The Contributions of Catherine II (Catherine the Great), Empress of Rus

The Contributions of Catherine II (Catherine the extensive), Empress of Russia Catherine II, or Catherine the commodious, empress of Russia (1762-96), did very much to transform Russia into a modern body politic. Originally named SophieFredericke Augusta, she was born in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland), on May2, 1729, the daughter of the German prince of Anhalt-Zerbst. At the age of15 she went to Russia to get under ones skin the wife of mother fucker, nephew and heir ofEmpress ELIZABETH. Elizabeth died on Dec. 25, 1761, and Catherines husband succeeded asPETER III. The parvenue ruler soon made himself un normal, especially withcertain army officers. lead by Aleksei ORLOV (whose brother Grigori wasCatherines lover), the officers staged a coup in June 1762. Peter wasdeposed (and subsequently murdered), and Catherine became absolute ruler ofthe largest European empire, whose language she never intimate to speakcorrectly and without accent. At the age of 33, Catherine wa s not only a handsome woman (whosenumerous love affairs dominate the popular accounts of her life), but alsounusually well read and deeply compound in the cultural trends of her age.She was a tireless worker and knew how to select qualified assistants--forexample, Nikita PANIN in foreign affairs, Aleksandr SUVOROV in the military,and Grigory POTEMKIN in administration. Imbued with the ideas of theEnlightenment, Catherine aimed at completing the think over started by Peter I--westernizing Russia--but she had different methods. Unlike Peter, she didnot forcibly conscript society into the service of the state, but ratherencouraged individual beginning(a) in pursuit of self-interest. She succeededto a degree with the upper classes, but did zilch for the overwhelm... ...re of the Black Sea. The fertile landsof the Ukraine were also opened for settlement and soon became the garnerof Europe. Catherine also participated in the partitions of Poland (1772,1792, and 1795), bringing a la rge part of that country under Russian rule. By the time of Catherines death (Nov. 17, 1796), modern Russiansociety was organized and its culture had struck firm roots. Russia wasalso contend a determining role in world affairs.Bibliography Alexander, John T., Catherine the Great Life and Legend(1989) Cronin, Vincent, Catherine, Empress of All the Russians (1978)Grey, Ian, Catherine the Great (1961 repr. 1975) Maroger, Dominique, ed.,Memoirs of Catherine the Great, trans. by M. Budberg (1961) Oldenbourg,Zoe, Catherine the Great, trans. by Anne Carter (1965) Raeff, Marc, ed.,Catherine the Great A Profile (1972).