Elizabeth I of Russia 1709 – 1762

Biography

Elizabeth of Russia was born on December 29, 1709, in Kolomenskoye, the daughter of Peter the Great. She came of age during a transformative period in Russian history and would go on to leave her own distinctive mark on the nation. Her life spanned the early decades of the eighteenth century, a time of significant change and development for the Russian Empire.

In 1741, Elizabeth ascended to the throne as Empress of Russia, a position she held until her death two decades later. During her reign, she presided over the court and affairs of state, carrying forward the legacy of Russian imperial rule that had been established by her predecessors. Her twenty-one years as empress shaped the political and cultural landscape of her time.

Elizabeth died on January 5, 1762, in Saint Petersburg, the heart of the Russian Empire she had governed. She was laid to rest in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, a place of great significance in Russian history and tradition. Her life, from her birth in Kolomenskoye to her final resting place in the cathedral, reflects the arc of an important chapter in Russia’s imperial past.