The label “cheerful queen” was firmly stuck to Elizaveta Petrovna. At the same time, her reign is considered one of the most prosperous in the history of the country: then the foundations of a modern education and healthcare system were laid, the first bank, university and Academy of Arts were created, the final of any military, diplomatic or economic action on a European scale depended on Russia’s position. On the field of political intrigue, the Russian empress beat male monarchs, as well as other famous ladies of that era - the favorite of the French king, the Marquise de Pompadour and the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa. Who is she - a capricious windbag, indifferent to state affairs and spending her time in entertainment, or a wise ruler who skillfully directed the work of dignitaries and used the struggle of court factions for the benefit of the fatherland? The book by historian Konstantin Pisarenko, controversial in some ways, provocative in places, raises many questions about the reign and personal life of the daughter of Peter the Great and gives unexpected answers to some of them.

[Adapted for AlReader]