Catherine I

Catherine I, born Marta Skowro

Peter the Great crowned Catherine as empress consort in a formal ceremony at the Dormition Cathedral in Moscow. This was a rare honor for a tsar's wife and signaled Peter's intention to make her his successor. The coronation established her as a legitimate ruler.

After Peter the Great's death without naming a clear successor, Catherine I seized power with the support of the Imperial Guard and key nobles, becoming the first woman to rule Russia in her own right. Her accession marked a shift in succession practices and established a precedent for female rule.

Catherine I created the Supreme Privy Council, a body of advisors that effectively governed Russia during her reign. The council, dominated by Alexander Menshikov, reduced the power of the Senate and concentrated authority in a small group of nobles, shaping Russian governance.

Catherine I's government signed the Treaty of Vienna with the Holy Roman Empire, forming an alliance against the Ottoman Empire and Spain. This agreement aligned Russia with the Habsburgs and marked a shift in European diplomacy, though it had limited practical impact during her short reign.