We bring to your attention the section of the article about Catherine the Great from the site www.rusempire.ru, which tells about this little-known talent of the Russian Empress.
Gifted with literary talent, receptive and sensitive to phenomena surrounding life, Catherine took an active part in the literature of her time. Excited by her literary movement was devoted to the development of educational ideas of the 18th century. Thoughts on education, briefly outlined in one of the chapters of “Instruction,” were subsequently developed in detail by Catherine in allegorical tales: “About Tsarevich Chlor” (1781) and “About Tsarevich Fevey” (1782) and, mainly, in “Instructions to Prince N.” Saltykov", given upon his appointment as tutor to the Grand Dukes Alexander and Konstantin Pavlovich (1784).
Pedagogical ideas, expressed in these writings, Catherine mainly borrowed from Montaigne and Locke: from the first she took general view for the purpose of education, she used the second when developing particulars. Guided by Montaigne, Catherine puts the moral element in first place in education - the rooting in the soul of humanity, justice, respect for laws, and condescension towards people. At the same time, it requires that mental and physical side education received proper development.
Personally raising her grandchildren up to the age of seven, she compiled a whole educational library. For the Grand Dukes, Catherine also wrote “Notes regarding Russian history".
In purely fictional works, which include a magazine article and dramatic works, Catherine is much more original than in works of a pedagogical and legislative nature. Pointing out the actual contradictions to the ideals that existed in society, her comedies and satirical articles were supposed to significantly contribute to the development public consciousness, making the importance and expediency of the reforms it undertakes more clear. The beginning of Catherine's public literary activity dates back to 1769, when she became an active contributor and inspirer of the satirical magazine "Everything and Everything".
The patronizing tone adopted by "Everything and Everything" in relation to other magazines, and the instability of its direction, soon armed almost all the magazines of that time against it; her main opponent was the brave and direct “Drone” N.I. Novikova. The latter's harsh attacks on judges, governors and prosecutors greatly displeased "Everything"; Who conducted the polemics against “Drone” in this magazine cannot be said positively, but it is reliably known that one of the articles directed against Novikov belonged to the empress herself.
Between 1769 and 1783, when Catherine again acted as a journalist, she wrote five comedies, and between them her best plays: “About Time” and “Mrs. Vorchalkina’s Name Day.”
The purely literary merits of Catherine's comedies are low: they have little action, the intrigue is too simple, and the denouement is monotonous. They were written in the spirit and model of contemporary French comedies, in which servants are more developed and intelligent than their masters. But, at the same time, in Catherine’s comedies purely Russian social vices are ridiculed and Russian types appear. Hypocrisy, superstition, bad education, the pursuit of fashion, blind imitation of the French - these are the themes that Catherine developed in her comedies. These themes had already been outlined earlier in our satirical magazines of 1769 and, by the way, “Everything and Everything”; but what was presented in magazines in the form of separate pictures, characteristics, sketches, in Catherine’s comedies received a more complete and vivid image.
The types of the stingy and heartless prude Khanzhakhina, the superstitious gossip Vestnikova in the comedy "About Time", the petimeter Firlyufyushkov and the projector Nekopeikov in the comedy "Mrs. Vorchalkina's Name Day" are among the most successful in Russian comic literature XVIII century. Variations of these types are repeated in other comedies of Catherine. By 1783, Catherine’s active participation in the “Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word”, published at the Academy of Sciences, edited by Princess E.R. Dashkova. Here Catherine placed a number of satirical articles entitled common name"Facts and Fables."
Initially, the purpose of these articles was, apparently, a satirical depiction of the weaknesses and funny aspects of the society contemporary to the empress, and the originals for such portraits were often taken by the empress from among those close to her. Soon, however, “Were and Fables” began to serve as a reflection of the magazine life of “Interlocutor”. Catherine was the unofficial editor of this magazine; as can be seen from her correspondence with Dashkova, she read many of the articles sent for publication in the magazine while still in manuscript. Some of these articles touched her to the quick: she entered into polemics with their authors, often making fun of them.
For the reading public, Catherine’s participation in the magazine was no secret; Articles and letters were often sent to the address of the author of Fables and Fables, in which rather transparent hints were made. Catherine tried as much as possible to maintain composure and not give away her incognito identity; only once, angered by Fonvizin’s “impudent and reprehensible” questions, she so clearly expressed her irritation in “Facts and Fables” that Fonvizin considered it necessary to rush with a letter of repentance.
