Catherine got to power by overthrowing her husband. She ruled Russia as an Enlightened despot. She held many high principles but had mixed results on putting them into practice. Her main legacy to Russia was that she transformed it from a relative backwater to a major player on the European stage.
Life: 1729 to 1796
Reign: 1762 to 1796
One of many quotes: “What I despair of overthrowing, I undermine.”
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