Proclamation of Catherine I as empress. Peter1 and Ekaterina

Ekaterina I Alekseevna
(Marta Skavronskaya)

Years of life: 1684–1727

A former servant and portomoy, who became the wife of Tsar Peter I, and after the Russian Tsarina and Empress.

Biography of Ekaterina Alekseevna

Catherine was born on April 5 (15), 1684 in Lithuania in the family of the Latvian peasant Samuil Skavronsky (according to other sources - the Swedish quartermaster I. Rabe or the nobleman von Alvendahl) from presumably (Anna) Dorothea Hahn. Before accepting Orthodoxy, Catherine bore the name Martha (Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich became her godfather, hence her patronymic). She received no education and until the end of her days she only knew how to sign. She spent her youth in the house of Pastor Gluck in Marienburg (Latvia), where she was a laundress and cook. The pastor married Martha to the Swedish dragoon trumpeter Kruse, who soon disappeared in the war.

On August 25, 1702, during the capture of Marienburg by Russian troops, Marta first became a military trophy - the mistress of some non-commissioned officer, and later ended up in B.P. Sheremetev’s convoy, who gave her as a portomoy (i.e. laundress) to A.D. Menshikov , friend of Peter I.

Peter and Ekaterina Alekseevna - meeting

Soon, in 1703, Tsar Peter saw Marta at Menshikov’s, and this meeting finally decided the fate of the 18-year-old washerwoman. Although, according to modern ideas, she was not a beauty, her facial features were irregular, she nevertheless sank into Peter’s soul. At first, Martha became one of his mistresses; and in 1704, baptized according to Orthodox custom under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna, she was expecting children from Peter; in March 1705 they had 2 sons - Pavel and Peter. But Catherine still continued to live in Menshikov’s house in St. Petersburg.

Gradually, the relationship between Peter and Ekaterina Alekseevna became closer. She knew how to adapt to the king's whims, put up with his outbursts of anger, helped during attacks of epilepsy, shared with him the difficulties of camp life, quietly becoming the king's de facto wife. Catherine did not try to take direct part in resolving state issues, but she had influence on the tsar. She was Menshikov's constant protector. Peter - and this was extremely important - recognized the children that Catherine bore to him.

Before family life Things weren't going well for Petra. From his first wife Evdokia there were 3 sons, of whom only Tsarevich Alexei survived. But already in 1692, quarrels began in the family, since Peter understood that he needed a completely different life partner nearby. And returning from abroad, in 1698, Peter ordered his wife to be sent to a monastery.

At the end of December 1706, Catherine gave birth to the Tsar’s daughter, Catherine. In 1708, daughter Anna was born, and in next year- Elizabeth.

From 1709, Catherine accompanied Peter on all campaigns and trips. During the Prut campaign of 1711, when Russian troops were surrounded, she saved her husband and army by giving her jewelry to the Turkish vizier and persuading him to sign a truce.

Ekaterina Alekseevna - wife of Peter I

Upon returning to St. Petersburg on February 20, 1712, Peter married Catherine. The wedding was secret and took place in a chapel that belonged to Prince. Menshikov.

From that time on, Catherine acquired a court, received foreign ambassadors, and met with European monarchs. The wife of the Tsar-Reformer was not inferior to her husband Peter in willpower and endurance: from 1704 to 1723, she bore him 11 children, most of whom died in infancy. Frequent pregnancies did not prevent her from accompanying her husband on his hikes; she could sleep on a hard bed or live in a tent. In 1714, in memory of the Prut campaign, Tsar Peter established the Order of St. Catherine and awarded his wife Catherine on her name day.

During the Persian campaign of 1722–1723, Ekaterina Alekseevna shaved her head and wore a grenadier cap. Together with my husband I reviewed the troops, passing before the battle.

Recognition of Catherine Alekseevna as empress

On December 23, 1721, the Senate and Synod recognized Catherine as empress. For her coronation in May 1724, a crown was made that surpassed the Tsar’s crown in splendor, and Peter himself placed it on his wife’s head. There are versions that he was going to officially proclaim Catherine as his successor, but did not do this after learning about Catherine’s betrayal with chamberlain Willy Mons, who was executed soon.

