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Birth
Catherine II was born on May 2nd, 1729 in Stettin, Prussia (no Szczecin, Poland) -
Catherine II's Arrival in Russia
Catherine II arrived in Russia, as the Grand Duchess Catherine Alekseyevna, and married Peter, grandson of Peter the Great and heir to the throne. Russia at the time was ruled by Peter's mother, the empress Elizabeth. -
Marriage to the Grand Duke
At the young age of 15, Catherine II married into royalty be wedding the Grand Duke of Russia at the time. Their marriage was mostly unhappy on account of cheating, fighting, and discontent on both sides of the relationship. -
Birth of First Child
On September 20th, 1754, Catherine II finally produced her first heir, Paul I. -
Death of Empress Elizabeth
When Empress Elizabeth died, her nephew Peter was proclaimed Emperor Peter III, and Catherine Became Empress. Friends warned her that she might not enjoy her status for long since Peter was planning to divorce her and she was advised to flee. She decided to ignore the warning, and the wisdom of her decision was soon demonstrated. -
Becoming Sovereign Ruler of Russia
Catherine aimed at a bigger role for herself. On 28 June 1762, with the help of her lover, Grigory Orlov, she rallied the troops of Saint Petersburg to her support her and so she could declar herself Catherine II, the sovereign ruler of Russia, later naming Paul her heir. She had Peter arrested and forced him to sign an act of abdication. He had only a few days to live, though, as shortly after his arrest he was killed in a fight with his captors. -
Catherine The Great Takes the Throne
Peter was regarded by some as being inept, and after only six months on the throne, Catherine overthrew him with the aid of Grigory Orlov, a military officer with whom she was having an affair. Her husband was later arrested and killed, securing her position on the throne. Catherine's coronation was on September 12th, a few months after her reign began. -
Catherine II's Manifesto
Catherine II released her manifeso, inviting immigration into Russia from Western Europe. -
Delegates Assembled by Catherine II
A follower of the Enlightenment in 1767, Catherine assembled a group of delegates in order to determine the people's wishes and compose a constitution. No laws came out of the commission, but it was the first time that Russians from across the empire had been able to express their thoughts about the country's needs and problems. -
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Securing the Eastern Region
In a 1772 treaty, Catherine II gave parts of Poland to Prussia and Austria, while taking the eastern region for herself. -
Treaty of Georgievsk Signed
The Treaty of Georgievsk was signed between King Herekle and Catherine the Great which made Kartli-Kakheti a protectorate of the Russian empire. -
Educational System
Catherine devoted much attention to expanding the country's educational facilities. She gave serious consideration to various plans and in 1786 adopted one providing for a large-scale educational system. -
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Battle with Ottoman Empire
Catherine was once again clashing with the Ottoman Empire, the two countries battled from 1787 until 1792. -
Death
Catherine II died on November 17th, 1796 in Tsarskoye Selo (now Pushkin). Catherine II was found unconscious on the floor of her bathroom. It was thought at the time that she had suffered a stroke. Her coffin lays alongside that of her late husband, Peter III at the Winter Palace in Russia.
