Catherine II: A New Law Code: Catherine The Great
analytical Essay
1460 words
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
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how catherine ii, or more commonly known as catherine the great, reigned over russia with the ideas of enlightenment. the creation of the nakaz served as a way for catherine to incorporate an enlightened view into her ruling
- Describes catherine's spirited and enlightened reign in 1762. she wished to rework russia’s law code, which had not been changed since 1649.
- Describes catherine's new law code, the nakaz, which consisted of 22 chapters and 655 articles covering government, criminal and civil law, and general living procedures.
- Analyzes how catherine used the nakaz to show her view on the role of government in pursuing liberty for a country.
- Explains that the political liberty of a citizen is the piece of mind arising from the consciousness that every individual enjoys his peculiar safety.
- Analyzes how catherine wanted to create a government based on enlightenment ideals and still have autocratic power.
- Analyzes how catherine's nakaz focused on the role and responsibility of the ruler. she saw the rules as responsible for recognizing and preserving the "liberty" of people and society.
- Explains that the legislative commission failed at outlining a new code of law and the nakaz never went outside of moscow and st. petersburg.
- Analyzes how catherine's nakaz faced many problems, including her expectations and the men who made up the legislative commission.
- Analyzes how catherine's instruction was enlightened, but the call for absolutism was still evident. catherine used some of what she learned from the time of the commission to help with her reforms in 1775 and 1785.
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
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- Introduction Also known as Catherine II, Catherine the Great was an empress who ruled Russia from 1762 to 1796. She is the only Russian woman to have ever reigned for this long. Even though she is mostly acknowledged for her matters of the heart rather than her state affairs, Catherine managed to greatly expand her empire to become a recognized force in Europe. Catherine was born as Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst in 1729 to a Prussian Prince. In her teenage years she was unhappily married to a Russian Prince that would later become Emperor Peter III (1).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that catherine the great was an empress who ruled russia from 1762 to 1796. she was regarded as a socially enlightened ruler due to her correspondence with voltaire.
- Explains that sophie frederike august von anhalt-zerbst arrived to the russian court after her marriage to emperor peter iii. her arrival was viewed with suspicion due to her foreign roots, liberal attitudes, and lack of a russian culture.
- Describes catherine as one of russia's most autocratic rulers. she undertook a number of reforms that brought power to russia.
- Explains that catherine indulged in a string of widely publicized and sensationalized love affairs with various politicians and military officers, which ensured her continued reign at the throne of russia.
- Explains that catherine the great was one of the most successful female rulers of russia and the world. peter ii lacked common sense and ruled ineptly.
- Explains how catherine's unpopularity and lack of good judgment led to several groups plotting to overthrow her husband. catherine was declared the empress of russia in 1762.
- Analyzes how catherine's relationship with prince grigory potemkin, a military leader, was personal, but important politically as well.
845 wordsRead More - An avid admirer of Peter the Great, she created her version of Peter the Great’s decrees known as The Grand Instructions in 1768 even though she never really put these ideas into practice. Catherine the Great tightened her control on serfs and peasants through the creation of the Decree of Serfs. This decree stated that serfs and peasants must submit to their landlords in all matters or they face arrest. They were banned from sending petitions complaining about their landlords. This allowed the monarchy to control serfs and peasants in the prevention of any uprising or revolts in the future which also favored the nobles. Ironically, Catherine claimed to believe in “the liberal rhetoric of the Enlightenment” (Catherine 2nd Proposals and Decree on Serfs) however, she evidently ruled Russia with a tight rein. By putting the nobility on such a high pedestal she was ensuring that she had the support and backing of the nobility to maintain her government in Russia. After all, no monarchies in 17th and 18th centuries were secure never without the beloved
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how european monarchs and rulers wanted to increase their power both domestically and globally by adding to their territories and populations. the industrial revolution and french revolution of 1789 reinforced the idea that europeans were different from the rest of the world
- Explains the factors that contributed to the rise of the west and its dominance became manifest in the mid-eighteenth to early nineteenth century.
- Describes the thirty years' war between protestants and catholics, which set the lawful foundation for the nation-state. peter the great of russia and louis xiv of france used mercantilism to advance their economic resources and justify their royal supervision of their colonies.
- Explains that the formation of prussia and russia, during the seventeenth century, marked a development for the modern western world.
- Explains that louis xiv widened his control over higher and provincial nobility by creating the court of aristocrats and summoning the nobles to take up residence in versailles, making it easier for him to keep them under his eyes.
- Analyzes how catherine the great used elements of state building to achieve her goals for the state of russia.