Relations between Tsar Peter and Ekaterina Alekseevna became strained. Only at the beginning of January 1725 was their daughter Elizabeth able to reconcile her father and mother. Less than a month later, Tsar Peter died (on the night of January 28-29, 1725).

After the death of Peter, the crowd of courtiers and generals was divided into 2 main “parties” - supporters of Peter Alekseevich the Younger and supporters of Catherine. A split was inevitable.

With the help of Menshikov, I.I. Buturlin, P.I. Yaguzhinsky and with the support of the guard, she was enthroned under the name of Catherine I. By agreement with Menshikov, Catherine did not engage in state affairs, and on February 8, 1726 she transferred control of the country Supreme Privy Council (1726–1730).

From the first steps Queen Catherine I and her advisors sought to show everyone that the banner is in good hands, that the country is confidently following the path outlined by the Great Reformer. The slogan of the beginning of Catherine’s reign were the words of the decree of May 19, 1725: “We wish to complete all the affairs conceived by the hands of the emperor, with the help of God.”

Having become an autocrat, Catherine discovered a craving for entertainment and spent a lot of time at balls and various holidays. This had a detrimental effect on the empress's health. In March 1727, a tumor formed on the empress’s legs, which quickly spread to her hips. In April 1727 she fell ill, and on May 6, 1727. Ekaterina 1 Alekseevna died at the age of 43.

They say that a few hours before her death, Ekaterina Alekseevna dreamed that she, sitting at the table surrounded by courtiers, suddenly saw the shadow of Peter, who beckoned her, his “heartfelt friend,” to follow him, and they flew away as if into the clouds.

Catherine wanted to transfer the throne to her daughter, Elizaveta Petrovna, but a couple of days before her death, under pressure from Menshikov, she signed a will transferring the throne to the grandson of Peter I - Peter II Alekseevich, for whom other representatives of the family nobility spoke (D.M. Golitsyn, V.V. Dolgoruky ) upon her accession to the throne. And in the event of the death of Pyotr Alekseevich, to her daughters or their descendants.

Despite the enormous influence of Menshikov, many good things were done during the reign of Ekaterina Alekseevna. Among the most significant events during Catherine's reign were the opening of the Academy of Sciences on November 19, 1725, the sending of Vitus Bering's expedition to Kamchatka (February 1725), as well as the improvement of diplomatic relations with Austria. Shortly before her death, she returned P.P. Shafirov from exile, instructing him to write the history of the deeds of her husband Peter. Catherine, following the Christian custom of forgiveness, freed many political prisoners and exiles - victims of Peter's autocratic wrath. Catherine approved a reduction in taxes and some benefits for those fined. The Order named after Alexander Nevsky was established. By her decree, it was ordered that information about all “notable affairs that were subject to public jurisdiction” be delivered to the printing house from colleges and offices. She did not cancel any of Peter’s unfinished undertakings.

In total, Ekaterina Alekseevna and Peter had 11 children:

Peter (1704 – 1707)
Pavel (1705 – 1707)
Catherine (1706 – 1708)
Anna (1708-1728) – mother of the Russian Emperor Peter III (1728-1762). In 1725 she married the German Duke Karl Friedrich.
Elizabeth (1709 – 1761) – Russian Empress (1741-1762). In 1744 she entered into a secret marriage with A.G. Razumovsky, from whom she gave birth to several children.
Natalia (1713 – 1715)
Margaret (1714 – 1715)
Peter (1715 - 1719) - Was considered the official heir to the crown from 1718 until his death.
Pavel (born and died in 1717)
Natalia (1718 – 1725)
Peter (1719 – 1723)

Catherine the First

Catherine the First (Marta Samuilovna Skavronskaya or Veselovskaya, Vasilevskaya, Rabe, von Alvendal. There is no exact information about her origin, rationality, relatives, early life history) - Russian empress, wife of Peter the Great, “married, a foreigner, a simple peasant of dark origin, a wife of dubious legitimacy in the eyes of many”

