Praskovia Saltykova

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Praskovia Fyodorovna Saltykova (Russian: Прасковья Фёдоровна Салтыкова) (October 12, 1664 - October 1723) was the tsaritsa of Russia as the only wife of Ivan V of Russia. She was daughter of Fyodor Petrovich Saltykov and Anna Mikhailovna Tatishcheva. Ivan V and Praskovia had five daughters: Maria, Feodosia, Catherine, Anna and Praskovia. One of them — Anna Ivanovna — would assume the throne in 1730. Another daughter, Catherina, was mother of regent of Russia Anna Leopoldovna.

Praskovia Fyodorovna lived as a dowager tsarina for a long time after her husband's death in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. She had great respect for her brother-in-law emperor Peter I for whom she held an open court in her palace, as Peter had no legal wife at that time, for which reason there was no place to welcome foreign guests. Following Ivan V's death, Praskovia began a long affair with the boyar Vassili Yushkov, whom Peter I accepted as a member of his sister's household. Peter's illegitimate daughters Elizabeth (future empress) and Anna (mother of future emperor, Peter III) were also educated at Praskovia's court.