Catherine the Great was born on April 21, 1729, in Strettin, Poland into the family of Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst. She was named Sophia Augusta Frederica.

Catherine came to Russia at the invitation of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna to be the bride of the heir to the throne, Peter Feodorovich. They married on August 21, 1745, in St. Petersburg. She was christened into the Orthodox Church as Ekatrina Alexeevna. With the support of the Imperial Guard, Catherine overthrew her husband, Peter III, on June 28, 1762.

On September 22, 1762, Catherine was crowned Empress of all Russia in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The Russian Empire was very prosperous during her rule and she won several wars against the Ottoman Empire. She was eventually able to advance the country’s border to the Black Sea. Catherine died on November 6, 1796, and was buried in the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

"I praise loudly. I blame softly."

~ Catherine the Great

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