Sophia Frederick Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst was born on April 21 (May 2), 1729 in the German Pomeranian city of Stettin (now Szczecin in Poland). The father came from the Zerbst-Dornburg line of the Anhalt house and was in the service of the Prussian king, was a regimental commander, commandant, then governor of the city of Stettin, ran for the Dukes of Courland, but unsuccessfully, ended the service as a Prussian field marshal. Mother - from the family of Holstein-Gottorp, was the cousin of the future Peter III. Maternal uncle Adolf Friedrich (Adolf Fredrik) has been the king of Sweden since 1751 (elected heir in the city). The lineage of Catherine II's mother goes back to Christian I, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the first Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and the founder of the Oldenburg dynasty.
Childhood, education and upbringing
The family of the Duke of Zerbst was not rich, Catherine was educated at home. She studied German and French, dances, music, the basics of history, geography, theology. I was brought up in strictness. She grew up inquisitive, prone to outdoor games, persistent.
Ekaterina continues to engage in self-education. She reads books on history, philosophy, jurisprudence, the works of Voltaire, Montesquieu, Tacitus, Bayle, and a large amount of other literature. The main entertainment for her was hunting, horseback riding, dancing and masquerades. The absence of marital relations with the Grand Duke contributed to the appearance of Catherine's lovers. Meanwhile, Empress Elizabeth expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of children from the spouses.
Finally, after two unsuccessful pregnancies, on September 20 (October 1), 1754, Catherine gave birth to a son, who was immediately taken away from her, called Paul (future Emperor Paul I) and deprived of the opportunity to educate, and only occasionally allowed to see. A number of sources claim that the true father of Paul was Catherine's lover S. V. Saltykov. Others - that such rumors are unfounded, and that Peter underwent an operation that eliminated a defect that made conception impossible. The issue of paternity aroused public interest as well.
After the birth of Pavel, relations with Peter and Elizaveta Petrovna finally deteriorated. Peter openly made mistresses, however, without preventing Catherine from doing this, who during this period had a relationship with Stanislav Poniatowski, the future king of Poland. On December 9 (20), 1758, Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Anna, which caused great displeasure of Peter, who said at the news of a new pregnancy: “God knows where my wife is getting pregnant; I don’t know for sure if this child is mine and if I should recognize him as mine. At this time, the condition of Elizabeth Petrovna worsened. All this made the prospect of expelling Catherine from Russia or concluding her in a monastery real. The situation was aggravated by the fact that Catherine's secret correspondence with the disgraced Field Marshal Apraksin and the British Ambassador Williams, dedicated to political issues, was revealed. Her former favorites were removed, but a circle of new ones began to form: Grigory Orlov, Dashkova and others.
The death of Elizabeth Petrovna (December 25, 1761 (January 5, 1762)) and the accession to the throne of Peter Fedorovich under the name of Peter III further alienated the spouses. Peter III began to openly live with his mistress Elizaveta Vorontsova, settling his wife at the other end of the Winter Palace. When Catherine became pregnant from Orlov, this could no longer be explained by accidental conception from her husband, since communication between the spouses had completely ceased by that time. Ekaterina hid her pregnancy, and when the time came to give birth, her devoted valet Vasily Grigoryevich Shkurin set fire to his house. A lover of such spectacles, Peter with the court left the palace to look at the fire; at this time, Catherine gave birth safely. Thus, the first in Rus', Count Bobrinsky, the founder of a famous family, was born.
Coup June 28, 1762
- It is necessary to educate the nation, which should govern.
- It is necessary to introduce good order in the state, to support society and force it to comply with the laws.
- It is necessary to establish a good and accurate police force in the state.
- It is necessary to promote the flourishing of the state and make it abundant.
- It is necessary to make the state formidable in itself and inspire respect for its neighbors.
The policy of Catherine II was characterized by progressive, without sharp fluctuations, development. Upon her accession to the throne, she carried out a number of reforms (judicial, administrative, etc.). The territory of the Russian state increased significantly due to the annexation of the fertile southern lands - the Crimea, the Black Sea region, as well as the eastern part of the Commonwealth, etc. The population increased from 23.2 million (in 1763) to 37.4 million (in 1796), Russia became the most populous European country (it accounted for 20% of the population of Europe). As Klyuchevsky wrote, “The army from 162 thousand people was strengthened to 312 thousand; from 16 million rubles. rose to 69 million, that is, increased by more than four times, the success of foreign trade: the Baltic; in an increase in import and export, from 9 million to 44 million rubles, the Black Sea, Catherine and created - from 390 thousand in 1776 to 1900 thousand rubles. in 1796, the growth of domestic turnover was indicated by the issue of a coin in 34 years of the reign for 148 million rubles, while in the 62 previous years it was issued only for 97 million.
The Russian economy continued to be agrarian. The share of the urban population in 1796 was 6.3%. At the same time, a number of cities were founded (Tiraspol, Grigoriopol, etc.), iron smelting increased more than 2 times (in which Russia took 1st place in the world), the number of sailing and linen manufactories increased. In total, by the end of the XVIII century. there were 1200 large enterprises in the country (in 1767 there were 663 of them). The export of Russian goods to European countries has increased significantly, including through the established Black Sea ports.
Domestic politics
Catherine's commitment to the ideas of the Enlightenment determined the nature of her domestic policy and the direction of reforming various institutions of the Russian state. The term "enlightened absolutism" is often used to characterize the domestic policy of Catherine's time. According to Catherine, based on the works of the French philosopher Montesquieu, the vast Russian expanses and the harshness of the climate determine the regularity and necessity of autocracy in Russia. Based on this, under Catherine, the autocracy was strengthened, the bureaucratic apparatus was strengthened, the country was centralized and the system of government was unified.
Laid commission
An attempt was made to convene the Legislative Commission, which would systematize the laws. The main goal is to clarify the people's needs for comprehensive reforms.
More than 600 deputies took part in the commission, 33% of them were elected from the nobility, 36% - from the townspeople, which also included the nobles, 20% - from the rural population (state peasants). The interests of the Orthodox clergy were represented by a deputy from the Synod.
As the guiding document of the Commission of 1767, the empress prepared the "Instruction" - a theoretical justification for enlightened absolutism.
The first meeting was held in the Faceted Chamber in Moscow
Due to the conservatism of the deputies, the Commission had to be dissolved.
Soon after the coup, the statesman N.I. Panin proposed the creation of an Imperial Council: 6 or 8 higher dignitaries rule together with the monarch (as the conditions of 1730). Catherine rejected this project.
According to another project of Panin, the Senate was transformed - 15 Dec. 1763 It was divided into 6 departments, headed by chief prosecutors, the prosecutor general became the head. Each department had certain powers. The general powers of the Senate were reduced, in particular, it lost the legislative initiative and became the body of control over the activities of the state apparatus and the highest judicial authority. The center of legislative activity moved directly to Catherine and her office with secretaries of state.
