Peter III (Peter F., born Karl Peter Ulrich of Holstein-Gottorp; February 21, 1728, Kiel July 17, 1762, Ropsha) — the Emperor of Russia in 1761-1762, the first representative of Holstein-Gottorp (Oldenburg) branch of the Romanov on the Russian throne. C 1745 — ruling Duke of Holstein.
After a six-month reign overthrown in a Palace coup, which enthroned his wife, Catherine II, and soon lost his life. The personality and work of Peter III has long been regarded by historians unanimously negative, but then there was also a more balanced approach, noting the number of state merits of the Emperor. During the reign of Catherine for Peter Fedorovich masqueraded as many imposters (recorded about forty cases), the most famous of which was Emelyan Pugachev.
Childhood, education and upbringing
Grandson of Peter I, son of Princess Anna Petrovna and the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl Friedrich. Your father was a great-nephew of the Swedish king Charles XII and first brought up as the heir to the Swedish throne.
The boy's mother, called the birth of Karl Peter Ulrich, died shortly after his birth, having caught a cold during the fireworks in honor of the birth of his son. At age 11 he lost his father. After his death, she was raised in the house of his great-uncle on my father's side, of Bishop Arenskogo Adolf (later king of Sweden, Adolf Fredrik). His teachers O. F. Brummer, and F. W. Bergholz didn't differ high moral qualities and not once cruelly punished the child. The crown Prince of the Swedish crown repeatedly h; many times the boy put his knees on the peas, and for a long time — so that he swelled his knees and he was barely able to walk; others were subjected to intensive and degrading punishment. The teachers cared little about his education: 13 years he only possessed a little French.
Peter grew fearful, nervous, sensitive, loved music and painting and at the same time loved all the military (but were afraid of the guns; this fear remained with him all his life). With military activities were connected all his ambitious dreams. Good health was no different, on the contrary, was sickly and frail. By nature Peter was not evil; often acted innocently. There is also a tendency of Peter's to lie and ridiculous fantasies. According to some information, already in his childhood he was addicted to wine.
The heir