Yefrosinya Fedorov

Yefrosinya Fedorova (Russian: Ефросинья Фёдорова; also Euphrosyne, Afrosinya, Afrosina, Ofrosinya; 1699/1700 – 1748), was a Russian serf. She was known as the royal mistress of Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia who fled with him September 26, 1716. She was the property of Alexei's tutor, Prince Nikifor Vyazemsky, but had originally been a captive from Finland, then a Swedish province, and was thereby a Swedish citizen.

Afrosina was born around 1700 or 1699. Her father was called Teuvo, or Feodore in Russian, Theodore in English. Her brother was called Jouni in Finnish, Ivan in Russian and John in English. Her name in Finnish was probably Eufrosyne, called Eufrosinya in Russian and Afrosina in English. It is thought that she and her brother were prisoners of war. They were captured in the south of Finland, and sold into serfdom. The Russians fought Finland in what is called Great Wrath from 1714 for three years. It is likely she was captured shortly before being presented to Alexei.

Afrosina was described as being short and red haired. There were uncomplimentary descriptions of her as being tall with thick lips but these have been said to be false; eye witness descriptions contradict that. She was likely somewhat stout, considered very attractive at a period when most adults, including Alexei her lover, had tuberculosis.

The relationship with Alexei began in 1714 or 1715. She was a present given to him by Prince Nikifor Vyazemsky who had been his first tutor. He was later his companion.

By that time he was already married to Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The dynastic marriage made him the brother in law of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor and Prince of Austria, who was married to Charlotte's older sister Elizabeth. The marriage to Alexei was unhappy. Charlotte did not like Russia and had been brought up in the court etiquette of Austria. She never learned Russian and retained her own religion. Alexei described her as pock marked and thin. He was not comfortable with her, nor were those who made him the center of opposition to his father Peter the Great. His wife Charlotte bore Alexei a daughter, named Natalya after the beloved mother and sister of Peter the Great in 1714. She also had a son named Peter on October 23, 1715, later to be Peter II. She then died nine days later of childbirth fever. Charlotte gave the children to Peter the Great on her deathbed. She asked him to raise them, made her peace with God, and thanked Peter with tears. Then she asked that drugs not be given her as she wished to die.

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