As the empress had no children, she sent for her niece and namesake, Anne, daughter of her elder sister, Catharine, Duchess of Mecklenburg, and married her to one of the most distinguished nobles of her court, resolved to call the issue of this marriage to the succession.  On the 12th of August, 1740, this princess was delivered of a son, who was named Ivan.  The empress immediately pronounced him her successor, placing him under the guardianship of his parents.  The health of the empress was at this time rapidly failing, and it was evident to all that her death was not far distant.  In anticipation of death, she appointed one of her favorites, John Ernestus Biron, regent, during the minority of the prince.  Baron Osterman, high chancellor of Russia, had the rank of prime minister, and Count Munich, a soldier of distinguished reputation, was placed in the command of the armies, with the title of field marshal.  These were the last administrative acts of Anne.  The king of terrors came with his inevitable summons.  After a few weeks of languor and suffering, the queen expired in October, 1740.

A babe, two months old, was now Emperor of Russia.  The senate immediately met and acknowledged the legitimacy of his claims.  The foreign embassadors presented to him their credentials, and the Marquis of Chetardie, the French minister, reverentially approaching the cradle, made the imperially majestic baby a congratulatory speech, addressing him as Ivan V., Emperor of all the Russias, and assuring him of the friendship of Louis XV., sovereign of France.

The regent, as was usually the case, arrogating authority and splendor, soon became excessively unpopular, and a conspiracy of the nobles was formed for his overthrow.  On the night of the 17th of November the conspirators met in the palace of the grand duchess, Anne, mother of the infant emperor, unanimously named her regent of the empire, arrested Biron, and condemned him to death, which sentence was subsequently commuted to Siberian exile.

Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter, was now thirty-eight years of age.  Though very beautiful, she was unmarried, and resided in the palace in a state of splendid captivity.  A party now arose who secretly conspired to overthrow the regency of Anne, and to depose the infant Ivan and place Elizabeth upon the throne.  The plot being fully matured, on the night of the 5th of December a body of armed men repaired to the palace, where they met Elizabeth, who was ready to receive them, and marched, with her at their head, to the barracks, where she was enthusiastically received by the soldiers.  The spirit of her father seemed at once to inspire her soul.  With a voice of authority, as if born to command, she ordered the regiments to march to different quarters of the city and to seize all the prominent officers of the government.  Then leading, herself, a regiment to the palace, she took possession of the infant emperor and of his mother, the regent.  They were held in captivity, though, at first, treated with all the consideration which became their birth.