Catherine II, called Catherine the Great (Yekaterina II Velikaya; 2 May [O.S. 21 April] 1729 – reigned as Empress of Russia from 9 July [O.S. 28 June] 1762 until 17 November [O.S. 6 November] 1796).
-Quote by Catherine The Great, written to herself on becoming empress in 1762
She took power after a conspiracy deposed her husband, Peter III (1728–1762), and her reign saw the high point of the Russian nobility. Peter III, under pressure from the nobility, had already augmented the authority of the great landed proprietors over their muzhiks and serfs. In spite of the duties imposed on the nobles by the first "modernizer" of Russia, Tsar Peter I (1672–1725), and despite Catherine's friendships with the western European thinkers of the Enlightenment, Catherine found it impractical to improve the lot of her poorest subjects, who continued to suffer (for example) military conscription. The distinctions between peasant rights on votchina and pomestie estates virtually disappeared in law as well as in practice during her reign.
In 1785 Catherine conferred on the nobility the Charter to the Nobility, increasing further the power of the landed oligarchs. Nobles in each district elected a Marshal of the Nobility who spoke on their behalf to the monarch on issues of concern to them — mainly economic ones.
Commentary on Life of Catherine the Great
Catherine made an unlikely Russian heroine. She was not even Russian, but German and was thrown into a loveless marriage at the age of 14. She was tremendously disappointed in her puny husband - the rather cowardly and timid Grand Duke Peter.
Catherine was a tremendously adept at wooing the great and good of the Russian court. Whilst her husband did little to attract others. Catherine threw herself into Russian culture and soon became a great socialiser, wooing friends, lovers and influencing many around her within the Russian court..
She certainly loved the power and prestige of the court, but, at the same time she had a natural sympathy with her subjects. During her time, she significantly aided the poor peasants of Russia offering many landmark social and legal improvements. She prided herself on her education, intelligence and tolerance and was an enlightened ruler for the time of history.
One of her most significant lovers was Prince Potemkin, a dashing and brilliantly talent one eyed general who was also adept at politics. They may have married in secret and had a passionate love affair which lasted for many years. Together they ruled together and this led to a period of great success for Russia.
Stalin later remarked that the great success of Catherine the Great was to appoint people as skilled as Prince Potemkin.
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