Peter The Third, born on February 21, 1728, in Kiel, Holstein-Gottorp (now Germany), reigned as the Emperor of Russia for a mere six months in 1762. His brief rule, marked by unpopular policies and personal eccentricities, ultimately led to his deposition and death. Despite his short time on the throne, Peter III remains a significant, if controversial, figure in Russian history, largely overshadowed by his wife and successor, Catherine the Great.
Born Karl Peter Ulrich of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Peter’s lineage connected him to both the Swedish and Russian thrones. He was the son of Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great, and Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. In 1742, Empress Elizabeth of Russia, Peter the Great’s daughter and Peter’s aunt, brought him to Russia and declared him her heir. He was baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church and renamed Pyotr Fyodorovich. In 1745, Peter married Sophie Friederike Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst, who became Catherine, later known as Catherine the Great.
Peter III’s personality and policies quickly alienated the Russian court and populace. Described as mentally feeble and ardently pro-Prussian, he lacked political acumen and struggled to connect with the Russian elite. His admiration for Frederick the Great of Prussia heavily influenced his political decisions, most notably his reversal of Russia’s stance in the Seven Years’ War. Upon becoming emperor in January 1762, Peter abruptly ended Russia’s war against Prussia, returning conquered territories and forging an alliance with Frederick the Great. This decision was seen as a betrayal of Russian sacrifices and national interests.
Further fueling discontent, Peter III initiated reforms that, while forward-thinking in some respects, were poorly received. He exempted the nobility from mandatory state service, a move that could have been popular but was undermined by his other actions. He also attempted to reform the Russian Orthodox Church along Lutheran lines and imposed Prussian military drills on the Imperial Guard, deeply offending both the clergy and the military. These actions, coupled with rumors of Peter’s intent to divorce Catherine and his perceived incompetence, created widespread opposition.
Facing a brewing conspiracy led by his own wife, Catherine, and her lover Grigory Orlov, Peter III’s reign came to a swift and ignominious end. In June 1762, Catherine, backed by the Imperial Guard, seized power in a coup d’état. Peter III was arrested and forced to abdicate on July 9, 1762. Shortly after, on July 18, 1762, he died under mysterious circumstances while in custody, likely assassinated. His brief and turbulent reign left a lasting impact, primarily by paving the way for Catherine the Great’s long and influential rule, and serving as a cautionary tale of leadership disconnected from national sentiment.
