Catherine 2 history of reign briefly. Just Fike

Catherine 2 (b. May 2, 1729 – d. November 17, 1796). The years of Catherine II's reign were from 1762 to 1796.

Origin

Princess Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst was born in 1729 in Stettin. Daughter of Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, general of the Prussian service, and Johanna Elisabeth, Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp.

Arrival in Russia

Arrived in St. Petersburg on February 3, 1744 and converted to Orthodoxy on June 28, 1744. 1745, August 21 - she was married to her second cousin, Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich.

She was naturally gifted with a great mind and strong character. On the contrary, her husband was a weak and ill-mannered man. Not sharing his pleasures, Ekaterina Alekseevna devoted herself to reading and soon moved from lyrical novels to historical and philosophical books. A select circle formed around her, in which the greatest confidence was enjoyed first by Prince N. Saltykov, and then by Stanislav Poniatovsky, later the king of the Kingdom of Poland.

The Grand Duchess's relationship with Empress Elizabeth Petrovna was not particularly cordial, which was mutual. When Ekaterina Alekseevna gave birth to her son Pavel, the empress took the child with her and rarely allowed her mother to see him.

Death of Elizaveta Petrovna

Elizaveta Petrovna died on December 25, 1761. After Emperor Peter 3 ascended the throne, the position of his wife became even worse. The palace coup of June 28, 1762 and the death of her husband elevated Catherine 2 to the Russian throne.

The harsh school of life and natural intelligence made it possible for the new empress to get out of a rather difficult situation herself and lead Russia out of it. The treasury was empty, the monopoly suppressed trade and industry; factory peasants and serfs were worried about rumors of freedom, which were renewed every now and then; peasants from the western border fled to Poland.

Ekaterina 2

Under these circumstances, Catherine 2 ascended the throne, the rights to which belonged to her son according to the law of succession to the throne. But she understood that a young son would become a plaything of various palace parties on the throne. The regency was a fragile affair - the fate of Menshikov, Biron, Anna Leopoldovna was in everyone's memory.

Catherine’s penetrating gaze stopped equally attentively on the phenomena of life, both in Russia and abroad. 2 months after accession to the throne, having learned that the famous French “Encyclopedia” had been condemned by the Parisian parliament for atheism and its continuation was prohibited, the Empress invited Voltaire and Diderot to publish this encyclopedia in Riga. This one proposal won over to her side the best minds who then gave direction to public opinion throughout Europe.

Catherine was crowned on September 22, 1762 in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin and she spent the fall and winter in Moscow. The following year, the Senate was reorganized and divided into six departments. 1764 - the Manifesto on the secularization of church property was announced, the Smolny Institute of Noble Maidens and the Imperial Hermitage were founded, the first collection of which was 225 paintings received from the Berlin merchant I.E. Gotzkowsky to repay the debt to the Russian treasury.

CONSPIRACY

1764, summer - Second Lieutenant Mirovich decided to enthrone Ivan VI Antonovich, the son of Anna Leopoldovna and Duke Anton-Ulrich of Brunswick-Bevern-Lunenburg, who was kept in the Shlisselburg fortress. The plan was unsuccessful - on July 5, during an attempt to free him, Ivan Antonovich was shot by one of the guard soldiers; Mirovich was executed by court order.

Domestic and foreign policy

1764 - Prince Vyazemsky, sent to pacify the peasants assigned to the factories, was ordered to investigate the issue of the benefits of free labor over the serfs. The same question was proposed to the newly founded Economic Society. First of all, it was necessary to resolve the issue of the monastery peasants, which had become especially acute even under Elizaveta Petrovna. At the beginning of her reign, Elizabeth returned the estates to monasteries and churches, but in 1757 she and the dignitaries around her became convinced of the need to transfer the management of church property to secular hands.

Peter 3 ordered that Elizabeth's plans be fulfilled and the management of church property be transferred to the board of economy. The inventory of the monastery property was carried out extremely roughly. When Catherine 2 ascended the throne, the bishops filed complaints with her and asked for the return of control to them. The Empress, on the advice of Bestuzhev-Ryumin, satisfied their desire, abolished the board of economy, but did not abandon her intention, but only postponed its execution. She then ordered that the 1757 commission resume its studies. It was ordered to make new inventories of monastic and church property.

Knowing how the transition of Peter 3 to the side of Prussia irritated public opinion, the Empress ordered the Russian generals to maintain neutrality and thereby contributed to ending the war.

