What is Catherine the Great best known for?
What is Catherine the Great known for? Catherine II, called Catherine the Great, reigned over Russia for 34 years—longer than any other female in Russian history. As empress, Catherine westernized Russia. She led her country into full participation in the political and cultural life of Europe.
Was Catherine the Great an aggressive ruler?
There is no doubt that her Russia was an aggressive nation: she fought wars against the Ottoman empire, Sweden and Poland-Lithuania, and her victories led to the acquisition of swathes of territory to the south and west. It might, perhaps, be seen as a weak defence of Catherine to say that other rulers of the time were just as rapacious as her.
Why did Catherine the great want another heir to the throne?
Catherine wanted to become an empress herself and did not want another heir to the throne. But Empress Elizabeth blackmailed Peter and Catherine that they both had been involved into a plot of Russian military in 1749 to execute the will of Catherine I and to crown Peter together with Catherine.
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How was Catherine the Great as a ruler?
Catherine saw herself as an enlightened ruler. Catherine's reign was marked by vast territorial expansion, which greatly added to Russia's coffers but did little to alleviate the suffering of her people. Even her attempts at governmental reforms were often bogged down by Russia's vast bureaucracy.
What kind of ruler was Catherine the Great?
Catherine II, called Catherine the Great, reigned over Russia for 34 years—longer than any other female in Russian history. As empress, Catherine westernized Russia. She led her country into full participation in the political and cultural life of Europe. She championed the arts and reorganized the Russian law code.
What negative things did Catherine the Great do?
Of all the many criticisms levelled against her, four stand out: that she usurped the Russian throne from her husband; that she was irredeemably promiscuous, preying on a succession of ever younger men; that she masqueraded as an enlightened monarch while doing little to ameliorate the suffering of the poor; and that ...
Why was Catherine the Great called great?
She is often called "Catherine the Great" because of her long reign and numerous successes as a ruler. She was also famous for her turbulent personal life. After marrying into the Russian royal family, her relationship with her husband, Tsar Peter III, ended badly.
Why did Catherine the Great overthrow her husband?
After Elizabeth died, Peter III enjoyed a very short reign. The ill-fated Tsar quickly angered crucial allies, including the Russian Orthodox church and the country's military class. With the help of her lover at the time, Grigory Orlov, Catherine plotted to overthrow her husband.
What was Catherine the Great's biggest accomplishment?
Known as Catherine the Great, she was the longest-reining empress of Russia. Catherine's greatest accomplishments include establishing educational reform, championing the arts, and extending Russia's borders in the largest territorial gain since Ivan the Terrible.
Did Catherine the Great allow religious freedom?
In the 18th century, Catherine the Great launched a policy that enshrined religious tolerance and actively co-opted Muslim authorities.
Was Catherine the Great a feminist?
In a feminists point of view, Catherine the Great was an excellent ruler who changed Russia for the better, which not only empowered herself, but also to all women as she proved that women can become great rulers that can achieve and benefit more than a man could.
How old was Catherine the Great when died?
67 years (1729–1796)Catherine the Great / Age at death
What challenges did Catherine the Great face?
Alexander discusses Catherine's concern with the crisis in public health in Russia, including her attempts to fight smallpox, pestilence, and the plague. Catherine had many lovers throughout her life and Alexander includes the love notes written to Peter Zavadovski from the years 1776 to 1777.
What reforms did Catherine the Great make?
While Catherine believed in absolute rule, she did make some efforts toward social and political reforms. She put together a document, known as the "Nakaz," on how the country's legal system should run, with a push for capital punishment and torture to be outlawed and calling for every man to be declared equal.
Was Catherine II absolute monarchy?
Remembered in large part for her romantic liaisons, Catherine also expanded Russian territories and sought to modernize its culture through progressive views on arts and education. After more than three decades as Russia's absolute ruler, she died in 1796.
What challenges did Catherine the Great face as a ruler?
Known for her intelligence and ambitions to rule the Russian Empire, Catherine not only challenged the social norms of the time but also set the precedent for women in powerful positions. Catherine ruled through corruption, scandal, political reforms, and land expansion.
