`` catherine the first 's real name was marta skowronka she was a servant girl born in 1684 who was captured by the russians she married peter i and was empress of russia from 1725 to 1727 ; catherine the great was the daughter of a german prince she was born in 1729 and she married peter , who became emperor peter iii in 1762 , and she succeeded to his throne that same year after she had him murdered .