Petrovich

As I've said, in-law will be too much.
In fact, let's change POD to "shishecka" (the Peter Petrovich born in 1715) being healthy and with non-retarded development.
If his dad dies on schedule (surviving son can butterfly his exact death date a bit later, different partying and carpenter schedule), young *Peter II will be pronounced Tsar with nominal regency of his mother.
However, if we push Peter the Great's death date to 1730, we avoid a bit of regency inconvenience, but young Emperor will be in the same position as his grandfather Alexis Mikhailovich - dominated by his tutor. And I think that Menshikov will prop up Catherine as proxy regent.
Yes, it would work. The question is how we give birth to a healthy baby?:)
 
Well to me the real question is what happens to Catherine I. After all she was crowned co-ruler by Peter in 1724, a unique position in Russian history. So would her reign continue like a William and Mary situation or was it only meant to be during her husband's lifetime? That's gonna be the main question after Peter's death.
I think Catherine would be enough regency. All the same rules would Menshikov, and she would be have a good time.
 
So, the POD finally settled is healthy Peter Petrovich - at least his half-nephew level healthy.
In fact if Menshikov is a regent via Catherine (as he was quasi-Tsar via her) he can go to exile once *Peter II reaches the majority.
 
Well to me the real question is what happens to Catherine I. After all she was crowned co-ruler by Peter in 1724, a unique position in Russian history. So would her reign continue like a William and Mary situation or was it only meant to be during her husband's lifetime? That's gonna be the main question after Peter's death.

There was not too unique in the of position of Catherine I while Peter the Great was still alive. She was just a lawful wife of the tsar. And she was crowned according to the Russian custom.

If Peter Petrovich born in 1715 is alive and healthy he will be crowned as tsar. Catherine position will be usual traditional position of a 'mother-queen' - she will be the Regent till her son Peter Petrovich comes of age.
When he is a man of the full legal age everything will depend on him:
- if he likes to drink and have fun his mother will rule instead of him
- if he wants to rule himself and is wise and strong enough he will take all power from his mother.
 
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As to marriage, what about marrying "Peter II" to Natalia Alexeyevna? And Peter A. marries someone like OTL Anna Leopoldovna? That way no one can have any objections to Menshikov et al or Dolgurokov et al becoming more powerful as both brides are Russian/half-Russian.
 
Romanovs weren't exactly into uncle-niece marriages except for desperate proposal of Elisabeth Petrovna to Peter II (by Osterman to counter Dolgorukov influence).
 
Romanovs weren't exactly into uncle-niece marriages except for desperate proposal of Elisabeth Petrovna to Peter II (by Osterman to counter Dolgorukov influence).

Menshikov was still regarded as very parvenu by the older aristocratic families, what if someone were to suggest this match (shortly before the death of Ekaterina Alexeievna) as surety that Menshikov would have no access to an advantage none of his rivals would have were his daughter to become Czarina?
 
Peter may make sure that his son marries his first cousin once removed, Princess Varvara Alexeevna Cherkasskaya - the richest heiress in Russia back then (born 1711). That's a match with a daughter of Peter's first cousin and no freakin' incest involved.
 
Peter may make sure that his son marries his first cousin once removed, Princess Varvara Alexeevna Cherkasskaya - the richest heiress in Russia back then (born 1711). That's a match with a daughter of Peter's first cousin and no freakin' incest involved.

I've never heard of her before. More info please, she sounds interesting. Also, it would technically be incest as they would be second cousins, but it would be well within the acceptable relations at this time in Europe.
 
A daughter of this guy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexey_Cherkassky

Here's later in life portrait of her:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pietro_Antonio_Rotari_07.jpg?uselang=ru

BTW, I got confused on Prince Cherkassky's wives. Marriage to daughter of Leo Naryshkin (Peter's maternal uncle) was his first marriage, which was childless. Varvara - the only heiress to richest landowner in Russia - was born from second marriage to Princess Trubetskaya. So she is not even related.

In OTL Peter planned to marry off Varvara to brother of his last maitresse-en-titre Maria Kantemir Antioch, but Varvara refused and later married Count Sheremetev. If anyone is a candidate for homebrew Tsarina - it's she.
 
A daughter of this guy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexey_Cherkassky

Here's later in life portrait of her:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pietro_Antonio_Rotari_07.jpg?uselang=ru

BTW, I got confused on Prince Cherkassky's wives. Marriage to daughter of Leo Naryshkin (Peter's maternal uncle) was his first marriage, which was childless. Varvara - the only heiress to richest landowner in Russia - was born from second marriage to Princess Trubetskaya. So she is not even related.

In OTL Peter planned to marry off Varvara to brother of his last maitresse-en-titre Maria Kantemir Antioch, but Varvara refused and later married Count Sheremetev. If anyone is a candidate for homebrew Tsarina - it's she.

Not much of a looker was she? But she was in her forties so eh. But I'm surprised that Peter didn't try to grab her for a relative instead of a brother of a mistress. But then again she did come of marriageable age when Russia was in political chaos so that might explain why.
 
Not much of a looker was she? But she was in her forties so eh. But I'm surprised that Peter didn't try to grab her for a relative instead of a brother of a mistress. But then again she did come of marriageable age when Russia was in political chaos so that might explain why.
There were no Naryshkins of marriageable age, and at the time of this idea (roughly around aftermath of Willem Mons affair) Peter thought divorcing Catherine and marrying to Maria Cantemir. So he planned to elevate his future in-law in advance.
 
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