Con el nombre de Sophie Fredericke Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, Catalina nació en Stettin (actual ciudad de Szczecin, en Polonia) el 2 de mayo de 1729, hija de un príncipe alemán. En 1745, se casó con el gran duque Pedro de Holstein, heredero al trono ruso. El matrimonio no fue feliz, pero la inteligente y ambiciosa Catalina no tardó en rodearse de un grupo de seguidores en San Petersburgo. En 1754 dio a luz un hijo, el futuro emperador Pablo. El marido de Catalina accedió al trono como Pedro III en 1762. Excéntrico, inestable y despectivo con sus súbditos, pronto se vio alejado de varios grupos importantes de la sociedad rusa. El 9 de julio de 1762, siguiendo una práctica habitual en la Rusia del siglo XVIII, la Guardia Imperial le derrocó y colocó en su lugar a Catalina en el trono. Pocos días después Pedro fue asesinado.
Catalina conocía bien la literatura de la Ilustración francesa, la cual ejerció una gran influencia sobre su propio pensamiento político. Mantuvo un estrecho contacto con Voltaire y Denis Diderot, prestó apoyo financiero a algunos escritores franceses, y Diderot fue huésped de su corte en 1773. Aunque con estas actividades simplemente pretendía crearse una imagen favorable en Europa Occidental, probablemente fue sincera en su interés y en su esperanza de poder aplicar algunas de las ideas ilustradas a la racionalización y reforma de la administración del Imperio ruso. A pesar de su interés en la reforma legal, la comisión que nombró para llevar a cabo esta tarea en 1767 no pudo cumplir sus objetivos. Entre los logros de Catalina se pueden destacar: la creación de las primeras escuelas para chicas y la de un colegio médico para el cuidado de sus súbditos.
En los primeros años de su reinado, Catalina trató de ganarse el apoyo de la clase acomodada rusa, y, en concreto, de un pequeño grupo de nobles. Confirmó la decisión de Pedro III de librar a la clase acomodada del servicio militar obligatorio, les concedió otros muchos privilegios y colmó a sus seguidores con títulos, cargos, tierras y siervos para trabajar en sus campos. A pesar de su declarado aborrecimiento de la servidumbre, hizo mucho por extender esta institución, cediendo siervos del Estado a propietarios privados, llevando la servidumbre a los territorios de reciente adquisición e incrementando el control legal de la clase acomodada sobre sus siervos.
El malestar de los campesinos culminó en una gran rebelión (1773-1775), encabezada por el cosaco Yemelián Pugachov, que hizo estragos en la mayor parte de la cuenca del río Volga y en los montes Urales, antes de ser definitivamente aplastada por las fuerzas militares. La rebelión marcó un giro hacia una política interna más reaccionaria. El ejército cosaco fue disuelto, y se concedieron privilegios especiales a otros cosacos, tratando de convertirlos en leales seguidores de la autocracia. En 1775 se llevó a cabo una importante reforma de la administración provincial, con el fin de conseguir un mejor control del Imperio. También se realizó una gran reforma de la administración urbana. La Revolución Francesa incrementó la hostilidad de Catalina hacia las ideas liberales. Varios críticos de la institución de la servidumbre fueron encarcelados, y parece ser que Catalina estaba planeando formar parte de una coalición europea contra Francia cuando murió el 17 de noviembre de 1796, en San Petersburgo.
Durante el reinado de Catalina, el territorio del Imperio ruso se extendió enormemente. Gracias a dos guerras contra el Imperio otomano (1768-1774 y 1787-1791) y a la anexión de Crimea (1783), Rusia logró controlar la costa norte del mar Negro. El control ruso sobre Polonia y Lituania también aumentó en gran medida, culminando con la anexión de grandes extensiones de territorio en los tres repartos de Polonia (1772, 1793, 1795).
Una de las características del reinado de Catalina fue el importante papel que desempeñaron sus amantes o favoritos. Diez hombres ocuparon este cargo semioficial, y al menos dos de ellos, Grigori Orlov y Grigori Alexándrovich Potemkín, tuvieron especial importancia a la hora de formular la política exterior e interior del país. Aunque la valoración de la figura de Catalina puede variar, es indudable que desempeñó un papel clave en el desarrollo de Rusia como estado moderno.
With the name of Sophie Frederick Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, Catherine was born in Stettin (now the city of Szczecin, Poland) on May 2nd in 1729, daughter of a German prince. In 1745, she married the Grand Duke Peter of Holstein, heir to the Russian throne. The marriage was not happy, but intelligent and ambitious Catherine was soon surrounded by a group of supporters in St. Petersburg. In 1754 gave birth to a son, the future Emperor Paul. The husband of Catherine acceded to the throne as Peter III in 1762. Eccentric, unstable and disparaging with his subjects, was soon removed from several major groups of Russian society. On July 9th of 1762, following a common practice in Russia from the eighteenth century, the Imperial Guard overthrew him and put in place to Catalina on the throne. A few days after Peter was killed.
