Elizabeth Alexeyevna Romanov (1779-1826)

Russian Tsarina. Born Louise Marie Augusta, Princess of Baden, she was the daughter of Prince Karl Ludwig and Amalia of Hesse-Darmstadt. She married Tsarevitch Alexander Pavlovitch on October 9, 1793 at the Winter Palace, and took the name Elizaveta Alexeievna upon her conversion to the Russian Orthodox church. She was 14, the tsarevitch was 17. Alexander ascended the throne as Tsar Alexander I in 1801. Their marriage was an unhappy union, and both took a series of lovers. Their two children, Grand Duchesses Maria and Elizaveta, both died in childhood. Some have alleged that the daughters were not Alexander's children. Despite this, toward the end of their lives, the couple found happiness, and were devoted to one another. Empress Elizaveta died at St. Petersburg at the age of 47, one year after the Tsar's death.

Bio by: Kristen Conrad