In addition to “Facts and Fables,” Catherine published in “Interlocutor” several small polemical and satirical articles, mostly ridiculing the pompous writings of random employees of “Interlocutor” - Lyuboslov and Count S.P. Rumyantseva. One of these articles (“The Society of the Unknowing, a daily note”), in which Princess Dashkova saw a parody of the meetings of the newly founded, in her opinion, Russian Academy, served as the reason for the termination of Catherine’s participation in the magazine.
In subsequent years (1785-1790), Catherine wrote 13 plays, not counting dramatic proverbs in French, intended for the Hermitage theater.
The Masons have long attracted Catherine's attention. According to her, she familiarized herself in detail with the enormous Masonic literature and found nothing in Freemasonry except “crazy stuff.” The stay in St. Petersburg (in 1780) of Cagliostro, whom she called a scoundrel worthy of the gallows, further armed her against the Freemasons. Receiving alarming news about the increasingly increasing influence of Moscow Masonic circles, seeing among her entourage many followers and defenders of the Masonic teaching, Catherine decided to fight this “stupidity” with literary weapons and within two years (1785-86) wrote three comedies (“ Deceiver", "Seduced" and "Shaman of Siberia"), in which she ridiculed Freemasonry. Only in the comedy “The Seduced” are there life traits reminiscent of Moscow Freemasons. "The Deceiver" is directed against Cagliostro. In “The Siberian Shaman”, Catherine, obviously unfamiliar with the essence of Masonic teaching, did not think to bring it on the same level with shamanic tricks.
Catherine's satire had no effect long action: Freemasonry continued to develop, and in order to deal a decisive blow to it, the empress no longer resorted to meek methods of correction, as she called her satire, but to drastic and decisive administrative measures.
In all likelihood, Catherine’s acquaintance with Shakespeare, in French or German translation. She remade The Witches of Windsor for the Russian stage, but this rework turned out to be extremely weak and bears very little resemblance to the original Shakespeare. In imitation of his historical chronicles, she composed two plays from the lives of Rurik and Oleg. The main significance of these “Historical Representations,” which are extremely weak in literary terms, lies in the political and moral ideas that Catherine puts into her mouth characters. Of course, these are the thoughts of Catherine herself.
In comic operas, Catherine did not pursue any serious goal: these were situational plays in which the main role was played by the musical and choreographic side. The plots for the operas are taken, for the most part, from folk tales and epics known to her from handwritten collections. Only “The Woe-Bogatyr Kosometovich,” despite its fairy-tale character, contains an element of modernity: this opera showed the Swedish king Gustav III, who at that time opened hostile actions against Russia, in a comic light, and was removed from the repertoire immediately after the conclusion of peace with Sweden. Catherine's French plays, the so-called "proverbs" - small one-act plays, the plots of which were, for the most part, episodes from modern life. Great value they do not, repeating themes and types already derived in other comedies of Catherine.
Catherine herself did not attach importance to her literary activity. “I look at my writings,” she wrote to Grimm, “as trifles. I love to do experiments in all kinds, but it seems to me that everything I wrote is rather mediocre, which is why, apart from entertainment, I did not attach any importance to it.”
Literary works Catherine's books were published twice in 1893, edited by V.F. Solntsev and A.I. Vvedensky. Complete collection Catherine's work in 12 volumes was published by the Academy of Sciences in 1901-1908, first edited by A.N. Pypin, and after his death - Y. Barskova. This edition includes many previously unpublished works of Catherine and her autobiographical notes.
A foreigner by birth, she sincerely loved Russia and cared about the welfare of her subjects. Having taken the throne through a palace coup, the wife of Peter III tried to implement Russian society best ideas European Enlightenment. At the same time, Catherine spoke out against the outbreak of the Great French Revolution(1789-1799), outraged by the execution French king Louis XVI Bourbon (January 21, 1793) and predetermined Russia's participation in the anti-French coalition European countries V early XIX V.
Catherine II Alekseevna (nee Sophia Augusta Frederica, Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst) was born on May 2, 1729 in the German city of Stettin (modern territory of Poland), and died on November 17, 1796 in St. Petersburg.
