Peter II of Russia

Peter II Alexeyevich was the Emperor of Russia from 1727 until he died in 1730 at the age of 14. He was the only son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich and Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg. After the death of Catherine I, powerful figures like Alexander Menshikov tried to control Peter II, but they faced opposition and were removed from power.

During his short time as ruler, Peter II was often influenced by his favorites, such as Prince Aleksey Dolgorukov. This led to a time when important government matters were not handled well, and rules that tied people to serving landowners became stronger.

Peter II was planned to marry Ekaterina Dolgorukova, but he passed away suddenly from a sickness known as smallpox before the wedding could happen. His death marked the end of the male line of the House of Romanov.

Early life

Peter was born in Saint Petersburg on 23 (O.S. 12) October 1715. His father was the only living son of Peter the Great. His mother was connected to European royalty, making her a first cousin of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.

Sadly, Peter's mother passed away when he was only ten days old. His father died in prison in 1718. This left Peter and his sister, Natalya, as orphans. Peter the Great showed little interest in raising them. As a young child, Peter was kept in strict seclusion. His early teachers were the wives of a tailor and a vintner, and a sailor named Norman taught him basic navigation. Later, a Hungarian noble named Janos (Ivan) Zeikin looked after his education.

When Peter the Great died in 1725, his second wife, Catherine I, took over. A powerful minister, Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov, changed Peter's teachers. Peter's education included history, geography, mathematics, and foreign languages, but it was not very deep. Peter preferred activities like hunting and feasting.

When Catherine I died in 1727, it was decided that Peter, as the only grandson of Peter the Great, should become the heir. With support from many people, Peter was named heir to the throne, even though Catherine I had two daughters. A council was to help rule until he grew older.

Reign

After Catherine I passed away in May 1727, 11-year-old Peter II became emperor of Russia. A powerful noble named Menshikov took control of Peter and tried to guide him, but Peter’s other advisors opposed Menshikov. Peter eventually removed Menshikov from power and sent him far away to Siberia.

Peter II was smart but often stubborn and uninterested in ruling. He spent much of his time enjoying parties, games, and friends rather than focusing on important decisions for the country. Because of this, many people in government felt uncertain about what to do. Peter did not show much interest in the navy or other duties, which caused problems.

Peter married Ekaterina Alekseyevna Dolgorukova, but he was not happy with the union. Sadly, Peter fell very ill and passed away on January 30, 1730 — the day his wedding was planned. He was buried in the Cathedral of the Archangel in the Moscow Kremlin. With Peter’s death, the direct male line of the Romanov dynasty ended, and his cousin Anna Ivanovna became the next ruler of Russia.

Ancestry

Peter II was the only son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich and Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He became Emperor of Russia in 1727 when he was just a young boy, and he ruled until he passed away in 1730 at the age of 14.