History knows a few examples when an unremarkable man from the bottom of society has reached the pinnacle of power not for their talents and will, and by force of circumstances. One of them is the history of Livonia Cinderella, illiterate orphan maid Martha from the Baltic backwater in the war years the beginning of the eighteenth century found themselves captive Russian soldiers and servants of their commanders. Charming "portova" managed to overshadow the other "metrics" king Peter I, adapted to cool the temper of the sovereign and the only one who could calm him during his nervous attacks, shared with him the joys and sorrows, the burdens of military campaigns and foreign travels. Becoming his lawful wife Catherine, she coped with the role of the Queen as if he was preparing for it since childhood, and after her husband ascended the throne in a Palace coup.The book by the historian Igor Kurukin written on the basis of the documents tells us about the unusual life journey of Catherine I — the Housewives, the fates became the first Russian Empress.