Catherine I of Russia

Catherine I was empress of Russia from 1725 to 1727, succeeding her husband Peter the Great. Her brief reign relied heavily on advisers, especially Alexander Menshikov.

Peter the Great: The Russian tsar and emperor who ruled from 1682 to 1725 and transformed the state through military, administrative, and cultural reforms. Her husband and predecessor, Peter designated her as his successor.
Russian succession crisis of 1725: The political struggle over who would succeed Peter the Great after his death in 1725. Catherine’s elevation emerged from this contested transition.
Livonia: A historical region on the eastern Baltic coast, encompassing parts of present-day Latvia and Estonia. Catherine was born in Livonia before entering Russian court life.
Russian Empire: The state ruled by Russian emperors from Peter the Great’s imperial proclamation in 1721 until the monarchy’s fall in 1917. Catherine was its second monarch and first reigning empress.
Alexander Menshikov: A Russian statesman and military commander who rose from humble origins to become one of Peter the Great’s closest associates. He secured Catherine’s accession and dominated her government.
Supreme Privy Council: A Russian governing body founded in 1726 to advise the monarch and direct major state affairs. Created during Catherine’s reign, it gave leading nobles a central role in government.
Marta Skowrońska: The birth name commonly attributed to Catherine I before her conversion and marriage to Peter the Great. Her early life under this name preceded her rise as Russia’s empress.
Peter the Great's succession decree: A 1722 law allowing the Russian ruler to designate a successor rather than follow automatic hereditary succession. The decree enabled Peter to choose Catherine, but left later succession vulnerable to court conflict.
Catherine II of Russia: Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, Catherine II expanded the empire and pursued state reforms. The later empress shared Catherine I’s name but ruled far longer and wielded power more independently.
Russian Senate: A central Russian governing institution established by Peter the Great in 1711 to administer the state. The Senate helped announce Catherine’s accession and carried out central administration.

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