Tsar's World

The timeline follows what happens when Ivan VI escapes and comes to power for the second time. But he is mentally unstable, although not insane, due to 20 years of solitary confinement.

Upon the death of Anna, Ivan was proclaimed Emperor, and on the following day Ernst Johann von Biron, duke of Courland, became regent. With the fall of Biron on 8 November, the regency passed to the baby Tsar’s mother, though the vice-chancellor, Andrei Osterman, ran the government.

A sub-lieutenant of the garrison at the fortress of Shlisselburg where he was being held, Vasily Mirovich, learned of his identity and formed a plan for freeing and proclaiming him Emperor. At midnight on 5 July 1764, Mirovich won over some of the garrison, arrested the commandant, Berednikov, and demanded the release of Ivan. His jailers, on orders of their commander, an officer surnamed Chekin, immediately murdered Ivan in compliance with the secret instructions already in their possession. Mirovich and his supporters were arrested and executed shortly thereafter. Ivan was buried quietly in the fortress, and his death secured Catherine II's position on the throne until her son came of age.

The POD came here. Mirovich succeeds, because of the guards momentary hesitation, and Ivan escapes.