Alexis Petrovitch, the eldest son of Peter the Great and of Eudoxia Lapukhin, born in Moscow, Feb. 18, 1690, died July 7,1718. Surrounded from childhood by the relations of his mother, he was the centre of all those who were, like her, averse to the reforms introduced by his father. He affected a fanatic love of old Russian customs and superstitions, and Peter decided to exclude him from the throne. Alexis, then about 22 years old, seemingly consented to this plan, saying it was his wish to become a monk. He entered a monastery, but still kept up his intercourse with the malcontents, with his mother, who had likewise been shut up in a convent, and with her numerous dissatisfied relations. During the travels of Peter through various European countries in 1717, Alexis announced that he had received the order of his father to join him abroad. He thus managed to escape to Vienna, where he claimed the protection of the German emperor, and thence he went to Naples. Peter sent after the fugitive Rumiantzoff, captain of the guards, and Tolstoi, the privy councillor, who, partly by coaxing, partly by menaces, succeeded in bringing him back to St. Petersburg. On Feb. 2, 1718, Peter disinherited Alexis, impeaching him and many of his kindred and advisers for high treason.

He was found guilty by the great council of the empire and condemned to death. Peter pardoned him, but he died July 7, 1718, a few days after the condemnation, some say from fear and excitement; but the more general belief is, that he was either poisoned or secretly beheaded by the order of his father. Peter himself published the proceedings of the trial. Alexis, when very young, was married to a princess of Wolfenbuttel, who died in 1715, leaving a daughter, and a son who reigned afterward as Peter II.