The internal affairs of the state required special attention. What was most striking was the lack of justice. The Empress expressed herself energetically on this matter: “Extortion has increased to such an extent that there is hardly the smallest place in the government in which a trial could be conducted without infecting this ulcer; if anyone is looking for a place, they pay; whether someone defends himself against slander - defends himself with money; Whether anyone slanderes anyone, he backs up all his cunning machinations with gifts.”

The empress was especially amazed when she learned that within the Novgorod province they were taking money from peasants for swearing allegiance to the empress. This state of justice forced her to convene a commission in 1766 to publish the Code. She handed over her “Order” to this commission, which was to guide the commission in drawing up the Code. The “Mandate” was compiled based on the ideas of Montesquieu and Beccaria.

Polish affairs, the emerging Russian-Turkish war of 1768–1774 and internal unrest suspended Catherine's legislative activity until 1775. Polish affairs caused the division and fall of Poland.

The Russian-Turkish war ended with the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi peace, which was ratified in 1775. According to this peace, the Porte recognized the independence of the Crimean and Budzhak Tatars; ceded Azov, Kerch, Yenikale and Kinburn to Russia; opened free passage for Russian ships from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean; granted forgiveness to Christians who took part in the war; allowed Russia's petition in Moldovan cases.

During the Russian-Turkish War in 1771, a plague raged in Moscow, causing the Plague Riot. This plague killed 130 thousand people.
An even more dangerous rebellion, known as the Pugachevshchina, broke out in eastern Russia. 1775, January - Pugachev was executed in Moscow.

1775 - the legislative activity of Catherine 2 resumed, which, however, had not stopped before. Thus, in 1768, the commercial and noble banks were abolished and the so-called assignation, or change, bank was established. In 1775, the existence of the Zaporozhye Sich, which was already tending to fall, was terminated. In the same 1775, the transformation of provincial government began. An institution was published for the management of provinces, which was introduced for 20 years: in 1775 it began with the Tver province and ended in 1796 with the establishment of the Vilna province. Thus, the reform of provincial government, begun by Peter 1, was brought out of a chaotic state by Catherine 2 and completed.

1776 - the empress ordered the word “slave” to be replaced in petitions with the word “loyal subject.”

By the end of the first Russian-Turkish war, he became especially important, striving for great things. Together with his collaborator Bezborodko, he compiled a project known as the Greek one. The grandeur of this project - after destroying the Ottoman Porte, restoring the Greek Empire, placing Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich on the throne - appealed to Catherine.

Irakli 2, king of Georgia, recognized the protectorate of Russia. The year 1785 was marked by two important legislative acts: the “Charter Granted to the Nobility” and the “City Regulations”. The charter on public schools on August 15, 1786 was implemented only on a small scale. Projects to found universities in Pskov, Chernigov, Penza and Yekaterinoslav were postponed. 1783 - The Russian Academy was founded to study the native language. The beginning of women's education was laid. Orphanages were established, smallpox vaccination was introduced, and the Pallas expedition was equipped to study the remote outskirts.

Catherine 2 decided to explore the newly acquired Crimean region herself. Accompanied by the Austrian, English and French ambassadors, with a huge retinue in 1787, she set off on a journey. Stanislav Poniatowski, King of Poland, met the Empress in Kanev; near Keidan - Austrian Emperor Joseph 2. He and Catherine 2 laid the first stone of the city of Ekaterinoslav, visited Kherson and inspected the Black Sea Fleet just created by Potemkin. During the journey, Joseph noticed the theatricality in the situation, saw how people were hastily herded into villages that were supposedly under construction; but in Kherson he saw the real deal - and gave justice to Potemkin.

The second Russian-Turkish war under Catherine 2 was waged in alliance with Joseph 2 in 1787–1791. The peace treaty was concluded in Iasi on December 29, 1791. For all the victories, Russia received only Ochakov and the steppe between the Bug and the Dnieper.

At the same time, there was a war with Sweden, with varying happiness, declared by Gustav III on July 30, 1788. It ended on August 3, 1790 with the Peace of Werel on the condition of maintaining the previously existing border.

During the second Russian-Turkish war, a coup took place in Poland: 1791, May 3 - a new Constitution was promulgated, which led to the second partition of Poland in 1793, and then to the third in 1795. Under the second partition, Russia received the rest part of the Minsk province, Volyn and Podolia, in the third - the Grodno voivodeship and Courland.

Last years. Death

1796 - the last year of the reign of Catherine 2, Count Valerian Zubov, appointed commander-in-chief in the campaign against Persia, conquered Derbent and Baku; his successes were stopped by the death of the empress.

