The House of Razumovsky-Romanov

The Empress Elizabeth Petrovna of Russia *(supposedly) secretly married Alexei Razumovsky in 1742/3. They reportedly had three children - the princesses Tarakanoff, and an unnamed son.

What if Elizabeth had formalized the marriage? What would the effects be on Russia?

*I say supposedly, because when Potemkin went to see Razumovsky about the reported marriage, in order to claim precedent to marry Catherine the Great, Razumovsky destroyed the only proof of it by throwing it on the fire, declaring "There, now let none say I was more than a true and loyal servant to her late Majesty."
 
The Empress Elizabeth Petrovna of Russia *(supposedly) secretly married Alexei Razumovsky in 1742/3. They reportedly had three children - the princesses Tarakanoff, and an unnamed son.

What if Elizabeth had formalized the marriage? What would the effects be on Russia?

*I say supposedly, because when Potemkin went to see Razumovsky about the reported marriage, in order to claim precedent to marry Catherine the Great, Razumovsky destroyed the only proof of it by throwing it on the fire, declaring "There, now let none say I was more than a true and loyal servant to her late Majesty."

Well for one there's no real supposedly. Its like the marriage of Louis XIV and Madame de Maintenon. No actual proof and no acknowledgement but pretty much an open secret. But I do question the supposed children. If they existed, why didn't the Empress acknowledge and legitimize them via open marriage? She knew her heir Peter would be a disaster as Emperor for a good while, so if there was an alternative why not use it? And its not like there's no providence for such a low ranking marriage. one just has to look at her parents.

But either way, an open acknowledgement and marriage could potentially undermine Elizabeth's rule. Male Sovereigns could marry whomever they wanted without any real threat, a female Sovereign didn't have that same security, especially when she's the ruler of a country that's had at least three palace revolutions in living memory. Not exactly the best time to bend the rules.
 
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