- Explains that spain possessed the most populous empire in the world, controlling almost all africa, but the reality was quite different: the treasury was empty.
1090 wordsRead More - Maria Theresa's Political Testament: Maria Theresaanalytical essayIf one was to discern Maria Theresa’ character from reading her Political Testament, one would say that she was a practical, clever, and devote Catholic woman who despite the lack of resources or empire’s affair knowledge of the empire, managed to restore the empire. One aspect in her political Testament that made her look practical was when she recognized her ignorance of the situation of the empire by admitting to be “devoid of the experience and knowledge needful to rule dominions so extensive” (Theresa, 2). She was aware of not being informed of the empire’s situation and, as a result, she depended on her advisers to solve the empire’s dilemmas. On the other hand, she was a devote Catholic but not to the point of unconditionally supporting the church in financial matters. In her testament, she noticed the monetary indulgency that the church enjoyed due to her predecessor’s generosity, but she considered that times were different and the church did not need as much economic support as before because they had already achieve the goal of converting most people in the empire to Catholicism (Theresa, 7). It would be safe to say that she was in tune with the ideas of the enlightenment because her decisions were based partly on reason and not tradition. The mere fact of her assuming the crown instead of her husband Duke Francis Stephan of Lorraine shows that she did not follow the tradition. (Johnson, 113).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how maria theresa was a practical, clever, and devote catholic woman who despite the lack of resources or empire's affair knowledge, managed to restore the empire.
296 wordsRead More - Empress Theodora And Elizabeth I: A Comparative Analysisargumentative essayThe 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the informational articles "empress theodora" and "elizabeth i" by milton meltzer talk about two rulers who brought their kingdoms to their highest points.
- Explains that empress theodora was a person of great importance to her empire. she helped build "hostels to shelter the homeless" and improved living conditions for her people.
- Concludes that queen elizabeth expanded england and hoped religion would not prevent her people from living peacefully.
- Analyzes how citizens thought both rulers were incredible women who brought their kingdoms to their highest point.
- Explains that both empress theodora and elizabeth i impacted their respective kingdoms by making many changes during their reigns that improved conditions for their citizens.
518 wordsRead More - The Bolshevik Revolutionanalytical essayThe Bolshevik Revolution started many changes in Russia. One of the most dramatic changes was the change of their form of government to communism. This was brought about by the murder of the Czar and his family by the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks were sure to include the whole family in the murder because of the fear that someday one might comeback and reclaim power. So on July 17, 1918 Czar Nicholas II and his family were murdered. Although there were rumors about his daughter Anastasia escaping, she never resurfaced into society (Mestrovic 18).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the bolshevik revolution started many changes in russia, including the change of their form of government to communism. czar nicholas ii and his family were murdered on july 17, 1918.
- Explains that the bolshevik revolution led to the demise of russia as a world power because of the resulting up rise of communism, the cold war, and severe economic depression.
- Explains that lenin turned his back on all programs of reform. the only promise he kept was to take russia out of world war one.
- Explains that lenin started his own secret police, the cheka, and built up his army to nearly five million men. he exiled kerensky out of russia to end any threat of a loss of power.
- Explains how stalin transformed the soviet union into a totalitarian state and began the great purge, which was the campaign of removing all opposition to the communist rule.
- Analyzes how stalin's aggression and attitude pertaining to soviet influences on europe made the post-war perspective a face-off.
- Explains that the cold war was a more complex struggle over ideological, economic, and strategic issues. the russians were jealous of the americans for many reasons.
- Explains that president harry truman signed a bill that authorized u.s. aid to anti-communist forces, which angered the soviets.
- Explains that the soviet union's economic depression made it difficult to keep up with the high costs involved in keeping up armed forces. stalin, being the great dictator, always found ways of boosting up the army.
- Explains collectivization was the takeover of private farms by the government. the government could now control every aspect of the russian people's lives.
- Explains that agricultural production decreased, resulting in countrywide food shortages, which caused riots in the russian streets.
- Explains that the uprise of communism, the cold war, and severe economic depression brought about by the bolshevik revolution led to the demise of russia as a world power.
- Analyzes the russian government's political uncertainty and economic problems. the president is a former kgb member.
- Cites stephen f. cohen, rethinking the russian experience, oxford university press, 1985; orlando figes, a people’s tragedy, viking penguin press, 1997; matthew
852 wordsRead More - Analysis of Catherine de Medici's Reignanalytical essayCatherine 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.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how catherine de medici's culpability for the turbulent events in france in 1559-72 remains a topic of debate.
- Analyzes how the ‘legend’ of the wicked italian queen is credible in its demonstration of catherine’s ambition for power as regent.