The last years of the reign of Catherine 2 were overshadowed by a reactionary direction. Then the French Revolution broke out, and the pan-European, Jesuit-oligarchic reaction entered into an alliance with the Russian reaction at home. Her agent and instrument was the Empress’s last favorite, Prince Platon Zubov, together with his brother Count Valerian. European reaction wanted to drag Russia into the fight against revolutionary France, a fight alien to the direct interests of Russia.

The Empress spoke kind words to the representatives of the reaction and did not give up a single soldier. Then the undermining of her throne intensified, accusations were renewed that she was reigning illegally, occupying the throne that belonged to her son Pavel Petrovich. There is reason to believe that in 1790 an attempt was being made to elevate Pavel Petrovich to the throne. This attempt was probably connected with the expulsion of Prince Frederick of Württemberg from St. Petersburg.

The reaction at home then accused the empress of allegedly being excessively free-thinking. Catherine grew old, and there was almost no trace of her former courage and energy. And under such circumstances, in 1790, Radishchev’s book “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow” appeared with a project for the liberation of the peasants, as if written out from the articles of the Empress’s “Order.” The unfortunate Radishchev was exiled to Siberia. Perhaps this cruelty was the result of the fear that the exclusion of articles on the emancipation of peasants from the “Nakaz” would be considered hypocrisy on the part of the empress.

1796 - Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov, who had served so much in the Russian education, was imprisoned in the Shlisselburg fortress. The secret motive for this measure was Novikov’s relationship with Pavel Petrovich. 1793 - Knyazhnin suffered cruelly for his tragedy “Vadim”. 1795 - even Derzhavin was suspected of being a revolutionary for his transcription of the 81st Psalm, entitled “To Rulers and Judges.” This is how the educational reign of Catherine II, which raised the national spirit, ended. Despite the reaction of recent years, the name educational will remain with him in history. From this reign in Russia they began to realize the importance of humane ideas, they began to talk about the right of man to think for the benefit of his own kind.

Literary movement

Gifted with literary talent, receptive and sensitive to the phenomena of life around her, Catherine II took an active part in the literature of that era. The literary movement she excited was dedicated to the development of educational ideas of the 18th century. Thoughts on education, briefly outlined in one of the chapters of the “Nakaz”, were subsequently developed in detail by the empress in the allegorical tales “About Tsarevich Chlor” (1781) and “About Tsarevich Fevey” (1782) and, mainly, in “Instructions to the Prince” N. Saltykov”, given upon his appointment as tutor to the Grand Dukes Alexander and Konstantin Pavlovich (1784).

The pedagogical ideas expressed in these works were mainly borrowed by the empress from Montaigne and Locke; From the first she took a general view of the goals of education, and used the second when developing particulars. Guided by Montaigne, the Empress put the moral element in the first place in education - to sow humanity, justice, respect for laws, and condescension towards people in the soul of a person. At the same time, she demanded that the mental and physical aspects of education receive proper development.

Personally raising her grandchildren until the age of seven, she compiled an entire educational library for them. For the grand dukes, their grandmother also wrote “Notes on Russian History.” In purely fictional works, which include magazine articles and dramatic works, Catherine 2 is much more original than in works of a pedagogical and legislative nature. Pointing out actual contradictions to the ideals that existed in society, her comedies and satirical articles should have significantly contributed to the development public consciousness, making the importance and expediency of the reforms it undertakes more clear.

Empress Catherine 2 the Great died on November 6, 1796 and was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

It was not for nothing that she was called the Great during her lifetime. During the long reign of Catherine II, almost all areas of activity and life in the state underwent changes. Let's try to consider who Catherine II really was and how long she ruled in the Russian Empire.

Catherine the Great: years of life and results of her reign

The real name of Catherine the Great is Sophia Frederica Augustus of Anhalt - Zerbska. Born on April 21, 1729 in Stetsin. Sophia's father, the Duke of Zerbt, rose to the rank of field marshal in the Prussian service, laid claim to the Duchy of Courland, was the governor of Stetsin, and did not make a fortune in Prussia, which was impoverished at that time. The mother is from the poor relatives of the Danish kings of the Oldenburg dynasty, a great-aunt to Sophia Frederica's future husband.

Not much is known about the period of life of the future empress with her parents. Sophia received a good, for those times, home education, which included the following subjects:

• German;
• French;
• Russian language (not confirmed by all researchers);
• dancing and music;
• etiquette;
• needlework;
• basics of history and geography;
• theology (Protestantism).

The parents did not raise the girl, only occasionally showing parental severity with suggestions and punishments. Sophia grew up as a lively and inquisitive child, easily communicated with her peers on the streets of Shtetsin, learned to run a household as best she could and participated in household chores - her father could not support the entire necessary staff of servants on his salary.

