CATHERINE THE GREAT
PRESENTED BY : VANDHANA AND
RANGITHA
AGENDA
1.Introduction
2.Early Life and personal life
3.Rise to Power
4.Reign as Empress
5.Major Reforms and Achievements
6.Foreign Policy and Expansion
7.Relationship with the Nobility
8.Cultural Contributions
9. Legacy
10.Death and Succession
11.Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
Catherine the Great, also known as
Catherine II, was one of the most
remarkable and influential rulers of
Russia. She reigned from 1762 to 1796,
making her the longest-ruling female
leader in Russian history. Born as a
German princess, she rose to power
through marriage and political skill. Her
reign is often called the Golden Age of the
Russian Empire due to her significant
contributions to education, culture,
government reform, and the expansion of
Russian territory.
EARLY LIFE
1.Early Life – Catherine the Great
2.Born on May 2, 1729, in Stettin, Prussia (now
Szczecin, Poland).
3.Full name at birth: Sophie Friederike Auguste
von Anhalt-Zerbst.
4.Came from a minor German noble family; father
was Christian August, a Prussian army officer.
5.Received a strong education in languages,
philosophy, history, and the arts.
Known from a young age for being intelligent, curious,
and ambitious.
At age 14, chosen to marry Grand Duke Peter, heir to
the Russian throne.
Traveled to Russia in 1744 for the arranged marriage.
Converted to Eastern Orthodoxy and took the name
Catherine Alekseyevna.
Marriage to Peter was unhappy, but Catherine
remained focused on learning and gaining political
knowledge.
• Became deeply involved in Russian culture and
politics, determined to one day rule.
PERSONAL LIFE
• Personal Life
• Married Peter III, but the marriage was unhappy
and distant.
• Had several romantic relationships and
influential favorites (notably Grigory Potemkin).
• Known for her intelligence, charm, and ambition.
• Loved literature, philosophy, art, and was a lifelong
learner and writer.
• Had one legitimate son, Paul I, who later became
emperor.
RISE TO POWER
• Married Grand Duke Peter in 1745 at the age of
16; he later became Peter III of Russia.
• Their marriage was distant and strained; Peter
was unpopular among nobles and the military.
• Catherine gained support at court by building
alliances with nobles, military officers, and
political figures.
• She educated herself in Russian politics,
Enlightenment philosophy, and leadership skills.
• In 1762, Peter III became Emperor after the death
of Empress Elizabeth.
• Peter's short reign (only 6 months) was
marked by unpopular decisions, including pulling
out of the war against Prussia.
With help from her allies in the Imperial Guard,
Catherine launched a bloodless coup against Peter.
Peter III was forced to abdicate and later died under
mysterious circumstances (possibly murdered).
Catherine declared herself Empress of Russia in June
1762.
• Her takeover was widely accepted due to her
popularity and political skill.
.
REGIN AS EMPRESS
• Here is the "Reign as Empress" section in point-wise format for your Catherine
the Great presentation:
• Reign as Empress – Catherine the Great (1762–1796)
• Reigned for 34 years, the longest of any female Russian ruler.
• Focused on modernizing Russia along Western European Enlightenment
ideals.
• Promoted education, founded schools, and supported the education of girls.
• Reorganized the government administration to improve efficiency and control.
• Introduced legal reforms, including drafting a new law code (although never fully
implemented).
• Strengthened the power of the nobility while keeping control over the peasantry.
• Expanded serfdom, which led to discontent among peasants.
• Suppressed Pugachev’s Rebellion (1773–1775), a major peasant uprising.
• Promoted arts, literature, and science; corresponded with Enlightenment thinkers
like Voltaire and Diderot.
MAJOR REFORMS AND
ACHIEVEMENTS
• 1. Administrative Reforms
• Divided Russia into provinces and districts for better governance.
• Created a more centralized and efficient bureaucracy.
• Reduced the power of the Senate and increased the authority of
governors.
• 2. Legal Reforms
• Attempted to modernize the Russian legal code with the “Nakaz”
(Instruction), influenced by Enlightenment ideas.
• Promoted equality before the law (though never fully applied).
• Hosted the Legislative Commission (1767) to reform laws, but it was
later dissolved without lasting results.
3. Educational Reforms
Opened state-run schools for both boys and girls.
Established the Smolny Institute, the first state school for girls in Russia.
Encouraged the spread of science, literature, and arts.
4. Economic Reforms
Encouraged the development of trade and industry.
Supported building roads, canals, and new towns to improve infrastructure.
Promoted agriculture and gave lands to nobles to develop.
5. Cultural Achievements
Turned Russia into a cultural hub in Europe.
Supported writers, philosophers, and artists.
• Founded the Hermitage Museum, now one of the largest art museums in
the world. .
F O R E I G N P O L I C Y A N D E X PA N S I O N
• 1. Expansion of Russian Territory
• Annexed Crimea from the Ottoman Empire in 1783, gaining
access to the Black Sea.