(Klyuchevsky). Ruled Russia from 1725 to 1727

“Ekaterina was a person suitable for Peter: more with her heart than with her mind, she understood all the views, tastes and desires of Peter, responded to everything that interested her husband, and with remarkable energy knew how to be wherever her husband was, to endure everything that he endured. She created a family home for Peter that was previously unknown to him, achieved a strong influence on him and, being a tireless assistant and companion of the sovereign at home and on campaigns, achieved a formal marriage with Peter (Platonov “Complete course of lectures on Russian history”)

Brief biography of Catherine the First

1684, April 5 - born (where, exactly unknown: on the territory of modern Latvia, Estonia?)
1684 - death of Martha’s parents from the plague (according to one version of her biography)
1686 - Martha's aunt Anna-Maria Veselovskaya gave the girl the service of the Lutheran pastor Ernst Gluck, who lived in Marienburg (today the Latvian city of Aluksne)
1701 - Gluck married Martha to Swedish army soldier Kruse
1702, August 25 - during the Northern War, Marienburg was captured by the Russian army of Field Marshal Sheremetyev
1702, autumn - Martha moved to Sheremetyev’s house
1703, August - Sheremetyev lost Marta to the favorite of Peter the Great, Prince Menshikov, in whose house Peter noticed her
1705 - Peter sent Marta to the village of Preobrazhenskoye to the house of his sister Natalya Alekseevna
1706, December 26 - birth of daughter Catherine, died July 27, 1708
1707 (or 1708) - Martha was baptized into Orthodoxy and received the name Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova
1708, January 27 - birth of daughter Anna, died May 4, 1728
1709, December 18 - birth of a daughter, died December 25, 1761
1711, spring - before the Prut campaign, Peter ordered his entourage to consider Catherine his wife
1711, summer - participation in the Prut campaign of Peter

“She was a real officer’s wife, a “camping officer’s wife,” in the local expression, capable of hiking, sleeping on a hard bed, living in a tent and making double and triple marches on horseback. During the Persian campaign (1722-1723), she shaved her head and wore a grenadier cap" (Waliszewski "Peter the Great")

1712, February 19 - wedding of Catherine and Peter the Great
1713, March 3 - birth of daughter Natalia, died May 27, 1715
1714, September 3 - birth of daughter Margaret, died July 27, 1715
1715, October 29 - birth of Peter's sons, died April 25, 1719
1717, January 2 - birth of son Paul, died January 3, 1717
1718, August 20 - birth of daughter Natalia, died March 4, 1725
1721, December 23 - The Senate and Synod recognized Catherine as empress
1722, February 5 - Peter's law on succession to the throne, according to which the right to appoint a successor belonged to the current emperor
1723, November 15 - Peter's manifesto on the coronation of Catherine
1724, May 7 - ceremony of placing the imperial crown on Catherine's head
1724, autumn - Peter suspected Catherine of having an affair with his chamberlain Willy Mons and stopped communicating with her
1724, November 16 - Mons beheaded
1724, November 16 - by decree of the tsar, addressed to all boards, it was prescribed not to accept any orders or recommendations from her in the future. At the same time, her personal funds were sealed
1725, January 16 - through the efforts of daughter Anna, the reconciliation of Catherine and Peter
1724, January 28, 5 am - death of Peter

“...At the moment of death, the reigning house split into two lines - imperial and royal: the first came from Emperor Peter, the second from his elder brother, Tsar Ivan. From Peter I, the throne passed to his widow Empress Catherine I, from her to the grandson of the converter, from him to the niece of Peter I, the daughter of Tsar Ivan Anna, Duchess of Courland, from her to the son of her niece Anna Leopoldovna of Brunswick, daughter of Catherine Ivanovna, Duchess of Mecklenburg , Anna Ivanovna's own sister, from the deposed child of Ivan to Peter I's daughter Elizabeth, from her to her nephew, the son of another daughter of Peter I, Duchess of Holstein Anna, to Peter III, who was deposed by his wife Catherine II.

Never in our country... has supreme power passed along such a broken line: they all came to the throne not according to any order established by law, but by chance, by palace coup or court intrigue.

