Catherine II: A New Law Code: Catherine The Great

1460 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Catherine the Great of Siena

Catherine II, or more commonly known as Catherine the Great, reigned over Russia with the ideas of Enlightenment. These ideas are best seen in her attempt at a new law code, the Nakaz. From reading the Nakaz, someone can see that Catherine saw the Enlightenment ideas of natural law, freedom, and liberty as the most important. The new law code was created not only to enforce the enlightenment ideas, but also to have a more concise law code for the people of Russia. Catherine argued that a trend towards Enlightenment of government would help connect Russia with the West. The creation of the Nakaz served as a way for Catherine to try and incorporate an enlightened view into her ruling.
Catherine was born in 1729 to a German prince and princess. She moved to Russia well before her husband’s, Peter III, reign. During the time before his reign she learned all about the Russian language and customs, even converting to Orthodoxy. Catherine started her spirited and enlightened reign in 1762. In an effort to help make a more absolute government, Catherine wished to rework Russia’s law code, which had not been changed since 1649. In July of 1767 she brought together the Legislative Commission. This was a body of elected deputies for her to consult with about her Instruction, or Nakaz. The Legislative Commission consisted of nobles, merchants and …show more content…

Catherine also did nothing to further advocate the new law. The Legislative Commission failed at outlining a new code of law and the Nakaz never went outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg. This is not a complete failure, but Catherine did intend of the new law code being enforced throughout Russia. The war with the Ottoman Empire also provided an opportunity for the Nakaz to be put on the backburners. Although it never became law, the legislative commission and Nakaz served as a reboot on Russian political

Show More
Related

  • Women in the Enlightenment

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Enlightenment is known as the revolution that brought to question the traditional political and social structures. This included the question of the woman’s traditional roles in society. As the public sphere relied more and more ?? and the advances in scientific and educated thinking, women sought to join in with the ranks of their male counterparts. Women held gatherings known as salons where they organized intellectual conversations with their distinguished male guests. Seeking to further their status, enlightened women published pamphlets and other works advocating for educational rights and political recognition. Even with this evolution of woman in society, many still clung to the belief that the role of the woman was solely domestic. The females that spoke up were usually deemed unnatural. However these women used the time period of reason and science that allowed them the opportunity to break away from their domestic roles and alter the view of women in society.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Ivan And Charles

    1390 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both monarchs had a royal background and were put in power with high expectations to continue the stability that the country possessed. Citizens aspire for all government officials to keep the peoples best interest in mind. But sadly, due to Ivan’s brutal childhood, he grew up observing and learning from the mannerisms of the corrupt elite. Ivan predominately gained power through fear and with this tactic was the first to exercise a despotism in Russia. One example of this is the story of the peasants who disturbed Ivan during one of his retreats. They came to him to complain of their governor who they believed was unjust but Ivan was so upset that they had troubled him with such a petty matter that he punished them. The men had their hands tied behind their backs, boiling hot alcohol poured on their heads and then their beards lit on fire with a candle. Apprehension and terror were Ivan’s main tools for keeping his people under control. Despite his totalitarian state of mind, Ivan believed that his decisions were still best for the country and the only way to keep it safe was by leaving it in constant fear. Although not always the most rational, the czar still made the suitable choices to keep the kingdom together. Similar to Ivan, Charles was not always under the influence of his mental disability. During his 42

    Read More

  • Isabel De Madariaga's Catherine The Great

    1470 Words  | 3 Pages

    Russia being such a vast country, extending from the borders of Poland to the Pacific Ocean, made the idea of reform seem almost impossible. The changes she made in the areas of education, social services, law and economic policy are detailed throughout. In 1767, Catherine expounded on her vision for Russia’s reform in a long and detailed Instruction. The Instruction expresses her philosophy and beliefs, her hopes and plans. Some historians thought she contradicted herself throughout her Instruction. Catherine believed Russia was, in fact, a part of Europe. The French philosopher Montesquieu, whom Catherine greatly admired, referred to England as a moderate monarchy, which had political liberty as its main principle. He saw Russia as more of an oriental state with despotic, absolute rule. Catherine did not agree with his classification of Russia and she insisted that Russia was an absolute monarchy, not an Asiatic despotism, and could be ruled by administering fundamental laws. The author points out that Catherine’s condemnation of torture, “ The usage of torture is contrary to all dictates of nature and reason: even mankind itself cries out against it, and demands loudly the total abolition of it” shows her true belief in the principles of enlightenment. Catherine’s Statute of 1775 planned to reform many social services, such as the medical and the penal

