Alexander Menshikov

Menshikov was born on 16 November [O.S. 6 November] 1673 in Moscow. The origins of his youth are not known for certain. Historian Paul Bushkovitch argues that Menshikov was not an aristocrat and was most likely descended from servants of the palace stables, who among others made up the first soldiers of Peter's 'toy armies.' Another legend states that Menshikov was making a living on the streets of Moscow as a vendor of stuffed buns known as pirozhki (pies) at the age of twenty. His fine appearance and witty character caught the attention of Franz Lefort, Peter's first favourite, who took him into his service and finally transferred him to the Tsar. However, Robert K. Massie states it was likely his father was an ex Lithuanian corporal-clark stationed in the Preobrazhenskoye District where his son was noticed and became a soldier in the Tsar's newly formed army units. Whatever his antecedents, Menshikov had not had a thorough education and while he could read, he never learned to write. For the rest of his life, he always wrote through a secretary.

Menshikov took an active part in the Azov campaigns (1695–1696) against the Ottoman Empire. Then, from 1697 to 1698 he accompanied Peter the Great on the Grand Embassy tour of Europe. During the Tsar's first foreign tour in the next year, Menshikov worked by his side in the dockyard of Amsterdam, and acquired a thorough knowledge of shipbuilding and colloquial Dutch and German. As a result of his Dutch shipbuilding education, in 1698, the East India Company issued to Menshikov a shipbuilder's certificate. In 1698, on his return to Russia, Menshikov was one of those required to lead the punishment of those streltsy soldiers captured during the streltsy uprising. During the subsequent executions, he later boasted of having cut off twenty heads.

On the death of Lefort in 1699, Menshikov succeeded him as one of Peter's prime favourites and confidants.

From 1709 to 1714 he served during the Courland, Holstein and Pomeranian campaigns, but then, as governor-general of Ingria, with almost unlimited powers, was entrusted with a leading part in the civil administration. Menshikov understood perfectly the principles on which Peter's reforms were conducted and was the right hand of the Tsar in all his gigantic undertakings. But he abused his powerful position, and his corrupt practices frequently brought him to the verge of ruin, although he survived because Tsar Peter repeatedly forgave his corruption. Every time the Tsar returned to Russia he received fresh accusations of plunder against "his Serene Highness." Peter's first serious outburst of indignation (March 1711) was due to the prince's looting in Poland. Peter threatened him with execution and Menshikov apologised, which was accepted by the Tsar.

In an effort to force Charles XII to conclude a formal peace treaty in the years following Poltava, Menshikov led the Russian army in an invasion of Swedish Pomerania in 1711 leading to the so-named Siege of Stralsund. This involved the initial ineffective failed siege of the city of Stettin in the Baltic, though Russian forces under Menshikov would succeed in its capture with Saxon army assistance in September 1713.

On his return to Russia in 1712, Peter discovered that Menshikov had turned a blind eye to wholesale corruption in his own governor-generalship. Peter warned him "for the last time" to change his ways. By 1713, he was implicated in corruption again in the "Solovey process", in the course of which it was demonstrated that he had defrauded the government of 100,000 roubles. He only owed his life on this occasion to a sudden illness. On his recovery Peter's fondness for his friend overcame his sense of justice. Returning to command Russian forces, his allied coalition succeeded in the Siege of Tönning in May 1713.

In 1714 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. According to Simon Sebag Montefiore in his book The Romanovs 1613–1918 Menshikov was once punched twice by Tsar Peter the Great, once in the nose and once on the side of the head, after Tsar Peter saw Menshikov dancing with his sword still on, which was considered to rude manners. Menshikov was accused of fraud and financial dishonesty along with several other notables in 1715. As a result of his rise from humber origins, gathering of huge wealth and favouritism by the Tsar, exaggerated claims were made against Menshikov by some aristocrats, include Yakov Fyodorovich Dolgorukov. An investigation revealed some instances of irregularity but Menshikov was able to moderate the claims and persuade the Tsar that he was acting in the best interests of the state, citing instances of lending money to government and hosting events at his palaces. Tsar Peter fined Menshikov but forgave him.

In 1718, Menshikov was responsible for the arrest of those who helped Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia escape Russia before he was forcibly returned. The Tsarevich died following torture and Menshikov then swore an oath of allegiance to Peter Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia as Peter's new heir, however Peter Petrovich died before taking the throne. In the last year of Peter's reign new allegations of fraud by Menshikov came to light, and he was obliged to appeal for protection to the empress Catherine. Initially sentenced to lose all property and title, Menshikov was again forgiven and restored to all his properties and titles by the Tsar as the Tsar lay ill in his final days.

It was chiefly through the efforts of Menshikov and his colleague Tolstoi that, on the death of Peter, in 1725, Catherine was raised to the throne. Menshikov was committed to the Petrine system, and he recognised that, if that system were to continue, Catherine was, at that particular time, the only possible candidate as a member of the new Russia. Her placement on the throne meant a final victory over ancient prejudices, a vindication of the new ideas of progress, and not least security for Menshikov and his ill-gotten fortune.

Princess Maria Alexandrovna (26 December 1711 – 1729) engaged to Grand Duke Peter of Russia and died of smallpox in exile.

Princess Alexandra Alexandrovna (17 December 1712 – 13 September 1736) married Gustav von Biron, brother of Ernst Johann von Biron, and died in childbirth.

Prince Alexander Alexandrovich, Duke of Ingria (March 1714 – 27 November 1764) engaged to Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeyevna but eventually married Princess Yelizaveta Petrovna Golitsyna and had issue.