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

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

Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, empress of Russia (1762-96), did

much to transform Russia into a modern country. Originally named Sophie

Fredericke Augusta, she was born in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland), on May

2, 1729, the daughter of the German prince of Anhalt-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, and Catherine's husband succeeded as

PETER III. The new ruler soon made himself unpopular, especially with

certain army officers. Led by Aleksei ORLOV (whose brother Grigori was

Catherine's lover), the officers staged a coup in June 1762. Peter was

deposed (and subsequently murdered), and Catherine became absolute ruler of

the largest European empire, whose language she never learned to speak

correctly and without accent.

At the age of 33, Catherine was not only a handsome woman (whose

numerous love affairs dominate the popular accounts of her life), but also

unusually well read and deeply involved in the cultural trends of her age.

She was a tireless worker and knew how to select capable assistants--for

example, Nikita PANIN in foreign affairs, Aleksandr SUVOROV in the military,

and Grigory POTEMKIN in administration. Imbued with the ideas of the

Enlightenment, Catherine aimed at completing the job started by Peter I--

westernizing Russia--but she had different methods. Unlike Peter, she did

not forcibly conscript 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 overwhelm...

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...re of the Black Sea. The fertile lands

of the Ukraine were also opened for settlement and soon became the granary

of Europe. Catherine also participated in the partitions of Poland (1772,

1792, and 1795), bringing a large part of that country under Russian rule.

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.

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).