Detailed Information on Publication Record

The scientific book ‘The Czar is dead, long live the Czarina! The overthrows on Russian court in the 18th century’ explores the dramatic period of change on the throne in Russia in the years 1682-1801 which can be characterized as the era of palace overthrows. The author analyzes their preparations, development and consequences, as well as mighty careers of many personalities who risked it all in order to gain the most power, some succeeded, some did not. The author also compares how the czars and czarinas climbed to the throne. He does not only concentrate on ‘big’ palace overthrows but looks at ‘small ones’ too, some of these banished several regents, favorites or leading officials. He focuses on the women rule, dynastic links, legitimacy questions, the influence of foreigners on the ruling decisions and on intrigues at the court as well. He comes (not only) to the conclusion that the Russian guard was not the mastermind behind the overthrows but merely their tool. He also sets the overthrows in a context of Russian development in the 18th century, the time when political institutions changed under the immense pressure from the reforms of Peter the Great. The whole empire was forced to deal with these revolutionary changes. Their instigator Peter the Great had an unbelievably strong personality capable of holding the governing reins tightly. After his death there was no one similar in the dynasty and the state structure developed for Peter the Great started to crumble. During the analyzed palace overthrows, the leaders of state changed thanks to conspiracies within the governing circles, yet the social and economic area did not change at all. When it came to changing the monarchs it was always a small group of conspirators making the decision. The scientific book is based on the belief that a methodological approach to political history must be accompanied by the social and cultural history as well as the history of the mundane. These can greatly enrich the scientific interpretation of monarchs, dynasties, highest members of the court, courtly camarillas, diplomacy or armed forces.