ELIZABETH PETROVNA: (1709-1762) Empress of Russia 1741-62.

ELIZABETH PETROVNA: (1709-1762) Empress of Russia 1741-62.
D.S., Elisavet, as Tsesarevna, in Cyrillic, one page, folio, St. Petersburg, 14th November 1737, in Cyrillic. The boldly penned manuscript document is a decree stating 'On this date there has been transferred from our patrimonial office to Our room the sum of 200 roubles: of which you are to take account'. Annotated at the foot in another hand with instructions to record the transaction and to 'inform the expenditure department of Her Highness' decree'. Some extremely minor, very light age wear at the edges of the document, VGThe daughter of Peter the Great, Empress Elizabeth led her country into the two major European conflicts of her reign, the War of Austrian Succession (1740-48) and the Seven Years' War (1756-63) but is also recognised for the exorbitant sums of money she spent on the grandiose baroque projects of her favourite architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli, particularly in Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo, and the Winter Palace and the Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg are among the chief monuments of her reign. Elizabeth remains one of the most popular Russian monarchs due to her strong opposition to Prussian policies and her decision not to execute a single person during her reign.