Catherine II of Russia

Catherine II ({{lang-ru|?????????? II ???????????}}, tr.: Yekaterina II Alexeyevna; April 21, 1729—November 6, 1796 (O.S.)), born Sophie Augusta Fredericka, known as Catherine the Great, reigned as empress of Russia from June 28, 1762, to her death on November 6, 1796. A cousin to Gustav III of Sweden and Charles XIII of Sweden, Catherine exemplified an "enlightened monarch."

Life before becoming empress

A German Princess, Sophie Augusta Fredericka (nicknamed Figchen) was born in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland), to Christian Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, and Elizabeth of Holstein. In 1744, Tsarina Elizabeth selected Sophie as the wife for her nephew, Peter, her chosen successor. Sophie changed her name to "Catherine" (Yekaterina or Ekaterina) when she accepted the Russian Orthodox faith. The marriage was unsuccessful - it was not consummated for 12 years due to Peter III's impotence and mental immaturity. After Peter took a mistress, Catherine became involved with other prominent court figures. She soon became popular with several powerful political groups which opposed her husband. Well read, Catherine kept up-to-date on current events in Russia and the rest of Europe. She corresponded with many of the great minds of her era, including Voltaire and Diderot. In 1762, after moving into the new Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Peter succeeded to the throne as Peter III of Russia, but his eccentricities and policies, including an obsession with neighboring and enemy country Prussia, alienated the same groups that Catherine had cultivated. Grigori Orlov, Catherine's lover at the time, headed a conspiracy in which Catherine led a group of troops to the palace in which Peter was residing. He immediately fled to a distant castle, and Catherine took the throne, triumphant about her bloodless and widely supported coup d'etat. Six months later, on July 17, 1762, Peter died from illness, but is rumored to have been killed by Catherine's supporters.

Related Topics:
German - Stettin - Szczecin - Poland - Christian Augustus - Anhalt-Zerbst - Elizabeth of Holstein - 1744 - Elizabeth - Peter - Russian Orthodox - Voltaire - Diderot - 1762 - Winter Palace - Saint Petersburg - Grigori Orlov - July 17

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