Anne Edwards September 17, 2014
Who was Catherine the Great?
Catherine the Great was born in Poland on May 2, 1729. Her birth name was Sophie Fredericke Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst. Catherine married a Duke that was the successor to the Russian throne. Sadly, this marriage was miserable for both of them. Catherine wisely assembled a group of people who supported her. When Catherine's son, Paul was born in 1754. Catherine's husband gave the throne to Paul in 1762. Paul was unreliable and unpredictable The Imperial guards of Russia finally had to overthrow his power. Russia's throne was given to Catherine.
Catherine's Reign
Catherine was thought as an unseemly but accomplished ruler. Her political thinking was partly influence by ideas of the French Enlightenment. She gave money to many French writers. Catherine did this to make a good impression on Western Europe and to apply some of their ideas to Russia's government. Catherine's greatest achievements were creating the first Russian school for girls and building a medical college. Russia was also greatly expanded while controlled by Catherine. Russia obtained jurisdiction of the North shoreline of the Black Sea. This was the result of several wars against the Ottoman Empire.
Catherine; an absolutist ruler
Catherine considered herself an "all knowing" ruler. She wanted support form the gentry and nobles so she showered them with gifts. She gave them various titles, money, lands and serfs. Catherine gave the gentry more authority over the serfs. She also found power in controlling the Eastern Orthodox Church.The church owned a lot of land in Russia and had an influence
over people. Catherine thought a monarchy was the best kind of government for Russia. She thought Russia could not handle shared power. Catherine was against education for the ordinary people of Russia. She thought if they had an education, they would have a greater chance of disobeying her. Cossack peasants, led by Yemelyan Pugachov, eventually revolted against Catherine. The Russian army quickly suppressed the revolt. To gain loyalty, Catherine gave some Cossacks unique privileges or gifts.Catherine soon wanted more control over her kingdom. She improved the management of Russia to help gain more control. Catherine was a sneaky authoritarian. She concealed her absolutist acts by smothering people with gifts to control them. |
These are pictures of Catherine the Great's Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. My family took these pictures when we traveled to Russia a couple of years ago.
< Catherine's Palace. Personal Photography by Anne Edwards. 2010> "A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache" - Catherine the Great
"Blessings on your courage, boy; that's the way to the stars" - Catherine the Great
Unique Facts about Catherine the Great:
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Works Cited:
"Catherine The Great." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2014): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 14 Sept. 2014.
"8 things you didn't know about Catherine the Great." History.com. 9 July 2012, A&E Television Network. Web. 14 September 2014. <http://www.h istory.com/news/8-things-you-didnt-know-about-catherine-the-great>.
"29 Catherine The Great Quotes." MLQuotes. MLquotes.com, 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://www.mlquotes.com/authors/catherine_the_great/>.
"Catherine II". Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 16 Sep. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/17152/Catherine-II-painting-by-Dmitrij-Grigorevic-Levickij-1783-in-the>
"Catherine II of Russia". Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica
Online. Web. 16 Sep. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/141907/Catherine-II-of-Russia-painting-by-Fyodor-Stepanovich-Rokotov-1763>
Smitha, Frank E. "Catherine the Great, Russian Empress." Macro History. Frank E. Smitha, 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h31-gr6c.htm>.
"8 things you didn't know about Catherine the Great." History.com. 9 July 2012, A&E Television Network. Web. 14 September 2014. <http://www.h istory.com/news/8-things-you-didnt-know-about-catherine-the-great>.
"29 Catherine The Great Quotes." MLQuotes. MLquotes.com, 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://www.mlquotes.com/authors/catherine_the_great/>.
"Catherine II". Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 16 Sep. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/17152/Catherine-II-painting-by-Dmitrij-Grigorevic-Levickij-1783-in-the>
"Catherine II of Russia". Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica
Online. Web. 16 Sep. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/141907/Catherine-II-of-Russia-painting-by-Fyodor-Stepanovich-Rokotov-1763>
Smitha, Frank E. "Catherine the Great, Russian Empress." Macro History. Frank E. Smitha, 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h31-gr6c.htm>.