The transformer himself was to blame for this: by his law on February 5, 1722, he abolished both orders of succession to the throne that had been in effect before, both the will and the conciliar election, replacing them with personal appointment.

This ill-fated law emerged from a fatal confluence of dynastic misfortunes. According to the usual and natural order of succession, the throne after Peter passed to his son from his first marriage, Tsarevich Alexei, who threatened to destroy his father’s business. Saving his business, the father sacrificed both his son and the natural order of succession to the throne in his name. The sons from his second marriage, Peter and Paul, died in infancy. There remained a young grandson, the son of the deceased prince, a natural avenger for his father. With the probable possibility of the death of the grandfather before the grandson comes of age, guardianship, which means power, could be received by either of two grandmothers: one - Evdokia Fedorovna, née Lopukhina, a hater of all innovations; the other is a foreigner, a simple peasant of dark origin, a wife of dubious legitimacy in the eyes of many, and if she gets power, she will probably give her will to the Tsar’s first favorite and the first embezzler in the state, Prince Menshikov...

Peter saw a desert around him and did not find a reliable person for the throne either in the co-workers, or in the laws that did not exist, or in the people themselves, from whom the very will was taken away... For whole years Peter hesitated in choosing a successor and already on the eve of his death, having lost language, I only managed to write Give it all..., and to whom - my weakened hand did not clearly finish writing... So the throne was given up to chance... When there is no... law, the political issue is usually resolved by the dominant force. In the 18th century In our country, such a decisive force is the guard, a privileged part of the regular army created by Peter. Not a single change on the Russian throne in the indicated period of time was without the participation of the guard (Klyuchevsky “Course of Russian History”)

1725, January 28, 8 a.m. - under pressure from the guard, Catherine ascended the throne
1727, May 6 - death from numerous ailments

“His death at the age of 43 was explained primarily by the empress’s abnormal lifestyle, which was repeatedly noted by contemporaries. The French ambassador to the Russian court, Campredon, explained her illness by gastronomic excesses, excessive passion for drinks, passion for entertainment, the transformation of daytime hours into night hours - Catherine used to go to bed at four or five in the morning.”

Affairs and concerns of Catherine I and her government

“One could not expect innovations or the ability to guess the development of events from the empress, but she had access to the elementary idea of the need to complete the work begun by her late husband” (Pavlenko “Catherine I”)

—

“In 1724, Peter published a project for the establishment of the Academy of Sciences, assigning 25 thousand rubles a year for its maintenance. Catherine instructed the Russian ambassador in Paris, Kuzakin, to invite major scientists to Russia recommended by Peter Blumentrost, the physician: the two Bernoulli brothers, Bilfinger, Delisle, and others. They arrived in St. Petersburg at the end of 1725, and the Academy of Sciences was opened in 1726. Lavreny Blumentrost was appointed its president.”

—

European countries

“The leading countries of Europe in 1726 were split into two warring alliances. The first of them, the so-called Hanoverian, was formed in September 1725. It included England, France and Prussia. The Hanoverian League was opposed by a coalition of two powers - Austria and Spain. The main reason why Russia could not become a member of the Hanoverian League was the humiliating demands put forward by the Prussian king and supported by England. Russia had to give up part of its acquisitions in the Baltic states: its western borders reached Revel, and the remaining territories were to be given to the Duke of Holstein for his refusal” (N. Pavlenko “Catherine I”)

—

“Catherine promised to preside over meetings of the Supreme Privy Council. However, she did not fulfill her promise: in the fifteen months that passed from the establishment of the Supreme Privy Council until her death, she was present at meetings only fifteen times... The Supreme Privy Council was led by Menshikov - a man, although not without impeccable reputation, but with a fairly wide range of talents: he was a talented commander and a good administrator. The second person who influenced both the Empress and the Supreme Privy Council was the secret cabinet secretary Alexei Vasilyevich Makarov.”

