Portait of Empress Catherine I by Unknown Artist
Catherine I Alexeevna (1684 -1727) - Empress from 1725. Ascended the throne following the death of her husband, Emperor Petr I (1672 - 1725). She was declared Tsaritsa in 1711, and Empress in 1721, then crowned in 1724. She was wed to Emperor Petr I in church in 1712.
Daughter of Lithuanian peasant Samuel Skavronsky. Prior to her conversion to the Russian Orthodox faith bore the name of Martha.
She was the first royal owner of Sarskoje Selo, later known as Tzarskoje Selo, and the Large Tzarskoje Selo Palace was named the Catherine Palace after her. During her occupation of the estate, between 1717 and 1723 the first stone buildings were erected, forming the basis for the Catherine Palace, and part of the regular park was created.
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