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CHAPTER XIX: Peter

We brought our notice of Russia down to the death of Peter II. in 1730. When that occurred, a council of the nobles placed on the throne Anne Iwannowa, daughter of Ivan, Peter's eldest brother, who soon broke through the restrictions imposed upon her at her accession. She restored to Persia the provinces that had been conquered by Peter the Great; and terminated a glorious war against Turkey, in conjunction with Austria, by surrendering every place taken during the contest: A.D. 1735. She is accused of being attached to male favorites, the principal of whom was a man of obscure birth, named John Biren, who was elected duke of Courland, and who governed the empire with all the despotism of an autocrat. Previously to her death, Anne had bequeathed the throne to the infant Ivan, and appointed Biren regent; but the latter enjoyed his high dignity only twenty-two days, when he was arrested and sent into exile in Siberia.

Russia has ever been noted for its cabals, intrigues, and revolutions. The soldiery had been induced to espouse the cause of Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great . Anne was arrested and imprisoned; the infant emperor was confined in the fortress of Schusselburg; and Elizabeth was immediately proclaimed empress of all the Russias. This princess concluded an advantageous peace with Sweden; and lent her powerful assistance to Maria Theresa, in her war with the king of Prussia, for whom Elizabeth felt a violent personal enmity.