Excerpt
Catherine the Great was born in the town of Stettin (now Szczezin), where her father
Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst, commanded a regiment in the Prussian army.
The girl was christened Sophie Auguste-Friederike. "Fike" received a good education at
home. She knew French very well, spoke Italian and understood English. She enjoyed reading
books on history and philosophy. The future empress had a quick brain, a forceful
character,pleasant manners and the ability to create a favourable impression on others.
After successfully deposing her husband on 28 June 1762, Catherine had herself crowned
empress at the Dormition Cathedral on 22 September 1762. Ironically, the reign of this German princess brought more benefit to Russian finances in a perilous state and the country in a state
of disorder, she took care to create the image of a great ruler. The empress spent enourmous
sums of money on her lovers (historians have calculated that they cost Russia the exact
sum of 95.5 million roubles). Her reign is often regarded as the "golden age of Catherine"
While paying tribute to many of her undoubted successes, however, her role in Russian
should not be exaggerated.
Thank you Liza for this amazing card of Catherine!
