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Paul I
(1754-1801)
Emperor of Russia (1796-1801)
The son of
Peter III and Catherine II, Paul was born on
September 20, 1754. After the overthrow and murder
of his father, he lived with his family in Gatchina
Palace, where he had his own court and army.
On the day
of Catherine II's death, the 42-year-old Paul
declared himself Emperor. He was unpopular ruler.
He was extremely hostile toward his mother, whom
Russians referred to as Catherine the Great. He
liberated the Poles, limited the power of
landowners over serfs, and established procedures
for the transfer of power from one monarch to the
next.
He sealed
his fate when he abruptly reversed Russia's
position as an enemy of France to union with the
French. This move was probably the chief reason the
conspirators against him had him suffocated on the
night of March 12, 1801.
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