Catherine II[a] (born Princess Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 1729 – 17 November 1796 [b]), commonly referred to in various media as Catherine the Great, [c] was the reigning …

Jan 5, 2026 · Catherine the Great, empress of Russia (1762–96) who led her country into full participation in the political and cultural life of Europe. With her ministers she reorganized the …

Aug 22, 2023 · Catherine II of Russia (Catherine the Great) was empress regent of Russia from 1762-1796. She was born in Prussia to Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst (1690-1747) and Princess …

Feb 6, 2017 · Perhaps one of the greatest female rulers of all time, Catherine the Great, was one the most cunning, ruthless and efficient leaders in all of Russia. Her reign, while not too long, was …

The Russian empress Catherine II, known as Catherine the Great, reigned from 1762 to 1796. She expanded the Russian Empire, improved administration, and energetically pursued the policy of …

Catherine began as a political and social reformer but gradually grew more conservative as she got older. In 1767 she convened the Legislative Commission to codify Russia's laws and in the...

Explore Catherine the Great's rise to power, Enlightenment reforms, territorial expansion, and political intrigue during Russia's 18th-century transformation.

Known for her intelligence and ambitions to rule the Russian Empire, Catherine not only challenged the social norms of the time but also set the precedent for women in powerful positions. Catherine ruled …

Catherine the Great (1729 – 1796) was the longest-serving Russian monarch, reigning from 1762 to her death in 1796. She presided over a revitalisation of Russian strength, an expansion of Russian …

Born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, the daughter of a German prince, she was related through her mother to the dukes of Holstein. In 1744, she arrived in Russia, as the Grand Duchess …