Maria Ivanovna Khlopova

Maria Ivanovna Khlopova, known briefly as Anastasia Ivanovna Khlopova (died 1633), was a Russian noble, the fiancée of Tsar Michael I of Russia.

Biography Maria Ivanovna Khlopova was chosen as a potential bride via a brideshow in 1616, and was brought to live amongst the court, as were her grandmother and aunt. However, despite the Tsar's fondness for Maria, his mother did not like her or her family, and wished for her son to marry one of her own relatives.

During one court function Maria - who had been given the name Anastasia upon coming to court - vomited, collapsed, and soon became violently ill. However the truth was that she had simply eaten too many sweets in the Tsar's decadent palace. Khlopova was put in the care of Mikhail Saltykov, maternal cousin of the Tsar, and strong opponent to Maria's ascension. Saltykov dosed her with potions from the pharmacy causing her to become even more ill. Maria's illness was cited as proof of inability to bear children

Even years after she was exiled, Tsar Michael wished to make her his wife. He rejected other potential marriage matches, and finally managed to convince his father, Patriarch Filaret, who had just returned from imprisonment in Poland, to consider Maria again. Filaret sent doctors to investigate and examine Maria in her exile, and they found her to be completely healthy. Though Michael hoped he would now be able to marry Maria, his mother still refused to permit it. He was forced to choose another bride, and he married Maria Dolgorukova in 1624.