12/18/1718 AD born

Anna Leopoldovna was born Elisabeth Katharina Christine, the daughter of Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, by his wife Catherine, the eldest daughter of Tsar Ivan V of Russia. Catherine's father, Ivan V, was the elder brother and co-ruler of Russia with Peter the Great, but because he was mentally challenged and unfit to rule, all the power was in the hands of Peter the Great, who was like a father to Catherine and who looked out for her interest as long as he was alive.

Elisabeth's mother Catherine was the third wife of Duke Karl Leopold, who had divorced his first two wives after very short marriages (less than two years each). Catherine was the only wife ever to bear him a living child, and Elisabeth was that single child. In 1721, when Elisabeth was three years old, her mother became pregnant a second time, but the child was stillborn.

By this time, the marriage between her parents was in trouble, and in 1722, Catherine returned to the court of her uncle Peter the Great. She took her daughter with her, and Elisabeth therefore grew up in Russia, having little or no contact with her father.

Rostock

Lattitude: 54.0924° N
Longitude: 12.0991° E
Region: Europe

Modern Day Germany

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