The End of Katherine the Great, 1762–96

The Ascension of Catherine the Great

In 1762, Catherine the Great, born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, ascended to power in Russia after a successful coup against her husband, Tsar Peter III.
During the early years of her reign, Catherine worked to consolidate her power by granting land to loyal nobles, also known as boyars, in return for their support.
Known as a shrewd diplomat, Catherine was able to manoeuvre Russia onto the world stage by taking advantage of the power dynamics between Prussia, Austria, and France.

Catherine’s reign was characterised by extensive territorial growth and reforms aimed at modernising Russian society.
In terms of territorial gains, Catherine achieved significant expansion in the Crimean Peninsula as well as into parts of Poland and Asia.
Despite her lofty ideals, Catherine’s reforms often had limited success and tended to reinforce the power of the nobility at the expense of the serfs.

Catherine used culture as a tool to reinforce her power and to modernise Russia.
She was a major patron of the arts, commissioning many works of architecture, theatre, and literature.
Avidly interested in Western European philosophy, Catherine corresponded with major thinkers of the Enlightenment such as Voltaire and Diderot.

Catherine’s forced modernisation policies often sparked popular uprisings such as the Pugachev’s Rebellion in 1773, a revolt led by Cossack Emelian Pugachev.
Despite being brutally crushed by Catherine’s forces, Pugachev’s Rebellion exposed the discontent among the serfs and the limits of Catherine’s authoritarian power.

Further territorial gains were made in the second half of Catherine’s reign with the annexation of Crimea in 1783.
Her military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire were successful, further expanding Russia’s territory and securing its position as a powerful nation in Eastern Europe.
Catherine’s reign ended in 1796 with her death, marking the end of one of the most powerful and influential women in history, whose rule has left a lasting mark on Russia.