October 1761 The Russian army occupies Berlin.
Russia, Austria and France are preparing to inflict Frederick
a last decisive attack.
Although the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna is again seriously ill.
Europe knows that Prussia could get an important ally
by a long-time admirer of Frederick, the heir to the Russian throne,
Peter Fjodorovič.
Saint Petersburg, Palace Empress Elizabeth, December 1761
Lord Jesus Christ, God's mercy rabu Jelisaveta.
Save her of the disease. Have mercy, Lord!
What, oh my soul?
Karl August.
Do you remember me?
Karl August.
Do you remember how we danced?
Menuet.
We did like it so much.
And then, when I needed to put the ring
you dropped dead.
You lie. With your eyes open.
A smile remained on his lips.
What are you smiling, Karl August?
Who's there?
I understand.
All is well.
All is well, my darling.
Alyosha.
Aljošenka, I wrote a will.
A testament...
Testament.
Your emperor Alexei Grigoriech.
Read the testament.
She is talking.
Yes.
Of course, Your Majesty.
Lady Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
left this world.
She died! Come on.
No one would no longer be disturbed to be happy.
Retired, Lord, use your soul Elizabeth.
Forgive her all the sins willing and unwilling.
This is not my job.
To paint a bird or the houses...
My brother George, God rest his soul, was a master.
Paint them as if they were alive.
And I was spared.
Saxony, Dresden December 1761
You think that the war is lost?
Your Majesty, military situation is difficult.
- Berlin is taken by the Russian army. - I know that without you!
We got informed from Petersburg of the death of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.
- The Trhone will be succeeded by Peter? - Yes.
By law, the successor becomes emperor.
By law?
Don't forget, this is Russia.
Send a secret message to our brother,
the Russian emperor Peter.
The testament, no.
Where else to look for?
How to Alexei Grigorieva? I cann't believe it.
How come you don't know where the mistress kept the will?
All the time you were at her side.
I submitted to all the secrets.
What do we do? I'll wait for what the advisor is going to publish.
In the absence of the will,
the Emperor will be declared His imperial Majesty,
Grand duke Peter Fjodorovich.
He is the successor of the law by the blood
And at the right male line.
How quick should the emperor declare?
As soon as possible. Organize messengers and couriers
and prepare a proclamation.
Hamburg 1 December 1761
I can imagine what will begin in Petersburg after the death of the Empress.
What? It'll be interesting.
Your former partner and lover will sit on the throne.
- My angel, that's not really funny. - And it seems to me that's ridiculous.
Open. Her Majesty wants to visit Peterhof.
Her Majesty is prohibited to leave the castle.
Prohibited? Who ordered you?
I'm not empowered to explain. I have an order.
Turn back.
- Sir, I want to see my son. - I'm sorry. He's in Peterhof.
Why I cann't go to him?
I'm sorry, I'll stay in the castle.
Evening's announcement of the emperor. Solemn prayer.
Paul should be seated on a throne. I want you to escort him.
The presence of your son is not necessarily.
And His Majesty the Emperor doesn't want to see him either.
For understandable reasons.
I want to go in with a crown.
Your Majesty, you first must be proclaimed emperor.
The Coronation ceremony will be later.
It's a great event. The wedding of empire.
You'll put me the crown on the throne?
It's time, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, come now in the room.
Navigate to the red carpet. Look straight ahead.
What are you dancing? I want the crown.
Your Majesty, I will help place the crown after the coronation.
How can the emperor sit on the throne without a crown?
- Some Byzantine treachery? - The crown is already yours.
1 January 1762
Alexander Ivanich, make a decree for the abolition of the Secret Office.
You're afraid, Count? That's required.
I appoint you as lead counsel.
Your Majesty, how do we reign without monitoring and information?
Now nothing is secret.
The court orders Public Investigation.
I'm a transparant monarch.
Enough to you we peered into the room.
Space and freedoms. How are we doing with the budget?
The situation is not hopeless, Your Majesty.
Save the document for the establishment of a National Bank.
Your Majesty, we already have a State Bank. Aunt has established that.
So? I missed it.
But the main thing is to inhibit uncontrolled spending.
And it is time to end the war. Chancellor Vorontsov,
take measures for the unconditional return out of the occupied Prussian countries.
- First out of Königsberg. - But, Your Majesty!
You're afraid, Alexander Ivanich. After the signing of eternal peace
with Prussia, I declare war at Denmark. Save the Baltic fleet.
I will take command personally.
Bombard Copenhagen, until there is not a a building left.
Today is the first of January. It opens a new time.
Russia stands in the way of reforms and accelerated development.
We work, gentlemen. No time to waste.
That's it. You are free. The Council is concluded.
These are the drawings? Show me.
What does the crown off my head?
What, I slicked? Can't it be made this way?
Other all is well.
Really. In profile I look like a Roman emperor?
Your Majesty, you have the Roman profile.
Julius Caesar. Yes.
By designating the emperor, Peter Fjodorovich
immediately interrupted the alliance with Austria and France.
All attempts to persuade him to finish broken opponents
collapsed. Peter interrupts military operations.