—

Opinions about the personality of Catherine I

“This empress was loved and adored by the entire nation, thanks to her innate kindness, which manifested itself whenever she could take part in persons who fell into disgrace and deserved the emperor’s disfavor... She was truly a mediator between the sovereign and his subjects” (Field Marshal of the Russian Army )
— — — — —
“She was weak, luxurious in the entire space of this name, the nobles were ambitious and greedy, and from this it happened: practicing everyday feasts and luxuries, she left all the power of the government to the nobles, of whom Prince Menshikov soon took over” (historian of the second half of the 18th century Prince M. M. Shcherbatov)
— — — — —
“Catherine retained knowledge of persons and the relationships between them, retained the habit of making her way between these relationships, but she did not have the proper attention to affairs, especially internal ones, and their details, nor the ability to initiate and direct” (historian S. M. Solovyov)
— — — — —
"Energetic and smart wife

Empress Catherine the First was one of the most famous personalities of the eighteenth century in Russia. This girl did not have any political motivation or knowledge of the political system, but she had strong personal qualities and thanks to this she left a huge mark on history. Catherine the first was first the lady of love ties, and then the wife of Peter I, and later became the heir to the throne.

The early years of the Empress are shrouded in many secrets; at present there is no absolutely reliable information about this period. The origin and exact country are also unknown; historians cannot give a truthful and accurate answer. One version says that she was born on April 5, 1684 in the Baltic region in the vicinity of the mountains, at that time these territories were under the command of the Swedes.

Another version says that her homeland was Estonia, then she was born in a local small town at the end of the seventeenth century, it also says that she was from the peasants. There is another version that her father was a certain Skavronsky, who served a local warrior and subsequently fled, settled there in the areas of Marienburg and started a family. It is worth noting that Katka was not called Russian, her roots were different. Therefore, upon receiving the throne, her name Martha Skavronskaya was changed to one already known in world literature.

Boyhood

At that time, the plague was sweeping the world, and her family also could not avoid this scourge. According to legend, when the princess was born, her parents died of illness. She only had one relative left, but he gave the baby to another family. Then in 1700 the Northern War began, where Russia was Sweden's enemy. In 1702, the Marienburg fortress was taken by the Russians, a girl with a certain Gluck was captured and they were sent to Moscow.

Martachka was placed in a strange family, and she was there as a servant; she was not taught to read and write. However, another version also says that the mother never died from the plague, but simply gave her daughter to the family of the same Gluck. It is already said here that she was not a servant, but studied spelling and other innovations as befits a secular dma. It is also said according to other sources that at the age of seventeen she was married to a Swede on the eve of the capture of the fortress; a few days later her husband went missing. From these data we can say that the future princess does not have one hundred percent information about her biography.

The story of Peter and Catherine

Peter, on one of his trips to Menshikov, met Martochka, then she became his loving woman. Then Menshikov himself lived in St. Petersburg, the emperor was traveling to Livonia at that time, but decided to stop by for a visit and stayed there. On the day of his arrival, he met his lady of his heart, then she served the guests at the table. Then the king asked everything about her, watched her and told her to bring and light a candle before going to bed. Then they spent the night together, then the king left and finally left his night lover one ducat.

This is how the first meeting of the king and the princess took place; if it had not been for her, she would never have become the heir to the throne. After the victory in the Battle of Poltava in 1710, a triumphal procession was organized where the captured Swedes were paraded. Then Martha’s husband, nicknamed Kruse, was also led along this procession, after he said that the girl had been sent into exile, where he died in 1721.

A year after the first meeting with the Tsar, Catherine gave birth to a son, and a year later a second one, and they all died some time later. Peter called his bridegroom Vasilevskaya, after which he ordered her to live with his sister Natasha, where she learned to read and write and became very friendly with the Menshikov family. Two years later, the future princess converted to Orthodoxy and after that was baptized, then became Alekseevna Mikhailova. The surname was given specifically so that Marta would remain hidden, and she received her middle name from the red one.

Lover and wife

Peter loved her very much; he considered her the only one in his life. Although the prince had many other mistresses, various fleeting meetings, he loved only her. The latter knew about it. The Tsar himself often suffered from severe headaches; the Empress was his only cure. When the king had an attack, his love sat down next to him and hugged him, then the king fell asleep within a minute.

