General Notes

Peter III (1728-62), emperor of Russia (1762), son of Duke Charles Frederick
of Holstein-Gottorp and his wife, Anna, daughter of Peter I of Russia. He was
born in Kiel, Germany. In 1741, after the death of his father, he was adopted
by his aunt, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. On his accession in 1762, Russia was
at war with Prussia, whose ruler, Frederick II, the Great, Peter so greatly
admired that he quickly concluded a peace treaty. He thereby sacrificed all
the advantages Russia had gained during the Seven Years' War and antagonized
many Russian nobles. The nobles, aided by Catherine, Peter's wife, deposed him
on July 9, 1762. He abdicated the following day in favor of Catherine and was
murdered on July 17.