The daughter of Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst, who was in the Prussian service, and Princess Johanna Elisabeth (née Princess Holstein-Gottorp), she was related to royal houses Sweden, Prussia and England. Received home education, the course of which, in addition to dancing and foreign languages also included the basics of history, geography and theology.
In 1744, she and her mother were invited to Russia by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, and baptized according to Orthodox custom under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna. Soon her engagement to Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich (future Emperor Peter III) was announced, and in 1745 they got married.
Catherine understood that the court loved Elizabeth, did not accept many of the oddities of the heir to the throne, and, perhaps, after Elizabeth’s death, it was she who, with the support of the court, would ascend to the Russian throne. Catherine studied the works of figures French Enlightenment, as well as jurisprudence, which had a significant impact on her worldview. In addition, she made every effort more effort to study, and perhaps understand, history and traditions Russian state. Because of my desire to know everything Russian Ekaterina won the love not only of the court, but of all of St. Petersburg.
After the death of Elizaveta Petrovna, Catherine’s relationship with her husband, never distinguished by warmth and understanding, continued to deteriorate, taking on clearly hostile forms. Fearing arrest, Ekaterina, with the support of the Orlov brothers, N.I. Panina, K.G. Razumovsky, E.R. Dashkova, on the night of June 28, 1762, when the emperor was in Oranienbaum, carried out a palace coup. Peter III was exiled to Ropsha, where soon after mysterious circumstances died.
Having begun her reign, Catherine tried to implement the ideas of the Enlightenment and organize the state in accordance with the ideals of this most powerful European intellectual movement. Almost from the first days of her reign, she has been actively involved in government affairs, proposing reforms that are significant for society. On her initiative, a reform of the Senate was carried out in 1763, which significantly increased the efficiency of its work. Wanting to strengthen the dependence of the church on the state, and provide additional land resources to the nobility supporting the policy of reforming society, Catherine carried out the secularization of church lands (1754). The unification of administration of the territories of the Russian Empire began, and the hetmanate in Ukraine was abolished.
A champion of the Enlightenment, Catherine creates a number of new educational institutions, including for women ( Smolny Institute, Catherine School).
In 1767, the Empress convened a commission, which included representatives of all segments of the population, including peasants (except serfs), to compose a new code - a code of laws. To guide the work of the Legislative Commission, Catherine wrote “The Mandate,” the text of which was based on the writings of educational authors. This document, in essence, was the liberal program of her reign.
After graduation Russian-Turkish war 1768-1774 and the suppression of the uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev began new stage Catherine's reforms, when the empress independently developed the most important legislative acts and, taking advantage of the unlimited power of her power, put them into practice.
In 1775, a manifesto was issued that allowed the free opening of any industrial enterprises. In the same year it was carried out provincial reform, which introduced a new administrative territorial division country, which remained until 1917. In 1785, Catherine published letters of merit nobility and cities.
In the foreign policy arena, Catherine II continued to pursue an offensive policy in all directions - northern, western and southern. The results of foreign policy can be called the strengthening of Russia’s influence on European affairs, three sections of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, strengthening of positions in the Baltic states, annexation of Crimea, Georgia, participation in countering the forces of revolutionary France.
The contribution of Catherine II to Russian history is so significant that her memory is preserved in many works of our culture.
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 almost doubled, the number of ships of the 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 - the leader of the peasant uprising, Emelyan Pugachev.
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. The 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 Winter Palace
5. Catherine was indifferent to fashion. She didn’t notice her, and sometimes quite deliberately ignored her. IN 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 the 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 from her harsh words, she did not order, but asked to carry out 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, an English doctor was called from London to introduce smallpox vaccinations in Russia. Knowing about the resistance of society to innovation, Empress Catherine II decided to file 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 of this, she made four mistakes in a word from three letters: 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 easily forgave and did not hate anyone. She was forgiving, loved life, had a cheerful disposition, was a true republican in her convictions and possessed kind hearted. She had friends. The work was easy for 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 Prussian king, was a regimental commander, commandant, then governor of the city of Stettin, where the future empress was born, ran for Dukes of Courland, but unsuccessfully, he 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 of the Russian-Turkish war, it ended another victory 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, difference in 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 Chancery main artillery and fortification allowed Catherine to use government 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 warm support of Catherine II, Poniatowski became the king of Poland. It is possible that recognized by Peter III Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna 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 in 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 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 plays everything big 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 would take an active part 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
Catherine II is the great Russian empress, whose reign became the most significant period in Russian history. The era of Catherine the Great is marked by the “golden age” of the Russian Empire, cultural and political culture which the queen raised to European level. The biography of Catherine II is full of light and dark stripes, numerous plans and achievements, as well as stormy personal life, about which films are made and books are written to this day.
