Catherine II

Catherine II

Catherine II (or Catherine the Great) (1729–96) Empress of Russia (1762–96). A German princess, she was made empress following a plot that deposed her husband Peter III (1728–62). Her attempted social and political reforms were impeded by entrenched aristocratic interests and in later years her reign became increasingly conservative. Under Catherine's rule, Russia played an important part in European affairs, participating in the three partitions of Poland and forming close links with Prussia and Austria, while to the south and east further territorial advances were made at the expense of the Turks and Tartars.

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"Catherine II." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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"Catherine II." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-CatherineII.html

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Catherine II

Catherine II ( the Great) (1729–96) Empress of Russia (1762–96). A German princess, she married Peter III in 1745 and succeeded him after he was murdered. She began as an ‘enlightened despot’, with ambitious plans for reform. Her economic improvements, patronage of the arts and vast extension of Russian territory (chiefly at the expense of the Ottoman Turks) raised national prestige, but did little for Russian peasants. After the revolt of 1773–74, led by the Cossack Pugachev, she became increasingly conservative.

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"Catherine II." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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"Catherine II." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-CatherineII.html

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Catherine II

Catherine II, ( Catherine the Great), Empress of Russia. See Hermitage.

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IAN CHILVERS. "Catherine II." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

IAN CHILVERS. "Catherine II." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-CatherineII.html

IAN CHILVERS. "Catherine II." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-CatherineII.html

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