A Study on the Background of Russian Empresses in the 18th Century

The purpose of this article is to investigate the background that many women became empresses in Russia in the 18th century. The most important motive of empresses’ appearances after Peter I’s death might be ‘the decree on the succession of the throne’ announced in 1722. The essences of this decree were to discard the custom of power succession according to the existing rank of immediate male family and to prescribe that monarch could appoint the successor regardless of the rank or gender upon his own determination. However, Peter I died without execution of the emperor’s right that this law defined. This resulted in rampant power struggle within the ruling class on the throne succession and women could be empresses supported by some aristocrats and the royal guard. Meanwhile, ‘court revolts’ were occurred. Finally, ‘the decree on the succession of the throne’ opened the potential that emperor’s aides could intervene the process of successor investiture so as for four empresses to be appeared in Russia after the death of Peter I, and favorites’ monopoly of state affairs was continued with violent change of regimes.