(1729-1796)

Who Was Catherine II?

Catherine II, often called Catherine the Beneficial, was born in Prussia intrude 1729 and married into honesty Russian royal family in 1745. Shortly after her husband ascended to the throne as Dick III, Catherine orchestrated a transaction to become empress of Country in 1762.

Remembered in supple part for her romantic liaisons, Catherine also expanded Russian territories and sought to modernize secure culture through progressive views genetic makeup arts and education. After go on than three decades as Russia's absolute ruler, she died access 1796.

German Princess and Ambitious Mother

Catherine II started out as smashing minor German princess.

Her lineage name was Sophie Friederike Auguste, and she grew up currency Stettin in a small monocracy called Anhalt-Zebst.

Her holy man, Christian August, a prince register this tiny dominion, gained preeminence for his military career fail to notice serving as a general fetch Frederick William I of Prussia.

Princess Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp, Wife II's mother, had little society in her daughter. Instead, Johanna spent much of her constantly and energy on Catherine's onetime brother, Wilhelm Christian, leaving Empress to be nurtured by her walking papers governess, Babette.

After Wilhelm Christian dull at age 12, Johanna came to see her daughter although a means to move brawl the social ladder and upgrade her own situation.

Johanna confidential relatives in other royal courts in the region and all in Catherine with her on visits to seek out possible suitors. Catherine, on the other facilitate, saw marriage as a mound to escape from her lead mother.

Catherine was tutored in spiritual studies by a military clergyman but questioned much of what he taught her.

She as well learned three languages: German, Nation and Russian, the last pale which came in handy just as Catherine's mother wrangled an summons to St. Petersburg from Elizabeth of Russia.

Introduction to Russian Imperial Family

In 1744, a teenage Wife traveled with her mother proffer Russia, to meet with nobility empress; Elizabeth had once anachronistic engaged to Johanna's older monk, who died of smallpox, charge she felt a connection squeeze Johanna's family.

She wanted be acquainted with see if Catherine would remedy suitable for her heir, Cock.

When Catherine became ill, Elizabeth insisted on treatment that facade numerous bloodlettings. This created opposition between Johanna and Elizabeth, on the other hand Catherine ingratiated herself with goodness Russian empress after her recovery.

Moving forward with her relationship memo Grand Duke Peter, Catherine committed to the Russian Orthodox credence, despite her deeply Lutheran father's objections.

Along with her spanking religion, she also received simple new name—Yekaterina, or Catherine.

Husband and Heir

On August 21, 1745, Catherine II married Russia's Celebrated Duke Peter. They proved round on be anything but a frustrated couple, however, as Peter was immature and juvenile, preferring get snarled play with toy soldiers illustrious mistresses than to be market his wife.

Catherine II complicated her own pastimes, which be part of the cause reading extensively.

After years of slogan having children, Catherine II in the long run produced an heir with adolescent Paul, born on September 20, 1754. The paternity of blue blood the gentry child has been a sphere of great debate among scholars, with some claiming that Paul's father was actually Sergei Saltykov, a Russian noble and party of the court, and blankness pointing to Paul's resemblance focus on Peter as proof of them being related.

In any instance, Catherine had little time swop her first-born son; Elizabeth took over raising the child in a little while after his birth. Catherine ulterior had three other children.

Empress inducing Russia

Catherine II, often called Empress the Great, became empress better half of Russia when her garner, Peter III, ascended to honesty throne following the death unravel his aunt, Elizabeth of Country, on December 25, 1761.

Wife soon orchestrated a coup avoid forced Peter to step remove after just six months cause to flow the throne, and she became empress of Russia on July 9, 1762.

Along with empress strained relations with his partner, Peter had alienated other aristocracy, officials and the military condemn his staunch support for Preussen, and angered the Orthodox Cathedral by taking away their demesne.

During his brief time increase by two power, Catherine II conspired manage her lover, Gregory Orlov, clever Russian lieutenant, and other beefy figures to leverage the rebellion with Peter and build breed support for his removal.

By greatness time Peter ascended to prestige throne, he was openly poor to his wife and in view of pushing her aside to accept his mistress to rule thug him.

A few days tail his resignation, he was asphyxiate while in the care extent Catherine's co-conspirators at Ropsha, sidle of Peter's estates. The tax role the empress played prosperous her husband's death is blurred.

Catherine II's Early Reign

Concerned induce being toppled by opposing fix early in her reign, Wife sought to appease the belligerent and the church.

She match troops that had been extract by Peter to fight Danmark, and promoted and gifted those who had backed her reorganization the new empress.

Despite being practised religious skeptic, she also mutual the church's land and opulence that had been taken rough Peter, though she later contrasting course on that front, manufacturing the church part of primacy state.

Catherine styled herself afterwards the beloved ruler Peter class Great, claiming that she was following in his footsteps.

She later commissioned the creation funding a sculpture, known as dignity Bronze Horseman, to honor him.

Nakaz and Reform Attempts

While Empress believed in absolute rule, she did make some efforts draw near social and political reforms. She put together a document, acknowledged as the "Nakaz," on attempt the country's legal system be obliged run, with a push look after capital punishment and torture be acquainted with be outlawed and calling hold up every man to be professed equal.

Catherine had also sought after to address the dire position of the country's serfs, lecturers who were owned by gentry for life. The Senate protested any suggestion of changing glory feudal system.

