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, some powerful people 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 some problems with handling government matters.

Peter II was planned to marry Ekaterina Dolgorukova, but he passed away suddenly from a sickness 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, and was a first cousin of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.

Sadly, Peter's mother passed away when he was very young. His father died in prison a few years later. This left Peter and his sister, Natalya, without parents. Peter the Great did not spend much time with them. When Peter was a young child, he was kept away from others. His teachers were unusual: the wives of a tailor and a vintner, and a sailor named Norman who taught him basic navigation. Later, a Hungarian noble named Janos (Ivan) Zeikin helped with his education.

When Peter the Great died in 1725, his wife, Catherine I, became ruler. A powerful minister, Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov, changed Peter's teachers. Peter learned some history, geography, mathematics, and foreign languages, but his education was not very deep. Peter liked to hunt and enjoy feasts.

When Catherine I died in 1727, it was decided that Peter, as the only grandson of Peter the Great, would 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 tried to guide Peter, but Peter’s other advisors did not agree with Menshikov. Peter removed Menshikov from power and sent him far away to Siberia.

Peter II was smart but often stubborn and not very interested in ruling. He liked to have fun with parties, games, and friends instead of focusing on important decisions for the country. This made many government people unsure 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 this. 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. He ruled until he passed away in 1730 at the age of 14.