1. 13. Her reputation as an "enlightened despot," however, is not wholly supported by her deeds. Catherine the Great. Catherine was a huge fan of Voltaire, as she is in The Great – although she never met him in real life. Hulu. Born: April 21, 1729 Stettin, Prussia (now Szczecin, Poland) Died: November 6, 1796 Tsarskoye Selo (now Pushkin, Russia) German-born Russian empress. By the time Catherine the Great became Russia's ruler, the former Byzantine Empire had been under Ottoman Turk control for centuries. Perhaps one of the greatest female rulers of all time, Catherine the Great, was one the most cunning, ruthless and efficient leaders in all of Russia. She did, however, keep up a correspondence with him for 15 years. Catherine II married into the Russian royal family in 1745. This is the real history behind the period comedy Catherine the Great, or Catherine II, was the longest-ruling Empress of Russia with many interesting facts and figures. Catherine the Great. The Russian empress Catherine II, known as Catherine the Great, reigned from 1762 to 1796.She expanded the Russian Empire, improved administration, and energetically pursued the policy of Westernization (the … He is the author of the History in an Afternoon textbook series. Advertisement. GENERAL FACTS. Here are seven facts you need to know about the controversial, charismatic and game-changing Catherine the Great. She reigned over the Russian empire for 34 years. The Death of Catherine the Great. Legends abound about Catherine the Great—the good kind and the bad kind. Catherine’s birth name was Sophie Friederike Auguste. She expanded the Russian Empire, improved administration, and vigorously pursued the policy of Westernization. www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/catherine_the_great.shtml She Wasn't Born as a Catherine or as a Russian. Catherine the Great: Brilliant, Inspirational, Ruthless. Catherine the Great, or simply Catherine II, was known for being the longest-reigning female leader in Russian history. The 34 years long Catherinian Era is historically considered as the Golden Age of Russia with so many achievements, reformations, and expansions. The Russian empress Catherine II (1729-1796), known as Catherine the Great, reigned from 1762 to 1796. There is a well-known legend surrounding Empress Catherine the Great of Russia, and it involves a horse. Robert Wilde is a historian who writes about European history. The Story of Catherine the Great Hulu’s “The Great” offers an irreverent, ahistorical take on the Russian empress’ life. But Catherine wanted to restore the Greek monarchy regardless, and developed the "Greek Project" to do so.The project included plans to put her grandson, aptly named Constantine, on the newly restored Greek throne. 1729-1796 ), known as Catherine the Great—the good kind and the bad kind the Russian royal family 1745. 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