Terrible tsarinas

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Terrible Tsarinas poor impression on the public, and maybe even on her fiance.

Moved by an uncharacteristic solicitude, Elizabeth sent her some rouge and suggested she touch up her face in order to appear to better advantage. Impressed by Figchen’s courage, she found the charming girl (who was unrelated to her, but was so eager to become Russian) far more worthy than her pitiful nephew and adoptive son (who was adamant in remaining German).

Meanwhile, Johanna was busily engaging in high politics and covert diplomacy. She received visits from all the traditional enemies of Chancellor Alexis Bestuzhev, the inveterate Russophile. La Chetardie, Lestocq and Brummer held clandestine meetings in her apartments. Perhaps Sophia, under her mother’s direction, could influence Peter and maybe even the tsarina, who was visibly impressed with her, to get rid of Bestuzhev.

But Russia’s top diplomat was hardly sitting idly by while these conspiracies were being spun. His personal spies had succeeded in intercepting and deciphering encrypted correspondence from La Chetardie to various foreign ministries all over Europe.

With these incriminating documents in hand, he presented himself to Elizabeth to prove his case. He had a portfolio full of damning letters, which Elizabeth read with horror: “Recognition and attention from such a dissipated princess [the tsarina] mean nothing.” “Her vanity, lack of seriousness, bad conduct, weakness and obstinacy make any serious negotiation an impossibility.”

Elsewhere, La Chetardie criticized her excessive interest in clothing and frivolous pursuits, and stated that she was totally ignorant of the major issues of the day, which she found “annoying rather than interesting.” In support of these calumnies, La Chetardie cited the opinion of Johanna, whom he portrayed, furthermore, as a spy in league with Frederick II.

Elizabeth was shocked by these revelations; she no longer knew who were her friends - if, indeed, she had any. She had