Peter III, the husband of Catherine the Great and son of Anna Petrovna (daughter of Peter the Great), was born Karl Peter Ulrich on February 10, 1728. Raised in the court of Holstein until he was 14, he was named heir to the Russian throne in 1742 by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. He married Princess Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst (Catherine the Great) in 1745 and ascended to the throne in 1761 upon Elizaveta’s death.
Peter III’s reign was brief and turbulent. He enacted several reforms, including ending the persecution of religious dissenters and releasing nobles from mandatory state service. However, his pro-Prussian stance and disregard for Russian traditions made him unpopular. This discontent culminated in a coup on June 28, 1762, led by his own wife, Catherine.
Following his deposition, Peter III was imprisoned at Ropshinskii Castle. The official cause of death, just days later on July 7, 1762, was attributed to colic and hemorrhoids. However, this explanation is widely disputed. It is commonly believed that Alexei Orlov, brother of Catherine’s lover Grigory Orlov and a key figure in the coup, assassinated Peter III.
While the exact details remain debated, most historical accounts suggest Peter III’s death was not natural. Given the political upheaval, Catherine’s ambition, and the convenient timing, foul play is heavily suspected. Whether it was directly ordered by Catherine or carried out by overzealous supporters remains a subject of historical speculation, but Peter III’s demise is inextricably linked to Catherine’s rise to power and the dramatic events of 1762.
