Russian Emperors and Freemasonry (chronogram)

Peter III (1728-1762), born Karl Peter Ulrich von Holstein-Gottorp, was the heir to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and Emperor of Russia for several months in 1762 – he could not take a single step without the advice of his “brothers”, whose efforts explain the progressive activity of this sovereign, despite his insignificance as a statesman. In 1762, there is mention of a foreign, most likely German lodge called “Constant” (Constantine), to which Peter III donated a house for Masonic meetings. However, it is possible that this was also the lodge of the Happy Agreement, which submitted an application for recognition to the Berlin Lodge of the Three Globes on December 15, 1762. Peter III himself, apparently, was a Freemason. It is known from foreign sources that he gathered Freemasons in his home in Oranienbaum. One of the most active Freemasons at that time was the personal secretary of Peter III, Dmitry Vasilyevich Volkov, who actually wrote the emperor’s famous decrees “On the Freedom of the Nobility” and on the abolition of the Secret Chancellery (1762). The extravagant and perpetually drunk emperor, apparently, did not fully satisfy his fellow Freemasons. Wider circles of the nobility were also dissatisfied with him. The actual organizer of the coup of June 28, 1762, was the Freemason Nikita Ivanovich Panin. Many other participants in the overthrow of Peter III were also Freemasons, including the then favorite of Ekaterina Alekseevna, Grigory Orlov. In addition, N. I. Panin managed to attract K. G. Razumovsky, M. N. Volkonsky and a number of other officers to the ranks of his supporters. The goal of the coup was to proclaim Pavel Petrovich emperor during the regency of Catherine II. As for Grigory Orlov and his three brothers “and comrades”, as well as E. R. Dashkova, they, according to V. Brachev, were the direct perpetrators of the coup.

Catherine II (1729-1796), known during her lifetime as Catherine the Great, was the empress and autocrat of Russia from 1762 until her death and, as noted by the modern historian Oleg Solovyov, came to power with the help of an aristocratic group (N. I. Panin), whose instrument at that time was the Freemasons. This predetermined the initially favorable attitude of the empress towards the Freemasons. Catherine II herself actively proclaimed a policy of enlightened absolutism during these years, and the readiness of the Freemasons to respond enthusiastically to her liberal initiatives was very welcome. In fact, the Freemasons of that era successfully used the opportunities that opened up to them. They actively participated in the work of the Legislative Commission of 1767, in the organization and activities of the Free Economic Society (1765), and in other liberal initiatives of the empress. Catherine II’s favorable attitude towards the Freemasons did not change even after N. I. Panin presented to her in December 1762 a draft manifesto on the creation of an Imperial Council, which would partially limit her autocratic power. After some hesitation, the empress resolutely rejected Panin’s project. Catherine II was not even alarmed by the discovery of Masonic documents in the possession of Vasily Ushakov, brother of his accomplice Apollon Ushakov, during the investigation of Vasily Mirovich, who tried to free the former emperor Ivan Antonovich from the Shlisselburg fortress (1764).

Alexander I (1777-1825) – Russian Emperor (1801-1825). According to unconfirmed information, he was a member of a foreign Masonic lodge and of the internal Alexander Workshop of Military Loyalty. According to other sources, he was initiated in 1803 in the Polish Grand Orient.

Alexander II (1818-1881) – Russian Emperor (1855-1881). According to A. I. Serkov, he was initiated into Freemasonry during a trip to England while he was Grand Duke.

Alexander III (1845-1894) – Russian Emperor (1881-1894). Initiated in 1866 in Copenhagen under the leadership of the Danish King Christian IX. After the initiation, he stated that all this was interesting, but it was premature to introduce it to Russia.

Sources in Russian: Karpachev, S.P. Masonry. Dictionary. Great Art of Stonemasons, M.: Olymp, 2008; Brachev, V. S. Russian Freemasonry of the 20th century, St. Petersburg, 2000.