Catherine was well acquainted with the literature of the French Enlightenment, which exerted a great influence on his own political thought. Maintained close contact with Denis Diderot and Voltaire, provided financial support to some French writers, and Diderot was a guest of his court in 1773. Although these activities simply meant creating a favourable image in Western Europe, probably was sincere in his interest and in its hope to implement some of the ideas presented to the rationalization and reform of the administration of the Russian Empire. Despite their interest in legal reform, the commission he appointed to carry out this task in 1767 was unable to meet its goals. Among the achievements of Catherine can be highlighted: the creation of the first schools for girls and a school doctor for the care of his subjects.
In the early years of her reign, Catherine tried to win support from the wealthy class in Russia, and, specifically, a small group of nobles. Upheld the decision of Peter III of ridding the wealthy class of compulsory military service, given many privileges and his followers filled with titles, titles, lands and slaves to work in their fields. Despite its stated abhorrence of slavery, did much to extend this institution, bowing servants of the state to private ownership, carrying bonded to the recent acquisition of territories and increasing the legal control of the wealthy class on his servants.
The malaise of the peasants culminated in a major rebellion (1773-1775), led by the Cossack Yemelián Pugachov, who made havoc in most parts of the Volga and the Ural Mountains, before being finally crushed by the forces military. The rebellion marked a turning point toward a domestic policy more reactionary. The Cossack army was dissolved, and were granted special privileges to other Cossacks, trying to turn them into loyal followers of autocracy. In 1775 launched a major reform of the provincial administration in order to achieve better control of the Empire. It also undertook a major reform of urban administration. The French Revolution increased the hostility of Catherine towards liberal ideas. Several critics of the institution of slavery were imprisoned, and it seems that Catherine was planning to join a European coalition against France when he died on November 17th 1796, in St. Petersburg.
During the reign of Catherine, the territory of the Russian empire expanded enormously. Thanks to two wars against the Ottoman Empire (1768-1774 and 1787-1791) and the annexation of Crimea (1783), Russia succeeded in controlling the north coast of the Black Sea. The Russian control over Poland and Lithuania also increased greatly, culminating with the annexation of large swathes of territory in the three divisions of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795).
One of the characteristics of the reign of Catherine was the important role played by their lovers or favorite. Ten men occupied this post semiofficial, and at least two of them, Grigory Orlov and Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin, had special importance when formulating foreign policy and interior of the country. Although the valuation of the figure of Catherine may vary, there is no doubt that played a key role in the development of Russia as a modern state.
Catherine was well acquainted with the literature of the French Enlightenment, which exerted a great influence on his own political thought. Maintained close contact with Denis Diderot and Voltaire, provided financial support to some French writers, and Diderot was a guest of his court in 1773. Although these activities simply meant creating a favourable image in Western Europe, probably was sincere in his interest and in its hope to implement some of the ideas presented to the rationalization and reform of the administration of the Russian Empire. Despite their interest in legal reform, the commission he appointed to carry out this task in 1767 was unable to meet its goals. Among the achievements of Catherine can be highlighted: the creation of the first schools for girls and a school doctor for the care of his subjects.
In the early years of her reign, Catherine tried to win support from the wealthy class in Russia, and, specifically, a small group of nobles. Upheld the decision of Peter III of ridding the wealthy class of compulsory military service, given many privileges and his followers filled with titles, titles, lands and slaves to work in their fields. Despite its stated abhorrence of slavery, did much to extend this institution, bowing servants of the state to private ownership, carrying bonded to the recent acquisition of territories and increasing the legal control of the wealthy class on his servants.
The malaise of the peasants culminated in a major rebellion (1773-1775), led by the Cossack Yemelián Pugachov, who made havoc in most parts of the Volga and the Ural Mountains, before being finally crushed by the forces military. The rebellion marked a turning point toward a domestic policy more reactionary. The Cossack army was dissolved, and were granted special privileges to other Cossacks, trying to turn them into loyal followers of autocracy. In 1775 launched a major reform of the provincial administration in order to achieve better control of the Empire. It also undertook a major reform of urban administration. The French Revolution increased the hostility of Catherine towards liberal ideas. Several critics of the institution of slavery were imprisoned, and it seems that Catherine was planning to join a European coalition against France when he died on November 17th 1796, in St. Petersburg.
During the reign of Catherine, the territory of the Russian empire expanded enormously. Thanks to two wars against the Ottoman Empire (1768-1774 and 1787-1791) and the annexation of Crimea (1783), Russia succeeded in controlling the north coast of the Black Sea. The Russian control over Poland and Lithuania also increased greatly, culminating with the annexation of large swathes of territory in the three divisions of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795).
One of the characteristics of the reign of Catherine was the important role played by their lovers or favorite. Ten men occupied this post semiofficial, and at least two of them, Grigory Orlov and Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin, had special importance when formulating foreign policy and interior of the country. Although the valuation of the figure of Catherine may vary, there is no doubt that played a key role in the development of Russia as a modern state.
