{geni:about_me} * Sophie Friederike Auguste princess of Anhalt-Zerbst
*By marriage Ekaterina Alexseivna Romanov
*Catherine II(Russian: XXXXXXXXX II XXXXXXX, Yekaterina II Velikaya), also known as Catherine the Great (German: Katharina die Große) on 9th july 1762
"OF ANHALT", DAUGHTER OF THE GERMAN PRINCE OF ANHALT-SERBST; LATER
"YEKATERINA/CATHERINE II""CATHERINE THE GREAT"; TSARINA/EMPRESS 1762-1796
Catherine the Great of Russia - aka Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst, or Catherine
Alekseevna, Empress Catherine II of Russia was the wife of Peter III of
Russia. Became estranged from Peter soon after their marriage. She helped
to have him deposed with the aid of Grigori Orlov, Potemkin, Princess
Dashkova, and others. She succeeded him to the throne on 28 June 1762,
and the following day had Peter III imprisoned. She proclaimed that
Russia was in dire danger from foreign domination of her government, the
church, and the culture of the country were at stake, and the safety of
the nations welfare was in jeopardy. Her take-over was extraordinary
without any bloodshed. She broke off relations with Frederick II of
Prussian, and had her friend, Stanislaus Poniatowski, elected King of
Poland. She won two wars with Turkey; extending Russia's border to the
Black Sea. She imported German farmers from her country to populate and
farm this new aquisition - promising them they would be free of army
service. Her coronation at the Kremlin 22 September 1762 was the most
spectacular ever recorded in Russia. During her reign serfdom and misery
among peasants increased. But the borders of Russia expanded and increased
by her large conquests. She participated in the partition of Poland
(1772-1793-95).
She won victoris over the Turks in 1768=1772; and by Treaty of Kuchuk
Kainarja (1774) annexed the Crimea. She thoroughly identified herself
with the Russia people - although she herself was German. She died of
natural causes 5 November 1796.
1729 - 1796 (67 år)
