Catherine the Great

Enlightened monarch who modernized Russia, expanded its empire, and championed arts and education.

Catherine II (1729–1796), known as Catherine the Great, transformed Russia into a global power during her 34-year reign. Born a German princess, she seized the throne in 1762 through a coup against her husband, Peter III. Her rule marked the Golden Age of the Russian Empire, characterized by territorial expansion, administrative reforms, and cultural flourishing.

Catherine embraced Enlightenment ideals, corresponding with philosophers like Voltaire and Diderot. She reformed legal codes, promoted education for girls, and established the Smolny Institute, Russia's first state-funded school for women. Her Nakaz (Instruction) of 1767 proposed progressive legal principles, though many were never implemented.

Under Catherine, Russia annexed Crimea, parts of Poland, and Alaska, doubling its territory. The Russo-Turkish Wars solidified its dominance in the Black Sea. Domestically, she suppressed peasant uprisings like Pugachev's Rebellion, reinforcing serfdom despite her enlightened rhetoric.

A patron of the arts, Catherine amassed an unparalleled art collection, founding the Hermitage Museum. She commissioned palaces, theaters, and monuments, turning St. Petersburg into a cultural capital. Her reign also saw the rise of Russian literature and theater.

Though criticized for her autocratic rule and personal scandals, Catherine's legacy as a reformer and diplomat endures. She remains a pivotal figure in Russian history, bridging medieval traditions and modern statecraft.