Many monarchs and clergy members who had power were fighting this revolutionary movement so that they could maintain their power. Then, in the enemy countries of Russia and Prussia, came along two monarchs whose views and reforms almost changed everything. These rulers were Frederick II of Prussia and Catherine II of Russia and are now coined with the term “Enlightened Despots.” (Ellis, Esler 191). These monarchs managed to play both sides of the Enlightenment: reform and absolutism. Frederick and Catherine successfully maintained and even gained power while implementing new reforms based on new Enlightenment ideas. In Berlin, Prussia…
Catherine the Great was born and Germany but she died a true Russian. She ruled for 34 years from 1762 to 1996 and during her reign there were many advances to Russia but there were also a lot of troubles (McGuire 104). Catherine was full of contrasts; she could be tyrannical but also tolerant, she could be extremely wise or wildly reckless, and she could be generous but other times ruthless (McGuire 25). Catherine threw herself into her job with great enthusiasm. She loved Russia and adored…
Catherine the Great Catherine the Great, Yekaterina Alekseyevna in Russian, was bound to the heir to the Russian throne at the young age of 14. Sophie Friederike Auguste Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst was a German- born princess. At the beginning of her reign, she overthrew her husband Peter after he began cheating on her. Now without Peter she accomplished several things for Russia and was a principal leader of the Russian Royal Family. Being born German and ruled Russian Catherine the Great is a…
Catherine the Great of Russia: A Life Catherine was a great ruler of Russia. Catherine was born on April 21, 1729 in the German city of Stettin. Her name when she was born was Sophia Augusta Fredericka. She was known as Princess Sophia. She was the daughter of Prince Christian Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst and Princess Johanna Elizabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. Catherine was born into a wealthy family. She had private tutors and learned several languages. She also learned literature, art, music,…
Her Imperial Highness Catherine II was Russia’s longest reigning Empress, having risen from minor German nobility to ruler of the Russian Empire. Centuries after her eventful rule, Catherine II is commonly known as Catherine the Great. In Russia’s history, only three monarchs have been awarded this title; the most famous being Peter the Great, the father of Catherine’s predecessor, Empress Elizabeth. For Peter, being awarded the title of “Great” was based on his combat prowess combined with…
Catherine the Great Catherine the Great used to say “I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly”. Which means she likes to praise and reward good, in front of people so everyone knows. But blame is done quietly straight to someone’s face so that it isn’t public. In other words if you do something good I would make sure everyone knows about it. But blame is done quietly straight to someone’s face just them not in public. Catherine was also known as Catherine II. But her real name is…
immortalized in Russian history as Catherine the Great. Following a coup and the murder of her husband Peter III, Catherine reigned as empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. Her reign was simultaneously supported by the enlightenment era whose ideas began to spread throughout Europe. Supported by philosophes like John Locke, Montesquieu and Voltaire, the enlightenment era contested previous perceptions of the individual within society. Theories like reasoning began to play an important factor in…
Explain the background of Peter the Great and his curiosity with respect to the military and technological innovations. What did he do to fight Russia 's military backwardness? Peter the Great used different international specialists to learn different skills, specializing in military skills. He learned how to fire artillery, in additional to building and sailing ships, and this was in his childhood. As he grew, so did his knowledge about military strategies. Although some of his decisions…
shift in the way that the Russian public regarded the monarch. In 1760, the position of the monarch was regarded with a sense of superiority, where all respect was directed. The monarch’s power was unquestioned and their judgment was seen as most informed, only allocating indirect power to provincial personnel or hand selected advisors. In the 1860s, after the state building of Catherine the Great which further delegated powers to other parts of the government, the status of the monarch was seen…
Catherine the Great died while in a coma, which was caused by a stroke at the age of 67. She ruled with an enlightened mind, making her country better and not just seeking power for herself. She was able to accomplish several amazing things as well as conquering many failures, making both into benefits for Russia. Catherine the Great was a German princess turned Russian Empress. She gained her throne through a coup d’état with her husband Peter III, ruling for 34 years until her death. Many…