With the onset of spring 1711, the tsar had to set off on a Prussian campaign, then he brought out all his friends and relatives and indicated that Catherine was considered his wife and queen. He also indicated that in the event of death, she should be considered the rightful queen. A year later the wedding took place and from that moment Catherine became the legal wife. Then she followed her husband everywhere, even during the construction of the shipyard. In total, the princess gave birth to ten children, but many died in younger age.

Ascension to the throne

The king was a great leader of new reforms; also regarding thrones, he also changed the entire system. In 1722, a very significant reform was launched, according to it, the heir to the throne becomes not the first son of the king, but the person appointed by the ruler himself, so any subject could lead the throne. A year later, namely on November 15, 1723, the coronation manifesto was published. It happened a year later on May 7th.

During his last year, Peter was very ill, and in the end he became completely ill. Then Catherine understood that something had to be done, the king was in a very bad way, so his death was near. She summoned Prince Menshikov and Tolstoy, gave them a decree, and she herself asked that it was necessary to win over those in power to her side, because the tsar did not have time to draw up a will. Already on January 28, 1725, Catherine was proclaimed empress and heir, most of the nobles and the guard helped her in this.

Board results

During the reign of the empress there was no autocracy; almost everything was decided by the privy council. However, much depended on the Senate, which bowed more to the empress; the latter subsequently renamed it the Great. The count also had a lot of power; he had a good relationship with the princess, especially since he took it into his house at one time.

The future heiress herself was a simple ruling lady and practically did not conduct state affairs, she was not even interested in them. Everything was run by the council, as well as the great figures Tolstoy and Menshikov. However, she kept showing interest in some industry. Namely, to the fleet, because she inherited it from her husband. Then the council was disbanded, documents were determined and created by the privy council, she only needed to sign them.

During the years of the reformer's reign there were many wars, all this burden and costs fell on the common people, who were quite tired of dragging it all out. It was also a time of poor harvests, and product prices began to rise uncontrollably. With all this, a turbulent situation began to grow in the country. Catherine ordered taxes to be reduced from seventy 4 kopecks to seventy. Martha herself was not a reformer, so she did not prescribe anything or make innovations; she dealt only with small details beyond politics and government issues.

During this time, embezzlement and other arbitrariness at the state level began to develop. Even though she didn't understand anything about government affairs, had a poor education, but the people simply adored her, because she came from them. She helped a lot ordinary people, gave alms. They invited her to holidays and dreamed that she would be godfather. She practically never refused and gave money to each godson. In total, she ruled for two years from 1725 to 1724. During this time, she opened an academy, organized a campaign to the Bering Strait and introduced the Order of Nevsky, who was made a Saint.

Sudden death

After the death of the Tsar, Catherine’s life went into full swing. She began to run around the hot spots, organized all kinds of balls, went to festivities and celebrated a lot. Due to endless partying, the ruler undermined her health and fell ill. She immediately developed a cough, then it began to get worse. And then it turned out that she had problems with one lung and it was damaged, then the doctors concluded that she had no more than a month to live.

On the evening of May 6, 1727, she died when she was 43 years old. However, before her death, she managed to draw up a will, but she did not have time to sign it, so her daughter vouched for her and signed it. According to the will, the throne passed to the son-in-law, who was the grandson of Peter the Great. During their lives, these people were a very successful and good couple; Martha always supported him and reassured her husband.

After the death of the princess, there were many rumors that she was a very active woman. She spent all her time drinking and celebrating, while others said that she simply wanted to forget the death of her loved one. However, the people loved her, and she endeared herself to many men, while remaining an empress. One thing can be said with certainty: this girl began the era of women's rule in Russian Empire.

The second wife of Peter I did not leave a special mark on the rule of the Russian Empire, since for all two years of leadership of the vast state, the reins of government were given to those close to her. This idle pastime soon brought Catherine I to the grave - the flighty empress was very fond of all kinds of amusements and balls.

Orphan Martha

The history of the ascension to the Russian throne of the Livonian simpleton Martha Skavronskaya, who, by the will of fate, turned into Catherine I, is as complicated and at the same time simple as the principle of relations between high-ranking officials of the Russian state and representatives of the lower classes in the 18th century. They (the relationship), apparently, were extremely simplified at that time. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain the reason why an “ordinary” and even illiterate servant became the empress of such a state as Russia in a relatively short time.

