Catharina the Great of Russia
Catherine II was born on 2 May 1729 and died on 17 November also known as Catherine the Great born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, was Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, the country's longest-ruling female leader. She came to power following a coup d'état when her husband, Peter III, was overthrown. Under her reign, Russia was revitalized; it grew larger and stronger, and was recognised as one of the great powers of Europe.
She governed at a time when the Russian Empire was expanding rapidly by conquest and diplomacy. In the south, the Crimean Khanate was crushed following victories over the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish wars, and Russia colonised the territories of Novorossiya along the coasts of the Black and Azov Seas. In the west, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, ruled by Catherine's former lover, king Stanisław August Poniatowski, was eventually partitioned, with the Russian Empire gaining the largest share.
In the east, Russia started to colonise Alaska, establishing Russian America.Catherine reformed the administration of Russia and many new cities and towns were founded on her orders. An admirer of Peter the Great, Catherine continued to modernise Russia along Western European lines. However, military conscription and the economy continued to depend on serfdom, and the increasing demands of the state and private landowners led to increased levels of reliance on serfs. This was one of the chief reasons behind several rebellions, including the large-scale Pugachev's Rebellion of cossacks and peasants.
The period of Catherine the Great's rule, the Catherinian Era, is often considered as the Golden Age of Russia
Miniatures
There are several miniatures made of Catharina. Not surprisingly that almost all of them come from Russia. M & H made both a 2D and 3D figure of her. Not in her usual attitude as empress. We chose to represent her with one of her favourite dogs.
There are several miniatures made of Catharina. Not surprisingly that almost all of them come from Russia. M & H made both a 2D and 3D figure of her. Not in her usual attitude as empress. We chose to represent her with one of her favourite dogs.
