Catherine the Great
Empress of Russia, Westernization advocate
Born
May 2nd, 1729
295 years ago
Died
November 17th, 1796
228 years ago — 67 years old
Category
Leaders & Politicians
Country
Russia
Links & References
Catherine the Great ascended to the throne of Russia in 1762 after a coup d'état against her husband, Emperor Peter III. During her reign, she expanded the Russian Empire significantly, establishing a powerful and influential state. She implemented a series of reforms aimed at modernizing Russia's administration and economy, inspired by Enlightenment ideas. Patron of the arts, she founded the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens, the first state-financed higher education institution for women. Catherine also engaged in foreign affairs, promoting territorial expansion through successful military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire and Poland.
Expansion of the Russian Empire
Implementation of administrative reforms
Patronage of the arts and education
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