    Read More

  • How Did Catherine The Great Westernize Russia

    552 Words  | 2 Pages

    (education) From the start of Catherine reign, she was enchanted by the thought of the enlightened period. This had an emissive impact on the public-school system, which was corrupt at the time. Up until Catherine's reign the Russian schools only taught, but she wanted the students to be nurtured; not in the science or arithmetic, but to be upbrought by the arts and literature.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Great And Catherine The Great

    750 Words  | 2 Pages

    She tried to bring about political and social reforms by compiling a document called “Nakaz” which contained advice on how legislature should function and pushed for capital punishment and torture to be outlawed and everyone be declared equal. She focused the early years of her reign on the promotion of administrative efficiency and expansion of educational opportunities. Under Catherine reign, the Assignation Bank started issuing the government paper in 1768, having the Government Issue paper money. Ands lastly, during Catherine made substantial gains in Poland and gave the parts of Poland to Prussia and Austria, while taking the eastern region for herself. Catherine worst blunders were that she did not allow dissenters to build chapels and she suppressed religious dissent after the French revolution. Catherine ruled through corruption, scandal, and her failed attempts at reforms. Lastly, 95% of Russia did not benefit directly from Catherine’s reign, and she did not consider the blood and sweat of the people who help grow the economy during this

    Read More

  • Empress Theodora And Elizabeth I: A Comparative Analysis

    518 Words  | 2 Pages

    The informational articles “Empress Theodora” by The World Almanac and “Elizabeth I” by Milton Meltzer it talks about two rulers who brought their kingdoms to their highest points. Both Empress Theodora and Elizabeth I impacted their respective kingdoms by making many changes during their reigns that improved conditions for their citizens.

    Read More

  • Enlightened Absolutism In Russia

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    Catherine II was motivated by the ideals of enlightened absolutism because she read the works of enlightenment writers and believed that certain reforms would ensure the well-being of her subjects. Catherine’s first major reform involved Russia’s legal system, which was based on the inefficient Code of Laws. Catherine's legal reform was documented to be the ideal government for Russia. The Empress called for a progressive legal system which focused on granting equal protection under law to all persons and emphasizing prevention of criminal acts rather than the imposing of harsh punishment. Catherine also reformed domestic matters after a series of threatening events. For security reasons, she reorganized provincial administration to favor the nobility. Catherine even reformed educational facilities by increasing the number of elementary and secondary schools. She also gave attention to the arts and science, making St. Petersburg one of the most cultural place in Europe during her reign. The reforms that were influenced by enlightened absolutism were appealing to Catherine II because it would bring peace and stability to Russia and its people. This made her favorable among her people, thus making her more

    Read More

  • Catherine De Medici's Black Legend

    2162 Words  | 5 Pages

    Catherine de Medici’s culpability for the turbulent events in France in 1559-72 remains a topic of some debate. Highly personal protestant pamphleteers associated Catherine with sinister comparisons to the contemporary evil Machiavelli which eventually developed into the ‘Black Legend’. Jean.H. Mariégol consolidates this interpretation, overwhelmingly assuming Catherine’s wickedness; the Queen Mother was deemed to be acting for ‘personal aggrandizement’ without an interest in the monarchy. Neale provides a corrective arguing a ‘dominant maternalism’ drove Catherine’s policies. Sutherland critiques Neale, suggesting he is guilty of using misconceived qualifying phrases from the ‘Black Legend’ stemming from the contemporary pamphlets, instead Sutherland and Heller attempt to disentangle Catherine from the context of the xenophobic Protestant pamphleteers that shaped much of Catherine’s historical analysis thus far, revealing the ‘politique’ whose moderate policies were a force for stability. Knecht is most convincing in his assertion that whilst the ‘Black Legend’ is a misrepresentation of her character and policies, Sutherland goes too far in whitewashing Catherine. Ironically, Catherine as a ‘politique’ aimed for complex policies and yet her role in French politics was over-simplified by contemporaries and arguably even by modern historians contributing to overly polarised interpretations. Instead we should bear in mind the violent pressures Catherine faced in the context of the collapse of monarchical authority and follow the more nuanced interpretation of her role.

