Add to favorite
 

   

 Catherine II  (Catherine the Great)


Born:   2 May 1729
Deceased:   17 November 1796

Empress of All-Russia (1762—1796). The period of her reigning is often considered as the Golden Age of the Russian nobility.

      

Sophia Augusta Fredericka (renamed Yekaterina Alekseyevna after Orthodox baptizing ceremony) was born in Germany and became the Empress of Russia after dethroning her husband Peter III, who was her second cousin.

The years of her ruling (1762—1796) were really recognized the Golden Age of Yekaterina. During that period the entire internal structure of the Russian Empire was transformed, and the power of the Russian army and navy grew up under Catherine’s favourite commanders — Potyomkin, Rumyantsev, Suvorov, Kuruzov, Ushakov, and Orlov. As a result of successful wars Russia annexed the Black Sea Coast, Crimea, East Georgia, and a half of Poland with Belarus and the Western Ukraine.

The reign of Catherine the Great (1762-1796) is sometimes characterized as the Enlightened absolutism, referring to the empress’ interest in the ideas of Voltaire and Diderot. Under her rule Russian culture, education and science blossomed; new educational institutions, academies, libraries and printing houses were opened.

Catherine herself wrote dozens of plays, articles, and books on various issues of Russian history and economy, education and philosophy. She kept correspondence with Voltaire and Encyclopaedists, and left extremely interesting "Notes" about the first period of her reign.

It was during her reign that Russia became a great power taken into consideration by the whole world.

Once Catherine II wrote an epitaph which she wanted to be inscribed on her gravestone: “Having come to the Russian throne, she wished well and tried to bring her citizens happiness, freedom and property, she easily forgave and had no hatred to anybody. Forgiving, affable, cheerful by nature, with a republican soul and a kind heart, she had friends. Work came natural to her, she loved arts and being in public”.

Catherine II died on November, 6th, 1796 in Tsarskoye Selo.

 


Tags: Governors of Russia Romanovs Catherine II   








Comment on our site


RSS   twitter      submit


Ïàðòåð


TAGS:
Russian scientists  Moscow Theatres  profit  Alexander Kerzhakov  Alexey Navalny  Russian economy  Titian  Moscow  Strange Incidents  Lyubov Sokolova  St. Petersburg  Kerzhakov   Merchant Houses  Vologda  Russian airports  Russian science  Moscow events  Exhibitions in Moscow  Russian business  Russian cities  Ultralight Trike Show  Free Events  FIFA world cup 2018 tickets  Vladimir Chambers  Vyacheslav Zaitsev  UNESCO  Russian cuisine  Chebarkul Meteorite  OccupyAbai  Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia  Russian tourism  Russian Cinema  Russian churches  Legal Services in Russia  Kuzma Minin  Ryazan  New Films  River Station in Moscow  Latvian visa centre  Archeological Finds  Zheleznogorsk   Wildberries  Russian courts  Russian aviation  Nina Niss-Goldman  Artplay Design Centre  Fashion  Concerts in Moscow  Russian Astronauts  Vandalism 


Travel Blogs
Top Traveling Sites