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Elizabeth
Elizabeth of Russia by V.Eriksen.jpg
Portrait painted by Vigilius Eriksen in 1757
Empress of Russia
Reign 6 December 1741 – 5 January 1762
Coronation 6 March 1742
Predecessor Ivan VI
Successor Peter III
Born (1709-12-29)29 December 1709
Kolomenskoye, Moscow, Tsardom of Russia
Died 5 January 1762(1762-01-05) (aged 52)
Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Burial 3 February 1762
Peter and Paul Cathedral
Consort Alexey Razumovsky (suspected)
Full name
Elizaveta Petrovna
House Romanov
Father Peter I of Russia
Mother Catherine I of Russia
Religion Russian Orthodoxy
Signature Elizabeth's 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

  • Elizabeth of Russia in youth (1720s, Russian museum)

    Young Elizabeth in the 1720s, painted by Ivan Nikitich Nikitin.

  • Alexei Grigorievich Razumovskiy

    Elizabeth probably secretly married Alexei Razumovsky, a handsome Ukrainian-born chorister

  • Elizabeth at Preobrazhensky quarter by Lansere

    The Preobrazhensky Regiment soldiers proclaim Elizabeth as Empress of Russia.

  • Coronation-Procession Elisabeth by Ivan Sokolow

    Coronation procession of Empress Elizabeth, Moscow 1742

  • Elizabeth of Russia visiting Lomonosov's mosaic workshop by A.V.Makovskiy (priv.coll.)

    Elizabeth visits Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov.

  • Winter Palace Panorama 2

    Built by her court architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Winter Palace is Elizabeth's most famous monument and the residence of her successors.

  • 1 Rouble à l'effigie d'Élisabeth Ire de Russie

    Coin of Elizabeth of Russia, whose beneficial but numerous buildings required heavy taxation.

  • Donationsurkunde B. von Campenhausen

    Elisabeth's donation to the Russian lieutenant general Balthasar Freiherr von Campenhausen, 27 May 1756

  • Europe 1740 en

    Map of European political borders in 1740

  • Elizabenois

    Promenade of Elizaveta Petrovna through the streets of Saint Petersburg (1903), watercolour by Alexandre Benois

  • Elizaveta with Black Servant by Grooth (1743, Hermitage)

    Elizabeth on horseback while being attended by a page.

  • Eliabeth lanceret

    Elizaveta Petrovna in Tsarskoe Selo (1905), painting by Eugene Lanceray, now in the Tretyakov Gallery.

  • Elizabeth of Russia's departure

    Departure of Elizabeth from Anichkov Palace

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