In what years did Catherine the Second reign? Just Fike

After the shameful reign of Emperor Peter 3, Russian throne occupied by Empress Catherine 2 the Great. Her reign lasted 34 (thirty-four) years, during which Russia managed to restore order within the country and strengthen the position of the fatherland in the international arena.

The reign of Catherine 2 began in 1762. From the moment she came to power, the young empress was distinguished by her intelligence and desire to do everything possible to bring order to the country after long palace coups. For these purposes, Empress Catherine 2 the Great carried out the so-called policy of enlightened absolutism in the country. The essence of this policy was to educate the country, give peasants minimal rights, promote the opening of new enterprises, annex church lands to state lands, and much more. In 1767, the empress assembled a Legislative Commission in the Kremlin, which was supposed to develop a new, fair set of laws for the country.

While studying internal affairs state, Catherine 2 had to constantly look back at her neighbors. In 1768, the Ottoman Empire declared war on Russia. Each side pursued different goals in this war. The Russians entered the war hoping to secure access to the Black Sea. The Ottoman Empire hoped to expand the borders of its possessions at the expense of the Russian Black Sea lands. The first years of the war did not bring success to either side. However, in 1770, General Rumyantsev defeated Turkish army near the Larga river. In 1772, the young commander Suvorov A.V. was involved in the war, transferred to the Turkish front from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The commander immediately, in 1773, captured the important fortress of Turtukai and crossed the Danube. As a result, the Turks offered peace, signed in 1774 at Kuçyur-Kaynarci. Under this treaty, Russia received the territory between southern But and the Dnieper, as well as the fortresses of Yenikale and Kerch.

Empress Catherine II the Great was in a hurry to end the war with the Turks, since by 1773 they had first begun to rise popular unrest in the south of the country. These unrest resulted in peasant war under the leadership of E. Pugachev. Pugachev, posing as the miraculously saved Peter 3, raised the peasants to war with the empress. Russia has never known such bloody uprisings. It was completed only in 1775. Pugachev was quartered.

In the period from 1787 to 1791, Russia was again forced to fight. This time we had to fight on two fronts: in the south with the Turks, in the north with the Swedes. The Turkish company became the benefit of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. Russian commander glorified himself by winning great victories for Russia. In this war, under the command of Suvorov, his student, Kutuzov M.I., began to win his first victories. The war with Sweden was not as fierce as with Turkey. The main events took place in Finland. The decisive battle took place in Vyborg naval battle in June 1790. The Swedes were defeated. A peace treaty was signed, preserving the existing borders of the state. On Turkish front Potemkin and Suvorov won one victory after another. As a result, Türkiye was again forced to ask for peace. According to the results of which in 1791 the border between Russia and Ottoman Empire the Dniester River became.

Empress Catherine the Great did not forget about the western borders of the state. Together with Austria and Prussia, Russia took part in three sections of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As a result of these divisions, Poland ceased to exist, and Russia regained most primordially Russian lands.

Catherine II.F.Rokotov

Facts about the life and reign of one of the most powerful, glorious and controversial monarchs of the Russian Empire, Empress Catherine II

1. During the reign of Catherine the Great from 1762 to 1796, the empire’s possessions expanded significantly. Of the 50 provinces, 11 were acquired during her reign. The amount of government revenue increased from 16 to 68 million rubles. 144 new cities were built (more than 4 cities per year throughout the reign). The army and the number of ships have almost doubled Russian fleet increased from 20 to 67 battleships, not counting other ships. The army and navy won 78 brilliant victories that strengthened Russia's international authority.

Palace Embankment

Access to Chernoy has been won and Sea of ​​Azov, annexed Crimea, Ukraine (except for the Lvov region), Belarus, Eastern Poland, Kabarda. The annexation of Georgia to Russia began.

Moreover, during her reign, only one execution was carried out - of the leader peasant uprising Emelyan Pugacheva.



F. Rokotov

2. The Empress’s daily routine was far from the ordinary people’s idea of royal life. Her day was scheduled by the hour, and its routine remained unchanged throughout her reign. Only the time of sleep changed: if in her mature years Catherine got up at 5, then closer to old age - at 6, and towards the end of her life even at 7 o'clock in the morning. After breakfast, the Empress received high-ranking officials and secretaries of state. Days and hours of reception for each official were constant. The working day ended at four o'clock, and it was time to rest. Hours of work and rest, breakfast, lunch and dinner were also constant. At 10 or 11 pm Catherine finished the day and went to bed.



3. Every day 90 rubles were spent on food for the Empress (for comparison: a soldier’s salary during the reign of Catherine was only 7 rubles a year). The favorite dish was boiled beef with pickles, and currant juice was consumed as a drink. For dessert, preference was given to apples and cherries.



