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[[File:Antropov Portrait of Catherine the Great.jpg|thumb|Portrait by Alexei Antropov, ca. 1773.]]

[[File:Antropov Portrait of Catherine the Great.jpg|thumb|Portrait by Alexei Antropov, ca. 1773.]]

'''Catherine the Great''' (Russian: Екатерина II Великая) (1729-1796) was the powerful empress of [[Russia]] (1762-1796) who ruled as an [[Enlightened Despot]]. 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''' (Russian: Екатерина II Великая) (1729-1796) was the powerful empress of [[Russia]] (1762-1796) who ruled as an [[Enlightened Despot]]. After the [[French Revolution]], she stopped supporting the [[Enlightenment]], which her husband supported before. 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==

==Background==