In 1744, Sophia Frederica, together with her mother, as an accompanying person, was invited to Russia for a bride-show, and then married (August 21, 1745) to her second cousin, heir to the throne, Holsteiner by birth, Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich. Almost a year before the wedding, Sofya Frederika accepted Orthodox baptism and became Ekaterina Alekseevna (in honor of the mother of the reigning Empress Elizaveta Petrovna).

According to the established version, Sophia - Catherine was so imbued with her hopes for a great future in Russia that immediately upon her arrival in the empire she rushed to frantically study Russian history, language, traditions, Orthodoxy, French and German philosophy, etc.

The relationship with my husband did not work out. What the real reason was is unknown. Perhaps the reason was Catherine herself, who before 1754 suffered two unsuccessful pregnancies without having a marital relationship, as the generally accepted version claims. The reason could be Peter, who is believed to have been attracted to rather exotic (those with some external flaws) women.

Be that as it may, in the young grand-ducal family, the ruling Empress Elizabeth demanded an heir. On September 20, 1754, her wish came true - her son Pavel was born. There is a version that S. Saltykov became his father. Some believe that Saltykov was “planted” in Catherine’s bed by Elizabeth herself. However, no one disputes that outwardly Paul is the spitting image of Peter, and the subsequent reign and character of Paul serve as further evidence of the latter’s origin.

Immediately after birth, Elizabeth takes her grandson from her parents and raises him herself. His mother is only occasionally allowed to see him. Peter and Catherine are moving away even more - the meaning of spending time together has been exhausted. Peter continues to play “Prussia - Holstein”, and Catherine develops connections with the Russian, English, and Polish aristocracies. Both periodically change lovers without a shadow of jealousy towards each other.

The birth of Catherine's daughter Anna in 1758 (it is believed that from Stanislav Poniatovsky) and the opening of her correspondence with the English ambassador and disgraced field marshal Apraksin puts the Grand Duchess on the brink of being tonsured into a monastery, which did not suit her at all.

In December 1762, Empress Elizabeth died after a long illness. Peter takes the throne and removes his wife to the far wing of the Winter Palace, where Catherine gives birth to another child, this time from Grigory Orlov. The child would later become Count Alexei Bobrinsky.

Within a few months of his reign, Peter III managed to alienate the military, nobles and clergy with his pro-Prussian and anti-Russian actions and desires. In these same circles, Catherine is perceived as an alternative to the emperor and hope for changes for the better.

On June 28, 1762, with the support of the guards regiments, Catherine carried out a coup and became an autocratic ruler. Peter III abdicates the throne and then dies under strange circumstances. According to one version, he was stabbed to death by Alexei Orlov, according to another, he escaped and became Emelyan Pugachev, etc.

• secularization of church lands - saved the empire from financial collapse at the beginning of the reign;
• the number of industrial enterprises has doubled;
• Treasury revenues increased 4 times, but despite this, after the death of Catherine, a budget deficit of 205 million rubles was revealed;
• the army doubled in size;
• as a result of 6 wars and “peacefully” the south of Ukraine, Crimea, Kuban, Kerch, partly the lands of White Rus', Poland, Lithuania, and the western part of Volyn were annexed to the empire. The total area of ​​acquisitions is 520,000 sq. m. km.;
• The uprising in Poland under the leadership of T. Kosciuszko was suppressed. Led the suppression of A.V. Suvorov, who eventually became a field marshal. Was it just a rebellion if such rewards are given for its suppression?
• uprising (or full-scale war) led by E. Pugachev in 1773 - 1775. The fact that it was a war is supported by the fact that the best commander of that time, A.V., was again involved in the suppression. Suvorov;
• after the suppression of the uprising of E. Pugachev, the development of the Urals and Siberia by the Russian Empire began;
• more than 120 new cities were built;
• the territorial division of the empire into provinces was carried out according to population (300,000 people - province);
• elected courts were introduced to try civil and criminal cases of the population;
• noble self-government was organized in cities;
• a set of noble privileges was introduced;
• the final enslavement of the peasants took place;
• a secondary education system was introduced, schools were opened in provincial cities;
• the Moscow Orphanage and the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens were opened;
• paper money was introduced into monetary circulation and the Assignation Office with eagle owls was created in large cities;
• Vaccination of the population began.

In what year did Catherine die?IIand her heirs

Long before her death, Catherine II began to think about who would come to power after her and be able to continue the work of strengthening the Russian state.

