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Catherine is born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst to Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst and Princess Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp.
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Catherine arrives in Russia with her mother to meet her soon-to-be betrothed again for the first time in six years. They meet in Moscow, during a particularly dividing time in the court. Suffice to say, some members of court were not pleased to see them.
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Catherine falls severely ill with pleurisy thirteen days after arriving in Moscow. She is bled by a doctor at least sixteen times, sometimes up to four times a day.
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In order to marry Peter, Catherine was required to switch to Russian Orthodoxy, to the displeasure of her parents.This, among other things, severely impacted her relationship with her parents.She is also christened Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, from her original Sophie Friederike Auguste
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At 16 years of age, Catherine married Peter von Holstein-Gottorp, future Emperor of Russia.
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Catherine's son, Paul I, is born, the heir to the Russian throne. He resembles Peter III both physically and mentally, although Catherine hints that he is the illegitimate son of Sergei Saltykov, one of her lovers.
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Her daughter Anna Petrovna is born. Peter firmly believes that Anna is not his child, especially thanks to rumors of Catherine's promiscuity.
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Catherine's daughter dies. Due to Peter's claims, Catherine spends a large amount of time alone after this to avoid him.
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Empress Elizabeth, Peter's second cousin and caretaker, passed away, leaving her throne to Peter III.
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A coup d'état was held against Peter and was was forced to abdicate from the throne merely six months after taking it.
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Peter was assassinated after a coup d'état in favor of Catherine. He died eight days after the coup. Catherine is suspected to have had a role in it, but no evidence was to be found.
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Catherine is crowned empress at the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow.
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Ivan, one of the threats to Catherine's throne, was assassinated for attempting a coup d'état against Catherine. Guards and officials were under strict orders to kill him if he attempted to escape his imprisonment or lay claim to the throne.
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Catherine dies after suffering from a stroke and falling into a coma in the Winter Palace. She is laid to rest at the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg.
