Catherine the Great

Overview

• Full name: Sophie Friederike Auguste, Prinzessin von Anhalt-Zerbst
• Known as: Catherine II or Yekaterina Velikaya
• Born: April 21 (May 2, New Style), 1729, Stettin, Prussia (now Szczecin, Poland)
• Died: November 6 (November 17), 1796, Tsarskoye Selo (now Pushkin), near St. Petersburg, Russia
• Reign: Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796
• Notable for: Westernizing Russia, expanding Russian territory

Early Life

• Daughter of a German prince, Christian August von Anhalt-Zerbst
• Related to the dukes of Holstein through her mother
• Married Karl Ulrich (later Peter III), heir to the Russian throne, at age 16
• Marriage filled with disappointment and humiliation

Path to Power

• Became empress after leading a rebellion against her husband, Peter III
• Peter III abdicated and was assassinated (Catherine likely not responsible but public opinion blamed her)
• Crowned empress in September 1762

Key Accomplishments

• Led Russia into full participation in European political and cultural life
• Reorganized Russian law code
• Expanded Russian territory, including Crimea and parts of Poland
• Championed arts and education

Significant Reforms

• Introduced the Instruction of Catherine the Great as a guide for legislative commission
  • Advocated for equality before the law, protection of people, abolition of serfdom, end to capital punishment, etc.
• Reforms faced challenges due to Russia’s societal structure and did not fully materialize

Challenges and Issues

• Struggled to replenish the state treasury, achieved by secularizing church properties
• Encountered difficulties in implementing liberal reforms in a backward Russia
• Pugachov's Rebellion: A significant uprising exacerbated by Russia’s internal turmoil
• Ultimately tightened serfdom instead of abolishing it

Influence of Grigory Potemkin

• Prominent favorite and political partner
• Responsible for the annexation of Crimea
• Played a significant role in the grandeur of Catherine’s reign

Impact of the French Revolution

• Catherine was threatened by revolutionary ideas questioning monarchy
• Aggressively suppressed radical sentiments

Legacy

• Remembered as a major figure in Russian history and a source of national pride
• Despite her ambitions, many of her reforms did not significantly improve the lives of the majority of Russians
• Her reign set the stage for future Russian involvement in European affairs

Note: This summary captures key details and themes of Catherine the Great's life and reign, focusing on her influence, reforms, and the challenges she faced during her rule.