Provincial reform
Nov 7 In 1775, the "Institution for the administration of the provinces of the All-Russian Empire" was adopted. Instead of a three-tier administrative division - province, province, county, a two-tier administrative division began to operate - province, county (which was based on the principle of taxable population). Of the former 23 provinces, 50 were formed, each of which had 300-400 thousand residents. The provinces were divided into 10-12 counties, each with 20-30 thousand d.m.p.
Thus, the further need to maintain the presence of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks in their historical homeland for the protection of the southern Russian borders has disappeared. At the same time, their traditional way of life often led to conflicts with the Russian authorities. After repeated pogroms of Serbian settlers, and also in connection with the support of the Pugachev uprising by the Cossacks, Catherine II ordered the Zaporizhzhya Sich to be disbanded, which was carried out on the orders of Grigory Potemkin to pacify the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks by General Peter Tekeli in June 1775.
The Sich was bloodlessly disbanded, and then the fortress itself was destroyed. Most of the Cossacks were disbanded, but after 15 years they were remembered and created the Army of the Faithful Cossacks, later the Black Sea Cossack Host, and in 1792 Catherine signs a manifesto that gives them the Kuban for perpetual use, where the Cossacks moved, founding the city of Ekaterinodar.
The reforms on the Don created a military civil government modeled on the provincial administrations of central Russia.
The beginning of the annexation of the Kalmyk Khanate
As a result of the general administrative reforms of the 1970s aimed at strengthening the state, a decision was made to annex the Kalmyk Khanate to the Russian Empire.
By her decree of 1771, Catherine liquidated the Kalmyk Khanate, thereby starting the process of joining the Kalmyk state to Russia, which previously had vassalage relations with the Russian state. The affairs of the Kalmyks began to be in charge of a special Expedition of Kalmyk Affairs, established under the office of the Astrakhan governor. Under the rulers of the uluses, bailiffs from among Russian officials were appointed. In 1772, during the Expedition of Kalmyk Affairs, a Kalmyk court was established - Zargo, consisting of three members - one representative each from the three main uluses: Torgouts, Derbets and Khoshuts.
This decision of Catherine was preceded by a consistent policy of the empress to limit the khan's power in the Kalmyk Khanate. Thus, in the 1960s, the crisis in the khanate intensified due to the colonization of Kalmyk lands by Russian landlords and peasants, the reduction of pasture land, the infringement of the rights of the local feudal elite, and the interference of tsarist officials in Kalmyk affairs. After the construction of the fortified Tsaritsynskaya line, thousands of families of Don Cossacks began to settle in the area of the main nomad camps of the Kalmyks, cities and fortresses began to be built along the entire Lower Volga. The best pasture lands were allocated for arable land and hayfields. The nomadic area was constantly narrowing, in turn, this aggravated internal relations in the khanate. The local feudal elite was also dissatisfied with the missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church to Christianize the nomads, as well as the outflow of people from the uluses to the cities and villages to work. Under these conditions, among the Kalmyk noyons and zaisangs, with the support of the Buddhist church, a conspiracy was ripened with the aim of leaving the people to their historical homeland - to Dzungaria.
On January 5, 1771, the Kalmyk feudal lords, dissatisfied with the policy of the empress, raised the uluses that had wandered along the left bank of the Volga, and set off on a dangerous journey to Central Asia. Back in November 1770, the army was assembled on the left bank under the pretext of repelling the raids of the Kazakhs of the Younger Zhuz. The bulk of the Kalmyk population lived at that time on the meadow side of the Volga. Many noyons and zaisangs, realizing the fatality of the campaign, wanted to stay with their uluses, but the army coming from behind drove everyone forward. This tragic campaign turned into a terrible disaster for the people. The small Kalmyk ethnos lost on the way about 100,000 people who died in battles, from wounds, cold, hunger, diseases, as well as captured, lost almost all their livestock - the main wealth of the people. , , .
These tragic events in the history of the Kalmyk people are reflected in the poem "Pugachev" by Sergei Yesenin.
Regional reform in Estonia and Livonia
The Baltic states as a result of the regional reform in 1782-1783. was divided into 2 provinces - Riga and Revel - with institutions that already existed in other provinces of Russia. In Estonia and Livonia, the special Baltic order was abolished, which provided for more extensive rights than the Russian landowners had for local nobles to work and the personality of the peasant.
Provincial reform in Siberia and the Middle Volga region
Under the new protectionist tariff of 1767, the import of those goods that were or could be produced within Russia was completely prohibited. Duties from 100 to 200% were imposed on luxury goods, wine, grain, toys ... Export duties amounted to 10-23% of the value of imported goods.
In 1773, Russia exported goods worth 12 million rubles, which was 2.7 million rubles more than imports. In 1781, exports already amounted to 23.7 million rubles against 17.9 million rubles of imports. Russian merchant ships began sailing in the Mediterranean as well. Thanks to the policy of protectionism in 1786, the country's exports amounted to 67.7 million rubles, and imports - 41.9 million rubles.
At the same time, Russia under Catherine went through a series of financial crises and was forced to make external loans, the amount of which by the end of the reign of the Empress exceeded 200 million silver rubles.
Social politics
Moscow Orphanage
In the provinces there were orders of public charity. In Moscow and St. Petersburg - Orphanages for homeless children (currently the building of the Moscow Orphanage is occupied by the Military Academy named after Peter the Great), where they received education and upbringing. To help widows, the Widow's Treasury was created.
Compulsory smallpox vaccination was introduced, and Catherine was the first to make such an inoculation. Under Catherine II, the fight against epidemics in Russia began to take on the character of state events that were directly within the responsibilities of the Imperial Council, the Senate. By decree of Catherine, outposts were created, located not only on the borders, but also on the roads leading to the center of Russia. The "Charter of border and port quarantines" was created.
New areas of medicine for Russia developed: hospitals for the treatment of syphilis, psychiatric hospitals and shelters were opened. A number of fundamental works on questions of medicine have been published.
National politics
After the lands that were formerly part of the Commonwealth were annexed to the Russian Empire, about a million Jews turned up in Russia - a people with a different religion, culture, way of life and way of life. To prevent their resettlement in the central regions of Russia and attachment to their communities for the convenience of collecting state taxes, Catherine II established the Pale of Settlement in 1791, beyond which the Jews had no right to live. The Pale of Settlement was established in the same place where the Jews had lived before - on the lands annexed as a result of the three partitions of Poland, as well as in the steppe regions near the Black Sea and sparsely populated territories east of the Dnieper. The conversion of Jews to Orthodoxy removed all restrictions on residence. It is noted that the Pale of Settlement contributed to the preservation of Jewish national identity, the formation of a special Jewish identity within the Russian Empire.
Having ascended the throne, Catherine canceled the decree of Peter III on the secularization of lands near the church. But already in Feb. In 1764, she again issued a decree depriving the Church of landed property. Monastic peasants numbering about 2 million people. both sexes were removed from the jurisdiction of the clergy and transferred to the management of the College of Economy. The jurisdiction of the state included the estates of churches, monasteries and bishops.
In Ukraine, the secularization of monastic possessions was carried out in 1786.
