A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Anne Iwanowna
ANNE IWANOWNA, Czarina and Grand Duchess of Russia. Born 1693, died, at Petersburgh, 1740, aged 47.
Youngest daughter of the czar John Alexiowitz, she married, in 1710, Frederic William, duke of Courland, who died without children, 1711. The czar Peter II. her grand nephew, dying in 1780, she was proclaimed empress. She was then at Mittau, in Courland, her usual residence, where deputies came to announce her succession, and to propose some articles from the council of state, at Moscow, limiting the power and prerogatives of the crown, which she accepted and signed.
When duchess of Courland, Anne had shown great favour to Biron, a person of mean extraction, but who, by a lucky chance had become gentleman of the chamber, and married one of her maids of honour. His ascendancy over her, his spirit of intrigue, and extreme arrogance were so notorious, that one of the articles proposed was, that she should not bring Biron into Russia. She did not object at the time, but had scarcely arrived in Moscow, before he made his appearance at her court. By his advice, she formed a strong party, and brought about a revolution, which restored to the crown despotic authority. But when the whole plan was ripe for execution, Anne hesitated, and was alarmed, till Biron took her by the hand, and led her to the door of the apartment in which the council of state, senate, and principal nobility were assembled, when she was declared absolute sovereign. Absolute only through the medium of Biron, she appears; for, during her reign, and by her will, which appointed him regent, during the minority of her nephew Ivan, for some weeks after her death, he ruled with despotic sway the vast empire of Russia; and, though the empress was mild and merciful, it is said, more than 20,000 people were banished into Siberia, during her reign. Sometimes the violence of his temper would break forth in a manner most disrespectful to the empress. Once in particular, while the duchess of Bevern had an audience, Biron burst into the apartment without ceremony, threatening, with the most horrid imprecations, that he would no longer be vexed and tormented by her servants, but would retire into Courland, (of which he had been made duke.) Having uttered these words, he quitted the room, and shut the door with great violence. The empress, in the highest consternation, lifted up her hands to heaven, then clasped them together; and being almost ready to faint, opened the window for fresh air. While she continued in this agitation, the duchess of Courland, accompanied by her children, entered the room, knelt down, and entreated the empress to forget and forgive the passionate behaviour of her husband. Anne in this, as in every other instance, relented, and tolerated his insolence.
During the setting of the cabinet council, she used frequently to repair to an adjoining room, to consult him. She had no table of her own, but dined with his family. He was undoubtedly a man of very great capacity. During his whole administration, the external splendour of the Russian empire, and its internal tranquillity announced the wisdom of his measures.