Draft:House of Skavronsky

The House of Skavronsky (or Skavronskii) was a Russian noble family that gained prominence during the 18th century, largely due to their connection to Catherine I of Russia. The family’s rise to power began with Marta Helena Skowrońska, a Lithuanian or Livonian peasant of Polish descent, who became the second wife of Peter the Great. After her marriage, she was renamed Catherine and eventually became Empress Catherine I of Russia.