Son Paul as the heir to the throne did not suit Catherine, as an unbalanced person and too similar to her ex-husband Peter III. Therefore, she devoted all her attention in raising the heir to her grandson Alexander Pavlovich. Alexander received an excellent education and married at the request of his grandmother. The marriage confirmed that Alexander was an adult.

Despite the wishes of the empress, who died of a cerebral hemorrhage in mid-November 1796, insisting on her right to inherit the throne, Paul I came to power.

How much of the rules of Catherine II should be assessed by descendants, but for a true assessment it is necessary to read the archives, and not repeat what was written a hundred to one hundred and fifty years ago. Only in this case is a correct assessment of the reign of this extraordinary person possible. Purely chronologically, the reign of Catherine the Great lasted 34 eventful years. It is known for certain and confirmed by numerous uprisings that not all inhabitants of the empire liked what was done during the years of its enlightened rule.

A foreigner by birth, she sincerely loved Russia and cared about the welfare of her subjects. Having taken the throne through a palace coup, the wife of Peter III tried to implement the best ideas of the European Enlightenment into the life of Russian society. At the same time, Catherine opposed the outbreak of the Great French Revolution (1789-1799), outraged by the execution of the French king Louis XVI of Bourbon (January 21, 1793) and predetermining Russia's participation in the anti-French coalition of European states at the beginning of the 19th century.

Catherine II Alekseevna (nee Sophia Augusta Frederica, Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst) was born on May 2, 1729 in the German city of Stettin (modern territory of Poland), and died on November 17, 1796 in St. Petersburg.

The daughter of Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst, who was in the Prussian service, and Princess Johanna Elisabeth (née Princess Holstein-Gottorp), she was related to the royal houses of Sweden, Prussia and England. She received a home education, the course of which, in addition to dance and foreign languages, also included the basics of history, geography and theology.

In 1744, she and her mother were invited to Russia by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, and baptized according to Orthodox custom under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna. Soon her engagement to Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich (future Emperor Peter III) was announced, and in 1745 they got married.

Catherine understood that the court loved Elizabeth, did not accept many of the oddities of the heir to the throne, and, perhaps, after Elizabeth’s death, it was she who, with the support of the court, would ascend to the Russian throne. Catherine studied the works of figures of the French Enlightenment, as well as jurisprudence, which had a significant impact on her worldview. In addition, she made as much effort as possible to study, and perhaps understand, the history and traditions of the Russian state. Because of her desire to know everything Russian, Catherine won the love of not only the court, but also the whole of St. Petersburg.

After the death of Elizaveta Petrovna, Catherine’s relationship with her husband, never distinguished by warmth and understanding, continued to deteriorate, taking on clearly hostile forms. Fearing arrest, Ekaterina, with the support of the Orlov brothers, N.I. Panina, K.G. Razumovsky, E.R. Dashkova, on the night of June 28, 1762, when the emperor was in Oranienbaum, carried out a palace coup. Peter III was exiled to Ropsha, where he soon died under mysterious circumstances.

Having begun her reign, Catherine tried to implement the ideas of the Enlightenment and organize the state in accordance with the ideals of this most powerful European intellectual movement. Almost from the first days of her reign, she has been actively involved in government affairs, proposing reforms that are significant for society. On her initiative, a reform of the Senate was carried out in 1763, which significantly increased the efficiency of its work. Wanting to strengthen the dependence of the church on the state, and to provide additional land resources to the nobility supporting the policy of reforming society, Catherine carried out the secularization of church lands (1754). The unification of administration of the territories of the Russian Empire began, and the hetmanate in Ukraine was abolished.

A champion of Enlightenment, Catherine creates a number of new educational institutions, including for women (Smolny Institute, Catherine School).

In 1767, the Empress convened a commission, which included representatives of all segments of the population, including peasants (except serfs), to compose a new code - a code of laws. To guide the work of the Statutory Commission, Catherine wrote “The Mandate,” the text of which was based on the writings of educational authors. This document, in essence, was the liberal program of her reign.

After the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. and the suppression of the uprising under the leadership of Emelyan Pugachev, a new stage of Catherine’s reforms began, when the empress independently developed the most important legislative acts and, taking advantage of the unlimited power of her power, put them into practice.

In 1775, a manifesto was issued that allowed the free opening of any industrial enterprises. In the same year, a provincial reform was carried out, which introduced a new administrative-territorial division of the country, which remained until 1917. In 1785, Catherine issued letters of grant to the nobility and cities.