Catherine II was born on May 2 (April 21, old style) 1729 in Prussia in the family of the governor of Stettin, Prince of Zerbst and the Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp. Despite the rich pedigree, the princess's family had no significant state, but this did not stop parents from providing home schooling for his daughter, without much ceremony with her upbringing. At the same time, the future Russian empress high level learned English, Italian and French languages, mastered dancing and singing, and also gained knowledge of the basics of history, geography and theology.
As a child, the young princess was a playful and curious child with a pronounced “boyish” character. She didn't show any special mental abilities and did not demonstrate her talents, but helped her mother a lot in raising her younger sister Augusta, which suited both parents. IN early years Mother's name was Catherine II Fike, which means little Federica.
At the age of 15, it became known that the Zerbst princess had been chosen as a bride for her heir, Peter Fedorovich, who later became the Russian Emperor. In this regard, the princess and her mother were secretly invited to Russia, where they went under the name of the Countesses of Rhinebeck. The girl immediately began studying Russian history, language and Orthodoxy in order to learn more fully about her new homeland. Soon she converted to Orthodoxy and was named Ekaterina Alekseevna, and the next day she became engaged to Pyotr Fedorovich, who was her second cousin.
Palace coup and ascension to the throne
After the wedding with Peter III, practically nothing changed in the life of the future Russian empress - she continued to devote herself to self-education, studying philosophy, jurisprudence and the works of world-famous authors, since her husband showed absolutely no interest in her and openly had fun with other ladies in front of her eyes. After nine years of marriage, when the relationship between Peter and Catherine went completely wrong, the queen gave birth to an heir to the throne, who was immediately taken away from her and was practically not allowed to see him.
Then a plan to overthrow her husband from the throne matured in the head of Catherine the Great. She subtly, clearly and prudently organized a palace coup, in which she was helped English ambassador Williams and the Chancellor of the Russian Empire, Count Alexei Bestuzhev.
It soon turned out that both proxies the future Russian empress was betrayed. But Catherine did not abandon her plan and found new allies in its implementation. They were the Orlov brothers, adjutant Khitrov and sergeant Potemkin. Foreigners also took part in organizing the palace coup and provided sponsorship for bribery the right people.
In 1762, the Empress was completely ready to take a decisive step - she went to St. Petersburg, where the guards units, who by that time were already dissatisfied, swore allegiance to her military policy Emperor Peter III. After this, he abdicated the throne, was taken into custody and soon died under unknown circumstances. Two months later, on September 22, 1762, Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst was crowned in Moscow and became Empress Catherine II of Russia.
Reign and achievements of Catherine II
From the very first day of her ascension to the throne, the queen clearly formulated her royal tasks and began to actively implement them. She quickly formulated and carried out reforms in the Russian Empire, which affected all spheres of life of the population. Catherine the Great pursued a policy that took into account the interests of all classes, which won the enormous support of her subjects.
To pull the Russian Empire out of the financial quagmire, the tsarina carried out secularization and took away the lands of churches, turning them into secular property. This made it possible to pay off the army and replenish the treasury of the empire by 1 million peasant souls. At the same time, she managed to quickly establish trade in Russia, doubling the number of industrial enterprises in the country. Thanks to this, the amount of government revenue increased fourfold, the empire was able to maintain a large army and begin the development of the Urals.
Concerning domestic policy Catherine, today it is called “absolutism”, because the empress tried to achieve “ common good» for society and the state. The absolutism of Catherine II was marked by the adoption of new legislation, which was adopted on the basis of the “Order of Empress Catherine,” containing 526 articles. Due to the fact that the queen’s policy was still “pro-noble” in nature, from 1773 to 1775 she was faced with a peasant uprising led by. Peasants' War covered almost the entire empire, but the state army was able to suppress the rebellion and arrest Pugachev, who was subsequently executed.