How was Catherine the Great an example of absolutism?
Catherine is one of the final examples of, so called, 'enlightened absolutism' or 'enlightened despotism'. A system of rule, wherein the monarch retains absolute autocratic power over their subjects, whilst at the same time applying the principles of the Enlightenment to the task of governance.
How did Catherine the Great define equality?
Examining Primary Sources How did Catherine the Great define "equality"? _Catherine defined "equality" as that citizens should all be subject to the same Laws.
Who was Catherine the Great's husband?
Ulrich abdicated, and in September 1762 Catherine was crowned empress of Russia. Learn about Peter III, husband to Catherine the Great, and the coup d’état that ended his reign.
What was Catherine the Great's instruction?
The Instruction of Catherine the Great was a Russian political document prepared by the empress as a guide for a legislative commission considering internal reforms. In it Catherine “instructed” the commission to create a new legal code and recommended a series of government reforms based on liberal humanitarian political theories. According to the Instruction:
How long did Catherine II rule?
Catherine II, called Catherine the Great, reigned over Russia for 34 years —longer than any other female in Russian history. As empress, Catherine westernized Russia. She led her country into full participation in the political and cultural life of Europe. She championed the arts and reorganized the Russian law code.
What was Elizabeth's most pressing problem?
Her most pressing practical problem, however, was to replenish the state treasury, which was empty when Elizabeth died; this she did in 1762 by secularizing the property of the clergy, who owned one-third of the land and serfs in Russia. The Russian clergy was reduced to a group of state-paid functionaries, losing what little power had been left to it by the reforms of Peter the Great. Since her coup d’etat and Peter’s suspicious death demanded both discretion and stability in her dealings with other nations, she continued to preserve friendly relations with Prussia, Russia’s old enemy, as well as with the country’s traditional allies, France and Austria. In 1764 she resolved the problem of Poland, a kingdom lacking definite boundaries and coveted by three neighbouring powers, by installing one of her old lovers, Stanisław Poniatowski, a weak man entirely devoted to her, as king of Poland.
What was Catherine's passion?
During her husband’s lifetime alone, she had at least three lovers; if her hints are to be believed, none of her three children, not even the heir apparent Paul, was fathered by her husband. Her true passion, however, was ambition; since Peter was incapable of ruling, she saw quite early the possibility of eliminating him and governing Russia herself.
What was Catherine's instruction to the commission?
The debates went on for months and came to nothing. Catherine’s Instruction to the commission was a draft of a constitution and a code of laws. It was considered too liberal for publication in France and remained a dead letter in Russia.
When did Catherine Alekseyevna marry?
In 1744 Catherine arrived in Russia, assumed the title of Grand Duchess Catherine Alekseyevna, and married her young cousin the following year. The marriage was a complete failure; the following 18 years were filled with disappointment and humiliation for her.
Why was Catherine the Great adored?
Catherine was adored by those in the enlightenment era, for she had spent a great deal of time learning how to be cultured, studying many books, acquiring a great many works of art as well as writing plays, stories and musical pieces herself.
How did Catherine the Great influence Russia?
As Catherine worked to increase the size and strength of the country, she made the executive decision to empower the aristocracy and increased the size of government while simultaneously decreasing the power of the Orthodox Church, as she wasn’t someone who was particularly religious. The decision to make the nobles and ruling class stronger was brought about due to the chaos of the French Revolution, something that had convinced Catherine that there was a great deal to be feared in the common person. For a time, she had ascribed to the ideas of the Enlightenment and granting equality, but fear of loss of control had led her to change her mind for good. She would not go down in history as a woman who cared greatly for the common people, despite how her intentions at the beginning had been noble.
What did Sophia do to become the ruler of Russia?