Thus, the clergy became dependent on secular authorities, since they could not carry out independent economic activity.
Catherine achieved from the government of the Commonwealth the equalization of the rights of religious minorities - Orthodox and Protestants.
Under Catherine II, persecution ceased Old Believers. The Empress initiated the return of the Old Believers, the economically active population, from abroad. They were specially assigned a place on the Irgiz (modern Saratov and Samara regions). They were allowed to have priests.
The free resettlement of Germans in Russia led to a significant increase in the number of Protestants(mostly Lutherans) in Russia. They were also allowed to build churches, schools, freely perform worship. At the end of the 18th century, there were over 20,000 Lutherans in St. Petersburg alone.
Expansion of the Russian Empire
Partitions of Poland
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth included Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine and Belarus.
The reason for intervening in the affairs of the Commonwealth was the question of the position of dissidents (that is, the non-Catholic minority - Orthodox and Protestants), so that they were equalized with the rights of Catholics. Catherine exerted strong pressure on the gentry to elect her protege Stanisław August Poniatowski to the Polish throne, who was elected. Part of the Polish gentry opposed these decisions and organized an uprising raised in the Bar Confederation. It was suppressed by Russian troops in alliance with the Polish king. In 1772, Prussia and Austria, fearing the strengthening of Russian influence in Poland and its success in the war with the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), offered Catherine to divide the Commonwealth in exchange for ending the war, otherwise threatening war against Russia. Russia, Austria and Prussia brought in their troops.
In 1772 took place 1st section of the Commonwealth. Austria received all of Galicia with districts, Prussia - West Prussia (Pomorye), Russia - the eastern part of Belarus to Minsk (provinces of Vitebsk and Mogilev) and part of the Latvian lands that were previously part of Livonia.
The Polish Sejm was forced to agree to the partition and renounce claims to the lost territories: it lost 3,800 km² with a population of 4 million people.
Polish nobles and industrialists contributed to the adoption of the Constitution of 1791. The conservative part of the population of the Targowice Confederation turned to Russia for help.
In 1793 took place 2nd section of the Commonwealth, approved by the Grodno Seimas. Prussia received Gdansk, Torun, Poznan (part of the land along the Warta and Vistula rivers), Russia - Central Belarus with Minsk and Right-Bank Ukraine.
The wars with Turkey were marked by major military victories for Rumyantsev, Suvorov, Potemkin, Kutuzov, Ushakov, and the assertion of Russia in the Black Sea. As a result of them, the Northern Black Sea region, Crimea, and the Kuban region were ceded to Russia, its political positions in the Caucasus and the Balkans were strengthened, and Russia's authority on the world stage was strengthened.
Relations with Georgia. Georgievsky treatise
Georgievsky treatise of 1783
Catherine II and the Georgian king Erekle II concluded the Treaty of Georgievsk in 1783, according to which Russia established a protectorate over the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti. The treaty was concluded in order to protect Orthodox Georgians, since Muslim Iran and Turkey threatened the national existence of Georgia. The Russian government took Eastern Georgia under its protection, guaranteed its autonomy and protection in case of war, and during the peace negotiations, it was obliged to insist on the return of the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom of possessions that had long belonged to it, and illegally torn away by Turkey.
The result of the Georgian policy of Catherine II was a sharp weakening of the positions of Iran and Turkey, which formally destroyed their claims to Eastern Georgia.
Relations with Sweden
Taking advantage of the fact that Russia entered the war with Turkey, Sweden, supported by Prussia, England and Holland, unleashed a war with her for the return of previously lost territories. The troops that entered the territory of Russia were stopped by General-in-Chief V.P. Musin-Pushkin. After a series of naval battles that did not have a decisive outcome, Russia defeated the Swedish battle fleet in the battle of Vyborg, but due to a storm that had flown in, suffered a heavy defeat in the battle of rowing fleets at Rochensalm. The parties signed the Treaty of Verel in 1790, according to which the border between the countries did not change.
Relations with other countries
After the French Revolution, Catherine was one of the initiators of the anti-French coalition and the establishment of the principle of legitimism. She said: “The weakening of the monarchical power in France endangers all other monarchies. For my part, I am ready to resist with all my might. It's time to act and take up arms." However, in reality, she abstained from participating in hostilities against France. According to popular belief, one of the real reasons for the formation of the anti-French coalition was to divert the attention of Prussia and Austria from Polish affairs. At the same time, Catherine refused all treaties concluded with France, ordered the expulsion of all suspected sympathizers for the French Revolution from Russia, and in 1790 issued a decree on the return of all Russians from France.
During the reign of Catherine the Russian Empire acquired the status of a "great power". As a result of two successful Russian-Turkish wars for Russia, 1768-1774 and 1787-1791. the Crimean peninsula and the entire territory of the Northern Black Sea region were annexed to Russia. In 1772-1795. Russia took part in the three sections of the Commonwealth, as a result of which it annexed the territories of present-day Belarus, Western Ukraine, Lithuania and Courland. The Russian Empire also included Russian America - Alaska and the West coast of the North American continent (the current state of California).
Catherine II as a figure of the Age of Enlightenment
Ekaterina - writer and publisher
Catherine belonged to a small number of monarchs who would communicate so intensively and directly with their subjects through the drafting of manifestos, instructions, laws, polemical articles and indirectly in the form of satirical writings, historical dramas and pedagogical opuses. In her memoirs, she confessed: "I cannot see a clean pen without feeling the desire to immediately dip it in ink."
She possessed an extraordinary talent as a writer, leaving behind a large collection of works - notes, translations, librettos, fables, fairy tales, comedies "Oh, time!", "Name day of Mrs. Vorchalkina", "The anteroom of a noble boyar", "Ms. “The Invisible Bride” (-), essays, etc., participated in the weekly satirical magazine “All sorts of things”, published from the city. The Empress turned to journalism in order to influence public opinion, so the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe magazine was criticism of human vices and weaknesses . Other subjects of irony were the superstitions of the population. Catherine herself called the magazine: "Satire in a smiling spirit."
Ekaterina - philanthropist and collector
Development of culture and art
Catherine considered herself a "philosopher on the throne" and favored the European Enlightenment, was in correspondence with Voltaire, Diderot, d "Alembert.
Under her rule, the Hermitage and the Public Library appeared in St. Petersburg. She patronized various areas of art - architecture, music, painting.
It is impossible not to mention the mass settlement of German families initiated by Catherine in various regions of modern Russia, Ukraine, as well as the Baltic countries. The goal was to “infect” Russian science and culture with European ones.
Courtyard of the time of Catherine II
Features of personal life
Catherine was a brunette of medium height. She combined high intelligence, education, statesmanship and commitment to "free love".
Catherine is known for her connections with numerous lovers, the number of which (according to the list of the authoritative Ekaterinologist P. I. Bartenev) reaches 23. The most famous of them were Sergei Saltykov, G. G. Orlov (later count), Lieutenant Vasilchikov of the horse guard, G. A Potemkin (later prince), hussar Zorich, Lanskoy, the last favorite was the cornet Platon Zubov, who became a count of the Russian Empire and a general. With Potemkin, according to some sources, Catherine was secretly married (). After she planned a marriage with Orlov, however, on the advice of those close to her, she abandoned this idea.
