Catherine I.2C ruled 1725-1727 History of Russia (1721–96)

peter great had 2 wives, yevdokiya lopukhina (the daughter of minor noble) , marfa skavronskaya (a lithuanian peasant, renamed catherine after conversion orthodoxy). catherine i’s rise through peter i’s table of ranks simple peasant empress, embodied petrine spirit, making seem though peter literally “created” her. of aleksandr menshikov (her advisor, ex-lover , leader of palace guards), gained throne emphasizing connection peter , maternal nature. due poor health, menshikov did of ruling. catherine i’s blessing, created supreme privy council, consisted of 6 or members. took on of functions of ruling senate (an advisory body founded peter oversee judicial, financial , administrative affairs) immediately, catherine appointed peter ii, grandson of peter great, successor , died after 2 years of ruling.