    Read More

  • The Control of Women in Early Modern Europe

    1194 Words  | 3 Pages

    Do you believe in equal rights for women? During the sixteenth and seventeenth century, the rights of women were restricted when compared to the rights of men. Many of these rights were based upon the social and marital status of the woman, but regardless of her status, she had less rights than her husband. As I will argue in this paper, men controlled women and limited their rights with regard to guardianship, serving as a witness, and owning property. Women were viewed as inferior to men and often considered unable to make intellectual decisions. As Professor Byars stated in class, women at this time had illegitimate power rather than legitimate power. Anything they received, they received from someone or something else. Women only obtained wealth or power in a manner deemed appropriate by men. Women faced restrictions and lack of personal control their entire life and were under the authority of men.

    Read More

  • The Effect Of The Russian Orthodox Religion On The Cult

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    power on the tsar, it was in the best interest of the monarchy to protect and

    Read More

  • St. Catherine of Siena

    2003 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the early stages of Catherine's life the surfacing modern age was bringing with it social turmoil which spread throughout Europe (Giordani 3). During Catherine's lifetime, according to Mary Ann Sullivan in her essay “St. Catherine of Siena,” the center of Catholic rule fluctuated between Rome and Avignon and contributed to a schism between popes in Italy and France (1). Catherine was born 23rd in a line of 25 children and, according to Sullivan “even at a young age, [she] sensed the troubled society around her and wanted to help” (1). While her parents were not exceptionally religious, St. Catherine's biographer Blessed Raymond of Capua discusses Catherine's early zeal for Catholic practices: “When she was about five she learned the Hail Mary, and repeated it over and over again as often as she could…she was inspired by heaven to address the Blessed Virgin in this way whenever she went up and down stairs, stopping to kneel on each step as she did so” (24). Her devotion to the Virgin Mary would become especially important in a vision she had around this time while walking with her brother to visit one of her sisters.

    Read More

  • Catherine The Great Dbq

    391 Words  | 1 Pages

    They still were going to have an absolute power but it was going to be in a different way. I think that Catherine was really trying to make the monarch look like a better person so that she would be well respected with certain laws or decisions that she would make. The reason behind her enlightened views may not be known, but I feel that she wanted to have more territory to rule over and knew she needed to gain support in order to take over a larger area. Overall, I think Catherine the Great was a wonderful ruler. She knew she was in charge and seemed to try to please everyone. Even though she may not have succeeded in doing that, she did come up with laws such as human torture should be abolished, no man should be looked at as guilty before he has a sentence, and the society should be a fixed order. Knowing what her role was and coming up with laws that benefited the society definitely showed that Catherine II did earn to be called “Catherine the

    Read More

  • Alexander II

    651 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alexander II has been considered “a great historical figure without being a great man, that what he did was more important than what he was.” ( W.E Mosse) For 26 years, Czar Alexander II ruled russia. During his reign, he made his mark on history by stepping outside of the box and going to extreme measures to help his people. He has been labeled as the “Liberator of tsar” for the ending of serfdom. Czar Alexander II of Russia has made an impact on history because of his interesting background, fatal assassination, and the changes made after his assassination.

    Read More

  • The Causes of the Russian Revolution in March 1917

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the creation of the Duma has promised political changes, few. of those proposals have actually become real. The Duma had little power to enforce new laws or make important decisions. The Tsar always had the final word. Therefore, the people living in Russia were not... ...

    Read More

  • Religion in Britain

    1373 Words  | 3 Pages

    precedent to go by for a woman to be in power. So Henry wanted to

    Read More

More about Catherine II: A New Law Code: Catherine The Great

Open Document