It is worth noting that Catherine's "debauchery" was not such a scandalous phenomenon against the backdrop of the general licentiousness of the mores of the 18th century. Most kings (with the possible exception of Frederick the Great, Louis XVI and Charles XII) had numerous mistresses. Catherine's favorites (with the exception of Potemkin, who had state abilities) did not influence politics. Nevertheless, the institution of favoritism had a negative effect on the higher nobility, who sought benefits through flattery to a new favorite, tried to make “their own man” a lover to the Empress, etc.
Catherine had two sons: Pavel Petrovich () (it is suspected that his father was Sergey Saltykov) and Alexei Bobrinsky (- son of Grigory Orlov) and two daughters: Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna (1757-1759, possibly the daughter of the future king) who died in infancy Poland Stanislav Poniatowski) and Elizaveta Grigorievna Tyomkina (- Potemkin's daughter).
Famous figures of the Catherine era
The reign of Catherine II was characterized by the fruitful activities of outstanding Russian scientists, diplomats, military, statesmen, cultural and art figures. In 1873, in St. Petersburg, in the square in front of the Alexandrinsky Theater (now Ostrovsky Square), an impressive multi-figure monument to Catherine was erected, designed by M. O. Mikeshin by sculptors A. M. Opekushin and M. A. Chizhov and architects V. A. Schroeter and D. I. Grimm. The foot of the monument consists of a sculptural composition, the characters of which are outstanding personalities of the Catherine's era and the empress's associates:
The events of the last years of the reign of Alexander II - in particular, the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 - prevented the implementation of the plan to expand the memorial of the Catherine's era. D. I. Grimm developed a project for the construction in the square next to the monument to Catherine II of bronze statues and busts depicting figures of the glorious reign. According to the final list, approved a year before the death of Alexander II, six bronze sculptures and twenty-three busts on granite pedestals were to be placed next to the monument to Catherine.
In growth should have been depicted: Count N. I. Panin, Admiral G. A. Spiridov, writer D. I. Fonvizin, Prosecutor General of the Senate Prince A. A. Vyazemsky, Field Marshal Prince N. V. Repnin and General A. I. Bibikov, former chairman of the Commission on the code. In the busts - the publisher and journalist N. I. Novikov, the traveler P. S. Pallas, the playwright A. P. Sumarokov, the historians I. N. Boltin and Prince M. M. Shcherbatov, the artists D. G. Levitsky and V. L Borovikovsky, architect A. F. Kokorinov, favorite of Catherine II Count G. G. Orlov, admirals F. F. Ushakov, S. K. Greig, A. I. Cruz, military leaders: Count Z. G. Chernyshev, Prince V M. Dolgorukov-Krymsky, Count I. E. Ferzen, Count V. A. Zubov; Moscow Governor-General Prince M. N. Volkonsky, Governor of Novgorod Count Ya. E. Sievers, diplomat Ya. I. Bulgakov, pacifier of the "plague riot" of 1771 in Moscow
Catherine II the Great (Ekaterina Alekseevna Romanova, nee Sophia Augusta Frederick, German Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst) is the empress-advocate of education, often presented as the successor to the cause of Peter the Great, the only Russian ruler who was awarded the title of Great.The period of her reign from 1762 to 1796 is not without reason called the "golden age" of the country. The borders of Russia were moved apart, the revenues of the treasury were increased by 4 times (from 16 to 68 million rubles), and the population grew from 30 to 44 million people.
Childhood and youth
The future prominent representative of the world political arena was born on May 2, 1729 in the German principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. Her father, Prince Christian August, belonged to an old but impoverished German princely family. He was in the service of the King of Prussia, ending his career in the high military rank of field marshal. Mother, Johanna Elizabeth, princess from the Holstein-Gottorp dynasty. 
The pretty, cheerful and lively baby was called Fike by her relatives. She played with her younger sister with pleasure, studied foreign languages, music, history, and calligraphy, grasping everything on the fly. She spent several years in Berlin, at the court of Frederick II. There was a legend that her real father was the king himself, who was Johanna's cousin.
At the age of 10, in the house of the bishop of the city of Eitin, she met Karl Peter Ulrich, the future Peter III and her husband. In 1743, on the recommendation of Frederick II, she was married, and a year later, on the eve of the 16th birthday of Peter Fedorovich, she went to the Mother See, where she began to prepare for the wedding: she studied the Russian language, traditions and customs of the new homeland.
Marriage
In June 1743, she was baptized into Orthodoxy as Ekaterina Alekseevna, then engaged, and in August the wedding. The wedding celebration lasted ten days under volleys of guns and fireworks. 
After the wedding, relations between the spouses did not work out: the august life partner ignored her. At first, Catherine was bored alone, and then she began to study the works of the French enlighteners, books on philosophy, history and geography of Russia in an effort to better know the country she was preparing to rule.
In addition to self-education, she found time for hunting and billiards, for useful communication with interesting people. She also enjoyed engraving on metal. The lack of emotional intimacy with her husband contributed to the emergence of numerous lovers.
In 1754 Catherine gave birth to a son. The Tsarevich, named Pavel, was immediately taken away from her. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna took upon herself the troubles of raising the heir, isolating him from his mother. Catherine realized that she had only one thing to do - to go into politics. To the pleasure of her husband, she took over the management of his Holstein duchy, began to delve into the essence of the cases to be considered, and became close on this basis with Alexei Bestuzhev.
In 1762, after the death of Elizabeth, Peter III ascended the throne and demonstrated his Prussian sympathies with his first steps. The officer corps was especially indignant at the signing of a peace treaty with Prussia, which provided for the return of all the lands seized at the cost of many lives during the Seven Years' War. He began to openly live with his favorite Elizaveta Vorontsova, showed an irreverent attitude towards the church - he announced plans to reform church rites.
As a result, abandoned by her husband, friendly to others and pious, Catherine, fearing divorce and arrest, with the support of the guards, carried out a palace coup. The Orlov brothers, the diplomat Panin, the hetman of the Zaporizhia Army Razumovsky and other persons who were dissatisfied with Peter III actively participated in its preparation. Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, he signed the abdication of the throne and died almost immediately under dubious circumstances.
The era of Catherine the Great
Having begun her reign in 1762, Catherine II tried to organize the state in accordance with the ideals of the Enlightenment. She implemented important and significant reforms for the empire, having won tremendous public support. A year later, she initiated a reorganization of the Senate, which increased the productivity of its work. In 1764, the secularization of the lands of the church, which made it possible to replenish the treasury. 
Being a supporter of the unification of the administration of the outskirts of the state, the reigning empress abolished the hetmanship. In accordance with the principles of the Enlightenment, she created several new educational institutions, including the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens and the Russian Academy.
