My Heir

Because I didn't really want any kids, it was kind of up to me to find an heir for the throne after I was gone. I picked my nephew, Peter of Holstein-Gottorp. My cousin, Ivan VI, that I had imprisoned in Schlusselburg Fortress was still a threat to my claim on the throne! I am afraid that there may be a coup in his favor, so I set about destroying anything, coins, papers, even mentioning Ivan. I ordered that if he even tried to escape.. he was to be eliminated. However, he never attempted to escape during my reign.. he probably felt unsafe, as he should be. THE THRONE IS MINE! My nephew Peter, and my heir to the throne, had lost his mother, (my sister Anna) at the age of 3 months, and his father at the age of 11. I brought him to the church at Saint Petersburg and proclaimed him heir. I also provided for him Russian tutors to help with his education, and settled on Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst as his future bride. In memory of my mother Catherine, I had his fiance renamed Catherine. The marriage took place in August of 1745. Although my foolish nephew did not take any interest in parenting their child, Paul, I certainly did take an interest. I even acted like I was his very own mother! Catherine was of no consequence. I only let Catherine see him briefly once after the month he was born, and then once more after six months. I raised him as he should be raised, as the true heir and the great grandson of my father, Peter the Great.

 

Well.. When it came down to it, it was Ivan and his mother or the son of my dear sister Anna.