Maria Choglokova

She was a cousin and confidante of Empress Elizabeth of Russia, and chief lady-in-waiting to the future Catherine the Great.

Maria Semenovna Hendrikova was born in Ķegums as the 4th of five children and the second eldest of three daughters of count Simon Hendrikov (Симон Леонтьевич Гендриков) and Kristina Skavronskaya (Христина Самуиловна Скавронская) and thus the maternal first cousin of Empress Elizabeth.

They were appointed by recommendation of Pyotr Bestuzhev-Ryumin because of the happiness and fertility of their marriage, and was to act as an example for Peter and Catherine, whose procreation was politically important.

Choglokova, for example, was always to make sure that Catherine never neglected her religious duties, and or placed herself in any situation with men that could damage her reputation.

[3][4] During the last years of their service at court, the Choglokov marriage itself fell apart, and after her husband had committed adultery, Choglokova did the same.