On the basis of the works of authors-enlighteners, in 1767 she wrote a set of legislative norms "Nakaz", for the approval of which she convened a special commission from representatives of various strata of society. The policy of the empress was distinguished by religious tolerance - she stopped the oppression of the Old Believers.
After the Russian-Turkish war and the Pugachev rebellion, a new round of implementation of the most important innovations of the queen began. In 1775, she developed and implemented the provincial reform, which was in effect until 1917, issued a code of noble privileges, acts on the self-government of cities, on the creation of elected courts, on vaccination of the population, etc.
No less significant were the efforts of the autocrat in the foreign policy sphere. During her reign, a number of sections of the Commonwealth took place, the country's positions in the Baltic were strengthened, Crimea and Georgia were annexed.
Men and children of Catherine II
Catherine II became famous not only as a powerful and great, but also as the most male-hungry empress. In the list of her favorites, according to a number of historians, there were about 30 names. 
The most “unbridled feelings” of the tsarina were associated with His Serene Highness Prince Grigory Orlov, with the closest friend and adviser Grigory Potemkin, with Alexander Lansky, who became a cordial friend of the 54-year-old Empress at the age of 25, with the last favorite Platon Zubov (22-year-old at the time of the beginning of the affair with 60-year-old autocrat).
Catherine the Great: personal life | Favorites and lovers of the Empress
None of the favorites, except for Potemkin and Peter Zavadovsky, were allowed to resolve political issues by Catherine the Great. And none of her chosen ones was disgraced. She generously awarded all of them with honorary titles, orders, estates and money.
The Empress gave birth to three children: son Pavel from her lawful spouse Pyotr Fedorovich (or, according to one version, from Sergei Saltykov) and daughter Anna (allegedly from Stanislav Poniatovsky), who died as a baby, as well as illegitimate son Alexei Bobrinsky (from Grigory Orlov ). There is also an opinion that Elizaveta Grigoryevna Tyomkina (born 1775) is the daughter of the Empress and Potemkin, who later took her under his guardianship.
Death
At the end of her life, the reigning empress devoted much time to caring for her grandchildren: Alexander and Constantine. She named the eldest of Pavel's children in honor of the patron saint of St. Petersburg, Alexander Nevsky. She had a strained relationship with her unloved son Pavel. She wanted to make not him, but the eldest grandson, the heir to the throne, so she was personally involved in his upbringing. However, her plans did not come true. 
In 1796, on November 16, the great empress was overtaken by a stroke. The next day, without regaining consciousness, she died of a stroke. She was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral together with her husband, having opened his grave. The next ruler of the Russian Empire was Paul I.
EKATERINA II ALEKSEEVNA(04/21/1729-11/06/1796) - Russian Empress from 06/28/1762
Catherine II, nee Sophia Augusta Frederick of Anhalt-Zerbst, was born in Stettin in Pomerania. Her father was Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst, a native of the impoverished princely family of Northern Germany, Major General of the army of the Prussian King Frederick II.
In 1744, when the girl was 15 years old, she was married to the heir to the Russian imperial throne, Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich. In February 1744, at the invitation of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, she and her mother arrived in Moscow, where at that time the Russian Empress was with her court. A few months later, Sofia Augusta converted to Orthodoxy and received a new name - Ekaterina Alekseevna. The wedding with Peter Fedorovich took place on August 21, 1745 in St. Petersburg.
From the very beginning, relations between the young spouses did not work out. Peter was more interested in toys and soldiers than in his young wife. Her husband's inattention offended Catherine. Her relationship with Empress Elizabeth was tense, and Catherine did everything possible to win popularity at court and in the guard. The Grand Duchess performed all Orthodox rites seriously and zealously, and very quickly mastered the Russian language. Thanks to her intelligence, charm and natural tact, she managed to enlist the favor of many Elizabethan nobles. The influence of Ekaterina Alekseevna at court, among the guards and the nobility was constantly growing.
Catherine thought that the country could become powerful and rich only in the hands of an enlightened sovereign. She read the works of Plato, Plutarch, Tacitus, the works of the French enlighteners Montesquieu and Voltaire. So she managed to fill in the gaps in her education and gain a solid knowledge in the field of history and philosophy.
On December 25, 1761, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died. Ekaterina Alekseevna's husband, Peter III, came to the throne. He made an alliance with Prussia, abandoned Russia's victories in the Seven Years' War, and began to lose Russia's former allies. Peter exalted and brought the Germans closer to him, especially his relatives. His policy aroused sharp hostility among the guards and the nobility. Even the Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility, promulgated on February 18, 1762, could not alleviate discontent. A conspiracy of courtiers and guards formed against Peter III, the center of which was his ambitious wife Ekaterina Alekseevna, and the main organizers were the Orlov brothers. On June 28, 1762, a palace coup took place. Relying on the Izmailovsky and Semenovsky Guards regiments, Catherine removed her husband from power, and proclaimed herself empress. Having ascended the throne, Catherine II tried to implement a program of transformations in the economic and political life of Russia. In 1767, the Legislative Commission began its work in Moscow to develop a new Code - the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire. By the beginning of the work of the commission, Catherine prepared the "Instruction", designed to become the basis for the creation of the Code. The empress considered absolute monarchy to be the most suitable form of government for Russia. At the same time, in her opinion, it was necessary to introduce laws that would protect the fundamental rights of citizens. The Empress insisted on the need for equality of all before the law. But Catherine was not at all going to deprive the nobility, which was her support, of its main wealth - the serfs. She did not think about freedom for the peasants - there were only general arguments about the humane treatment of the landowners with the peasants.
Under Catherine, elected courts first appeared in Russia. They were elected separately for the nobility, for urban residents and for state peasants. (The serfs were judged by the landowner himself.) The court must become public, and without its decision no one could be found guilty. In "Instruction" Catherine opposed torture and the death penalty. She defended the need to develop commercial and industrial activities, build new cities, bring order to the issues of agriculture.
From the very beginning of the work of the Commission, sharp contradictions were revealed between representatives of various estate groups that were part of it. In 1768, the activity of this body was suspended, and then completely terminated.
Catherine continued her reforms in 1775, after the suppression of the uprising by E.I. Pugachev. However, now she did not strive to draw up laws protecting the rights of her subjects, but only cared about strengthening the foundations of Russian statehood and improving discipline.
November 7, 1775 was published "Institution for the management of the provinces of the All-Russian Empire." His goal was to strengthen the local administrative apparatus and give the provincial nobility the means to suppress peasant uprisings. The number of provinces increased from 20 to 51. Each of them was divided into counties. The population of the provinces was 300-400 thousand inhabitants, and the county - 20-30 thousand.
The main merit of Catherine II in the field of education and culture was the creation in Russia of a system of primary education for children from all classes, except for serfs. A number of educational institutions, theaters and museums were opened in St. Petersburg and other large cities. Medical care has also become a matter of state. Each city was required to have a pharmacy and a hospital. Catherine was one of the first in Russia to get herself vaccinated against smallpox. This was the beginning of vaccination.