Martha's past is rather vague, little is known about her. She was left an orphan early (her parents died of the plague). There are different reports about who raised the future Russian empress, but one thing is clear: from early childhood, Marta was in the “primaki,” that is, essentially, in the service of strangers. At the age of 17, the girl married the Swede Johann Kruse. The young couple did not have time to live, since almost immediately the husband left for the Russian-Swedish war. Afterwards, traces of him are lost. There are two versions of the further fate of the first man, Martha Skavronskaya: 1) he disappeared (died) in the Northern War; 2) Kruse “surfaced” as a prisoner, but on the orders of Peter I he was taken to Siberia, where his would-be husband disappeared.
There is no point in understanding the plausibility of both versions, since Johann Kruse, in any case, did not have any influence on the fate of his young wife.

Maid and kept woman

In the amazing fate of Marta Skavronskaya-Kruse, captivity played a decisive role, oddly enough. Livonian Marienburg, where Martha lived, was taken by the Russians in 1702, and Field Marshal Boris Sheremetev, noticing a pretty German woman, took her as his mistress. Over time, she came into the possession of Prince Alexander Menshikov, a friend of Peter I. Martha, judging by the descriptions of her contemporaries that have reached us, was a “mankai” girl, moderately curpulent (in those days, physical texture was valued). She had that zest that today is called sexuality. Menshikov took Martha to St. Petersburg and mercifully promoted her to a servant.

“Water” and “fire” come together

It was during one of his visits to his friend Menshikov that Peter I noticed Marta. The Tsar (then still a Tsar; Peter would appoint himself Emperor shortly before his death) and his wife Evdokia Lopukhina, in fact, did not live in marriage, although she gave birth to two sons from him. Considering himself free from all marriage conventions, Peter set his sights on the prince’s maid and slept with her on the very first night after meeting her. Menshikov yielded to Marta in a comradely manner.

It is believed that Martha gave birth to her first children (both died in infancy) from Peter. Be that as it may, in 1705 the tsar moved his mistress to his sister’s house, two years later she was baptized and from then on began to be called Catherine. Interestingly, Peter’s eldest son, Tsarevich Alexei, was godfather. The social status for the newly-minted Catherine did not change - for the Tsar she still remained who knows what.

Peter and Catherine were married in 1712. By that time, the wife already had two daughters from Peter, Anna and Elizabeth. Marriage could seem like a complete misalliance if you do not take into account the character of the groom.

Firstly, Peter was (and probably remains) the only ruler Russian state, whose degree of simplification had no limits. Or rather, the sovereign installed them himself. Peter preferred to personally delve into many of the intricacies of the state structure, down to the details; everything was interesting to him. In Holland he studied shipbuilding as a simple person, hiding behind the pseudonym “Peter Mikhailov”. Again, he loved to pull out poor people’s bad teeth. It is unlikely that among Russian monarchs there will be a more inquisitive rival to Peter.

Taking all this into account, the autocrat did not care whether his chosen one had a respectable social status or not.

Secondly, the Russian Tsar was indefatigable in his violence. Apparently, Peter still suffered from some kind of mental illness, since, according to the recollections of his contemporaries, he systematically, sometimes unmotivated, became enraged and had severe headaches during fits. Catherine alone could appease her husband. And these truly magical abilities of hers had a strong influence on the king.

Stern in life, Peter was unusually affectionate with his wife. Catherine bore him 11 children, but only his premarital sisters remained alive - the other offspring died in childhood. The Tsar was a good woman when it came to women, but his wife forgave everything and didn’t make a scene. She herself had an affair with Chamberlain Mons, whom Peter ultimately executed.

Shined in the light, and then faded

Emperor Peter I crowned his wife in 1723, 2 years before his death. The first crown in the history of the Russian Empire was placed on Catherine's head. After Maria Mnishek (the failed wife of False Dmitry I), she was the second woman crowned to the Russian throne. Peter went against the rules, ignoring the law according to which direct descendants of the royal family in the male line became kings in Rus'.

