CATHERINE THE GREAT
Born as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, Catherine the Great, was born on April 21, 1729 to the German Anhalt royalties in Pomerania. Although she was a part of the royal family, Auguste and her parents were essentially struggling financially. This resulted in the desire of Auguste’s mother to develop relations with wealthy, royal families with the purpose of ascending the Auguste family reputation and financial state.
THE HOUSE OF ANHALT
Originally a German princess, Catherine the Great had come from a long line of Anhalts. The House of Anhalt consisted of German sovereigns that ruled over a state of the Holy Roman Empire retained since 1218 to 1806 that was named after their House; Anhalt. The House of Anhalt was considered to be a powerful dynasty in the 11th Century as they were also the founder of Berlin and several other areas.
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However, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Louis IV, returned the Anhalts to rule the Duchy of Saxony and restricted their control. The Anhalts were only able to control the area of River Elbe in the eastern half of the Duchy of Saxony. Their limited ruling continued until monarchy was abolished in Germany in 1918. Their lack of power aided in the desire to create numerous relations with wealthy royalties around Europe that were formed by Johanna Elizabeth, Catherine II’s mother.
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1739
In 1739, Auguste’s uncle Count Lestocq and Frederick II of Russia aspired to strengthen the alliance between Prussia and Russia to reduce the influence of Austria in both countries. This objective was planned to be carried out through the marriage arrangement between Sophie Auguste and Empress Elizabeth I’s niece, Peter III, also known as Karl Peter Ulrich. Upon meeting Peter III for the first time, it is strongly indicated in Sophie Auguste’s letters that she disliked the man.
His face was pale in colour and he seemed to be thin and of delicate constitution,
(…) From the age of ten, he was partial to drink.
- An excerpt of a diary entry written by Catherine the Great in 1739.
(…) From the age of ten, he was partial to drink.
- An excerpt of a diary entry written by Catherine the Great in 1739.
1744
When Auguste was invited to visit the Russian Court by Empress Elizabeth of Russia in 1744, Sophie Auguste saw this situation as an opportunity to fulfil her ambitions of ruling the great nation. Being one of the prospects of Peter III’s bride, Sophie Auguste was aware that she was being observed by Empress Elizabeth of Russia. This fuelled her determination to please the Empress and to learn to speak Russian fluently.
An important requirement of marrying a significant Russian noble was to be a member of the Eastern Orthodox. Auguste, coming from a devout Lutheran background, found this as a slight issue as her decision to convert to the Eastern Orthodoxy was not supported by her parents. However, despite their lack of support, Auguste’s ambitions were considered to be of better value than her religious belief. Her decision to begin learning the Eastern Orthodoxy had pleased Empress Elizabeth of Russia just as Auguste had expected. During her stay in the Russian Court, Auguste had restlessly studied the Russian vernacular and the Eastern Orthodoxy.
When Auguste was invited to visit the Russian Court by Empress Elizabeth of Russia in 1744, Sophie Auguste saw this situation as an opportunity to fulfil her ambitions of ruling the great nation. Being one of the prospects of Peter III’s bride, Sophie Auguste was aware that she was being observed by Empress Elizabeth of Russia. This fuelled her determination to please the Empress and to learn to speak Russian fluently.
An important requirement of marrying a significant Russian noble was to be a member of the Eastern Orthodox. Auguste, coming from a devout Lutheran background, found this as a slight issue as her decision to convert to the Eastern Orthodoxy was not supported by her parents. However, despite their lack of support, Auguste’s ambitions were considered to be of better value than her religious belief. Her decision to begin learning the Eastern Orthodoxy had pleased Empress Elizabeth of Russia just as Auguste had expected. During her stay in the Russian Court, Auguste had restlessly studied the Russian vernacular and the Eastern Orthodoxy.
Auguste’s fervour studying had led to a severe stage of pneumonia and pleurisy in March 1744. The only treatment available at the time was phlebotomy. Sophie Auguste had to undertake four sets of phlebotomy every day for a whole month. During this period, Empress Elizabeth’s admiration towards Auguste had increased when Auguste requested to see an Orthodox priest instead of a Lutheran pastor to comfort her. As a result, the determination and seriousness produced from this act had secured her position as the Grand Duchess of Russia.
After her full recovery in June 28, 1744, Auguste was formally converted into Eastern Orthodoxy in Moscow’s chapel located at the Golovin Palace. She adopted a new name, Catherine Alekseyevna, a name chosen by Empress Elizabeth herself. Hence, the commonly acknowledged name Catherine the Great.
1745 - 1755
On August 21, Catherine Alekseyevna was officially betrothed to Duke Peter III in Russia’s capital, St. Petersburg. After the wedding, the newly-wed couple were housed in the Oranienbaum Palace with an annual allowance of 30,000 roubles. Although married, Catherine II and Peter III were reported to have had despised each other due to their stark differences in terms of personality and behaviours.
