Military career Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia

grand duchess charlotte of russia

in 1708 peter sent alexei smolensk collect provender , recruits, , after moscow fortify against charles xii of sweden. @ end of 1709, alexei went dresden 1 year. there, finished lessons in french, german, mathematics , fortification. after education, alexei married, princess charlotte of brunswick-wolfenbüttel, family connected marriage many of great families of europe (i.e., charlotte s sister elizabeth married holy roman emperor charles vi, ruler of habsburg monarchy). met princess charlotte, both pleased each other , marriage went forward. in theory, alexei have refused marriage, , had been encouraged father @ least meet intended. why haven t written tell me thought her? wrote peter (in tone can guessed) in letter dated 13 august 1710.

the marriage contract signed in september. wedding celebrated @ torgau, germany, on 14 october 1711. 1 of terms of marriage contract agreed alexei while forthcoming children raised in orthodox faith, charlotte herself allowed retain protestant faith, agreement opposed alexei s followers.

as marriage itself, first 6 months went became failure within 6 months. alexis drunk , alexei pronounced bride pock-marked , thin . insisted on separate apartments , ignored in public.

three weeks later, bridegroom hurried away father toruń superintend provisioning of russian troops in poland. next twelve months alexei kept on move. wife joined him @ toruń in december, in april 1712 peremptory ukase ordered him off army in pomerania, , in autumn of same year forced accompany father on tour of inspection through finland.

alexis in 1703

he had 2 children charlotte:

natalia alexeievna romanova (3 march 1714 – 3 november 1728)
peter alexeyevich romanov (23 october 1715 – 30 january 1730)

peter alexeyevich succeed emperor peter ii in 1727. death in 1730, direct male-line of house of romanov became extinct.

after birth of natalia in 1714, alexei brought long-time finnish serf mistress afrosinia live in palace. historians speculate conservative powerbase s disapproval of foreign, non-orthodox bride, more appearance, caused alexei spurn charlotte. influence alexander kikin, high-placed official had fallen out tsar , had been deprived of estates.