The History of Russia Podcast · Damon Boar

Episode 82 - The New Empress of all the Russias - almost.....

·22 min·1 clip

This episode of The History of Russia Podcast, hosted by Damon, details the political crisis of 1762 following Tsar Peter III's ascension. It focuses on Peter's erratic policies and the resulting conspiracy by his wife, Catherine, to seize power. The narrative centers on the intersection of the Seven Years' War, Peter's personal failings, and Catherine's calculated rise. Louis XV of France, frustrated by military stalemates and financial strain, unilaterally withdrew from the Seven Years' War, leaving Prussia to fight Austria alone. Peter III, an ardent admirer of Prussia's Frederick the Great, impulsively prepared a war against Denmark to reclaim the territory of Schleswig for his native Duchy of Holstein. He assembled a 40,000-strong Russian army in Prussia, which bewilderingly retreated before engaging the Danish forces. Peter's domestic behavior was equally destabilizing; he publicly humiliated Catherine, once calling her a "fool" at a state function, and even drunkenly ordered her arrest. Catherine, pregnant with Grigori Orlov's child, gave birth to a son named Alexei, who was secretly smuggled from the palace. A key surprising moment involves Catherine's accomplice setting his own house on fire to exploit Peter's pyromania and distract him during the baby's removal. Peter's unpopularity soared due to his pro-Prussian reforms and disrespect for Russian traditions, while Catherine cultivated an image of stoic patriotism. The conspiracy was activated when a co-conspirator, Captain Pasek, was arrested, prompting Alexei Orlov to fetch Catherine from Peterhof at dawn. On June 28, 1762, Catherine, escorted by the Orlov brothers, rallied the Izmailovsky and Semyonovsky guards regiments with a speech claiming she acted to save Russia. She then proclaimed herself Empress from the Winter Palace balcony, presenting her son Paul as heir, with the Senate's assent. Peter, meanwhile, was oblivious at Oranienbaum, ignoring reports of unrest while playing his violin. The episode ends with Catherine, dressed in a guardsman's uniform, marching 14,000 troops toward Oranienbaum to confront Peter, leaving the outcome a cliffhanger. The host's tone is conversational and educational, blending detailed historical analysis with dry, anecdotal humor about figures like the corpulent Count Razumovsky disliking his tight uniform. Listeners who enjoy narrative political history, palace intrigue, and character-driven stories of power transitions will find this episode compelling. Those seeking a broad overview of Russian history or who dislike episodic cliffhangers might prefer to skip it.

As heard by us

Peter's Danish campaign and treatment of Catherine push the crisis toward his arrest.

Peter's first months as Tsar are framed as a volatile mix of wounded pride, public insult, and political risk. His choices have unsettled the army and clergy, while the Danish campaign adds pressure to an already strained marriage with Catherine, whose pregnancy and distance…

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Why you'd press play

You get Peter's Denmark fixation, Catherine pushed into isolation, and a coup beginning with 14,000 men on the road to Oranienbaum.

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