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'''Catherine the Great''' was an empress of [[Russia]] who lived from April 21, 1729 to November 6, 1796. She is remembered for leading her country into full participation in the political and cultural life of [[Europe]], and for advancing the [[Partitions of Poland]].
'''Catherine the Great''' was an empress of [[Russia]] who lived from April 21, 1729 to November 6, 1796. She is remembered for leading her country into full participation in the political and cultural life of [[Europe]], and for advancing the [[Partitions of Poland]].
==Background==
Catherine was a princess of the petty [[German]] principality [[Anhalt-Zerbst]]. She was well educated and, like many other nobles of Europe in the 18th century, heavily influenced by [[French]] culture. In 1744, when she was fifteen, she left for Russia to marry [[Peter of Holstien-Gottorp]]. She converted to [[Orthodox Christian]]ity and learned Russian and Russian culture upon her arrival in the country. Peter was both a miserable husband and leader. In 1762, she led a successful coup, which killed her husband and made her Empress Catherine II.
==Empress==
Catherine reigned from 1762 to 1796. She was initially looked at with suspicion, seeing as she had no title to the crown, and she was brought to power due to a palace revolution. She gradually gained her popularity.
Catherine's despotic rule and personal morality suffered from similar moral failures as a great many men in power. On the other hand, she did attempt to democratize governance, suggesting that her instinct was toward egalitarianism. Yet she also reinforced feudalism by tightening the tie between serfs and their overlords.
Catherine's despotic rule and personal morality suffered from similar moral failures as a great many men in power. On the other hand, she did attempt to democratize governance, suggesting that her instinct was toward egalitarianism. Yet she also reinforced feudalism by tightening the tie between serfs and their overlords.
[[category:political people]]
[[category:political people]]