Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was an outstanding statesman, a brave commander, a master of political intrigue, and the right hand of Emperor Peter I, but also infamously known as a embezzler. He rose from a boy in the service of Franz Lefort to a gray cardinal under the rulers of the Russian Empire and ended his life in poverty in Siberian exile.

Alexander Menshikov was born on November 16, 1673, in Moscow. Little is known about his family. It is believed that while already close to Peter I, he hired people to create a genealogy linking him to Lithuanian nobility. According to one version, his father was a groom, while another claims he was a baker. Legend has it that at the beginning of his career, Menshikov sold pies on the street, but this could have been a fabrication by his detractors. Alexander Pushkin wrote in drafts of "The History of Peter" that Menshikov came from Belarusian nobility and was never a lackey or a pie seller.

No documents written by Menshikov have survived, raising doubts about his literacy. However, his natural talent and resourcefulness compensated for this deficiency. Franz Lefort noticed him as a boy and took him into service. At 14, he was seen by Peter I and became his footman. Menshikov quickly gained the Tsar's trust, became his friend, and participated in all his undertakings. He served in the Preobrazhensky Regiment and at 20 became a bombardier. Gradually, he became a chamberlain to the Tsar. Peter entrusted him with numerous tasks, and Menshikov followed Western fashion, learning German and Dutch, which displeased the boyars. He accompanied Peter on his first foreign trip, participated in the Azov campaigns, and the Great Embassy.

In 1698, after the Streltsy uprising, Peter arranged mass executions, and Menshikov boasted that he personally beheaded 20 people. After Lefort's death in 1699, Menshikov became Peter's only close associate. In 1700, he married Darya Arsenyeva, becoming the father of seven children. The Northern War began, and Menshikov distinguished himself in battles, commanding infantry and cavalry. In 1704, he became a major general, and in 1708 he distinguished himself in the Battle of Lesnaya. His administrative career also flourished: he was the commandant of Noteburg, governor of St. Petersburg, and oversaw the city's construction.

In 1706, Menshikov commanded a 15,000-strong corps, assisting Polish King Augustus in the fight against the Swedes. For his successes, he was awarded the title of Most Serene Prince of the Roman Empire. In the Battle of Poltava, he commanded the vanguard and left flank, helping Peter to rout Charles XII's army. For the victory at Poltava, he was promoted to field marshal and given several cities as his domain.

From 1709 to 1713, Menshikov commanded troops in Poland and other regions, receiving numerous awards. In 1714, he returned to St. Petersburg, dealing with the internal affairs of the state. In 1721, he became a vice-admiral. However, a scandal over embezzlement soon erupted, in which he was implicated. Peter I, despite the evidence, did not punish him severely.

After Peter's death, Menshikov facilitated the ascension of Catherine I, becoming the de facto ruler. He planned to marry his daughter to Peter II, but his plans were thwarted by Count Osterman, who turned the future emperor against Menshikov. As a result, Menshikov was arrested, stripped of all titles, and exiled to Siberia, where he died in 1729. His grave has not survived.