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Sophie Friederike Auguste (Catherine the Great) was born in Stettin, Poland.
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Catherine was born during the Age of Enlightenment, which helped shape her philosophy as an Enlightened Despot which takes on the beliefs of an absolute ruler.
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15 year-old Catherine went with her mother to Russia to meet Czarina Elizabeth (who invited them both) as a potential bride for heir to the throne, Elizabeth's nephew Peter.
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Catherine married the Grand Duke Peter and into the Russian royal family. She then became the Grand Duchess.
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Catherine gave birth to her son, Paul. Many people speculate Paul's actual father was Sergei Saltykov, a Russian Noble.
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Catherine's daughter, Anna Petrovna, was born.
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Catherine's husband took the throne after the death of Empress Elizabeth. She then received the title of Empress Consort.
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Empress of Russia, Elizabeth, dies. This passes the throne to Peter III.
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Catherine gave birth to her and Peter's second son, Alexei Grigoryvich.
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Peter was abdicated. Catherine disagreed with Peter’s ruling, and didn’t believe he would be a good emperor for Russia.
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Peter was assassinated nearly six months after taking the throne by a coup created by Catherine.
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Catherine claims the throne and begins her rule of Russia after the murder of Peter III.
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Catherine died of a stroke in Tsarskoye Selo, Russia.
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Catherine's eldest son, Paul I, died as emperor of Russia.