In the foreign policy arena, Catherine II continued to pursue an offensive policy in all directions - northern, western and southern. The results of foreign policy can be called the strengthening of Russia’s influence on European affairs, three sections of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, strengthening of positions in the Baltic states, annexation of Crimea, Georgia, participation in countering the forces of revolutionary France.

The contribution of Catherine II to Russian history is so significant that her memory is preserved in many works of our culture.

On April 21 (May 2), 1729, Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst, the future Russian Empress Catherine, was born in the German city of Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland). II.

In 1785, Catherine II issued the famous lawsnodatory acts - Charters granted to cities and nobility. For the Russian nobility, Catherine’s document meant the legal consolidation of almost all the rights and privileges available to the nobles, including exemption from compulsory public service.The charter to cities established new elected city institutions, expanded the circle of voters and consolidated the foundations of self-government.

In 1773 by order of CatherineII in St. Petersburg, to train specialists in metalworking industries, the first in Russia and the second in the world higher technical educational institution was founded - the Mining School. In 1781, the beginning was made of the creation of a national system of public education in Russia- a network of urban school institutions based on a class-lesson system has been created. In subsequent years, the Empress also continued to develop plans for major reforms in the field of education. IN1783 Catherine's decree was issued II “On free printing houses”, which allowed private individuals to engage in publishing activities. In 1795, by her highest command, Catherine the Great approved the project for the construction of the first public library in St. Petersburg.

During her reign, the Russian empress fought two successful wars against the Ottoman Turks (Russian-Turkish wars of 1768-1774 and 1787-1791), as a result of which Russia finally gained a foothold in the Black Sea. Leading an alliance with Austria and Prussia, Catherine participated in the three partitions of Poland. In 1795 the empressA manifesto was issued on the annexation of Courland “for eternity to the Russian Empire.”

The era of Empress Catherine the Great was marked by the appearance of a galaxy of outstanding statesmen, generals, writers, and artists. Among them, a special place was occupiedadjutant generalI. I. Shuvalov;Count P. A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky; Admiral V. Ya. Chichagov; Generalissimo A.V. Suvorov; Field Marshal General G. A. Potemkin; educator, book publisher N. I. Novikov; historian, archaeologist, artist, writer, collector A. N. Olenin, President of the Russian Academy E. R. Dashkova.

On the morning of November 6 (17), 1796, Catherine II died and was buried in the tomb of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. 77 years after the death of Catherine in St. Petersburg, a monument to the great empress was inaugurated on Alexandrinskaya Square (now Ostrovsky Square).

Lit.: Brickner A. G. History of Catherine II. St. Petersburg, 1885; Grot Y. K. Education of Catherine II // Ancient and new Russia. 1875. T. 1. No. 2. P. 110-125; The same [Electronic resource]. URL:http://memoirs.ru/texts/Grot_DNR_75_2.htm; Catherine II. Her life and writings: Sat. historical and literary articles. M., 1910;Joanna Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst. News written by Princess Joanna-Elizabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst, mother of Empress Catherine, about her and her daughter’s arrival in Russia and about the celebrations on the occasion of joining Orthodoxy and the latter’s marriage. 1744-1745 // Collection of the Russian Historical Society. 1871. T. 7. P. 7-67; The same [Electronic resource]. URL: http://memoirs.ru/texts/IoannaSRIO71.htm; Kamensky A. B. The life and fate of Empress Catherine the Great. M., 1997; Omelchenko O. A. “Legitimate Monarchy” of Catherine the Second. M., 1993; Stories by A. M. Turgenev about Empress Catherine II // Russian antiquity. 1897. T. 89. No. 1. P. 171-176; The same [Electronic resource]. URL: http://memoirs.ru/texts/Turgenev897.htm; Tarle E. V. Catherine the Second and her diplomacy. Part 1-2. M., 1945.

A controversial personality was Catherine II the Great, the Russian empress of German origin. In most articles and films, she is shown as a lover of court balls and luxurious toilets, as well as numerous favorites with whom she once had very close relationships.

Unfortunately, few people know that she was a very smart, bright and talented organizer. And this is an indisputable fact, since the political changes that occurred during the years of her reign related to In addition, numerous reforms that affected the social and state life of the country are another proof of the originality of her personality.

Origin

Catherine 2, whose biography was so amazing and unusual, was born on May 2, 1729 in Stettin, Germany. Her full name is Sophia Augusta Frederica, Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst. Her parents were Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst and his equal in title, Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp, who was related to such royal houses as English, Swedish and Prussian.

The future Russian empress was educated at home. She was taught theology, music, dance, basic geography and history, and, in addition to her native German, she knew French very well. Already in early childhood, she showed her independent character, perseverance and curiosity, preferring lively and active games.

