Page "Anna of Russia" Paragraph 4

On the death of Peter II, Emperor of Russia, the Russian Supreme Privy Council under Prince Dmitri Galitzine made Anna Empress in 1730.

They had hoped that she would feel indebted to the nobles for her unexpected fortune and remain a figurehead at best, and malleable at worst.

In the hope of establishing a constitutional monarchy in Russia, they convinced her to sign laws that limited her power.

However, these proved a minor inconvenience to her.

She soon established herself as an autocratic ruler, using her popularity with the imperial guards and lesser nobility.