Fun times is Russia: [on marriage proposals] In 1616 Maria Khlopfa, the known choice of nineteen-year old Michael Romanov, had so displeased the Saltykov family, then predominant at court, that they drugged the girl, presented her to Michael in this state, told the Tsar that she was incurably ill and then, as punishment for daring to present herself to Michael in this state, banished her, and her family to Siberia. In 1647, Alexis himself, at the age of eighteen, had chosen Euphemioa Vsevolozhaska to be his first wife. But when she was being dressed, a group of court ladies twisted her hair so tightly that in Alexis’ presence she fainted. The court physicians were persuaded to declare that she had epilepsy, and she and her relatives were also dispatched to Siberia. Maria Miloslavskaya had been Alexis’ second choice.