Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740, made empress by the supreme privy council of Russia who hoped she would act as a puppet ruler; but she had her own plans. She began tormenting the aristocrats who had brought her to power, she established secret police to do her bidding, and also sought favor with the royal guard. Her power became uncontrollable, at one point she organized a weeding for one of the princes, and she hooked him up with one of her maids and made them spend a night in an ice-palace during one of the coldest winters in the history of Russia. Only death brought an end to her reign at an early age of 47.