And not only that. He returns from Prussia as occupied land
without any conditions and injuries.
It's rated as a betrayal in the Russian society and army.
Your Highness,
His imperial Majesty invites you today for familial lunch.
Why don't you call your majesty? I am a woman emperor.
Please do not be late.
Tighten it stronger.
Stronger.
- Your Majesty. - Madam.
- We're waiting for anybody? - We're waiting.
- What does this mean? - That I got angry.
- I'm ready to put up at lunch with your dogs. - And me.
And that's enough.
Thank you for making me suffer so many years.
Can we pray?
Lord Jesus Christ, our God.
Bless our food and drink.
And with that forgive the sins of my wife
like her, and I forgive you, time that does not interest me who you sleep
with and whose children work.
And it's not my wife even before you, Lord, nor to anyone else.
Do not make a comedy of all, Petre Fjodorovich.
Comedy. You're right. Comedy.
Today I greatly rejoice you, madam.
I'm curious. Are you giving me something or are you going to hit me?
I would, but I do not thereby.
Explain to me why you have called the girl to my table?
Elizabeth Romanovna and I are in love, and wish to be together every minute.
Elizabeth Romanovna gives me warmth and attention.
Perhaps you'd invite someone close to the table?
Or... maybe.
Why not? Come with us.
Come with us. Do not hesitate.
Katerina Alexeevna likes Guards.
There is another solution.
- We no longer have lunch together. - So be it. I agree.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
No...
To my great regret,
you will have no more lunch here.
You will not live in a castle.
I proposed Jelisaveta Romanovna.
- She agreed to be my wife. - You want to break up a marriage?
I gave petition for divorce and a new wedding.
Do you want to know why? Breathe deeper.
Because of a clinical wife of infidelity.
I know another reason why you can not remarry.
Continue.
Inability to meet matrimonial duties.
I love His Majesty and he loves me.
I fulfill everything.
- If not beyond that. - What are these lies?
Elizabeth Romanovna,
this madam should be punished.
I want to punish her.
- I'll send you to the monastery. - Do not scare me the holy family.
The monastery is a place for good work and humility.
Elizabeth Romanovna,
thanks for your efforts.
Your Majesty.
- No. - But why? - What is the goal behind it?
- The aim of a new marriage. - Three times, no.
- I'll get married to princess Vorontsova. - It's never gonna happen.
Vorontsova descended from Rurik.
And my present wife Katerina Alexeevna is who knows of what lineage.
While I live I will not allow disrupt power
and violation of spiritual rules.
I will destroy church.
I'll take her land, and the peasants.
You've found thus threatening us, Your Majesty.
It has long been ripe to Russian Churches call in poverty and hunger.
Fatted of laziness,
look at people with different eyes.
Keep yourself, your high Eminence.
How long we've been threatened by masters,
Russian church is stronger than ever before.
Behold, my Lord no hurry to call.
Many have waited for my death, that processed hell
and his evil soul. And the mistress Elizabeth Petrovna was waiting,
but is not greeted. God rest her soul.
I am 33 years old. I will outlive you with ease.
But I will not wait for your death.
I'm autocrat. Imperator.
Above me is the only sky and God.
April 1762
The wedding of His Imperial Majesty Petra Fjodorovich
Romanova and Princess Elizabeth Romanovna Vorontsova
shall be convened for the day of Saints Peter and Paul.
Weather receiving congratulations and gifts it is open daily from 9am to 6pm.
Guests should be trained in accordance of occasion.
Duchess should go ahead. Shoes dresses will be of snow white material
with gold embroidery and, accordingly, forbidden to come to any
second cut. To avoid jams
and confusion, allowing the simultaneous arrival of carriages,
no more than six wheels and no more than six horses each...
A lot of ceremony. I deal with reforms.
Who's next?
Silver rubles and half pieces with your monogram.
Copper. 10 kopecks, 4, and 2.
Miraculous!
10 rubles. 5 rubles. The money is gold
- With your profile. - Michael Ilarionich.
Alexander Ivanovich, I know what you're wondering.
But I'm just wish-fulfilling His Majesty.
St. Peter's is the last day apostolic subject.
The wedding was impossible. Or did we already cease to fast?
I have not added this single word.
The Russian people is Orthodox. And will remain so.
No one... no one will agree with the wedding.
Tell me, is there anything else we should know about?
Peter Fjodorovich hasn't met me with the details, but...
intends to get married by Lutheran rites.
You're so calm?
Introducing Lutheranism in Russia?
With all obedience before your Majesty,
The Bureau shall be in strict records of cash.
By order of the State Bank you can get a bag of bills.
But a couple of pieces, no one may present. Even to the emperor.
Admirable.
Return the coins, gentlemen.
What is your title?
- Court adviser, Your Majesty. - From today you are state councilor.
Quality of the banknotes are great. And this paper we printed.
Who's next?
Ambassador of the emperor of Prussia.
I rejoice to greet delegates of great Prussia.
How is my brother there, Emperor Friedrich.
Thank you. Everything is fine.
Tonight we publish a solemn dinner
to honor the eternal covenant between two great countries.
