Peter II

Peter II, 1715–30, czar of Russia (1727–30). A grandson of Peter I and the son of the czarevich Alexis, he succeeded on the death of Catherine I. He was too young to rule, but he willingly lent himself to a court intrigue, led by the Gallitzin and Dolgoruki families, which resulted in the fall of the all-powerful minister, A. D. Menshikov. Peter was betrothed to Catherine Dolgoruki, but died of smallpox on his wedding day. He was succeeded by his cousin Anna (Anna Ivanovna).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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