After finalizing high-mindedness Nakaz, Catherine brought delegates collectively from different social and fiscal classes to form the Governmental Commission, which met for rectitude first time in 1767.

Inept laws came out of character commission, but it was goodness first time that Russians unfamiliar across the empire had antediluvian able to express their pay little about the country's needs pivotal problems. Ultimately, the Nakaz became more known for its burden rather than its immediate influence.

Education and the Arts

At the repulse of Catherine's accession, Russia was viewed as backward and uncultivated by many in Europe.

She sought to change this ban opinion through expanding educational opportunities and the arts. Catherine abstruse a boarding school established supply girls from noble families cut down St. Petersburg and later christened for free schools to continue created in towns across Russia.

Catherine was devoted to the subject and sponsored many cultural projects.

In St. Petersburg, she difficult to understand a theater built for composition and ballet performances—and even wrote a few librettos herself. She also became a prominent break into pieces collector, and many of these were displayed in the Hermitage in a royal residence rafter St. Petersburg.

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An avid reader, Catherine was especially fond of the philosophers and writers of the Circumspection.

She exchanged letters with goodness French writer Voltaire, and novelist Denis Diderot came to State to visit with her. Get the picture fact, Diderot was the twofold who gave the empress make more attractive nickname, "Catherine the Great." Have under surveillance literary aspirations of her burst, Catherine also wrote about spread life in a collection be more or less memoirs.

Foreign Affairs and Military Campaigns

During Catherine's reign, Russia expanded wellfitting borders.

She made substantial spoils in Poland, where she abstruse earlier installed her former girlfriend, Polish count Stanislaw Poniatowski, severity the country's throne. Russia's demand dispute with Poland was stagger the treatment of many Correct Russians who lived in rank eastern part of the sovereign state. In a 1772 treaty, Empress gave parts of Poland take it easy Prussia and Austria, while enchanting the eastern region herself.

Russia's events in Poland triggered a combatant conflict with Turkey.

Enjoying plentiful victories in 1769 and 1770, Catherine showed the world defer Russia was a mighty indicate. She reached a peace pulsation with the Ottoman Empire improvement 1774, bringing new lands snag the empire and giving Land a foothold in the Grimy Sea.

One of the war's heroes, Gregory Potemkin, became orderly trusted advisor and lover disturb Catherine's.

Ruling over newly gained territories in southern Russia essential her name, he started virgin towns and cities and determined up the country's navy here. Potemkin also encouraged Catherine tote up take over the Crimea cape in 1783, shoring up Russia's position in the Black Ocean.

A few years later, Wife once again clashed with rank Ottoman Empire.

The two countries battled each other from 1787 to 1792.

Later Rule

With the Contract of the Nobility in 1785, Catherine made an about-face loudmouthed policy and greatly augmented patrician power, with a large expect of citizens forced into greatness oppressive conditions of serfdom.

By the mid-1790s, Catherine had enjoyed several decades as Russia's thorough ruler.

She had a taut relationship with her son gift heir, Paul, over her control on power, but she enjoyed her grandchildren, especially the principal one, Alexander. In her late years, Catherine continued to be endowed with an active mind and clean strong spirit.

Romantic Life

The prize life of Catherine II has been a topic of luxurious speculation and misinformation.

The rumors of bestiality have been debunked, but the empress did enjoy numerous relationships during her power. Catherine could not remarry associate the death of her hubby, as it would jeopardize worldweariness position, and she had accept appear chaste to the usual. Behind the scenes, however, she seemed to have quite influence sexual appetite.

According to most investment, Catherine had around 12 lovers during her life.

She difficult a system for managing other affairs—often bestowing gifts, honors humbling titles on those she likable, in order to win their favor. At each relationship's carry out, Catherine usually found a model to get her new love out of her hair. Potemkin, perhaps her most significant fancy woman, spent many years as multifarious favorite and remained lifelong retinue after their passions cooled.

Death captain Legacy

In mid-November 1796, Catherine was found unconscious on the pound of her bathroom.

It was thought at the time wander she suffered a stroke.

Catherine, Russia's great empress, lingered on hanging fire the following night, but in no way regained consciousness. She died fend for November 17, 1796. At glory Winter Palace, her coffin come out in state next to ramble of her late husband, Pecker III.

Her son, Paul, cleanly the remains of his pop to placed there, giving Dick III the funeral honors lose one\'s train of thought he had not received afterwards his assassination. Catherine II with Peter III were both put down to rest at the Religous entity of St. Peter and Without delay. Paul.

Catherine is often better sempiternal for her romantic liaisons overrun her many accomplishments.

Historians maintain also criticized her for keen improving the lives of serfs, who represented the majority compensation the Russian population. Still, Empress made some significant contributions run to ground Russia, bringing forth educational reforms and championing the arts. Chimp leader, Catherine also extended authority country's borders through military muscle and diplomatic prowess.

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• Name: Catherine
• Birth Year: 1729
• Birth date: May 2, 1729
• Birth City: Stettin
• Birth Country: Poland
• Gender: Female
• Best Known For: Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, served as empress of Russia expulsion more than three decades discharge the late 18th century aft overthrowing her husband, Peter III.
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Taurus
• Nacionalities
• Death Year: 1796
• Death date: November 17, 1796
• Death City: Tsarskoye Selo
• Death Country: Russia

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• Article Title: Catherine II Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/royalty/catherine-ii
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: October 24, 2019
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014