On August 21, Catherine Alekseyevna was officially betrothed to Duke Peter III in Russia’s capital, St. Petersburg. After the wedding, the newly-wed couple were housed in the Oranienbaum Palace with an annual allowance of 30,000 roubles. Although married, Catherine II and Peter III were reported to have had despised each other due to their stark differences in terms of personality and behaviours.
In general he was very much still a child, although he turned sixteen in 1744 (…)
Deep in my heart I was astonished by his imprudence and lack of judgement in many matters.
- Excerpt from a memoir of Catherine the Great written in 1744.
Deep in my heart I was astonished by his imprudence and lack of judgement in many matters.
- Excerpt from a memoir of Catherine the Great written in 1744.
Being the prospects to ascend to the throne after the end of Elizabeth’s reign, Catherine and Peter were pressured to produce an heir. However, their dislikes towards each other made this into a significant issue that would not be solved until 1754. In between these years, Catherine II had learned numerous skills and developed many connections with influential people in the Russian Court. She also found a new interest in philosophy and all kinds of arts, whilst Peter III grew more abrasive and showed ample interest in military games as opposed to her wife.
The relationship between the wedded couple seemed to have drifted even more over the years. It is suggested that Peter and Catherine had both their own lovers, most notably, Sergei Saltykov and Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov, both of whom had upheld intimate connection with Catherine the Great. It was finally announced in 1754 that Catherine had fallen pregnant and would be producing an heir. She gave birth on September 20, 1754 to Paul I. Though, many people have doubts as to the real paternal lineage of Paul I. After the birth of the heir, Catherine was not allowed to care for Paul for a long period of time.
The relationship between the wedded couple seemed to have drifted even more over the years. It is suggested that Peter and Catherine had both their own lovers, most notably, Sergei Saltykov and Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov, both of whom had upheld intimate connection with Catherine the Great. It was finally announced in 1754 that Catherine had fallen pregnant and would be producing an heir. She gave birth on September 20, 1754 to Paul I. Though, many people have doubts as to the real paternal lineage of Paul I. After the birth of the heir, Catherine was not allowed to care for Paul for a long period of time.
Despite Catherine’s desire to develop a mother-child connection with Paul, the limited access to her son allowed Catherine to focus on her ambition to rule the Russian Empire. As Empress Elizabeth grew older, the power and control of Russia slowly transitioned to the possession of Peter III, who had been given administrative responsibilities as the Duke. Peter, who did not seem to be capable of completing his responsibilities, frequently sought Catherine’s advice on his role regarding the matters. Even though he disliked Catherine for their opposing characters, Peter respected Catherine regarding her adeptness in matters involving politics.
In 1755, Catherine II took an apprenticeship in politics and diplomacy, taught by a British diplomat Sir Charles Hanbury-Williams. For the next two years, Hanbury-Williams provided Catherine with an abundant of knowledge and guidance that allowed Catherine to build powerful alliances with influential politicians in the Russian Court such as the vice-chancellor Count Bestuzhev. These connections between Catherine the Great and other politicians in the Russian Court provided the support she needed to secure her position as the Empress of Russia in the near future.
COUP D'ETAT
On December 25, 1761, Empress Elizabeth of Russia had passed away and Peter III ascended the throne, naming Catherine the Empress Consort. In the hands of Emperor Peter III, the people of the Russian Empire had suffered. Peter withdrew the Russian army from East Prussia that had successfully conquered the lands, he started to take away the lands that were owned by the Church, and threatened to disclaim Catherine II as the Empress Consort so that he could marry his mistress.
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Upon the threat made by Emperor Peter III, Catherine developed an intimate alliance with Grigory Orlov, a Lieutenant Guards officer. This alliance provided Catherine II with the military support required to stage a coup against Emperor Peter III. She had also formed a political relationship with Princess Ekaterina Dashkova, who was also the sister of Peter III’s mistress. As an ally who favoured Catherine more than her sibling, Dashkova contributed to the coup by supplying information regarding Peter III and her mistress, Elizaveta Vorontsova. With powerful and resourceful allies by her side, Catherine II initiated the coup on June 28, 1762.
After delivering a speech to the Russian soldiers and peasants, Catherine was able to gain support from the people and led the army to arrest Emperor Peter III. Once arrested, Peter was taken to an estate in St. Petersburg. A few days after the arrest, Peter III was murdered by Aleksey Orlov and several other officers guarding the estate. It is also indicated that the murder of Peter III was in the interests of the Orlovs in order to secure Catherine the Great’s position as the rightful Empress of Russia. Catherine II was formally crowned as the Empress of Russia at the Seminovsky Barracks on the same night as the coup.
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