Descendants of Peter I

Peter the Great is known as a controversial person. The founder of St. Petersburg was a great politician. At the same time - a cruel and uncompromising person, and not only in solving public affairs, but also in his personal life

Peter I

Peter Alekseevich Romanov, future emperor Peter I, born on the night of June 9, 1672, was the son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his second wife, Natalya Naryshkina. When young Peter was 4 years old, his father passed away; his brother and new tsar Fedor Alekseevich was appointed guardian. Six years later, Fyodor Alekseevich died, which caused the uprising of the archers: they demanded the erection of the young princes Ivan and Peter to the kingdom. Their demand was fulfilled, and the reins of government (since the brothers were still very young) took their older sister Sofya Alekseevna into their own hands.

Peter was sent away from the courtyard and became interested in military affairs: he formed "amusing regiments" from peasant youths, and under his leadership they underwent combat training and learned the basics of warfare. At the age of seventeen, Peter married for the first time - to Evdokia Lopukhina. In the same year, after several public conflicts with the royal sister, he, having made a coup with the help of the regiments loyal to him, became the sole ruler of the state. In the first years of his reign, Peter went on an educational trip to the main European powers. The reason for his return was the Streltsy revolt; toughly cracking down on the rebels, the ruler visually showed the people what would happen to those who dare to contradict him.

From the year 1700, Peter began active reform work: he switched over to the Julian calendar, ordered the nobles to dress in European clothes and “put themselves in order” according to the European model. In the same year, the Northern War begins with Sweden, which will end only in the 1721st year. In 1704 - 1717, the future capital of the state, St. Petersburg, was built. In the 1710s, not the most successful wars were waged with Turkey, culminating in a peace treaty between the parties. In 1721, Peter takes the title of emperor, and the Russian state is declared the Russian Empire.

In 1725, Emperor Peter I passed away. The official version of his death is pneumonia, it is known that during the previous six months the ruler suffered from serious chronic diseases.

The king was also known as a great reformer, and his reforms concerned almost all areas of life. These were military, industrial, church, and educational reforms. It was in his reign that the first gymnasium and many schools were opened. In the last years of his life, Peter was often sick, but did not stop his government. After his death, power over a great power passed to his wife Catherine I.

Evdokia Lopukhina

The king first married at the age of seventeen. Evdokia Lopukhina - the daughter of a lawyer who served Alexei Mikhailovich. She was chosen by Natalia Kirillovna as a bride to the young tsar without his knowledge. Peter's mother liked the piety and humble nature of the girl. The wedding took place in February 1689. This event became a landmark - according to the laws of that time, a married man was considered an adult, which means that the prince could claim the throne (at that time the struggle for power between Sophia and Peter was fought.

There were three children in this marriage: Alexei, Alexander and Pavel. The king was quickly bored with a young wife. He went to Pereyaslavl, where he stayed for several months. Subsequently, Peter decided to get rid of Eudokia. But she did not commit adultery and bore him three children. Peter 1, by law, could send his wife to the monastery if she was barren or was in a criminal relationship. But according to some reports, Evdokia participated in the Streletsky revolt. The king clung to this in order to get rid of his unloved wife by imprisoning her in a monastery.

Children from Evdokia Lopukhina

In marriage, the first son of Peter the Great was born - Alexei Petrovich. The relationship between father and son initially went wrong. Evdokia did not accept the reform and innovations of the king, she organized around herself a circle of dissatisfied with the activities of Peter. After some time, the conspiracy was uncovered, and Evdokia against his will sent to the monastery. Alexei was strictly forbidden to see his mother, which is why he suffered very much. Alexei Petrovich himself was never active and did not participate in his father’s affairs.

Alexei Petrovich, like his mother, did not accept the innovations introduced by Peter. A few years later, Alexei was accused of organizing a conspiracy against the tsar, he was convicted and cast into the Trubetskoy bastion of the Peter and Paul Fortress, where he soon died. There is a version that he died under torture or was intentionally killed. This happened in 1718. From Alexei there was a son - Peter, who in 1727 was destined to become the head of the empire. But his rule was very short-lived, in 1730 he became seriously ill and died of smallpox.

From the marriage of Peter and Lopukhina in 1691, another son was born - Alexander, who died in infancy.

Children from Marta Skavronskaya (Catherine I)

In 1703, Marta Skavronska, Livonian peasant, became the new favorite of the ruler. Marta adopted the Orthodox faith and received a new name - Ekaterina Alekseevna. In March 1717, the wife of Peter 1 - Catherine was declared Empress. In 1725, she ascended the throne. But she only managed to rule for two years. Not much outliving her husband, Catherine 1 died in 1727.

From the union of Peter and Martha, Catherine appeared. At the time of birth, the girl was considered illegitimate. She did not live long - only a year and a half. The girl was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Another illegitimate daughter from this connection is Anna. When the young girl was 17 years old, she was given in marriage to the Duke of Holsting. In this marriage, Peter Ulrich was born, who later became Emperor of Russia Peter III.

In 1709, the future Empress Elizabeth was born. When she was two years old, she was declared princess. Elizabeth was destined to ascend the throne, rule for 20 years (from 1741 to 1761) and continue the reform of her father. Elizabeth remained unmarried and did not leave behind direct heirs.

The first legitimate child was Natalya Petrovna, who was born in 1713. The girl was named after her grandmother - the mother of Peter Natalia Kirillovna. The child lived a little more than two years. The grave of Natalia is in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Subsequently, another daughter will be born to Peter, who will also be called Natalya. But she will live for a short time and will die at the age of five from measles.

In the period from 1713 to 1719, five more children were born, but they all died at an early age. Of the 10 children born in this marriage, 8 died in childhood. Only Anna and Elizabeth remained.