ANNA LEOPOLDOVNA, sometimes called ANNA CAR LOVNA (1718-1746), duchess of Brunswick, regent of Russia for a few months during the minority of her son Ivan, was the daughter of Catherine, sister of the empress Anne, and Charles Leopold, duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. In 1739 she married Prince Antony Ulrich of Brunswick-Wolfenbiittel, son of Ferdinand Albert, duke of Brunswick, and their son Ivan was adopted in 1740 by the empress and proclaimed heir to the Russian throne. A few days after the proclamation the empress died, leaving directions regarding the succession and appointing her favourite Ernest Biren, duke of Courland, as regent. Biren was detested by the Russian people, and Anna assumed the regency. In Dec. 1741, Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, excited the guards to revolt, overcame the slight opposition that was offered, and was proclaimed empress. Ivan was thrown into prison, where he soon afterwards perished. Anna and her husband were banished to a small island in the river Dvina, where on March 18, 1746, she died in childbed.