Princess Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg / Empress Catherine II of Russia

Catherine II (Russian: Екатерина II Великая, Yekaterina II Velikaya), also known as Catherine the Great, born 2 May [O.S. 21 April] 1729, reigned as Empress of Russia from 9 July [O.S. 28 June] 1762 until her death (17 November [O.S. 6 November] 1796). Under her direct auspices the Russian Empire expanded, improved its administration, and continued to modernize along Western European lines. Catherine's rule re-vitalized Russia, which grew ever stronger and became recognized as one of the great powers of Europe. Her successes in complex foreign policy and her sometimes brutal reprisals in the wake of rebellion (most notably Pugachev's Rebellion) complemented her hectic private life. She frequently occasioned scandal—given her propensity for lascivious relationships which often resulted in gossip flourishing within more than one European court.
Catherine took power after a conspiracy deposed her husband, Peter III (17281762), and her reign saw the high point in the influence of the Russian nobility. Peter III, under pressure from the nobility, had already increased the authority of the great landed proprietors over their muzhiks and serfs. In spite of the duties imposed on the nobles by the first prominent "modernizer" of Russia, Tsar Peter I (16721725), and despite Catherine's friendships with the western European thinkers of the Enlightenment (in particular Denis Diderot, Voltaire and Montesquieu) 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 1775 Catherine decreed a Statute for the Administration of the Provinces of the Russian Empire. The Statute sought to efficiently govern Russia by increasing population and dividing the country into provinces and districts. By the end of her reign, there were fifty provinces, nearly 500 districts, more than double the government officials, and they were spending six times as much as previously on local government. 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. In the same year, Catherine issued the Charter of the Towns which distributed all people into six groups in order to control the power of nobles and create a middle estate. Each of these charters had major flaws and Catherine seemingly could not gain the reform she had long desired for her country, after her death this was made even more obvious through her son Paul.

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[GP1739]

Ow very nice!! What is the music?

[lostsplendour]

@GP1739 Thanks. The music is from the soundtrack of the movie "Ogniem i mieczem".

[rafal017]

i got wrong Paul was Peters son xD

[rafal017]

Katherine had lovers so everything might happened

Paul wasnt mentaly normal and he had sexual problem so its difficult to say

if u want to see some similarities on portraits i will say that all aristocratic families in germany were some kind related with :P

[Strefanash]

@lostsplendour

In my reading of Russian History, a long held passion of mine, one of the authors referred to a rediscovered letter wherein CAtherine admitted overcoming her total disgust with Peter and did her dynastic duty to produce the heir, Paul Petrovich.

I'm sorry I cant attest this, not remembering where i read it, but I too hold that Paul was Peter's lawful son

[AphroditeEros33]

@lostsplendour Thank you for your quick response*^o^* Now I got a clear understanding. The daughter Anna didn't live long or didn't play significant role in history, that's why she was not named like Anna II, I assume. Thank you again for your clear explanation *^o^*

[lostsplendour]

@AphroditeEros33 Thanks. I forgot this similarity. Anna Petrovna was also the name of Catherine II's daughter, the Empress Elisabeth named her in honor of her sister Anna Petrovna, mother of Peter III. So there were two Anna Petrovna.

[AphroditeEros33]

@lostsplendour Yes, you might be right - they do resemble each other - one major similarity might be...both of them were not loved by Catherine II. Anna Petrovna is the daughter of Peter I & Catherine I and the mother of Peter III, isn't she??? I thought I read somewhere that Peter III & Catherine II had a daughter who lived only a few years. I might be mistaken. Anyway, thank you so much for your reply *^o^*

[lostsplendour]

@AphroditeEros33 I think that Paul was really the son of Peter III - just compare their portraits, they look alike - but I may be wrong. Anna Petrovna was the daughter of Catherine and Poniatowski. Paul was their only child.

[AphroditeEros33]

@lostsplendour  Thank you for your reply. Do you think "their child" Paul I's Father is Peter III? Did they also have a daughter? Shamefully, I am lacking knowledge of Russian history, but your video inspired me to learn it. Better late than never *^o^* Thank you so much!!!