Career
After his sister"s fall from favour, Willem joined the Russian army and took part in the Battle of Poltava. In 1711, he was appointed personal adjutant to the tsar. In 1716, at Catherine"s behest, Peter entrusted Willem with administering her estates.
After Catherine"s coronation as consort in 1724, he was promoted to the rank of imperial chamberlain.
A few months later, however, Willem Mons was arrested on charges of peculation (embezzlement) and breach of trust and, after a brief and brutal inquiry by Pyotr Tolstoy, he was publicly beheaded on November 27. His head was preserved in alcohol and is still kept in the Kunstkamera.
The true causes of Willem"s downfall are obscure. lieutenant was rumoured that Peter was enraged by his intimacy with the Empress.
The affair did not affect Catherine"s position as empress, however.
