Mikhail Romanov. The Tsar in Love
The tsar was now in his twenties, the grown man. Accordingly, it was announced that the great ruler Mikhail had reached the age of adulthood and the time had come for him to take a wife. The tsar’s mother found a bride for her son but Mikhail made his own decision.
Years ago, during his exile, he had fallen in love with Masha Khlopova, the daughter of one his guardians and promised to marry only her. The tsar’s decisions were announced and his bride to be was found rooms within the Palace. The Saltykov brothers, relatives of the tsar’s mother were put in charge of her safety. But just before the wedding, Masha suddenly fell dangerously ill.
Aleksey Mikhailovich Romanov
Aleksey Mikhailovich Romanov was the second Russian tsar of the house of Romanov. He came under the charge of a tutor, a boyar named Boris Ivanovich Morozov, who exerted great influence over his pupil. At the age of five he learned to read, and at the age of seven he knew how to write. He was clever and quick-witted.
Aleksey received some formal education: he was taught history, geography, mathematics and natural sciences, as well as military and foreign affairs. He tried to write verses, liked to philosophize and was a passionate hunter.
Sophia Alexeyevna
Sophia Alekseyevna was the daughter of tsar Alexey and his first wife Maria Miloslavskaya. Sophia had a very active mind and convinced her father to allow her to share lessons with her sick brother Feodor, heir to the Russian throne. The tsar also had two other sons, Ivan and Peter from his second wife Nataliya Naryshkina.
Sophia Alekseyevna showed outstanding intelligence, energy and ambition, and was a well-educated woman. As she grew older, Sophia began to attend council meetings, and even shared her ideas and advice on state matters.
Peter I, France Lefort, Marriage
The Swiss soldier France Lefort was handsome, capable and an experienced officer. He and Alexander Menshikov soon joined the tsars inner circle becoming one of Peter’s most trusted friends and advisers. And then there was Anna Mons – the daughter of a Dutch wine merchant who soon became Peter’s lover.
Peter started to go to the foreign quarter often, learning to speak German and Dutch, dancing with girls, drinking wine and smoking his pipe. His mother was horrified and decided Peter should get married the 19 year old Evdokia Lopukhina. She was tall, beautiful and sensible.
Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
Elizabeth was very intelligent as a child and was educated in French culture. She was expected to become an Empress but the Russian Supreme Council chose the 2-month-old Ivan IV, with his mother, Anna Leopoldovna, as regent instead of her.
Elizabeth and her allies staged a coup in which the infant emperor and his mother were arrested and Elizabeth was crowned empress.
She established funding for a university in Moscow, donated large sums of money to the Russian Orthodox Church and created a foundation for the arts.
Empress Catherine I
Russian Empress Catherine I was the second wife of Peter I the Great and Empress of Russia. Her original name was Marta and she was born in the Baltic area. After she was captured by the Russian troops Marta Worked in the house of Aleksandr Menshikov.
Russian Emperor Peter the Great saw Marta in Menshikov’s home for the first time and fell in love with her.
In 1724 Catherine was named co-ruler and was supported by the guards of the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments that liked Peter very much.