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a-a-ra-s-s-s-s-a-s-s-a-s-a-s- Welcome to the Russian rulers podcast episode 45 a fragile Hold on Power. You may notice that today's podcast is being posted up a few days early.

Well, this is because I'm going to be celebrating my daughter Tasha's 15th birthday.

And I wanted to get this podcast out to you instead of delaying it.

And that way I'll be free to enjoy the weekend with my two daughters and have a good time with the oldest one.

So let's get on to the podcast.

Last week we told the story of how Catherine took control of Russia, overthrowing her boorish

husband, aided by the Orloff brothers.

The Empress had Peter sign a letter of abdication, which Frederick II commented that the Tsar was, quote,

like a child sent to bed.

Nikita Panin was now laying out the situation to Peter, who was groveling at his feet, crying and begging for mercy and the chance to see Catherine to plead his case personally.

Panin disgusted said, quote, I consider it one of the greatest misfortunes of my life to have been obliged to see Peter at that moment.

Peter was to be sent to the town of Ropsha near St. Petersburg under house arrest. He asked that his mistress Elizabeth be

allowed to join him which was quickly and in no uncertain terms rejected

firmly.

Peter sent numerous letters to Catherine asking for better conditions of imprisonment.

The Empress simply refused to respond.

Instead, she carefully contemplated about what to do with her husband.

As long as he was around, her legitimacy as sole ruler was threatened.

Enemies of hers could use him to undermine any changes she wanted to implement.

But killing him was simply out of the question.

To solidify Olok on power, she appeared before the Senate on July 6, 1762, to present a second manifesto confirming her ascension to the throne and

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