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Alexander Danilovich Menshikov

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov
Александр Данилович Меншиков
Portrait of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov1.jpg
Generalissimo of Russian Imperial Army
In office
1727–1728
Preceded by Aleksei Shein
Succeeded by Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick
Admiral of Russian Imperial Navy
In office
1726–1728
Preceded by Thomas Gordon
Succeeded by Martin Gossler
Member of Supreme Privy Council
In office
1726–1728
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Vasily Lukich Dolgorukov
1st President of College of War
In office
1717–1724
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Anikita Repnin
Member of Governing Senate
In office
1711–1728
Preceded by Position established
Field Marshal of Russian Imperial Army
In office
1709–1728
Preceded by Boris Sheremetev
Succeeded by Anikita Repnin
1st Governor-General of St. Petersburg
In office
1702–1724
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Pyotr Apraksin
Personal details
Born (1673-11-16)16 November 1673
Moscow, Tsardom of Russia
Died 23 November 1729(1729-11-23) (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 Russia Tsardom of Russia
 Russian Empire
Service/branch Russian Empire Imperial Russian Army
 Imperial Russian Navy
Years of service 1699–1728
Rank Generalissimo
Battles/wars

Great Northern War


Great Northern War

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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