King Friedrich congratulates the new emperor coming to the throne.
- Your Majesty. - Bregdorfe, you're looking for me?
- You have a letter from the Turkish Padishah. - Come on.
That thing can relate just Russia.
Stop. Turkey is an ally of Prussia,
so that the presence of the Chancellor is superfluous.
Padishah Mahmoud asked to not receive Slovenian refugees.
- And you received them? Up until now? - Yes.
Before an Empress has, who knows why, divided
- our country, immigrants from the Balkans. - I can understand
dissatisfaction Padishah Mahmoud.
Russia takes every year
- his subjects, without giving anything. - You need to take care
for Russia's interests, not for the feelings of the Turkish sultan.
What have you to do with the interests of Russia?
And since when the Prussian Chancellor
advises the Russian emperor?
What advice? What are you saying?
Bregdorfe! Please excuse yourself to our friend.
Come on. I'm waiting.
I'm the same.
What to convey Padisah?
Transfer to the Padisah refugees that we drive all the way.
- Your Majesty... - We will solve it without you, Bregdorfe.
Go. You are free.
Well? We continue it?
Since the Union of Russia and Prussia...
Emperor Peter Fjodorovich ordered to send a corps of the Russian army
as aid to the recent opponent, King Frederick.
And thus recklessly caused insult to war heroes
and the memory of the deceased. Revocation Guardsmen from the military campaign
Emperor did not bring anything good.
Quietly, quietly. A little more.
Nice worse.
Yes.
Stunning.
I can not look away.
I remember a night 18 years ago.
There was a similar fire.
And the next day I beat a terrible disease.
This is a sign.
- What? - I seem to know.
All this should be immediately discontinued.
A boy.
Open up immediately.
- It's me. The Russian emperor Peter. - Your Majesty,
Katerina Alexeevna is not good. She prays not to be disturbed.
You need to rest.
I hear that already two months. Is she living or has she finally died?
Open, or I will break it.
Your Majesty.
I want to see you tomorrow at 12.
Exactly.
I'll meet someone from honeysuckle. Host, was already there.
Stop. And you?
Hurry.
Peter is divorcing Katerina. Did you know?
Nonsense. It can not be.
- I received a letter from Darja Gagarin. - It seems that intrigues.
Perhaps it's the intrigue.
Listen.
I'm listening.
Peter fell in love with one of the new girls. The lame and ugly Lisa Vorontsova.
Determined by the day of the wedding.
And Catherine and her heir?
The Divorce from Katerina's a done deal.
A successor was already hidden.
- Katerina Alexeevna. - Your Majesty.
I forgive you. You can be back to your homeland.
I think they will receive you.
You might be married to a duke. You're still young and attractive.
I can't give you money for the trip.
But you do have some funds.
Take a carriage, things. Anything you want.
And Paul?
He begins a new life now.
Elizabeth Romanovna podariće me successor.
But above all I am the emperor obliged to think of the country and the throne.
If I let Paul
to the enemies of Russia, with or without your help,
Proglasiće it lawfully emperor.
Waiting by fate Ivana Antoine?
Please let Paul with me and napustiću Russia.
- No. - I promise you. Otićiću forever.
Goodbye.
Alexander Ivanich, arrest her and send her to the monastery.
Some determined that, but as soon as possible. Until our wedding
- she must be there. - Your Majesty explain me.
Do you want to replace the Orthodox faith by Lutheran faith?
- Yes. - To my knowledge,
the Lutheran church has no monastery.
Let there be one. One who chooses Katerina Alexeevna.
Further we close.
- If you arrive in Kronstadt? - We'll come back to class.
Prepare a carriage. Less sleep, more work.
Russia is waiting for change.
Your Majesty, Lieutenant Mirovich comes from Šlisenburga.
He delivers report and expects commands about the secret prisoner.
I want to send a gift to John Antoine.
I prepare a decree for his liberation.
- Is there a problem? - Your imperial Majesty,
a command for liberation is not required. The Secret prisoner was not a felon.
- Just write the command. - Many years ago, I saw him.
I gave him a broken lead soldier.
He was pleased by that. Tear you go.
Explain to me, Your Majesty. We all live
on the threshold of an important event. You state so, but people
are not taken unambiguously your attitude towards
- the faith of their fathers. - Your imperial Majesty,
do not release the detainee. There'll be riots.
You said he was not a felon.
I want to invite him to the wedding.
We could become friends. Good deeds will glorify me.
I'll stay in history as Peter the Good.
Or as Peter the Merciful.
Don't you understand?
Good. I will not free him.
I'll send him gifts.
The Russian army returned home.
Guards regiments have openly blamed Petre Fjodorovich
of betraying national interests.
Loss of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers changed the
the vague "Veena fellowship" with King Frederick.
Your Majesty, you give the best. Aren't you sorry?
No.
Oh, take the top. He'll love it.
No, no!
Your Grace, Her Majesty is nowhere.
I asked her.
We were walking through the park. Her Majesty sent me to prepare tea.
- I came back, she was gone. I waited... - Search I said.
Your Majesty, you are under arrest.