Ivan VI of Russia



Emperor of Russia (1740-1741)

fullname Ivan Antonovich

Born: August 23 (Old Style August 12), 1740, Saint Petersburg Died: July 16 (Old Style July 5), 1764, Shlisselburg

Proclaimed Emperor of Russia when he was a newborn child. Ivan VI was born in Saint Petersburg to Prince Antony Ulrich of Brunswick- Lüneburg and Duchess Anna Leopoldovna of Mecklenburg, niece of Empress Anna of Russia. He was adopted by his grand-aunt Empress Anna and declared him as her successor in October 5, 1740. Only 12 days later, his grand-aunt died and Ivan was proclaimed Emperor. The following day, Ernst Johann von Biron, duke of Courland, became his regent. On the fall of Biron in November 8, the regency passed to the baby tsar’s mother, although the vice chancellor Andrei Osterman took control of the government.

In December 6, 1741, a coup d'état placed the Empress Elizabeth on the throne, and Ivan and his family were imprisoned in the fortress of Dünamünde. Only less than 3 years later, he was transferred in Kholmogory on the White Sea, where he was isolated from his family. He remained there for 12 years, seeing only nobody but his gaoler (jailer). Rumours of his confinement at Kholmogory having spread out, he was secretly transferred to the fortress of Shlisselburg in 1756. In 1764, a sub- lieutenant of the garrison, Vasily Mirovich, found out about him and formed a plan for freeing and proclaiming him Emperor. He arrested the commandant of the garrison, and demanded the release of Ivan. His jailers, on orders of their commander, murdered Ivan and arrested Mirovich and his supporters and later executed. Ivan was buried quietly in the fortress, and his death secured Catherine II, the Great's position on the throne.