April 21, 1785 were published "Charters" to the nobility and cities. The nobility was granted the exclusive right to own peasants, lands and bowels of the earth; the right to establish plants and factories and sell wholesale everything that is produced in their fiefdoms; the right to start auctions and fairs on their lands. The nobles were exempt from taxes and corporal punishment. County nobles once every three years had to gather in the central city of the county and choose the local administration from their midst. Cities received the right to elective self-government.
Catherine II pursued an active foreign policy. As a result of two successful Russian-Turkish wars of 1768-1774 and 1787-1791. the Crimean peninsula and the entire territory of the Northern Black Sea region went to Russia. Russia received access to the Black Sea, and it was no longer threatened by the raids of the Crimean Tatars.
Now it was possible to develop the black earth steppes. The Black Sea Fleet was created on the Black Sea.
In 1788, Swedish troops invaded the territory of the Russian Empire, but the war turned out to be fruitless for Sweden: it did not receive any territories. In 1772-1795. Russia took part in the three sections of the Commonwealth, as a result of which the territories of Belarus, Western Ukraine, Lithuania and Courland joined the Russian Empire. In 1796, the Persian campaign took place, aimed at protecting the Georgian Kartli-Kakheti kingdom, which was attacked by the Iranian army.
Important internal events during the reign of Catherine II include the Plague Riot in Moscow in October 1771 during the plague epidemic and the appearance of a number of impostors, including Elizaveta Tarakanova.
Catherine II was extremely worried about the beginning of the revolution in France in 1789. The execution of Louis XVI in 1793 caused her outrage. The Empress allowed French emigrants to enter Russia and provided them with open financial support. All trade and diplomatic relations with France were severed. Preparations began for the war, which stopped only after the death of the Empress in 1796.
Catherine nominated people who had already shown their abilities to the highest state, military and administrative positions. Among them were G.A. Potemkin, P.A. Rumyantsev, Z.G. Chernyshev, brothers G.G. and A.G. Orlovs, Ya.E. Sievers and others. During the reign of Catherine II, A.V. became famous for his victories. Suvorov and Admiral F.F. Ushakov.
In the last years of her life, Catherine II faced the question of the heir to the throne. The Empress feared that her son, Pavel Petrovich, might ruin her life's work with her undertakings.
Before her death, Catherine II tried to transfer the imperial throne over Paul's head to her grandson Alexander Pavlovich. But Alexander did not want to quarrel with his father, and a number of influential dignitaries prevented the dying empress from carrying out this last political intrigue. Catherine II died on November 6, 1796. She was buried in the Peter and Paul Fortress. Her son Pavel ascended the Russian throne.
Under Catherine II, Russia turned into a powerful state, rightfully taking the place of a great power on the world stage. However, autocracy and serfdom under her only strengthened. These facts did not fit into the circle of ideas of the European Enlightenment, which Catherine II shared.
The topic of this article is the biography of Catherine the Great. This empress reigned from 1762 to 1796. The era of her reign was marked by the enslavement of the peasants. Also, Catherine the Great, whose biography, photos and activities are presented in this article, significantly expanded the privileges of the nobility.
Origin and childhood of Catherine
The future empress was born on May 2 (according to the new style - April 21), 1729 in Stettin. She was the daughter of the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, who was in the Prussian service, and Princess Johanna-Elisabeth. The future empress was related to the English, Prussian and Swedish royal houses. She received her education at home: she studied French and German, music, theology, geography, history, and danced. Opening such a topic as the biography of Catherine the Great, we note that the independent nature of the future empress manifested itself already in childhood. She was a persistent, inquisitive child, had a penchant for mobile, lively games.
Baptism and wedding of Catherine
Catherine, together with her mother, was summoned by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna to Russia in 1744. Here she was baptized according to the Orthodox tradition. Ekaterina Alekseevna became the bride of Peter Fedorovich, the Grand Duke (in the future - Emperor Peter III). She married him in 1745.
Hobbies of the Empress
Catherine wanted to win the favor of her husband, the empress and the Russian people. Her personal life, however, was unsuccessful. Since Peter was infantile, there was no marital relationship between them for several years of marriage. Catherine was fond of reading works on jurisprudence, history and economics, as well as French enlighteners. All these books have shaped her worldview. The future empress became a supporter of the ideas of the Enlightenment. She was also interested in the traditions, customs and history of Russia.
Personal life of Catherine II
Today we know quite a lot about such an important historical person as Catherine the Great: biography, her children, personal life - all this is the object of research by historians and the interest of many of our compatriots. For the first time we get acquainted with this empress at school. However, what we learn in history lessons is far from complete information about such an empress as Catherine the Great. A biography (grade 4) from a school textbook omits, for example, her personal life.
Catherine II in the early 1750s began an affair with S.V. Saltykov, Guards officer. She gave birth to a son in 1754, the future Emperor Paul I. Nevertheless, rumors that Saltykov was his father are unfounded. In the second half of the 1750s, Catherine had an affair with S. Poniatowski, a Polish diplomat who later became King Stanislaw August. Also in the early 1760s - with G.G. Orlov. The Empress gave birth to his son Alexei in 1762, who received the surname Bobrinsky. As relations with her husband deteriorated, Catherine began to fear for her fate and began to recruit supporters at court. Her sincere love for her homeland, her prudence and ostentatious piety - all this contrasted with the behavior of her husband, which allowed the future empress to gain authority among the population of St. Petersburg and the high-society metropolitan society.
Proclamation of Catherine as Empress
Catherine's relationship with her husband continued to deteriorate during the 6 months of his reign, eventually becoming hostile. Peter III openly appeared in the company of his mistress E.R. Vorontsova. There was a threat of Catherine's arrest and her possible expulsion. The future empress carefully prepared the plot. She was supported by N.I. Panin, E.R. Dashkova, K.G. Razumovsky, the Orlov brothers and others. One night, from June 27 to 28, 1762, when Peter III was in Oranienbaum, Catherine secretly arrived in St. Petersburg. She was proclaimed in the barracks of the Izmailovsky Regiment as an autocratic empress. Other regiments soon joined the rebels. The news of the empress's accession to the throne quickly spread throughout the city. Petersburgers greeted her with delight. Messengers were sent to Kronstadt and the army to prevent the actions of Peter III. He, having learned about what happened, began to send proposals for negotiations to Catherine, but she rejected them. The empress personally went to St. Petersburg, leading the regiments of the guards, and received on the way a written abdication of the throne by Peter III.
More about the palace coup
As a result of a palace coup on July 9, 1762, Catherine II came to power. It happened in the following way. Because of the arrest of Passek, all the conspirators rose to their feet, fearing that under torture they might be betrayed by the arrested person. It was decided to send Alexei Orlov for Ekaterina. The Empress at that time lived in anticipation of the name day of Peter III in Peterhof. On the morning of June 28, Alexei Orlov ran into her bedroom and told her about Passek's arrest. Ekaterina got into Orlov's carriage, she was brought to the Izmailovsky regiment. The soldiers ran out to the square on the drum beat and immediately swore allegiance to her. She then moved to the Semyonov regiment, which also swore allegiance to the Empress. Accompanied by a crowd of people, at the head of two regiments, Catherine went to the Kazan Cathedral. Here, at a prayer service, she was proclaimed empress. Then she went to the Winter Palace and found the Synod and the Senate there already assembled. They also swore allegiance to her.
