Peter the Great had two wives, with whom he had fourteen children, three of whom survived to adulthood.  Peter's mother selected his first wife, Eudoxia Lopukhina, with the advice of other nobles in 1689.[35]  This was consistent with previous Romanov tradition by choosing a daughter of a minor noble.  This was done to prevent fighting between the stronger noble houses and to bring fresh blood into the family.[36]  He also had a mistress from Germany, Anna Mons.[35]