- Analyzes how sutherland and heller rehabilitate catherine disentangling her from the xenophobic context of the pamphlets.
- Analyzes how contemporary memoires contributed to the literary construct of catherine’s alleged ‘stable of whores’ or ‘flying squadron’.
- Analyzes how the legend views catherine's ambition for power leading to her drifting between two opposing religious parties.
- Analyzes how salviati notes catherine's jealousy regarding coligny’s influence over her son, and neale agrees, highlighting her consequent manipulation of the guise’ vendetta authorizing the attempted assassination.
- Analyzes how contemporary pamphlets incriminated catherine suggesting the massacre had been pre-planned at a meeting with the extreme catholic alva at bayonne.
- Analyzes how the dichotomy between the interpretations of the ‘legend’ and ‘politique’ is false. knecht convincingly asserts that catherine desired peace but did not dismiss a draconian policy once her policy of conciliation had failed.
- Describes pierre de bourdeille's memoires and journals, quoted in u mcllvenna, scandal and repuation at the court of catherine de medici.
- Quotes j e neale, the age of catherine de medici, chatto & windus, london, 1978. memoires de condé in 1561.
- Analyzes the correspondance du nonce en france antonio maria salviati, éd. p.hurtubise, in r j knecht profiles in power: catherine de medici.
- Quotes catherine to s. de laubespine in d potter the french wars of religion, macmillan press, london, 1997.
- Quotes salviati's account to rome 24th august 1572 in d potter the french wars of religion, macmillan press, london.
- Analyzes the memoires de l’estat de france quoted in r j knecht profiles in power:
- Quotes r j knecht's profiles in power: catherine de medici.
- Analyzes u mcllvenna, scandal and reputation at the court of catherine de medici, university of sydney.
2162 wordsRead More - Catherine The Great: Catherine The Greatexplanatory essayCatherine Michvech World Culture Period 9 March 16, 2014 Catherine the Great Catherine the Great was the oldest daughter of an impoverished Prussian Prince. Surprisingly, Catherine’s name was not actually Catherine. She was born in 1729 into her family as Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst. Sophie had a younger brother Wilhem Christain who her mother spent all of her time with and gave little interest to Sophie. When her younger brother died at the age of twelve, Sophie thought the only way to get away from her controlling mother was to get married.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sophie von anhalt-zerbst was the oldest daughter of an impoverished prussian prince. she had a younger brother who her mother spent all of her time with and gave little interest to sophie.
- Explains that catherine received her education by tutors, religious studies with a military minister, and learned three languages. her mother noticed that her daughter could move up the social ladder and improve her own situation.
- Explains that catherine the great believed in the enlightenment, which meant that each man should have basic human rights such as liberty, property, and education. she was not strong enough to fight the current situation.
- Explains that catherine the great achieved numerous accomplishments throughout her time. she extended the borders of russia, obtaining the lands of southern ukraine and crimea.
- Narrates how catherine the great and her husband, peter, were a happy couple, but peter was immature and irresponsible. catherine had several miscarriages but produced her son, paul, in 1754.
- Explains that catherine's husband assumed the throne becoming peter iii while catherine received the title empress consort. peter angered the orthodox church by taking away their land.
607 wordsRead More - St. Catherine of Sienaanalytical essayIn 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.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how catherine saw a bridal chamber up in the heavens with jesus christ who bestowed upon her the sign of the cross and his eternal benediction. she sought christ's hand in marriage and appealed to the virgin mary to grant this connection.
- Analyzes how catherine's belief that the pope was the human form of christ in her letters is striking.
- Explains that catherine began formulating her most famous work, the dialogue of the divine providence, when disaster struck, with the election of an antipope in rome.
- Analyzes how catherine justified the importance of solitude in payer, and the spirituality of the soul in "a treatise of prayer." catherine was convinced that she was serving god and that gave her reason to believe anything she had to say was of great importance.
- Explains that catherine of siena was born in italy in 1347 at a time when political and religious changes were affecting the hierarchy of the catholic church.
- Deduces that the marriage between catherine and christ was granted by the virgin mary based on the mercy mary bestows on everyone who prays to her.
- Analyzes how catherine's work in the dialogue connects spirituality with issues affecting the daily life of the people.
- Cites berrigan, joseph, and katharina m. wilson's medieval woman writers. blessed raymond of capua, the life of saint catherine
- Describes giordani, igino, meiss, millard, and tobin on catherine of siena: fire and blood.
