Empress Catherine II of Russia

1. Empress Catherine II of Russia Paulina Timmons Rang 6

2. Her young life • Queen Catherine The Great was born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst. • She was a minor royal in Germany • Princess Sophie took the name Catherine because she was baptised into the Orthodox Church.

3. Prince Peter III, her husband… • She became Queen after 18 years. • She was miserable in her marriage to Prince Peter who behaved more like a child than a man. • A year after her husband, Prince Peter III was crowned king, she was plotting to overthrow him.

4. Overthrowing her husband… • In June, 1762, she was woken in the middle of the night, to be told of the news, that her husband was arrested. • Peter did not resist being arrested inhis palace of Peterhof. • A week later he was dead, strangled by his gaurds. • People thought that Queen Catherine could have been involved in his murder.

5. Having Power • The Queen took power with enthusiasm. She was clever, diligent and well-read from her years of preparation, she was an empress who astonished the Senate by actually joining in their sessions. Her letters reveal a witty, cheerful, sensible woman. • She had a lot of lovers, but most of them were seen of by the palace guards. Only Potemkin(whom she may have secretly married) retained his position after their first session had waned. She relied on him as a member of government. • As Catherine grew older, her letters reveal some English country lady, kind bossy and brisk,with a passion for her dogs and grand-children. It was rumoured that she died because she was squashed beneath a stallion, but she actually died of a stroke.

6. Catherine Background • Catherine The Great, who was the queen of Russia was born on April 21, 1729 in Poland. • She died on November 17,1792. Her father’s name was Christian Augustus who was an army officer. • Her mother was princess Joanna Elizabeth who was was 22 years younger then her father. • Catherine and her parents didn’t really get along. At the age 14 she was recommended to the Russian empress Elizabeth as a potential bride. • On February 9 1744, at aged 15 she went to Russia to become the wife of Peter the Great.

7. Empress Catherine the Great • When Catherine became the queen of Russia she achieved many things. • She left Russia much stronger more beautiful than when she found it. • Catherine was unable to transform Russia all alone. • Catherine had a child named Paul, but she didn’t really get along with him.He grew up feeling a big guilt because of his father death. • Paul’s father was killed by his mother’s lover. • Catherine died in November 17, 1792. Catherine the great should be remembered because of her efforts to reform Russia. • Catherine worked to improve education in Russia. She created elementary and secondary schools and universities. The elementary schools and secondary schools were supposed to be free to all but poverty often kept the poor people out of the schools. • Elementary schools were largely private schools that poor people could not afford to attend, and therefore they could not get into the secondary schools.

8. “Lets all the German blood flow out me so that only the Russian remain” • Catherine’s many accomplishments while she was queen are noteworthy. • She helped a lot of people and changed Russia. She transformed society, she chose a more patient path, hoping to gradually raise the level of culture by legislation, education and equality. • Catherine also established a medical commission in 1763 which helped to improve medical conditions in Russia. She also wanted Russia to be able to produce its own medicines and surgical equipment. • Catherine helped expand Russia through two Russo-Turkish wars.