BIRON, Went, ERNEST JOHN. Duke of Cour land (1690-1772). A Russian statesman. He was the son of a landed proprietor of the name of Biihren. Through Bestuzhetf-Rymnin, who be friended him, he obtained the favor of Anna Iva novna, who was called to the Russian throne in 1730. The Council of the Empire attempted to secure from her an aristocratic constitution, but she crushed remorselessly the powerful nobility. notably the Dolgorukis and the Galitsins, and made her lover, Biron, who had adopted this French name in place of that of Biihren. her chamberlain and practical ruler of the Empire. Rambaud describes him "as a large. handsome man, uneducated, loving only his horses; a. su perb lackey. morally as evil and vindictive as his mistress." His enemies and rivals were swept out of the way, while the poor ?eople were ground down by taxation. The Russians have described this reign as the Bironoruellina and the 'German yoke.' He is said to have caused over a thousand executions, while the number of persons exiled by him to Siberia is estimated at from twenty to forty thoutsand. 11 is revengeful severity is said to have exceeded that of his unserupulous mis tress. As an administrator, however, he showed considerable ability. and maintained order in the Empire. Tlu. Duehy of Courland, in which Biron was born, was then in dispute between Poland and Russia. Anna conferred the duchy upon Biron. and Russian armies were employed to plaee on the Polish throne Augustus III., Elector of Saxony, who had promised the investi ture of Courland for Iliron. The Emperor
Charles VI., subordinating everything to his Pragmatic Sanction, readily countenanced these violent acts, and the King of Prussia was bought by certain territorial concessions. In 1737. therefore, the nobles of Courland were obliged to confirm Anna's appointment, and in 1739 the investiture took place at Warsaw by authority of the Polish King and Senate. The Empress died in October, 1740, and Biron, under her will, assumed the regency in the name of the infant Emperor Ivan VI. Field-Marshal Ntlniiich, who during the past reign had supported Biron, but who saw that he was to receive slight recognition now, set on foot a conspiracy, the result of which was the exile of Biron to Pelim, in Siberia. A second palace revolution occurred soon after, and the new Empress, Elizabeth Petrovna. ban ished Miinnich and permitted Biron to take up his residence at Yarnslay. After Elizabeth's death, his duchy was restored to him by Cath arine H. He died September 2S, 1772.
Consult: Enehl, Gesehichte E. J. von Birons (1764) ; Russia, Vol. II.; Lavisse et Itambaud. Histoire generale (Paris, 1893-1901) ; "Lettres d'Anna lvanovna," in VA rehire Busse. Vok. II. and III. (\loscow, 1873-77) and Les antiquites misses (Moscow. 1884) ; Haleul, Lc benslicsehreibung des russischen General-Reld rsehalls Jilin ?rich (Oldenburg, 1803).