Ekaterina Semenovna Svanidze went down in history as the first wife of Joseph Dzhugashvili. Their marriage did not last long and left behind many puzzles and questions. The spouse who gave her son and great love, Stalin remembered his whole life.
A family
Catherine was born in Tiflis in 1885. Her parents were ruined Georgian nobles, except for Kato, five more children were born in the family. In the district, the girl was known as an excellent dressmaker, among her clients were many representatives of the aristocracy of the city, the wife of the chief of the gendarmerie and the main police officer.
Once, in house number three on Freylinskaya Street, where the Svanidze family lived, Joseph Dzhugashvili appeared. The guest was invited by the brother of Catherine Alexander. Young people were connected by seminary education and revolutionary activities. At first glance, Stalin conquered the black-eyed beauty with a shock of hair. A few days later, the future leader introduced his chosen one to his mother Keke, she agreed to the marriage.
Marriage
The wedding of Kato and Joseph took place in July 1906, the temple of St. David. The wedding took place secretly, Stalin even had to present a passport to someone else's name - Galiashvili. Such caution was connected with the fact that the revolutionary was in an illegal situation and was wanted by the police. The head of the new family was barely 26 years old, his wife was five years younger.
The police became aware of the marriage of Dzhugashvili. The surveillance of the young wife began, and soon followed by arrest. Katerina was then in her third month of pregnancy. The revolutionary did not come to the police, and the girl was able to go free thanks to her high-ranking acquaintances and the efforts of her relatives.
In the spring of 1907, the couple had a son, Jacob. It would seem that happiness should finally come to their family. But Catherine with her husband and child in her arms again fled from the police. This time they were hiding in Baku, they changed apartments several times. Kato began to have tuberculosis, and Joseph took the sick wife with his son to Tiflis. Revolutionary work absorbed him.
