Statesman.
He was Peter the Great’s most prominent advisor, a war commander, governor and a friend. After Peter’s death, Menshikov became the actual ruler of Russia for two years.
Background
Lived: 1673-1729.
Alexander Menshikov’s career started off as a court stable boy and made a cosmic rise to become the tsar’s best friend and companion.
Peter I
Menshikov was appointed the governor of Ingria and he conducted the construction of St. Petersburg and Kronstadt in 1703.
He was a gifted statesman and brave war commander, who raised to the rank of Generalissimo. He stood out in the Great Northern War, especially at the Battle of Poltava in 1709.
Catherine I
In 1725, after Peter I’s death, Menshikov conducted a palace revolution and declared Peter I’s widow Catherine I the next ruler. They had a harmonic political partnership where all the state’s business was left to Menshikov. He ruled generally well.
Peter II
When Catherine I died, the throne went to Pater I’s grandson Peter II because the majority of the nobles were demanding it. Menshikov cleverly planned the marriage of his daughter Maria to Peter II.
Nevertheless, he was arrested before he could arrange that. A conspiracy by the Golitsyn and Dolgoruky families resulted in Menshikov’s deportation to the remote village of Berezov, Siberia in 1727.
His property was confiscated. Among other things, it included: 6 cities, 90,000 serfs, 5 milion gold rubles etc. All of this had he acquired abusing his high positions earlier.
Death
Menshikov died in the Berezov village in disgrace and poverty.
Alexander Menshikov
Statesman.
He was Peter the Great’s most prominent advisor, a war commander, governor and a friend. After Peter’s death, Menshikov became the actual ruler of Russia for two years.
Background
Lived: 1673-1729.
Alexander Menshikov’s career started off as a court stable boy and made a cosmic rise to become the tsar’s best friend and companion.
Peter I
Menshikov was appointed the governor of Ingria and he conducted the construction of St. Petersburg and Kronstadt in 1703.
He was a gifted statesman and brave war commander, who raised to the rank of Generalissimo. He stood out in the Great Northern War, especially at the Battle of Poltava in 1709.
Catherine I
In 1725, after Peter I’s death, Menshikov conducted a palace revolution and declared Peter I’s widow Catherine I the next ruler. They had a harmonic political partnership where all the state’s business was left to Menshikov. He ruled generally well.
Peter II
When Catherine I died, the throne went to Pater I’s grandson Peter II because the majority of the nobles were demanding it. Menshikov cleverly planned the marriage of his daughter Maria to Peter II.
Nevertheless, he was arrested before he could arrange that. A conspiracy by the Golitsyn and Dolgoruky families resulted in Menshikov’s deportation to the remote village of Berezov, Siberia in 1727.
His property was confiscated. Among other things, it included: 6 cities, 90,000 serfs, 5 milion gold rubles etc. All of this had he acquired abusing his high positions earlier.
Death
Menshikov died in the Berezov village in disgrace and poverty.
Peter II