History Fact Finder | Government and Politics - Who Was Catherine The Great?

Who was Catherine the Great?

Catherine the Great (Catherine II; 1729–1796) was the czarina (empress) of Russia who ruled from 1762 to 1796. She was called "the Great" because she continued the Europeanization of Russia that was initiated by Czar Peter the Great (1672–1725). Born German princess Sophie Anhalt-Zerbst, she married future Russian czar Peter III (1728–1762) in 1744. At that time she changed her name to Catherine. Peter became czar in 1762, but five months later a group of conspirators headed by Catherine's lover, Grigori Orlov (1734–1783), removed him from the throne. Catherine was proclaimed czarina and Peter was murdered soon thereafter. She began her reign by undertaking a series of "enlightened" reforms, which included drawing up a document that served as a guide for a code of laws. To implement the laws she summoned a legislative council that included representatives of all social classes except serfs....

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