in order to gain the throne (these feelings are discussed in her memoirs).
This painting makes me wonder whether the artist deliberately manipulated Peter and Catherine's body language to one another, or if the artist painted what was right in front of him, which makes me further question when their marriage fell apart (especially if this portrait was painted early into the marriage and they look this unhappy already).
In this portrait we can see that they do not look intimate or in love at all, evidence of this is:
- Their hands are barely touching
- They are not looking at each other
- They are not smiling
- Peter III's hands look effortless while holding Catherine's hand
- Peter III looks bored
Catherine, on the other hand, looks very modest and acts as though she is happy to be there, holding Peter's hand even though, in reality, it was the opposite. This portrait displays her determination to continue her marriage to Peter in order to gain the throne (these feelings are discussed in her memoirs).
This painting makes me wonder whether the artist deliberately manipulated Peter and Catherine's body language to one another, or if the artist painted what was right in front of him, which makes me further question when their marriage fell apart (especially if this portrait was painted early into the marriage and they look this unhappy already).