2003 wordsRead More - Peter I Vs Catherine II Essayanalytical essayDuring the course of the eighteenth century, both Peter I and Catherine II rose to power as Russian tsars implementing their social and political power upon their kingdom and people. They aimed to westernize Eastern Europe, amassing great power and tracts of land, yet the tactical process in which they did so differed for each individual. Peter I and Catherine the Great made effective changes within the structures of military, nobility, education, and peasantry.
In this essay, the author
- Explains how peter i and catherine ii rose to power as russian tsars implementing their social and political power upon their kingdom and people. the tactical process differed for each individual.
- Explains that the main driving force behind peter i's consolidation of power and reformation of russia was the goal of ultimately enhancing military efficiency, allowing russia to become a world power.
- Analyzes how catherine ii, while not as war driven as peter i, posed a powerful threat to european dominances and pushed russia into the modern and advanced era of time.
- Explains that peter i and catherine ii were involved in the role and responsibilities the nobility could implement within the government and politics.
- Opines that catherine ii followed the path of louis xiv, appeasing the nobility, while abolishing the establishment of the russian elite that peter had previously arranged.
- Explains how catherine the great incorporated the nobility into educational reforms. she established provincial elementary schools and teacher colleges to equip state with proper educators. peter i encouraged noblemen to experience western europe and learn about technology and economic theory.
- Analyzes how the peasantry was reformed by catherine ii and peter i. while catherine advocated the abolition of serfdom, she failed to enhance the lives of the people.
709 wordsRead More - Catherine The Greatanalytical essayhusband. She was to marry Grand Duke Peter III of Holstein, he was sixteen. When Catherine
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how catherine converted to russian orthodoxy after a lutheran and german attitude.
- Opines that the true heir, peter the great, was german without a drop of russian blood in her veins.
- Explains that elizabeth's position was fragile and elected to keep the statesmen who worked under elizabeth.
- Narrates how thousands of people moved to russia, and the response was excellent.
- States that in 1775, she ruled that each provincial capital must have a hospital.
- Narrates how she wrote several operas, some were performed there, and later wrote stories.
- Describes catherine the great, a title she was offered during her lifetime.
- Narrates how stettin was born into the anhalt-zerbst family, one of the poorest and most obscure german princely families.
- Narrates how catherine's mother, johanna, found her a husband in 1743. she was to marry grand duke peter iii of holstein.
- Explains catherine's life as a grand duchess from 1745 to 1762 was difficult. their marriage was never on good terms. she learned how to speak russian to convince the court of her good will.
- Analyzes how the empress elizabeth of russia, peter iii's aunt, was irritated because she wanted to secure a powerful dynasty and couldn't accomplish this without the presence of male heirs.
- Narrates how catherine gave birth to a son, whom the empress named paul, on september 20, 1754. peter accepted him as his own and elizabeth took him to her apartments.
- Narrates how peter mocked elizabeth's life and made loud, rude noises while the priests were speaking. he ended hostile relations between prussia and his russia.
- Explains that the russian army, largely due to peter's adopted changes, suffered great losses during the seven years' war.
- Explains that catherine felt she was in great danger and began to plot the overthrow of the new tsar.
- Explains that the ismailovsky's were hers, and from that moment on so was russia. catherine took the oath on june 28, 1762.
- Describes how peter, unwilling to fight, signed the act of abdication. he was taken to a nearby estate in ropsha and placed under surveillance. catherine received the news that peter had died.
- Describes how catherine was stunned by the realities of the country's financial and social situation when she met the senate for the first time at the summer palace.
- Explains that she sent experts to study the soil and propose suitable crops, and made grants to landowners to learn new ways being used in england.
- Explains that she turned to mining and sent geologists to access the ores from russia's seemingly barren lands. she founded the first school of mines in st. petersburg.
- Narrates how a new decree was established stating that anyone could start new factories except in the two capitals, which were overcrowded. a whole range of industries emerged: linen, pottery, leather goods and furniture.
- Explains how catherine created the statute for schools for all of russia in 1786. she did not set policies for the founding of universities because she knew that russia lacked qualified teachers.
- Opines that catherine was an enthusiastic collector of the arts, building up the imperial art collection from a dozen works to an incredible 3,926. her love for russia and pride in her adopted country comes through when we look at the beautiful collection of paintings done by the world's greatest masters.
- Analyzes how catherine felt her reign was fragile and in desperate need of noble support to keep the throne. she deliberately increased the power of the nobles over the serfs, and governed in such a way as to consolidate noble domination
- Analyzes how she lived through hurtful criticism, rebellion, war, and estrangement from her son, paul, who she thought incapable of ruling russia.
- Analyzes how catherine's reputation suffered because of the many accounts of her affairs. she died of a stroke on the 17th of november, 1796.
1808 wordsRead More