Sophia was invited to spend time with Empress Elizabeth of Russia for some time, where Sophia quickly found a deep desire to become the ruler of Russia by any means necessary. She dedicated herself to learning Russian, focusing on achieving fluency as quickly as possible. She even converted to Russian Orthodoxy, leaving her traditional roots as a Lutheran behind, so that she could identify with the culture of Russia on an authentic basis. This would put a strain on her relationship with her father, who was a devout Lutheran, but she didn’t particularly care. Her eyes were wide with the deep desire to be the true leader of Russia. Upon her conversion to Russian Orthodoxy, she took the new name of Catherine.
Why did Catherine and Peter stay together?
Catherine’s patience paid off in the long run, however as the Empress of Russia, Elizabeth, died in 1762, opening up the throne. Peter was able to make a clean claim to the throne and he succeeded Elizbeth, becoming the new Emperor of Russia. This pleased Catherine because it meant that she was only one heartbeat away from becoming the sole ruler of Russia.
Why did Peter succeed Catherine?
This pleased Catherine because it meant that she was only one heartbeat away from becoming the sole ruler of Russia. Peter was a weak ruler and he had some odd proclivities.
What would happen if the Serfdom was unhappy with their ruler?
If the serfdom was extremely unhappy with their ruler, a pretender would usually rise up and claim that he was the true heir to the throne and a violent revolution would be undertaken to install the pretender. Catherine, for all of her enlightened practices and beliefs, was susceptible as ever to this.
What was Catherine's plan to force Peter to abdicate?
She put together a plan to stage a coup and force Peter to abdicate the throne, handing power over to herself.
Who was Catherine the Great?
Catherine, II, the Great was born in Stettin, a German city on April 21, 1729 to Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerost and Princess Johanna Elizabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. Catherine, whose original name was Sophie Friederike-Auguste married in 1762 to the czarevitch Peter of Russia, but soon disposed of him and seized control of the government. Catherine made many great changes during her reign and made many opportunities available to the people living in her country during the time. Although she
How long did Catherine the Great rule?
Catherine the Great, also known as Catherine II, ruled Russia from 1762 to 1796. She ruled for 34 years which was the longest a female ever ruled Russia. Although Catherine the Great is known for putting personal affairs ahead of Russian affairs, she did accomplish a lot during her reign. She brought Western thought processes to Russia which would affect Russia for centuries. She also brought great works of print, art, and literature from the west into Russia. Born in Germany in 1729, she was an eager student of the Enlightenment. She studied and memorized Enlightenment thoughts, concepts, and ideas. Along with Enlightenment thought, Catherine focused on foreign affairs, arts, education, and the expansion of Russian territory. She ruled through reforms, scandal, and corruption. She seemed to want the best for her Russian people. However, while she talked about change, she did not always act on her words. She accomplished a lot but could have accomplished more. Catherine could have made the biggest impact, in Russia, if she abolished serfdom and provided a better quality of life for peasants and the serfs. They were the majority of her population. She was torn between Enlightenment thinking and a love for power. I believe an Enlighted ruler would have wanted the best for all classes of people. If Catherine was truly a great leader, she would have
What were the objectives of rulers during this time period?
The great philosopher, Machiavelli, approached the reason that a ruler should present two qualities in order to drive a successful community. A ruler needed to behave both “like a lion” and “like a fox” he believed. These two traits can be seen clearly in two foremost rulers during this time period. Catherine the Great of Russia and Elizabeth I of England had clearly fulfilled the suggestion made by Machiavelli. These two iconic rulers met the proposition
What makes a ruler successful?
Rulers; What makes a successful one? Some could argue the accumulation of land and wealth are the defining factors. Others would assert that population size and control over it maketh a great ruler. All these factors are quite obviously good indicators of an empire on the rise, but not necessarily indicators of good ruling. It appears to me that great rulers build their empire like a sports franchise builds their team; around a centralized figure. The centralized figure in regards to empire is the
When did Catherine the Second come to power?
in Russia, there have been more not so great rulers compared to the superior rulers. However, in 1762 , a great ruler came to power and began changing Russia for the better, her name was Catherine the second. Born a German providence and brought to Russia by the order of Elizabeth I. She [Catherine] later gained the throne after a coup d’état and from there on out Russia was underway become more of the enlightened state. The ways that it became enlightened was through the changes in the internal government
Who was the most important ruler of Russia?
