Alexander Danilovich Menshikov
| Alexander Danilovich Menshikov Александр Данилович Меншиков |
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| Generalissimo of Russian Imperial Army | |
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In office 1727–1728 |
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| Preceded by | Aleksei Shein |
| Succeeded by | Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick |
| Admiral of Russian Imperial Navy | |
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In office 1726–1728 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Gordon |
| Succeeded by | Martin Gossler |
| Member of Supreme Privy Council | |
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In office 1726–1728 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Vasily Lukich Dolgorukov |
| 1st President of College of War | |
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In office 1717–1724 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Anikita Repnin |
| Member of Governing Senate | |
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In office 1711–1728 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Field Marshal of Russian Imperial Army | |
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In office 1709–1728 |
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| Preceded by | Boris Sheremetev |
| Succeeded by | Anikita Repnin |
| 1st Governor-General of St. Petersburg | |
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In office 1702–1724 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Pyotr Apraksin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
16 November 1673 Moscow, Tsardom of Russia |
| Died | 23 November 1729 (aged 56) Berezov, Russian Empire |
| Spouse(s) | Darya Mikhailovna Arsenyeva |
| Religion | Russian Orthodox |
| Awards |
Titles Prince of Russian Empire Prince of the Holy Roman Empire 1st Duke of Ingria 1st Duke of Cosel Orders Order of St. Andrew Order of St. Alexander Nevsky Order of the Black Eagle Order of the White Eagle Order of the Elephant |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Tsardom of Russia Russian Empire
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| Service/branch |
Imperial Russian Army Imperial Russian Navy
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| Years of service | 1699–1728 |
| Rank | Generalissimo |
| Battles/wars | |
Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Дани́лович Ме́ншиков; 16 November [O.S. 6 November] 1673 – 23 November [O.S. 12 November] 1729) was a Russian statesman, whose official titles included Generalissimus, Prince of the Russian Empire and Duke of Izhora (Duke of Ingria), Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Cosel. A highly appreciated associate and friend of Tsar Peter the Great, he was the de facto ruler of Russia for two years.
Menshikov was born on 16 November [O.S. 6 November] 1673 in Moscow. It has been disputed by his enemies whether his father was a stablehand or worked on a barge; it is more likely that he was of petty noble stock. As the story goes, he was making a living on the streets of Moscow as a vendor of stuffed buns known as pirozhki at the age of twenty. His fine appearance and witty character caught the attention of Franz Lefort, Peter's first favorite, who took him into his service and finally transferred him to the tsar. On the death of Lefort in 1699, Menshikov succeeded him as Peter's prime favorite and confidant.
He took an active part in the Azov campaigns (1695–1696) against the Ottoman Empire. 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. He acted as subordinate to Boris Sheremetev, who was commander-in-chief during the retreat before Charles XII in 1708, subsequently participating in the battle of Holowczyn, the reduction of Mazepa, and the crowning victory of Poltava (8 July [O.S. 27 June] 1709), where he won his field-marshal's baton.
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