In 1775, Catherine the Great carried out a territorial division of the empire and expanded Russia into 11 provinces. During her reign, Russia acquired Azov, Kiburn, Kerch, Crimea, Kuban, as well as part of Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and western part Volyn. At the same time, elected courts were introduced in the country, which dealt with criminal and civil cases of the population.
In 1785, the Empress organized local government in cities. At the same time, Catherine II established a clear set of noble privileges - she freed the nobles from paying taxes, compulsory military service, and gave them the right to own lands and peasants. Thanks to the empress, a secondary education system was introduced in Russia, for which special closed schools, institutes for girls, and educational homes were built. In addition, Catherine founded Russian Academy, which has become one of the leading European scientific bases.
Special attention During her reign, Catherine devoted development Agriculture. Under her, for the first time in Russia, bread began to be sold, which the population could buy with paper money, also introduced into use by the empress. Also among the valor of the monarch is the introduction of vaccination in Russia, which made it possible to prevent epidemics of fatal diseases in the country, thereby maintaining the population.
During her reign, Catherine the Second survived 6 wars, in which she received the desired trophies in the form of lands. Her foreign policy Many to this day consider it immoral and hypocritical. But the woman managed to go down in Russian history as a powerful monarch who became an example of patriotism for future generations of the country, despite the absence of even a drop of Russian blood in her.
Personal life
The personal life of Catherine II is legendary even before today arouses interest. The Empress was committed to “free love,” which was a consequence of her bad marriage with Peter III.
The love stories of Catherine the Great are marked in history by a series of scandals, and the list of her favorites contains 23 names, as evidenced by data from authoritative Catherine scholars.
The most famous lovers of the monarch were Platon Zubov, who at the age of 20 became the favorite of 60-year-old Catherine the Great. Historians do not rule out that the empress’s love affairs were her kind of weapon, with the help of which she carried out her activities on the royal throne.
It is known that Catherine the Great had three children - a son from her legal marriage with Peter III, Pavel Petrovich, Alexey Bobrinsky, born from Orlov, and a daughter, Anna Petrovna, who died of illness at the age of one.
IN last years throughout her life, the empress devoted herself to caring for her grandchildren and heirs, as she was in bad relationship with his son Pavel. She wanted to transfer power and the crown to her eldest grandson, whom she personally prepared for the royal throne. But her plans were not destined to happen, since her legal heir learned about his mother’s plan and carefully prepared for the fight for the throne.
The death of Catherine II occurred according to the new style on November 17, 1796. The Empress died from a severe stroke; she tossed about in agony for several hours and, without regaining consciousness, passed away in agony. She was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Movies
The image of Catherine the Great is very often used in modern cinema. Her bright and rich biography is taken as a basis by screenwriters all over the world, since the great Russian Empress Catherine II had a stormy life filled with intrigues, conspiracies, romance novels and the struggle for the throne, but at the same time she became one of the most worthy rulers of the Russian Empire.
In 2015, a fascinating historical show started in Russia, for the script of which facts were taken from the diaries of the queen herself, who turned out to be a “male ruler” by nature, and not a feminine mother and wife.
They said about her - “The most glorious, powerful and controversial politician, but a great monarch.” Russian Empress CatherineII Great and 15 historical facts about her.
Fact one. CatherineII actively conquered
Despite the fact that there was a woman on the throne of the Russian Empire, she wanted to fight and knew very well that the greatness of her power directly depended on constant military expansion. From 1762 to 1796, until CatherineII was on the throne, the Empire included 11 provinces, and state income increased by 42 million rubles. She founded more than 140 new cities in the conquered territories and doubled the army and navy. Under Catherine the Great, Russian armies won 78 victories, conquered exits to the Black and Azov Seas, annexed Crimea And Ukraine, Eastern Poland , Belarus And Kabarda. But to execute her Imperial Majesty didn’t love her - only one person was executed on her orders - Emelyan Pugacheva.
Fact two. CatherineII lived according to a strict schedule
In other words, the day Empress Catherine the Great was scheduled down to the minute. Only some parameters changed with age and circumstances, such as sleep time - in youth CatherineII I woke up at five in the morning, and as I got older I could sleep until seven in the morning. Usually the royal's working day ended at 11 pm. And you say it's easy to be a queen.
