Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick
Encyclopedia
Anthony Ulrich Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
, was generalissimus of the Army of Russia, and husband to Anna Leopoldovna
, who was regent of Russia for one year.
, wife of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
, arranged for his marriage to Elizabeth Caroline Christine, daughter of Charles Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and granddaughter of Tsar Ivan V of Russia
, and he was taken to Russia in 1733, so that he and Anna could get to know each other. The marriage took place in 1739. Elizabeth called herself Anna Leopoldovna in Russia. This marriage was meant to strengthen relationships between the houses of Romanov
and Habsburg
. In 1740, their infant son Ivan
became emperor. First, Ernst Biron was regent, but after rumours that Biron would exile Anthony and Anna to Germany, they made a coup and Anna became regent. However, a treacherous coup in 1741 removed the family from power.
The new Empress, Elizabeth, had Anthony Ulrich, his wife, and their children imprisoned. They remained imprisoned for the rest of their lives. The years of imprisonment was hard and the family was periodically denied many necessary things. All communication with the outside world, except for a few male and female servants, were banned. The governor of Arkhangelsk regularly visited them to enquire about their health, but all other visitors were forbidden. In 1762, Catherine offered him to leave Russia if he left his children behind, but he declined. He also lost his eyesight before he died. He was buried very discretely, and the soldiers were forbidden to reveal the place of his burial, but his coffin was decorated with silver.
The surviving children were released from prison in to the custody of their aunt, the Danish queen dowager Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
; they were taken to Novodvinsk fortress in the night of 27 June, left Russia in 30 June 1780 and settled in Jutland
, were they lived in under a comfortable house arrest in Horsens for the rest of their lives under the guardian of Juliana and at the expense of Catherine: having lived as prisoners, they were not used to social life, and kept a small "court" of 40/50 people, all Danish except for the priest. The pension granted them by Catherine was paid until the last of them died in 1807.
Brunswick-Lüneburg
The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , or more properly Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg, was an historical ducal state from the late Middle Ages until the late Early Modern era within the North-Western domains of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, in what is now northern Germany...
, was generalissimus of the Army of Russia, and husband to Anna Leopoldovna
Anna Leopoldovna
Anna Leopoldovna of Russia , also known as Anna Karlovna , regent of Russia for a few months during the minority of her baby son Ivan...
, who was regent of Russia for one year.
Biography
Anthony Ulrich was the second son of Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. His mother's sister ElizabethElisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary; and Archduchess of Austria by her marriage to Emperor Charles VI. She was renowned for her delicate beauty and also for being the mother of Empress...
, wife of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
, arranged for his marriage to Elizabeth Caroline Christine, daughter of Charles Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and granddaughter of Tsar Ivan V of Russia
Ivan V of Russia
Ivan V Alekseyevich Romanov was a joint Tsar of Russia who co-reigned between 1682 and 1696. He was the youngest son of Alexis I of Russia and Maria Miloslavskaya. His reign was only formal, since he had serious physical and mental disabilities...
, and he was taken to Russia in 1733, so that he and Anna could get to know each other. The marriage took place in 1739. Elizabeth called herself Anna Leopoldovna in Russia. This marriage was meant to strengthen relationships between the houses of Romanov
Romanov
The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the February Revolution abolished the crown in 1917...
and Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
. In 1740, their infant son Ivan
Ivan VI of Russia
Ivan VI Antonovich of Russia , was proclaimed Emperor of Russia in 1740, as an infant, although he never actually reigned. Within less than a year, he was overthrown by the Empress Elizabeth of Russia, Peter the Great's daughter...
became emperor. First, Ernst Biron was regent, but after rumours that Biron would exile Anthony and Anna to Germany, they made a coup and Anna became regent. However, a treacherous coup in 1741 removed the family from power.
The new Empress, Elizabeth, had Anthony Ulrich, his wife, and their children imprisoned. They remained imprisoned for the rest of their lives. The years of imprisonment was hard and the family was periodically denied many necessary things. All communication with the outside world, except for a few male and female servants, were banned. The governor of Arkhangelsk regularly visited them to enquire about their health, but all other visitors were forbidden. In 1762, Catherine offered him to leave Russia if he left his children behind, but he declined. He also lost his eyesight before he died. He was buried very discretely, and the soldiers were forbidden to reveal the place of his burial, but his coffin was decorated with silver.
The surviving children were released from prison in to the custody of their aunt, the Danish queen dowager Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Duchess Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel , , was queen of Denmark between 1752 and 1766, second consort of king Frederick V of Denmark and Norway, mother of the prince-regent Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and herself de facto regent 1772–1784.- Early life and queen :Born...
; they were taken to Novodvinsk fortress in the night of 27 June, left Russia in 30 June 1780 and settled in Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
, were they lived in under a comfortable house arrest in Horsens for the rest of their lives under the guardian of Juliana and at the expense of Catherine: having lived as prisoners, they were not used to social life, and kept a small "court" of 40/50 people, all Danish except for the priest. The pension granted them by Catherine was paid until the last of them died in 1807.
Family
Anthony Ulrich and Anna Leopoldovna had the following children:- IvanIvan VI of RussiaIvan VI Antonovich of Russia , was proclaimed Emperor of Russia in 1740, as an infant, although he never actually reigned. Within less than a year, he was overthrown by the Empress Elizabeth of Russia, Peter the Great's daughter...
(1740–1764) (reigning Emperor 1740-1741) - Catherine (1741–1807)
- Elizabeth (1743–1782)
- Peter (1745–1798)
- Alexei (1746–1787)