Catherine the great biography 2011 ford escape

Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, was an empress of Russia who ruled from 1762-1796, the longest reign of any female Russian leader.

Known more for her affairs of the heart than for affairs of state, she nevertheless greatly expanded her country's empire. Her accomplishments are often overshadowed by the legends and rumors about her scandalous personal life.

Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst was born in 1729, the daughter of a Prussian prince.

Catherine the great biography 2011 ford escape

In her teenage years, she was married, unhappily, to a Russian prince who would become Emperor Peter III. She took on the name Catherine, or Ekaterina Alekseyevna. Peter was regarded by some as inept, and after only six months on the throne, Catherine overthrew him with the aid of Grigory Orlov, a military officer with whom she was having an affair.

Her husband was later arrested and killed, securing her position on the throne.

Some regard Catherine as a socially enlightened