After the death of her husband, Catherine ascended the throne with the help of her old friend Menshikov and his comrade, an associate of her late husband, the count. Peter Tolstoy. They brought in to “strengthen” the guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, who broke the will of the dissident “old boyars”. The Senate approved Catherine’s candidacy, and the people, although amazed at this situation, remained silent - there were no worries about this.

Catherine's reign did not last long, only two years. The people loved her (the empress was involved in charity work). But the state was actually led by Field Marshal Menshikov and the Supreme Privy Council. Catherine herself loved balls and other entertainment. Perhaps her idle lifestyle led to her death at the age of 43. Historians believe that she was a significant figure only under her husband Peter I.

Russian Empress Catherine I Alekseevna (née Marta Skavronskaya) was born on April 15 (5 in the old style) 1684 in Livonia (now the territory of northern Latvia and southern Estonia). According to some sources, she was the daughter of a Latvian peasant Samuil Skavronsky, according to others, a Swedish quartermaster named Rabe.

Martha did not receive an education. Her youth was spent in the house of Pastor Gluck in Marienburg (now the city of Aluksne in Latvia), where she was both a laundress and a cook. According to some sources, Martha was married to a Swedish dragoon for a short time.

In 1702, after the capture of Marienburg by Russian troops, it became a military trophy and ended up first in the convoy of General Field Marshal Boris Sheremetev, and then with the favorite and associate of Peter I, Alexander Menshikov.

Around 1703, the young woman was noticed by Peter I and became one of his mistresses. Soon Martha was baptized according to the Orthodox rite under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna. Over the years, Catherine acquired very great influence over the Russian monarch, which depended, according to contemporaries, partly on her ability to calm him down in moments of anger. She did not try to take direct part in resolving political issues. Since 1709, Catherine no longer left the Tsar, accompanying Peter on all his campaigns and trips. According to legend, she saved Peter I during the Prut campaign (1711), when Russian troops were surrounded. Catherine gave the Turkish vizier all her jewelry, persuading him to sign a truce.

Upon returning to St. Petersburg on February 19, 1712, Peter married Catherine, and their daughters Anna (1708) and Elizabeth (1709) received the official status of crown princesses. In 1714, in memory of the Prut campaign, the tsar established the Order of St. Catherine, which he awarded to his wife on her name day.

In May 1724, Peter I crowned Catherine as empress for the first time in Russian history.

After the death of Peter I in 1725, through the efforts of Menshikov and with the support of the guard and the St. Petersburg garrison, Catherine I was elevated to the throne.

In February 1726, under the empress, the Supreme Privy Council (1726-1730) was created, which included princes Alexander Menshikov and Dmitry Golitsyn, counts Fyodor Apraksin, Gavriil Golovkin, Pyotr Tolstoy, as well as Baron Andrei (Heinrich Johann Friedrich) Osterman. The Council was created as an advisory body, but in fact it governed the country and resolved the most important state issues.

During the reign of Catherine I, on November 19, 1725, the Academy of Sciences was opened, an expedition of Russian naval officer Vitus Bering to Kamchatka was equipped and sent, and the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

In foreign policy There were almost no deviations from Peter's traditions. Russia improved diplomatic relations with Austria, obtained confirmation from Persia and Turkey of the concessions made under Peter in the Caucasus, and acquired the Shirvan region. Friendly relations were established with China through Count Raguzinsky. Russia also gained exceptional influence in Courland.

Having become an autocratic empress, Catherine discovered a craving for entertainment and spent a lot of time at feasts, balls, and various holidays, which had a detrimental effect on her health. In March 1727, a tumor appeared on the empress’s legs, growing rapidly, and in April she fell ill.

Before her death, at the insistence of Menshikov, Catherine signed a will, according to which the throne was to go to Grand Duke Peter Alekseevich - the grandson of Peter, the son of Alexei Petrovich, and in the event of his death - to her daughters or their descendants.

On May 17 (6 old style), Empress Catherine I died at the age of 43 and was buried in the tomb of the Russian emperors in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Empress Catherine and