Personality and character of Catherine II
Not only the biography of Catherine the Great is interesting, but also her personality and character, which left an imprint on her domestic and foreign policy. Catherine II was a subtle psychologist and an excellent connoisseur of people. The Empress skillfully chose assistants, while not being afraid of talented and bright personalities. Therefore, Catherine's time was marked by the appearance of many prominent statesmen, as well as generals, musicians, artists, and writers. Catherine was usually restrained, tactful, and patient in dealing with her subjects. She was an excellent conversationalist, she could listen carefully to anyone. By her own admission, the Empress did not possess a creative mind, but she caught worthwhile thoughts and knew how to use them for her own purposes.
There were almost no noisy resignations during the reign of this empress. The nobles were not subject to disgrace, they were not exiled or executed. Because of this, the reign of Catherine is considered the "golden age" of the nobility in Russia. The Empress, at the same time, was very vain and valued her power more than anything in the world. She was ready to make any compromises for the sake of her preservation, including to the detriment of her own convictions.
Religiosity of the Empress
This empress was distinguished by ostentatious piety. She considered herself the protector of the Orthodox Church and its head. Catherine skillfully used religion for political interests. Apparently, her faith was not very deep. The biography of Catherine the Great is marked by the fact that she preached religious tolerance in the spirit of the times. It was under this empress that the persecution of the Old Believers was stopped. Protestant and Catholic churches and mosques were erected. Nevertheless, the conversion to another faith from Orthodoxy was still severely punished.
Catherine - an opponent of serfdom
Catherine the Great, whose biography interests us, was an ardent opponent of serfdom. She considered him contrary to human nature and inhumane. Many sharp statements on this issue were preserved in her papers. Also in them you can find her reasoning on how serfdom can be eliminated. Nevertheless, the empress did not dare to do anything concrete in this area because of the fear of another coup and a noble rebellion. Catherine, however, was convinced that the Russian peasants are spiritually undeveloped, so there is a danger in granting them freedom. According to the empress, the life of the peasants is quite prosperous with caring landowners.
First reforms
When Catherine came to the throne, she already had a fairly definite political program. It was based on the ideas of the Enlightenment and took into account the peculiarities of Russia's development. Consistency, gradualness and consideration of public sentiment were the main principles for the implementation of this program. Catherine II in the first years of her reign reformed the Senate (in 1763). His work became more efficient as a result. The following year, in 1764, Catherine the Great carried out the secularization of church lands. The biography for the children of this empress, presented on the pages of school textbooks, surely acquaints schoolchildren with this fact. Secularization significantly replenished the treasury, and also eased the situation of many peasants. Catherine in Ukraine liquidated the hetmanship in accordance with the need to unify local government throughout the state. In addition, she invited German colonists to the Russian Empire to develop the Black Sea and Volga regions.
The foundation of educational institutions and the new Code
In the same years, a number of educational institutions were founded, including for women (the first in Russia) - the Catherine School, the Smolny Institute. In 1767, the Empress announced that a special commission was being convened to create a new Code. It consisted of elected deputies, representatives of all social groups of society, except for serfs. For the commission, Catherine wrote "Instruction", which is, in fact, the liberal program of the reign of this empress. However, her calls were not understood by the deputies. On the smallest issues they argued. Deep contradictions between social groups were revealed in the course of these discussions, as well as the low level of political culture among many deputies and the conservatism of most of them. The established commission was dissolved at the end of 1768. The empress appreciated this experience as an important lesson that introduced her to the moods of various segments of the population of the state.
Development of legislative acts
After the Russian-Turkish war ended, which lasted from 1768 to 1774, and the Pugachev uprising was suppressed, a new stage of Catherine's reforms began. The empress began to develop the most important legislative acts herself. In particular, a manifesto was issued in 1775, according to which it was allowed to start any industrial enterprises without restrictions. Also in this year, a provincial reform was carried out, as a result of which a new administrative division of the empire was established. It survived until 1917.
Expanding the topic "Brief biography of Catherine the Great", we note that in 1785 the Empress issued the most important legislative acts. These were letters of grant to the cities and the nobility. A charter was also prepared for the state peasants, but political circumstances did not allow it to be put into effect. The main significance of these letters was associated with the implementation of the main goal of Catherine's reforms - the creation of full-fledged estates in the empire on the model of Western Europe. The diploma meant for the Russian nobility the legal consolidation of almost all the privileges and rights that they had.
Recent and unrealized reforms proposed by Catherine the Great
The biography (summary) of the empress of interest to us is marked by the fact that she carried out various reforms until her death. For example, education reform was continued into the 1780s. Catherine the Great, whose biography is presented in this article, created a network of school institutions based on the classroom system in cities. The Empress in the last years of her life continued to plan major transformations. The reform of the central administration was scheduled for 1797, as well as the introduction of legislation on the order of succession to the throne in the country, the creation of a higher court based on representation from the 3rd estates. However, Catherine II the Great did not have time to complete the extensive reform program. Her brief biography, however, would be incomplete if we did not mention all this. In general, all these reforms were a continuation of the reforms begun by Peter I.
Catherine's foreign policy
What else is interesting about the biography of Catherine the Great? The empress, following Peter, believed that Russia should actively act on the world stage, pursue an offensive policy, even to some extent aggressive. After accession to the throne, she broke the alliance treaty with Prussia, concluded by Peter III. Thanks to the efforts of this empress, it was possible to restore Duke E.I. Biron on the throne of Courland. Supported by Prussia, in 1763 Russia achieved the election of Stanisław August Poniatowski, his henchman, to the Polish throne. This, in turn, led to a deterioration in relations with Austria due to the fact that she feared the strengthening of Russia and began to incite Turkey to war with her. On the whole, the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 was successful for Russia, but the difficult situation inside the country encouraged her to seek peace. And for this it was necessary to restore the old relations with Austria. In the end, a compromise was reached. Poland fell victim to it: its first division was carried out in 1772 by Russia, Austria and Prussia.
The Kyuchuk-Kaynarji peace treaty was signed with Turkey, which ensured the independence of the Crimea, which was beneficial for Russia. The empire in the war between England and the colonies of North America took neutrality. Catherine refused to help the troops of the English king. A number of European states joined the Declaration on Armed Neutrality, created at the initiative of Panin. This contributed to the victory of the colonists. In subsequent years, the position of our country in the Caucasus and Crimea was strengthened, which ended with the inclusion of the latter into the Russian Empire in 1782, as well as the signing of the Treaty of Georgievsk with Erekle II, the King of Kartli-Kakheti, the following year. This ensured the presence of Russian troops in Georgia, and then the annexation of its territory to Russia.
