Catherine II of Russia

Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, was a famous Empress of Russia who ruled for 34 years. She was known for her intelligence, bravery, and, of course, her scandalous personal life.

Early Life

Catherine was born in 1729 in Stettin, Germany as Princess Sophie Augusta Frederica. She was well-educated and loved reading, but unfortunately, she was forced to marry her dull and unenthusiastic cousin, Peter III, at the age of 16.

Rise to Power

Catherine quickly realized that her husband, Peter III, was not interested in ruling the country. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands and led a successful coup against him in 1762. Catherine became the Empress of Russia, and her reign was met with great success.

Scandalous Personal Life

Catherine was known for her many love affairs, which are almost as infamous as her political accomplishments. She had countless lovers, including the famous Russian General, Grigory Potemkin, who allegedly went to great lengths to impress Catherine, even going so far as to build fake villages to impress her on her travels.

But Catherine’s love life was not without controversy. She was rumored to have had a romantic relationship with a horse, which is, of course, completely absurd. Although, she did commission a statue of herself riding a horse, which some historians believe was a nod to the aforementioned scandal.

Legacy

Catherine’s reign saw great strides in modernizing Russia. She championed education, literature, and the arts, and made significant advances in the country’s economy and infrastructure. Her reign also saw the expansion of Russia’s borders, with the country annexing new territories and becoming one of the dominant powers in Europe.

Catherine the Great was not just a great ruler, but also a fascinating person. Her legacy endures, and her personal life will likely continue to captivate historians and laypeople alike for years to come.