Empress Catherine II of Russia

"I am one of the people who love the why of things."

RUSSIAN EMPRESS
Ruled Russia for 34 years, seizing power from her unpopular husband
LONGEST-SERVING woman to lead the Russian empire, known as Catherine the Great
Born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst
Proposed many reforms -- governmental, social, and economic -- to encourage cultural development, establish Russia as a world power, and uplift the poor (unsurprisingly, the nobility was not supportive of this last objective, and in fact actively blocked enactment of several laws that would have given more power to the lower classes)
Granted the right of private printing presses
Established an atmosphere of cultural and intellectual stimulation, opening the doors for major artistic achievements throughout the 19th century
Founded the Hermitage Museum, which is still a major art institution
Wrote new guidelines for a more enlightened code of law, founded Russia's FIRST medical school, and reduced religious persecution
Authored memoirs, operas, essays, and the FIRST children's stories published in Russia

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Not So Awesome

Towards the end of her reign she became increasingly despotic, even going so far as to reverse her earlier stance and shut down private presses that were critical of her.

Bibliography: Cavallo, Francesca and Elena Favilli. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women. Canada: Timbuktu Labs, Inc., 2016. Print.
Doyle, Caitlin. Girls Can Do Anything: From Sports to Innovation, Art to Politics, Meet Over 200 Women Who Got There First. Buffalo: Firefly Books, 2016. Print.
Krull, Kathleen. Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought). Orlando: Harcourt, Inc., 2000. Print.
Smith, Douglas. “Catherine II of Russia.” The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History, Vol. 1, Oxford University Press, 2008, 294-296.
Blakemore, Erin. (2019, November 1). Idealistic and tough, Catherine the Great sought to modernize Russia. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/who-was-catherine-great?

Support this organization dedicated to preserving her story:

Hermitage Museum

Books by this Awesome Woman

Biographies for Kids and Young Adults

A Royal Ride: Catherine the Great's Great Invention

(picture book)

Catherine the Great: And the Enlightenment in Russia

Research

The Empress of Art: Catherine the Great and the Transformation of Russia

Great Catherine: The Life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia

Catherine the Great: Love, Sex, and Power

Historical Fiction

The Royal Diaries: Catherine: The Great Journey, Russia, 1743

Spread the word!

National Geographic documentary: Icons of Power: Empress of Ambition

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