Strengthening of authority in the international arena
The new foreign policy doctrine of the Russian government was formed in the 1770s. It was a Greek project. Its main goal was to restore the Byzantine Empire and declare Emperor Konstantin Pavlovich, who was the grandson of Catherine II. Russia in 1779 significantly strengthened its authority in the international arena, participating as an intermediary between Prussia and Austria in the Teschen Congress. The biography of Empress Catherine the Great can also be supplemented by the fact that in 1787, accompanied by the court, the Polish king, the Austrian emperor and foreign diplomats, she traveled to the Crimea. It became a demonstration of Russia's military might.
Wars with Turkey and Sweden, further partitions of Poland
The biography of Catherine the Great continued with the fact that she started a new Russian-Turkish war. Russia was now acting in alliance with Austria. Almost at the same time, the war with Sweden also began (from 1788 to 1790), which tried to take revenge after the defeat in the Northern War. The Russian Empire managed to cope with both of these opponents. In 1791 the war with Turkey ended. The Peace of Jassy was signed in 1792. He secured the influence of Russia in Transcaucasia and Bessarabia, as well as the annexation of Crimea to it. The 2nd and 3rd Partitions of Poland took place in 1793 and 1795 respectively. They put an end to Polish statehood.
Empress Catherine the Great, whose brief biography we have reviewed, died on November 17 (according to the old style - November 6), 1796 in St. Petersburg. So significant is her contribution to Russian history that the memory of Catherine II is kept by many works of domestic and world culture, including the works of such great writers as N.V. Gogol, A.S. Pushkin, B. Shaw, V. Pikul and others. The life of Catherine the Great, her biography inspired many directors - the creators of such films as "Caprice of Catherine II", "Royal Hunt", "Young Catherine", "Dreams of Russia", " Russian rebellion" and others.
At birth, the girl was given the name Sophia Frederica Augusta. Her father, Christian August, was the prince of the small German principality of Anhalt-Zerbst, but he won fame for his achievements in the military field. The mother of the future Catherine, Princess of Holstein-Gottorp Johanna Elizabeth, cared little about raising her daughter. And because the girl was raised by a governess.
Catherine was educated by tutors, and, among them, a chaplain who gave the girl religious lessons. However, the girl had her own point of view on many questions. She also mastered three languages: German, French and Russian.
Entry into the royal family of Russia
In 1744, the girl goes with her mother to Russia. The German princess becomes engaged to Grand Duke Peter and converts to Orthodoxy, receiving the name Catherine at baptism.
August 21, 1745 Catherine marries the heir to the throne of Russia, becoming a princess. However, family life was far from happy.
After long childless years, Catherine II finally gave birth to an heir. Her son Pavel was born on September 20, 1754. And then heated debate flared up about who really is the boy's father. Be that as it may, Catherine hardly saw her first-born: shortly after birth, Empress Elizabeth takes the child to be raised.
Seizure of the throne
On December 25, 1761, after the death of Empress Elizabeth, Peter III ascended the throne, and Catherine became the wife of the emperor. However, it has little to do with state affairs. Peter and his wife were frankly cruel. Soon, due to the stubborn support he provided to Prussia, Peter becomes a stranger to many court, secular and military officials. The founder of what today we call progressive internal state reforms, Peter also quarreled with the Orthodox Church, taking away church lands. And now, six months later, Peter was deposed from the throne as a result of a conspiracy that Catherine entered into with her lover, Russian lieutenant Grigory Orlov, and a number of other persons, in order to seize power. She successfully manages to force her husband to abdicate and take control of the empire into her own hands. A few days after the abdication, in one of his estates, in Ropsha, Peter was strangled. What role Catherine played in the murder of her husband is unclear to this day.
Fearing herself to be thrown off by the opposing forces, Catherine is trying with all her might to win the favor of the troops and the church. She recalls the troops sent by Peter to the war against Denmark and in every possible way encourages and gives gifts to those who go over to her side. She even compares herself to Peter the Great, whom she reveres, declaring that she is following in his footsteps.
Governing body
Despite the fact that Catherine is a supporter of absolutism, she still makes a number of attempts to carry out social and political reforms. She publishes a document, the "Order", in which she proposes to abolish the death penalty and torture, and also proclaims the equality of all people. However, the Senate resolutely refuses any attempts to change the feudal system.
After finishing work on the "Order", in 1767, Catherine convenes representatives of various social and economic strata of the population to form the Legislative Commission. The commission did not leave the legislative body, but its convocation went down in history as the first time that representatives of the Russian people from all over the empire had the opportunity to express their ideas about the needs and problems of the country.
Later, in 1785, Catherine issued the Charter of the Nobility, in which she radically changed politics and challenged the power of the upper classes, in which most of the masses were under the yoke of serfdom.
Catherine, a religious skeptic by nature, seeks to subjugate the Orthodox Church to her power. At the beginning of her reign, she returned land and property to the church, but soon changed her views. The empress declares the church a part of the state, and therefore all her possessions, including more than a million serfs, become the property of the empire and are subject to taxes.
Foreign policy
During her reign, Catherine expands the borders of the Russian Empire. She makes significant acquisitions in Poland, having previously seated her former lover, the Polish prince Stanislaw Poniatowski, on the throne of the kingdom. Under the agreement of 1772, Catherine gives part of the lands of the Commonwealth to Prussia and Austria, while the eastern part of the kingdom, where many Russian Orthodox live, goes to the Russian Empire.
But such actions cause extreme disapproval of Turkey. In 1774, Catherine makes peace with the Ottoman Empire, according to which the Russian state receives new lands and access to the Black Sea. One of the heroes of the Russian-Turkish war was Grigory Potemkin, a reliable adviser and lover of Catherine.
Potemkin, a loyal supporter of the policy of the empress, himself proved himself to be an outstanding statesman. It was he, in 1783, who convinced Catherine to annex the Crimea to the empire, thereby strengthening her position on the Black Sea.
Love for education and art
At the time of Catherine's accession to the throne, Russia for Europe was a backward and provincial state. The Empress is trying with all her might to change this opinion, expanding the possibilities for new ideas in education and the arts. In St. Petersburg, she establishes a boarding school for girls of noble birth, and later free schools open in all cities of Russia.
Catherine patronizes many cultural projects. She is gaining fame as an ardent collector of art, and most of her collection is exhibited in her residence in St. Petersburg, in the Hermitage.
Catherine, passionately fond of literature, is especially favorable to the philosophers and writers of the Enlightenment. Endowed with literary talent, the empress describes her own life in a collection of memoirs.
Personal life
The love life of Catherine II became the subject of many gossip and false facts. The myths about her insatiability have been debunked, but this royal person really had many love affairs in her life. She could not remarry, because marriage could shake her position, and therefore in society she had to wear a mask of chastity. But, far from prying eyes, Catherine showed a remarkable interest in men.
End of reign
By 1796, Catherine had absolute power in the empire for several decades. And in the last years of her reign, she showed all the same vivacity of mind and strength of spirit. But in mid-November 1796, she was found unconscious on the bathroom floor. At that time, everyone came to the conclusion that she had a stroke. 4.2 points. Total ratings received: 57.
