In 1689 Peter married a lady named Eudoxia Lopukhina, but the union was by no means a happy one. Two sons were born to Peter, Alexander and Alexis. The first lived only six months, but the latter survived to make a sorry figure in Russian history. The friends and adherents of Peter had occasion to come to his support to put down a revolt of the Guards, which, it was alleged, was a result of a conspiracy to secure his assassination. Sophia, suspected of guilt in this matter, was seized and permanently incarcerated in a convent under the name of Susanna, where she remained until he death, fifteen years later. From the year 1689, seven years after the death of his brother, who had designated him as his heir to the throne, the actual rule of Peter dates.
His brother Ivan, infirm in body and mind, from this time forward had practically no share in the affairs of government. In spite of his infirmities, however, he took a wife and had three daughters, one of whom lived to make her mark in Russian history. After a retired life of several years, Ivan died, in 1696, at the age of 30.
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From General Nelson A. Miles
Thrilling Stories of The Russian-Japanese War, 1904
