1740-1741 Emperor of Russia.
He is probably the most tragic among Russian rulers. Though he was the only rightful heir, he spent 20 years imprisoned in a dark cellar until he was murdered by order of Catherine the Great. He never actually ruled.
Background
Lived: 1740-1764.
When tsarina Anna Ivanovna died childless in 1740, she left the throne to her sister’s 2-month-old grandson Ivan VI.
Ivan’s mother was Anna Leopoldovna, the granddaughter of Ivan V, his father Anthony Ulrich, the Duke of Brunschweig.
Anna Leopoldovna
Anna Leopoldovna declared herself the Grand Duchess and ruled in the name of her son. The head of the government was Andrey Osterman.
Anna Leopoldovna proved to be as unpopular as Biron. As she understood little of the character of the Russian people, she and her influential mistress Julia Mengden gained more and more enemies.
Elizabeth
Peter the Great’s daughter Elizabeth had long awaited her chance to assume power. With the help of the guards regiment, she organized a coup and dethroned Anna Leopoldovna and her son Ivan VI. They were imprisoned and deported to Riga and eventually sent to Kholmogory, where Anna died in 1746.
Imprisonment
Five-year-old Ivan VI spent the next 20 years in solitary confinement in various prisons, most notably the fortress of Schlüsselburg. His whereabouts were a state secret during the reign of Elizabeth and Catherine the Great.
Death
Catherine the Great had given the guards of his prison strict orders to kill Ivan instantly if someone tried to free him. The orders were carried out in 1764 when an unsuccessful attempt was made by a lieutenant Mirovich to free Ivan.
Ivan VI
1740-1741 Emperor of Russia.
He is probably the most tragic among Russian rulers. Though he was the only rightful heir, he spent 20 years imprisoned in a dark cellar until he was murdered by order of Catherine the Great. He never actually ruled.
Background
Lived: 1740-1764.
When tsarina Anna Ivanovna died childless in 1740, she left the throne to her sister’s 2-month-old grandson Ivan VI.
Ivan’s mother was Anna Leopoldovna, the granddaughter of Ivan V, his father Anthony Ulrich, the Duke of Brunschweig.
Anna Leopoldovna
Anna Leopoldovna declared herself the Grand Duchess and ruled in the name of her son. The head of the government was Andrey Osterman.
Anna Leopoldovna proved to be as unpopular as Biron. As she understood little of the character of the Russian people, she and her influential mistress Julia Mengden gained more and more enemies.
Elizabeth
Peter the Great’s daughter Elizabeth had long awaited her chance to assume power. With the help of the guards regiment, she organized a coup and dethroned Anna Leopoldovna and her son Ivan VI. They were imprisoned and deported to Riga and eventually sent to Kholmogory, where Anna died in 1746.
Imprisonment
Five-year-old Ivan VI spent the next 20 years in solitary confinement in various prisons, most notably the fortress of Schlüsselburg. His whereabouts were a state secret during the reign of Elizabeth and Catherine the Great.
Death
Catherine the Great had given the guards of his prison strict orders to kill Ivan instantly if someone tried to free him. The orders were carried out in 1764 when an unsuccessful attempt was made by a lieutenant Mirovich to free Ivan.
Elizabeth