Russia by 1762: the extent to which Petrine reforms survived; the…

The idea

By 1762, Peter the Great's legacy remained the foundation of the Russian state, though his reforms experienced varying survival. The Table of Ranks and the Senate endured, cementing bureaucratic administration, while the military retained its conscription model. However, the obligation of lifelong noble service was eroded, culminating in Peter III's 1762 Manifesto freeing nobles from compulsory service. The epoch of palace coups concluded with the accession of Catherine the Great in July 1762. Capitalising on the military's resentment towards Peter III's pro-Prussian policies, Catherine orchestrated a coup with the support of the Orlov brothers and the Guards regiments, securing the throne and ending decades of political instability.

What earns the marks

• Assess the continuity of Petrine administrative structures, such as the Senate and the Holy Synod, during the era of palace coups.
• Evaluate the changing relationship between the autocracy and the nobility, focusing on the gradual dismantling of compulsory state service by 1762.
• Analyse the role of the Guards regiments as kingmakers in 18th-century Russian politics, culminating in the 1762 coup.
• Examine the immediate causes of Catherine the Great's accession, including Peter III's alienation of the army, the Church, and the nobility.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Stating that all of Peter the Great's reforms were reversed by his successors.

  Put it right: Emphasise that core structural reforms, like the Table of Ranks and the Holy Synod, survived and became entrenched, even as noble service obligations relaxed.

• Assuming Catherine the Great had a strong hereditary claim to the throne.

  Put it right: Clarify that Catherine was a German princess with no Russian blood; she seized power through a military coup against her husband, the legitimate Romanov heir.

• Ignoring Peter III's role in his own downfall.

  Put it right: Detail how Peter III's specific actions, such as the alliance with Prussia and threats to the Orthodox Church, directly provoked the coup that installed Catherine.

Exam tips

• When evaluating the survival of Petrine reforms, distinguish between institutional continuity (which remained strong) and social policies regarding the nobility (which shifted significantly).
• Use Peter III's 1762 Manifesto on the Freedom of the Nobility as a key turning point in the evolution of the Russian social structure.
• Connect foreign policy failures (like the withdrawal from the Seven Years War) directly to domestic instability and Catherine's successful coup.