Catherine the Great is recognised world-wide as one of the most prominent and successful historical rulers of Russia. Catherine ll, Empress of Russia, is remembered in the majority, as an incredible leader of her time; with full entitlement of the title “The Great”. The term or title of “The Great” was given to rulers of the past by themselves or their countrymen, due to significant achievements or victories during their time of reign. The term Great has multiple meanings but in regards to leadership
Who was the Empress of Russia?
The above quote applies very well to both Catherine II and Elizabeth I. Neither lady sought the power of their lands; they were given it in a unusual circumstance. They then display great leadership and do great things for each country. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, was born in Germany in 1729, but with the name of Sophia. She was the daughter of Prince Christian August and Princess Johanna Elizabeth. Since she was a princess, she was home schooled. She became very smart and free spirited. Nancy
What was Catherine the Great's rule?
The period of Catherine the Great's rule, the Catherinian Era, is considered a Golden Age of Russia. The Manifesto on Freedom of the Nobility, issued during the short reign of Peter III and confirmed by Catherine, freed Russian nobles from compulsory military or state service.
What was Catherine the Great's influence on Russia?
Under her reign, Russia grew larger, its culture was revitalised, and it was recognised as one of the great powers of Europe. In her accession to power and her rule of the empire, Catherine often relied on her noble favourites, most notably Count Grigory Orlov and Grigory Potemkin.
How did the Orthodox Church fare during Catherine's reign?
In many ways, the Orthodox Church fared no better than its foreign counterparts during the reign of Catherine. Under her leadership, she completed what Peter III had started: The church's lands were expropriated, and the budget of both monasteries and bishoprics were controlled by the College of Economy. Endowments from the government replaced income from privately held lands. The endowments were often much less than the original intended amount. She closed 569 of 954 monasteries, of which only 161 received government money. Only 400,000 rubles of church wealth were paid back. While other religions (such as Islam) received invitations to the Legislative Commission, the Orthodox clergy did not receive a single seat. Their place in government was restricted severely during the years of Catherine's reign.
How long did Peter III reign?
Tsar Peter III reigned only six months ; he died on 17 July 1762. After the death of the Empress Elizabeth on 5 January 1762 ( OS: 25 December 1761), Peter succeeded to the throne as Emperor Peter III, and Catherine became empress consort. The imperial couple moved into the new Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg.
Where was Catherine born?
Catherine was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Kingdom of Prussia (now Szczecin, Poland) as Princess Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg. Her father, Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, belonged to the ruling German family of Anhalt.
Which countries descend from Catherine the Great?
The royal families of Britain, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden descend from Catherine the Great, as well as the former royal families of Greece, Romania, Yugoslavia and many others.
Who was the last empress of Russia?
Catherine II (born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 1729 – 17 November 1796 ), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the last reigning Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796 – the country's longest-ruling female leader. She came to power following a coup d'état that overthrew her husband and second cousin, Peter III. Under her reign, Russia grew larger, its culture was revitalised, and it was recognised as one of the great powers of Europe.
What are some interesting facts about Catherine the Great?
Explore eight surprising facts about the famous Russian ruler. 1. Catherine the Great’s name wasn’t Catherine, and she wasn ’t even Rus sian. The woman whom history would remember as Catherine the Great, Russia’s longest-ruling female leader, was actually the eldest daughter of an impoverished Prussian prince.
Who was Catherine the Great's husband?
Catherine the Great and her husband Peter III of Russia.
What was the most dangerous event that threatened Catherine's rule?
Of the various uprisings that threatened Catherine’s rule, the most dangerous came in 1773, when a group of armed Cossacks and peasants led by Emelyan Pugachev rebelled against the harsh socioeconomic conditions of Russia’s lowest class, the serfs.
Why did Catherine keep Paul away from the boy?
After she assumed the throne, Catherine, fearful of retribution for Peter III’s deposing and death, kept Paul far away from affairs of state, further alienating the boy. Relations between the two grew so bad that Paul was at times convinced his mother was actively plotting his death.
