Catherine the Great

Sophie Fredericke Augusta

Catherine II - The Great
Born: May 2, 1729
Crowned: Sept. 1762
Died: Nov. 17, 1796
Father: Christian von Anholt-Zerbst Prince of Anholt-Zerbst
Mother: Joanna
Married: 1 Sept. 1745 to Peter III Romanov
Children:
Paul Petrovich Romanov, b. 1 Oct. 1754
Anna Petrovna Romanov, b. 20 Dec. 1757

Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, empress of Russia (1762 - 96), did much to transform Russia into a modern country. She was originally named Sophie Fredericke Augusta, Princess of Anholt Zerbst. She was born in Stettin, on May 2, 1729, the daughter of the German prince of Anholt-Zerbst. At the age of 15 she went to Russia to become the wife of Peter, nephew and heir of Empress Elizabeth.
Elizabeth died on Dec. 25, 1761, Catherine's husband succeeded as Peter III. The new ruler soon made himself unpopular, especially with certain army officers. The officers staged a coup in June 1762. Peter was deposed and murdered. Leaving Catherine to became the absolute ruler of the largest European empire, whose language she never learned to speak correctly and without accent.
Catherine aimed at completing the job started by Peter I -- westernizing Russia -- but she had different methods. Unlike Peter, she did not force society into the service of the state, but rather encouraged individual initiative in pursuit of self-interest. She succeeded to a degree with the upper classes, but did nothing for the majority of the population -- the peasantry.
To learn the needs of the country and to gain popularity, Catherine in 1767 created an assembly of deputies to draft a new code of laws. In 1773, Yemelian Pugachev led Cossacks, peasants, and others in a revolt that engulfed large parts of eastern Russia. The revolt, ruthlessly crushed by the army in 1775, alerted Catherine to the necessity for reform. In 1775, she reorganized the local administration, integrated the Cossacks into the regular army, and put the serfs belonging to the Russian Orthodox church under the administration of the state.
Catherine established the Free Economic Society in 1765 to encourage the modernization of agriculture and industry. She promoted trade and the development of underpopulated regions by inviting foreign settlers, and she founded new towns. Catherine patronized arts and letters, permitted the establishment of private printing presses, and relaxed censorship rules. Under her guidance the University of Moscow and the Academy of Sciences became internationally recognized centers of learning; she also increased the number of state and private schools.
Finally, Catherine expanded the Russian empire a great deal. Russia had two successful wars against Turkey and the Crimea, which gave Russia a lot of new territory. By the time of Catherine's death (Nov. 17, 1796), modern Russian society was organized and its culture had struck firm roots. Russia was also playing a determining role in world affairs. It is said that Cathrine had about 21 official lovers throughout the duration of her life.