Elizabeth of Russia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elizabeth |
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![]() Portrait painted by Vigilius Eriksen in 1757
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Empress of Russia | |||||
Reign | 6 December 1741 – 5 January 1762 | ||||
Coronation | 6 March 1742 | ||||
Predecessor | Ivan VI | ||||
Successor | Peter III | ||||
Born | Kolomenskoye, Moscow, Tsardom of Russia |
29 December 1709||||
Died | 5 January 1762 Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire |
(aged 52)||||
Burial | 3 February 1762 Peter and Paul Cathedral |
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Consort | Alexey Razumovsky (suspected) | ||||
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House | Romanov | ||||
Father | Peter I of Russia | ||||
Mother | Catherine I of Russia | ||||
Religion | Russian Orthodoxy | ||||
Signature | ![]() |
Elizabeth Petrovna (Russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́та) Петро́вна) (29 December [O.S. 18 December] 1709 – 5 January 1762 [O.S. 25 December 1761] ), also known as Yelisaveta or Elizaveta, was the Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death. She led the country during the two major European conflicts of her time: the War of Austrian Succession (1740–48) and the Seven Years' War (1756–63).
Her domestic policies allowed the nobles to gain dominance in local government while shortening their terms of service to the state. She encouraged Mikhail Lomonosov's establishment of the University of Moscow and Ivan Shuvalov's foundation of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. She also spent exorbitant sums of money on the grandiose baroque projects of her favourite architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli, particularly in Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo.
The Winter Palace and the Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg are among the chief monuments of her reign.
She remains one of the most popular Russian monarchs due to her strong opposition to Prussian policies and her decision not to execute a single person during her reign.
Images for kids
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Elizabeth visits Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov.
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Built by her court architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Winter Palace is Elizabeth's most famous monument and the residence of her successors.
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Promenade of Elizaveta Petrovna through the streets of Saint Petersburg (1903), watercolour by Alexandre Benois
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Elizaveta Petrovna in Tsarskoe Selo (1905), painting by Eugene Lanceray, now in the Tretyakov Gallery.