Who was the deposed Peter III?
As with many of the uprisings Catherine faced, Pugachev ’s Rebellion called into question the validity of her reign. Pugachev, a former army officer, claimed that he was actually the deposed (and believed dead) Peter III, and therefore the rightful heir to the Russian throne. Recommended for you. 1943.
When did Sophie marry Elizabeth?
The marriage took place on August 21, 1745, with the bride (a new convert to Orthodox Christianity) now bearing the name Ekaterina, or Catherine. 2.
Was Peter and Catherine infertile?
Some historians believe Peter was unable to consummate the marriage, while others think he was infertile. Desperately unhappy in their married lives, Peter and Catherine both began extramarital affairs, she with Sergei Saltykov, a Russian military officer.
Who explores Catherine the Great's life?
Listen: Janet Hartley explores Catherine the Great’s life and considers whether there is any truth behind the scandals associated with her, on this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast
Where was Catherine less enlightened?
Where Catherine was arguably less enlightened was in the arena of foreign relations. There is no doubt that her Russia was an aggressive nation: she fought wars against the Ottoman empire, Sweden and Poland-Lithuania, and her victories led to the acquisition of swathes of territory to the south and west.
What was Catherine's relationship with Grigory Orlov?
The first of these was with Grigory Orlov, lasting 12 years; the second was a passionate affair with the statesman and general Grigory Potemkin. Letters from Catherine to Potemkin testify to the depth of her love for him: “My dearest friend, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, you are so handsome, clever, jovial and funny; when I am with you I attach no importance to the world. I have never been so happy.” The two were probably married secretly in a religious ceremony.
What was Potemkin's last letter?
His final letter, penned on the day he died, was to “my little mother, most gracious sovereign lady”. Catherine was devastated by Potemkin’s death.
What is the saying about the Russian tsars?
A common saying about Russian tsardom is that it was “autocracy tempered by assassination”; that is, the ruler had almost unlimited powers but was always vulnerable to being dethroned if he or she alienated the elites.
How did Peter's reign evolve?
It is impossible to know how Peter’s reign would have evolved but those officers and officials who engineered the coup could, in later years, look back at Catherine’s record and believe, with some justification, that they had acted in the country’s best interests as well as their own.
Did Catherine have an affair with Peter?
Catherine probably had 12 lovers in her lifetime, including several before she came to the throne. But it was her affair with the handsome Sergey Saltykov, while she was married to Peter, that arguably had the greatest ramifications. Many historians believe that Saltykov was the father of Catherine’s son and the future emperor, Paul I (Peter failed to produce any children with his many mistresses, and so may well have been infertile). Paul was born in 1754, while Empress Elizabeth was still on the throne. Whatever the father’s identity, it was in Elizabeth’s interests as much as Catherine’s to proclaim Paul the legitimate son of the heir to the throne – in fact, Elizabeth had probably connived in Catherine’s affair with Saltykov in the first place.
Overview
Early life
Marriage, reign of Peter III
- Catherine’s reign was 38 years long and was an exceptionally successful career. She increased the size of Russia significantly, increased the military power and gave the world something to talk about when it came to the legitimacy of the Russian state. She died of a stroke in 1796. Of course, there is that old and tiresome rumor, linked to the conc...
Reign (1762–1796)
Catherine II (born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 1729 – 17 November 1796), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the last Empress of Russia (1762 to 1796) and the longest-ruling. She came to power following the overthrow of her husband and second cousin, Peter III. Under her long reign, inspired by the ideas of the Enlightenment, Russia experienced a renaissance o…
Arts and culture
Catherine was born in Stettin, Province of Pomerania, Kingdom of Prussia, Holy Roman Empire, as Princess Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg. Her mother was Johanna Elizabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. Her father, Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, belonged to the ruling German family of Anhalt. He failed to become the duke of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and at the time of his daughter's birth held the rank of a Prussian general in his capacit…
Personal life
Final months and death
Royal descendants