Fact three. Empress CatherineII ate 90 rubles a day
It would seem not much, if you do not take into account that an ordinary soldier received only 7 rubles of state salary per year. The most favorite dish CatherineII- boiled beef and lightly salted cucumbers, which she happily washed down with currant juice. Among fruits, the empress preferred apples. In general, I led a healthy lifestyle.
Fact four. CatherineII loved to do needlework
The Empress's daily routine always included a couple of hours in the afternoon when she would do canvas embroidery and knitting. And Her Imperial Majesty was also excellent at carving figures from bones and playing billiards - then a very fashionable “new product” from Europe.
Fact five. CatherineII was completely indifferent to fashion and style
If there was no holiday, then Catherine the Great wore an ordinary, simple dress and spoke out angrily about courtiers who asked her to wear jewelry.
Fact six. CatherineII wrote plays
At the same time, the empress herself considered herself “not possessing a creative mind.” True, the royal lady did not particularly bother about this. If the queen wanted to write, then so be it. In addition, Voltaire gladly reviewed plays by Empress CatherineII and sometimes spoke flatteringly about her talents.
Fact seven. Empress CatherineII came up with outfits
And she dressed up Tsarevich Alexander in this, then all the courtiers. She was especially proud of her “Russian dress” - a special style in accordance with which all important people at court had to dress.
Fact eight. CatherineII was very beautiful
Anyone who had a chance to communicate closely with the empress noted that Catherine the Great was very beautiful and attractive, both in youth and in quite mature age. Baroness Elizabeth Dimmesdale, who met the Empress at Tsarskoe Selo in 1781, wrote, “She attracts the eyes of men with her beauty and the envy of women with her intelligence.”
Fact nine. CatherineII adored men
This is not the Virgin Queen. Empress Catherine the Great she adored courageous representatives of the opposite sex and in every possible way encouraged them to be near her. Moreover, the queen herself was never ashamed of her influence on men and even used her attractiveness a couple of times to sign important treaties with European monarchs.
Fact ten. CatherineII was very hot-tempered
The same legends circulated about the hot temper of the Russian Empress as about her beauty. However, control yourself CatherineII knew this perfectly and never made important decisions in a state of anger or rage. They say that she, even being in a bad mood, did not order, but asked to carry out the will of the queen.
Fact eleven. CatherineII posted rules of conduct in the throne room
And not only in the throne room. In one of its main ballrooms, CatherineII posted “rules of decency.” For example, no one was allowed to stand directly opposite the empress, even if she herself approached the interlocutor, and it was forbidden to be in her company “in a gloomy spirit” or to swear. Above the main entrance to the Hermitage hung a large sign with the inscription, “The mistress of these places does not tolerate coercion.”
Fact twelve. CatherineII knew how to set an example
When in Russian Empire called English doctor Thomas Dimmesdale to begin vaccination against smallpox, CatherineII She set an example for everyone and became his first patient. Only after this did the people and courtiers cease to doubt “ weird science Germans" and followed the example of their queen. By the way, if not for this act of Catherine the Great, in 1768 a quarter of the population of the Russian state could have died from smallpox.
Fact thirteen. CatherineII “smoked like a locomotive”
Few people know, but Catherine the Great had a weakness for tobacco. But, afraid of ruining her snow-white gloves, she always ordered the servants to wrap the tip of the cigarette with an expensive silk scarf.
Fact fourteen. CatherineII was a polyglot
She knew German, French and Russian perfectly well, but she wrote like a modern first-grader - with a lot of mistakes. Teachers' nerves CatherineII They couldn’t stand it even in the first lesson. There were legends that the empress even managed to make four mistakes in the word “still” and wrote “ischo”.
Fact fifteen. CatherineII wrote her own epitaph during her lifetime
When death was still distant, the empress CatherineII wrote the epitaph for his tombstone: “Here lies Catherine II. 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 no stone unturned to achieve success in this regard. Eighteen years of boredom and loneliness prompted her to read many books. Having ascended the Russian throne, she made every effort to give her subjects happiness, freedom and material well-being. She easily forgave 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. The work was easy for her. She liked secular entertainment and the arts."