Marriage

In 1744, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna invited the Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst to come to Russia with her mother. Here the girl was baptized according to Orthodox custom and began to be called Ekaterina Alekseevna. From that moment on, she received the status of the official bride of Prince Peter Fedorovich, the future Emperor Peter 3.

So, the exciting story of Catherine 2 in Russia began with their wedding, which took place on August 21, 1745. After this event, she received the title of Grand Duchess. As you know, her marriage was unhappy from the beginning. Her husband Peter was at that time still an immature youth who played with soldiers instead of spending his time in the company of his wife. Therefore, the future empress was forced to entertain herself: she read for a long time, and also invented various amusements.

Children of Catherine 2

While the wife of Peter 3 had the appearance of a decent lady, the heir to the throne himself never hid, so almost the entire court knew about his romantic preferences.

After five years, Catherine 2, whose biography, as you know, was also full of love stories, started her first romance on the side. Her chosen one was guards officer S.V. Saltykov. On September 20, 9 years after marriage, she gave birth to an heir. This event became the subject of court discussions, which, however, continue to this day, but in scientific circles. Some researchers are sure that the boy’s father was actually Catherine’s lover, and not her husband Peter. Others claim that he was born of a husband. But be that as it may, the mother did not have time to take care of the child, so Elizaveta Petrovna herself took on his upbringing. Soon the future empress became pregnant again and gave birth to a girl named Anna. Unfortunately, this child lived only 4 months.

After 1750, Catherine had a love relationship with S. Poniatowski, a Polish diplomat who later became King Stanislav August. At the beginning of 1760 she was already with G. G. Orlov, from whom she gave birth to a third child - a son, Alexei. The boy was given the surname Bobrinsky.

It must be said that due to numerous rumors and gossip, as well as the dissolute behavior of his wife, the children of Catherine 2 did not evoke any warm feelings in Peter 3. The man clearly doubted his biological paternity.

Needless to say, the future empress categorically rejected all sorts of accusations brought by her husband against her. Hiding from the attacks of Peter 3, Catherine preferred to spend most of her time in her boudoir. Her relationship with her husband, which had become extremely damaged, led her to seriously fear for her life. She was afraid that, having come to power, Peter 3 would take revenge on her, so she began to look for reliable allies at court.

Accession to the throne

After the death of his mother, Peter 3 ruled the state for only 6 months. For a long time they spoke of him as an ignorant and weak-minded ruler with many vices. But who created such an image for him? Recently, historians are increasingly inclined to think that such an unsightly image was created by memoirs written by the organizers of the coup themselves - Catherine II and E. R. Dashkova.

The fact is that her husband’s attitude towards her was not just bad, it was clearly hostile. Therefore, the threat of exile or even arrest hanging over her served as the impetus for preparing a conspiracy against Peter 3. The Orlov brothers, K. G. Razumovsky, N. I. Panin, E. R. Dashkova and others helped her organize the rebellion. On July 9, 1762, Peter 3 was overthrown, and a new empress, Catherine 2, came to power. The deposed monarch was almost immediately taken to Ropsha (30 versts from St. Petersburg). He was accompanied by a guard of guards under the command

As you know, the history of Catherine 2 and, in particular, the plot she arranged is replete with mysteries that excite the minds of most researchers to this day. For example, to this day the cause of death of Peter 3, 8 days after his overthrow, has not been precisely established. According to the official version, he died from a whole bunch of diseases caused by prolonged alcohol consumption.

Until recently, it was believed that Peter 3 died a violent death at the hands of Alexei Orlov. Proof of this was a certain letter written by the murderer and sent to Catherine from Ropsha. The original of this document has not survived, but there was only a copy, allegedly taken by F.V. Rostopchin. Therefore, there is no direct evidence of the emperor’s murder yet.

Foreign policy

It must be said that Catherine 2 the Great largely shared the views of Peter 1 that Russia on the world stage should take leading positions in all areas, while pursuing an offensive and even to some extent aggressive policy. Proof of this can be the breaking of the alliance treaty with Prussia, previously concluded by her husband Peter 3. She took this decisive step almost immediately as soon as she ascended the throne.

The foreign policy of Catherine II was based on the fact that she tried everywhere to place her proteges on the throne. It was thanks to her that Duke E.I. Biron returned to the Courland throne, and in 1763 her protégé, Stanislav August Poniatowski, began to rule in Poland. Such actions led to the fact that Austria began to fear an excessive increase in the influence of the northern state. Its representatives immediately began to incite Russia’s long-time enemy, Turkey, to start a war against it. And Austria still achieved its goal.