• Expanded westward into Poland, taking part in the
Partitions of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795), and adding large
territories to Russia.
• Secured Russia's position as a dominant power in Eastern
Europe.
• 2. Wars with the Ottoman Empire
• Fought two major wars: Russo-Turkish Wars (1768–1774
and 1787–1792).
• Victories in these wars led to treaties that gave Russia
territorial gains and naval access to the Mediterranean.
• Gained the right to protect Orthodox Christians in the
Ottoman Empire.
3. Relations with Western Europe
Maintained strong diplomatic ties with France, Austria, and
Prussia. .
Participated in European power politics to increase Russia’s
influence.
Used diplomacy as well as military strength to strengthen
Russia’s global position.
4. Strengthened Russia’s Military Power
Reorganized the army and navy.
Increased Russia’s military prestige in Europe.
Established Russia as a major European empire by the end of
her reign.
• Let me know if you’d like a map slide showing territorial
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NOBILITY
1. Strengthened Noble Privileges
• Gave nobles more control over their lands and serfs.
• Issued the Charter to the Nobility (1785), which officially granted nobles
rights such as:
• Exemption from taxes and compulsory service
• Ownership of land and serfs
• Legal protection and autonomy in local matters
• 2. Dependence on Nobles
• Relied on the nobility to maintain political stability and support her
reign.
• In return, she allowed them greater power in local governance.
• Did not challenge the system of serfdom, which benefited nobles
economically.
3. Consequences of Favoring Nobility
The gap between the nobility and peasants widened
significantly.
Led to increased discontent among the peasantry,
eventually contributing to Pugachev’s Rebellion (1773–
75).
Catherine suppressed the rebellion, which made her more
dependent on noble loyalty.
4. Balancing Act
While Catherine admired Enlightenment ideals of equality,
in practice she sided with the nobility to maintain control.
Her reforms were often limited to avoid upsetting the .
nobility, who were her strongest political base.
• Let me know if you’d like a contrast slide on her
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION
1. Patron of the Arts
• Supported artists, musicians, writers, and architects.
• Built and expanded the Hermitage Museum, which
became one of the world's largest and richest art
collections.
• Collected works by European masters, including
Rembrandt, Raphael, and Rubens.
• 2. Promotion of Literature
• Wrote plays, memoirs, and over 50 works herself.
• Encouraged the translation of foreign books into Russian.
• Supported Russian authors and playwrights to help
develop Russian literature.
3. Enlightenment Influence
Corresponded with famous Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, Diderot, and
Montesquieu.
Tried to bring Enlightenment ideas to Russia in areas like law, education, and
governance.
Invited intellectuals and philosophers to her court.
4. Advancement of Education and Science
Established schools, libraries, and academies across Russia.
Promoted education for girls—a progressive idea at the time.
Supported the Russian Academy of Sciences and scientific expeditions.
5. Architecture and Theatre
Commissioned palaces, theatres, and public buildings in classical European style.
Founded the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre, a predecessor of the famous Bolshoi
Theatre.
• Promoted ballet and opera as major cultural forms in Russia.
.
LEGACY
Remembered as one of Russia’s greatest and most
powerful rulers.
Transformed Russia into a major European empire
politically, culturally, and militarily.
Her reign is often called the Golden Age of the Russian
Empire.
Expanded Russian territory, influence, and prestige on the
global stage.
Despite promoting Enlightenment ideals, she
strengthened autocracy and serfdom, leading to criticism.
• Inspired future generations of leaders and left a lasting
cultural and historical impact.
D E AT H A N D S U C C E S S I O N
• Death
• Catherine the Great died on
November 17, 1796, at the age
of 67.
• She suffered a stroke and
passed away in the Winter
Palace in Saint Petersburg.
• Her death marked the end of an
era often referred to as the
Catherine the great tomb ,St. Peter and Paul
Golden Age of the Russian Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia,
Empire.
Succession
Her son, Paul I, succeeded her as Emperor of Russia.
Catherine had doubts about Paul’s ability to rule and
had considered bypassing him in favor of her grandson,
Alexander.
However, she died before she could officially change the
succession plan.
Paul I became emperor and reversed many of Catherine’s
policies, ruling with a more authoritarian style.
• He was unpopular and was later assassinated in 1801, after
which Alexander I, Catherine’s grandson, took the throne.
.
CONCLUSION
• Catherine the Great was a visionary and powerful ruler who
transformed Russia into a modern European empire.
• Her reign marked significant progress in education, culture,
administration, and territorial expansion.
• Although she embraced Enlightenment ideas, she also
strengthened autocracy and serfdom to maintain control.
• She left a lasting legacy as one of the most influential and iconic
monarchs in world history.
• Despite personal and political challenges, Catherine is remembered
for her intellect, leadership, and impact on Russian and global
history.
.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Wikipedia
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great
• Saint – peterburge.com
• http://www.saint-petersburg.com/royal-family/catherine-the-great
/
• World history encyclopedia
• https://www.worldhistory.org/Catherine_the_Great/
THANK YOU