4. After lunch, the empress began to do needlework, and Ivan Ivanovich Betskoy read aloud to her at this time. Ekaterina “masterfully sewed on canvas” and knitted. Having finished reading, she went to the Hermitage, where she sharpened bone, wood, amber, engraved, and played billiards.



View of the Winter Palace

5. Catherine was indifferent to fashion. She didn’t notice her, and sometimes quite deliberately ignored her. On weekdays, the Empress wore a simple dress and did not wear jewelry.



D.Levitsky

6. By her own admission, she did not have a creative mind, but she wrote plays, and even sent some of them to Voltaire for “review.”



7. Catherine came up with a special suit for the six-month-old Tsarevich Alexander, the pattern of which was asked from her for her own children by the Prussian prince and swedish king. And for her beloved subjects, the empress came up with the cut of a Russian dress, which they were forced to wear at her court.

8. People who knew Catherine closely note her attractive appearance not only in her youth, but also in her mature years, her exceptionally friendly appearance, and ease of manner. Baroness Elizabeth Dimmesdale, who was first introduced to her along with her husband in Tsarskoye Selo at the end of August 1781, described Catherine as: “a very attractive woman with lovely expressive eyes and an intelligent look.”



View of the Fontanka

9. Catherine was aware that men liked her and she herself was not indifferent to their beauty and masculinity. “I received from nature great sensitivity and appearance, if not beautiful, then at least attractive. I liked the first time and did not use any art or embellishment for this.”

I. Faizullin. Catherine’s visit to Kazan

10. The Empress was quick-tempered, but knew how to control herself, and never made decisions in a fit of anger. She was very polite even with the servants, no one heard a rude word from her, she did not order, but asked to do her will. Her rule, according to Count Segur, was “to praise out loud and scold quietly.”

Oath of the Izmailovsky Regiment to Catherine II

11. Rules hung on the walls of the ballrooms under Catherine II: it was forbidden to stand in front of the empress, even if she approached the guest and spoke to him while standing. It was forbidden to be in a gloomy mood, to insult each other." And on the shield at the entrance to the Hermitage there was an inscription: "The mistress of these places does not tolerate coercion."



scepter

12. Thomas Dimmesdale English doctor was called from London to introduce smallpox vaccinations in Russia. Knowing about society's resistance to innovation, Empress Catherine II decided to set a personal example and became one of Dimmesdale's first patients. In 1768, an Englishman inoculated her and Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich with smallpox. The recovery of the empress and her son became significant event in the life of the Russian court.



Johann the Elder Lampi

13. The Empress was a heavy smoker. The cunning Catherine, not wanting her snow-white gloves to become saturated with a yellow nicotine coating, ordered the tip of each cigar to be wrapped in a ribbon of expensive silk.



Coronation of Catherine II

14. The Empress read and wrote in German, French and Russian, but made many mistakes. Catherine was aware of this and once admitted to one of her secretaries that “she could only learn Russian from books without a teacher,” since “Aunt Elizaveta Petrovna told my chamberlain: it’s enough to teach her, she’s already smart.” As a result, she made four mistakes in a three-letter word: instead of “yet,” she wrote “ischo.”



15. Long before her death, Catherine composed an epitaph for her future tombstone: “Here lies Catherine the Second. She arrived in Russia in 1744 to marry Peter III. At the age of fourteen, she made a threefold decision: to please her husband, Elizabeth and the people She left nothing to be desired in order to achieve success in this regard. Eighteen years of boredom and loneliness prompted her to read many books. Having ascended to the Russian throne, she made every effort to give her subjects happiness, freedom and material well-being. "She forgave easily and did not hate anyone. She was forgiving, loved life, had a cheerful disposition, was a true Republican in her convictions and had a kind heart. She had friends. Work came easy to her. She liked social entertainment and the arts."

Gallery of portraits of Empress Catherine II the Great



Artist Antoine Peng. Christian Augustus of Anhalt-Zerbst, father of Catherine II

Father, Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst, came from the Zerbst-Dorneburg line of the House of Anhalt and was in the service of the Prussian king, was a regimental commander, commandant, then governor of the city of Stettin, where the future empress was born, ran for duke of Courland, but unsuccessfully , ended his service as a Prussian field marshal.



Artist Antoine Peng. Johanna Elisabeth of Anhalt of Zerbst, mother of Catherine II

Mother - Johanna Elisabeth, from the Gottorp estate, was a cousin of the future Peter III. Johanna Elisabeth's ancestry goes back to Christian I, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, first Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and founder of the Oldenburg dynasty.



Grotto Georg-Christophe (Groоth, Groot).1748






Shettin Castle

Georg Groth



Grotto. PORTRAIT OF GRAND DUKE PETER FEDOROVICH AND GRAND DUCHESS EKATERINA ALEXEEVNA. 1760s.



Pietro Antonio Rotari.1760,1761




V.Eriksen.Equestrian portrait of Catherine the Great



Eriksen, Vigilius.1762

I. P. Argunov Portrait Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna.1762



Eriksen.Catherine II at the mirror.1762



Ivan Argunov.1762



V.Eriksen.1782

Eriksen.1779



Eriksen.Catherine II at the mirror.1779



Eriksen.1780


Lampi Johann-Batis.1794



R. Brompton. 1782



D.Levitsky.1782

P.D.Levitsky.Portrait of Catherine II .1783

Alexey Antropov

Portrait of Empress Catherine II in a traveling suit. SHIBANOV Mikhail. 1780

V. Borovikovsky. Catherine IIon a walk in Tsarskoye Selo Park.1794

Borovikovsky Vladimir Lukich.Portrait of Catherine II

Favorites of Catherine II

Grigory Potemkin

Perhaps the most important among the favorites, who did not lose his influence even after Catherine began to pay attention to others. He earned the attention of the Empress during the palace coup. She singled him out among other employees of the Horse Guards regiment, he immediately became a chamber cadet at court with an appropriate salary and a gift in the form of 400 peasant souls.Grigory Potemkin is one of the few lovers of Catherine II, who pleased not only her personally, but also did a lot of useful things for the country. He built not only “Potemkin villages”. It was thanks to Potemkin that the active development of Novorossia and Crimea began. Although his actions were partly the reason for the start Russian-Turkish war, but it ended with another victory for Russian weapons. In 1776, Potemkin ceased to be a favorite, but remained a man whose advice Catherine II listened to until his death. Including choosing new favorites.

Grigory Potemkin and Elizaveta Tiomkina, daughter of the Most Serene Prince and Russian Empress

J. de Velli. Portrait of Counts G. G. and A. G. Orlov

Grigory Orlov

Grigory Orlov grew up in Moscow, but exemplary service and distinction in the Seven Years' War contributed to his transfer to the capital - St. Petersburg. There he gained fame as a reveler and “Don Juan.” Tall, stately, beautiful - the young wife of the future emperor Ekaterina Alekseevna simply could not help but pay attention to him.His appointment as treasurer of the Office of the Main Artillery and Fortification allowed Catherine to use public money to organize a palace coup.Although he was not large statesman, sometimes he fulfilled the delicate requests of the empress herself. Thus, according to one version, together with his brother Orlov, he took the life of the lawful husband of Catherine II, the deposed Emperor Peter III.

Stanislav August Poniatowski

Polish aristocrat known for his graceful manners ancient family Stanisław August Poniatowski first met Catherine in 1756. He lived in London for many years and ended up in St. Petersburg as part of the English diplomatic mission. Poniatowski was not an official favorite, but he was still considered the empress’s lover, which gave him weight in society. With the ardent support of Catherine II, Poniatowski became the king of Poland. It is possible that Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna, recognized by Peter III, is actually the daughter of Catherine and a handsome Polish man. Peter III lamented: “God knows how my wife gets pregnant; I don’t know for sure whether this child is mine and whether I should recognize him as mine.”

Peter Zavadovsky

This time Catherine was attracted by Zavadovsky, a representative of a famous Cossack family. He was brought to court by Count Pyotr Rumyantsev, a favorite of another empress, Elizabeth Petrovna. A charming man with a pleasant character, Catherine II was once again struck to the heart. In addition, she found him “quieter and more humble” than Potemkin.In 1775 he was appointed cabinet secretary. Zavadovsky received the rank of major general, 4 thousand peasant souls. He even settled in the palace. Such an approach to the empress alarmed Potemkin and, as a result of palace intrigues, Zavadovsky was removed and went to his estate. Despite this, he remained faithful to her and loved her passionately for a long time, marrying only 10 years later. In 1780, he was recalled by the empress back to St. Petersburg, where he held high positions. administrative positions, including becoming the first Minister of Public Education.

Platon Zubov

Platon Zubov began his path to Catherine with service in the Semenovsky regiment. He enjoyed the patronage of Count Nikolai Saltykov, the tutor of the Empress’s grandchildren. Zubov began to command the horse guards, who went to Tsarskoe Selo to stand guard. On June 21, 1789, with the help of state lady Anna Naryshkina, he received an audience with Catherine II and since then spent almost every evening with her. Just a few days later he was promoted to colonel and settled in the palace. He was received coldly at court, but Catherine II was crazy about him. After Potemkin’s death, Zubov played an increasingly important role, and Catherine never had time to be disappointed in him - she died in 1796. Thus, he became the last favorite of the empress. Later he will accept Active participation in a conspiracy against Emperor Paul I, as a result of which he was killed, and Zubov’s friend Alexander I became the head of state. Guglielmi, Gregorio. Apotheosis of the reign of Catherine II .1767

Empress Catherine II the Great (1729-1796) ruled the Russian Empire from 1762-1796. She ascended the throne as a result of a palace coup. With the support of the guards, she overthrew her unloved and unpopular husband Peter III in the country and marked the beginning of Catherine's era, which is also called the “golden age” of the empire.

Portrait of Empress Catherine II
Artist A. Roslin

Before accession to the throne

The All-Russian autocrat belonged to a noble German princely family Askania, known since the 11th century. She was born on April 21, 1729 in the German city of Stettin, in the family of the Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg. At that time he was the commandant of Stettin Castle, and soon received the rank of lieutenant general. Mother - Johanna Elisabeth belonged to the German Oldenburg ducal dynasty. Full name the baby born sounded like Frederick Augustus' Anhalt-Zerbst Sophia.

The family did not have much money, so Sofia Frederica Augusta received her education at home. The girl was taught theology, music, dancing, history, geography, and was also taught French, English and Italian.

The future empress grew up as a playful girl. She spent a lot of time on the city streets, playing with the boys. She was even called "the boy in a skirt." The mother lovingly called her poor daughter “Fricken.”

Alexey Starikov

On May 2 (April 21, O.S.), 1729, Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst, who became famous as Catherine II the Great, Russian Empress, was born in the Prussian city of Stettin (now Poland). The period of her reign, which brought Russia onto the world stage as a world power, is called the “golden age of Catherine.”

The future empress's father, the Duke of Zerbst, served the Prussian king, but her mother, Johanna Elisabeth, had a very rich pedigree; she was the future Peter III's cousin. Despite the nobility, the family did not live very richly; Sophia grew up as an ordinary girl who received her education at home, enjoyed playing with her peers, was active, lively, brave, and loved to play mischief.

A new milestone in her biography was opened in 1744 - when the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna invited her and her mother to Russia. There Sofia was to marry Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich, heir to the throne, who was her second cousin. Upon arrival in a foreign country, which was to become her second home, she began to actively learn the language, history, and customs. Young Sophia converted to Orthodoxy on July 9 (June 28, O.S.), 1744, and at baptism received the name Ekaterina Alekseevna. The next day she was betrothed to Pyotr Fedorovich, and on September 1 (August 21, O.S.), 1745 they were married.

Seventeen-year-old Peter had little interest in his young wife; each of them lived his own life. Catherine not only had fun with horse riding, hunting, and masquerades, but also read a lot and was actively engaged in self-education. In 1754, her son Pavel was born ( future emperor Pavel I), whom Elizaveta Petrovna immediately took from her mother. Catherine's husband was extremely dissatisfied when in 1758 she gave birth to a daughter, Anna, being unsure of her paternity.

Catherine had been thinking about how to prevent her husband from sitting on the throne of the emperor since 1756, counting on the support of the guard, Chancellor Bestuzhev and the commander-in-chief of the army Apraksin. Only the timely destruction of Bestuzhev’s correspondence with Ekaterina saved the latter from being exposed by Elizaveta Petrovna. On January 5, 1762 (December 25, 1761, O.S.), the Russian Empress died, and her place was taken by her son, who became Peter III. This event made the gap between the spouses even deeper. The emperor began to live openly with his mistress. In turn, his wife, evicted to the other end of the Winter Palace, became pregnant and secretly gave birth to a son from Count Orlov.

Taking advantage of the fact that her husband-emperor was taking unpopular measures, in particular, he was moving towards rapprochement with Prussia, did not have the best reputation, and had turned the officers against himself, Catherine committed, with the support of last coup: On July 9 (June 28, O.S.), 1762, in St. Petersburg, guard units took an oath of allegiance to her. The next day, Peter III, who saw no point in resistance, abdicated the throne, and then died under circumstances that remained unclear. On October 3 (September 22, O.S.), 1762, the coronation of Catherine II took place in Moscow.

The period of her reign was marked big amount reforms, in particular in the system of government and the structure of the empire. Under her tutelage, a whole galaxy of famous “Catherine’s eagles” emerged - Suvorov, Potemkin, Ushakov, Orlov, Kutuzov, etc. The increased power of the army and navy made it possible to successfully pursue the imperial foreign policy of annexing new lands, in particular, the Crimea, the Black Sea region, the Kuban region, and part of the Rech Pospolita, etc. New era began in cultural scientific life countries. The implementation of the principles of the enlightened monarchy contributed to the discovery large quantity libraries, printing houses, various kinds educational institutions. Catherine II corresponded with Voltaire and encyclopedists, collected artistic canvases, and left behind a rich literary heritage, including on the topics of history, philosophy, economics, and pedagogy.

On the other hand, her domestic politics characterized by increased privileged position noble class, even greater restrictions on the freedom and rights of the peasantry, and the harsh suppression of dissent, especially after the Pugachev uprising (1773-1775).

Catherine was in the Winter Palace when she had a stroke. The next day, November 17 (November 6, O.S.), 1796 great empress gone. Her last refuge was the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

On April 21, 1729, Princess Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerpt, the future Empress Catherine 2 the Great, was born. The princess's family was very strapped for money. And therefore Sophia Frederika received only home education. However, it was precisely this that largely influenced the formation of the personality of Catherine 2, the future Russian Empress.

In 1744, an event occurred that was significant both for the young princess and for all of Russia. Elizaveta Petrovna settled on her candidacy as the bride of Peter 3. Soon the princess arrived at the court. She enthusiastically took up self-education, studying the culture, language, and history of Russia. Under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna, she was baptized into Orthodoxy on June 24, 1744. The wedding with Peter 3 took place on August 21, 1745. But the marriage did not bring family happiness to Catherine. Peter did not pay attention to his young wife special attention. For quite a long time, the only entertainment for Catherine was hunting and balls. On September 20, 1754, the first-born Pavel was born. But her son was taken away from her immediately. After this, relations with the Empress and Peter 3 deteriorated significantly. Peter 3 did not hesitate to take on mistresses. And Catherine herself cheated on her wife with Stanislav Poniatowski, King of Poland.

Perhaps for this reason, Peter had very serious suspicions about the paternity of his daughter, who was born on December 9, 1758. It was a difficult period - Empress Elizabeth became seriously ill, Catherine’s correspondence with the Austrian ambassador was opened. The support of the favorites and associates of the future empress turned out to be decisive.

Soon after the death of Empress Elizabeth, Peter 3 ascended the throne. This happened in 1761. The matrimonial quarters were occupied by his mistress. And Catherine, having become pregnant by Orlov, gave birth to a son, Alexei, in strict secrecy.

The policies of Peter 3, both external and internal, provoked indignation from almost all layers of Russian society. And it could not have caused any other reaction, for example, the return to Prussia of the territories captured during the Seven Years' War. Catherine, on the contrary, enjoyed considerable popularity. It is not surprising that in such a situation a conspiracy soon developed, led by Catherine.

On June 28, 1762, guards units took the oath to Catherine in St. Petersburg. Peter 3 was forced to abdicate the throne the very next day and was arrested. And soon he was killed, it is believed, with the tacit consent of his wife. Thus began the era of Catherine 2, called nothing less than the Golden Age.

In many ways, the domestic policy of Catherine 2 depended on her adherence to the ideas of the Enlightenment. It was the so-called enlightened absolutism of Catherine 2 that contributed to the unification of the management system, the strengthening of the bureaucratic apparatus and, ultimately, the strengthening of autocracy. The reforms of Catherine 2 became possible thanks to the activities of the Legislative Commission, which included deputies from all classes. However, the country could not avoid serious problems. Thus, the years 1773–1775 became difficult. - the time of Pugachev's uprising.

Foreign policy Catherine 2 turned out to be very active and successful. It was especially important to secure southern borders countries. The Turkish campaigns were of great importance. During their course, interests collided greatest powers- England, France and Russia. During the reign of Catherine 2 great importance attached to joining Russian Empire territories of Ukraine and Belarus. This was achieved by Empress Catherine II with the help of the divisions of Poland (together with England and Prussia). It is necessary to mention the decree of Catherine 2 on the liquidation of the Zaporozhye Sich.

The reign of Catherine 2 turned out to be not only successful, but also long. She reigned from 1762 to 1796. According to some sources, the empress also thought about the possibility of abolishing serfdom in the country. It was at that time that the foundations were laid in Russia civil society. Opened in St. Petersburg and Moscow teacher training colleges, the Smolny Institute was created, Public library, Hermitage Museum. On November 5, 1796, the Empress suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. The death of Catherine 2 occurred on November 6. Thus ended the biography of Catherine 2 and the brilliant Golden Age. The throne was inherited by Paul 1, her son.