We can say that the Russian-Turkish war, which lasted 6 years (from 1768 to 1774), was successful for the Russian Empire. Despite this, the prevailing internal political situation within the country forced Catherine 2 to seek peace. As a result, she had to restore former allied relations with Austria. And a compromise between the two countries was reached. Its victim was Poland, part of whose territory was divided in 1772 between three states: Russia, Austria and Prussia.

Annexation of lands and the new Russian doctrine

The signing of the Kyuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty with Turkey ensured the independence of Crimea, which was beneficial for the Russian state. In subsequent years, there was an increase in imperial influence not only on this peninsula, but also in the Caucasus. The result of this policy was the inclusion of Crimea into Russia in 1782. Soon the Treaty of Georgievsk was signed with the king of Kartli-Kakheti, Irakli 2, which provided for the presence of Russian troops on the territory of Georgia. Subsequently, these lands were also annexed to Russia.

Catherine 2, whose biography was integrally connected with the history of the country, from the second half of the 70s of the 18th century, together with the then government, began to form a completely new foreign policy position - the so-called Greek project. His ultimate goal was the restoration of the Greek or Byzantine Empire. Its capital was to be Constantinople, and its ruler was the grandson of Catherine 2, Pavlovich.

By the end of the 70s, the foreign policy of Catherine 2 returned the country to its former international authority, which was further strengthened after Russia acted as a mediator at the Teschen Congress between Prussia and Austria. In 1787, the Empress, with the Polish king and the Austrian monarch, accompanied by her courtiers and foreign diplomats, made a long journey to the Crimean peninsula. This grandiose event demonstrated the full military power of the Russian Empire.

Domestic policy

Most of the reforms and transformations that were carried out in Russia were as controversial as Catherine 2 herself. The years of her reign were marked by the maximum enslavement of the peasantry, as well as the deprivation of even the most minimal rights. It was under her that a decree was issued banning the filing of complaints against the arbitrariness of landowners. In addition, corruption flourished among the highest government apparatus and officials, and the empress herself served as an example for them, who generously gifted both relatives and a large army of her fans.

What was she like?

The personal qualities of Catherine 2 were described by her in her own memoirs. In addition, research by historians, based on numerous documents, suggests that she was a subtle psychologist who had a good understanding of people. Proof of this can be the fact that she selected only talented and bright people as her assistants. Therefore, her era was marked by the appearance of a whole cohort of brilliant commanders and statesmen, poets and writers, artists and musicians.

In dealing with her subordinates, Catherine 2 was usually tactful, restrained and patient. According to her, she always listened carefully to her interlocutor, capturing every sensible thought, and then used it for good. Under her, in fact, not a single noisy resignation took place; she did not exile any of the nobles, much less execute them. It is not for nothing that her reign is called the “golden age” of the heyday of the Russian nobility.

Catherine 2, whose biography and personality are full of contradictions, was at the same time quite vain and greatly valued the power she had won. In order to keep it in her hands, she was ready to compromise even at the expense of her own convictions.

Personal life

Portraits of the empress, painted in her youth, indicate that she had a rather pleasant appearance. Therefore, it is not surprising that history included numerous love affairs of Catherine 2. To tell the truth, she could well have remarried, but in this case her title, position, and most importantly, complete power, would have been jeopardized.

According to the popular opinion of most historians, Catherine the Great changed about twenty lovers throughout her life. Very often she presented them with a variety of valuable gifts, generously distributed honors and titles, and all this so that they would be favorable to her.

Results of the board

It must be said that historians do not undertake to unambiguously evaluate all the events that occurred in Catherine’s era, since at that time despotism and enlightenment went hand in hand and were inextricably linked. During her reign, everything happened: the development of education, culture and science, the significant strengthening of Russian statehood in the international arena, the development of trade relations and diplomacy. But, as with any ruler, it was not without oppression of the people, who suffered numerous hardships. Such an internal policy could not help but cause another popular unrest, which grew into a powerful and full-scale uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev.

Conclusion

In the 1860s, an idea appeared: to erect a monument to Catherine 2 in St. Petersburg in honor of her 100th anniversary of accession to the throne. Its construction lasted 11 years, and its opening took place in 1873 on Alexandria Square. This is the most famous monument to the empress. During the years of Soviet power, 5 of its monuments were lost. After 2000, several monuments were opened both in Russia and abroad: 2 in Ukraine and 1 in Transnistria. In addition, in 2010, a statue appeared in Zerbst (Germany), but not of Empress Catherine 2, but of Sophia Frederica Augusta, Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst.