Catherine I

(Catherine I of Russia)

1684–1727

Catherine
CATHERINE I.
Catherine I of Russia was the first female ruler of the Russian Empire. She was also the mother of a future Empress, Elizabeth I of Russia. Catherine is supposed to have come from very humble beginnings; she was a maidservant before becoming the mistress of Peter the Great. Some stories claim she was actually sold to her employer of the time. Catherine and Peter are supposed to have been very close; this is certainly borne out in his eventual legal marriage to Catherine, and his legitimization of their children. Catherine was placed in power after the death of her husband through a coup organized by her supporters, who did not want to lose the reforms of Peter I. However, she reigned only two years before succumbing to an abcess of the lungs.


Key events during the life of Catherine I of Russia:


Year
Event
1684
Born April 15th as Marta Helena. Birth date not confirmed.
1703
Meets Peter the Great of Russia. Becomes his mistress.
1705
Converts to Orthodoxy and takes the name Catherine.
1707
Secretly marries Peter the Great. They have 12 children, two of whom survive to adulthood.
1711
Accompanies Peter on his Pruth campaign. Sacrifices her jewels to bribe the Ottomans into allowing the Russians to retreat.
1712
Officially marries Peter the Great at St. Petersburg.
1724
Crowned Empress and co-ruler of Russia.
1725
Death of Peter the Great, no successor named. Catherine's supporters organize a coup to place her in power.
1727
Death of Catherine I, in St Petersburg.

Other Resources


Story Links
Book Links
A Reformer Knouts his Son  in  The History of Russia  by  Nathan Haskell Dole
Frome the Hovel to the Throne  in  Historical Tales: Russian  by  Charles Morris


Image Links


The Empress Catherine
 in Peter the Great


Contemporary
Short Biography
Peter the Great Modernized Russia in spite of great resistance. Improved the army. Won coastal territory.
Elizabeth of Russia Daughter of Peter the Great, who as empress was patron of the arts and the Orthodox Church and opposed Frederick the Great in Prussia.