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🌿|Catherine The Great |🌿

♠️CATHERINE THE GREAT : Prior Succession ♠️
Written by- nerd_positive

"Power without a nation's confidence is nothing."

          -Catherine the great.

Born on 2nd May 1729 in Stetti, Catherine II was one of the few rulers of history to adorn the title of "The Great." She ruled over Russia after overthrowing her husband Peter III. History has yet to decide what to call her, Reagent or a usurper, who was only allowed to own power as her son was way too young to rule.

During her early years, young Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst had a tomboyish personality, and according to some stories she trained herself with sword fights. Following the custom of that era she was taught by French governess and tutors assigned to her. Regardless of her family owning a small fortune Sophie's family had many connections due to their association with royalty. One such connection turned out to be most lucrative for Sophie. Due to her relative from her mother's side she was able to get associated with Peter III of Russia at the age of 10.

Though unlike most princess stories this meet was definitely not love at first sight. Sophie was kind of repulsed by Peter for his alcohol consumption habits and his knack of playing with wooden horses and soldiers.

In the meantime Lopukhina Conspiracy (it was a conspiracy which was engineered by Holstein and France to pick out members belonging to the influential clan of Lopukhina) occurred which somehow resulted in Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp involved with it. Reigning Empress Elizabeth of Russian angered by Joanna's hunger for fame banished her from Russia on the grounds of spying for Frederick II of Prussia.

Despite all odds Catherine managed to score good grace of Elizabeth which lead Sophie nuptial to Peter II heir to Russian throne. Eventually in the year 1745 both Sophie and Peter married with blessings of Empress Elizabeth.

From Sophie to Catherine:

When Sophie arrived in Russia in the year 1744, she spared no efforts to get acquainted with the culture of Russia. She tried her best to fit in the court. Many instances were recorded where Catherine used to get sick due to overexerting herself trying to learn Russian language and researching court politics of the place.

She tried to mingle with not only Empress Elizabeth but also her husband and court. Though her attempts with Elizabeth and court turned out to be fruitful but her relationship with Peter couldn't be called ideal. As she was stepping closer to her Russian court and Russia her ties with her maiden family got strained which finally snapped when she turned into Eastern Orthodoxy on 28th June 1744. Bestowed with the name Catherine or Ekaterina, young Sophie was now completely involved with the Russian empire.

Marriage:

Following her conversion Catherine married Peter III on 21st August 1745 in which his father was not present in the ceremony.

Aged 16 years Catherine accompanied Peter III who was crowned as Duke of Holstein-Gottorp in the year 1639 whose current location could be roughly marked near northwest of present day Germany near its border with Denmark. The newly wed couple was then shifted to the palace of Oranienbaum where they together learnt how to govern, a place where they were trained to be future monarchs of Russia.

Rocky married life:

Apart from administration the marriage was an utter failure which could be marked when Catherine and Peter didn't consummate their marriage for 12 long years. Reason for their frosty relations could be blamed on Peter's lack of maturity and impotency. Later their relation got further apart due to their lack of common beliefs and Catherine taking lovers.

While Peter invited scorn due to his rambunctious commands and lack of tactics in the court, Catherine involved herself with books. Bored with her childish husband Catherine used to spend her time reading works of Voltaire and other French revolutionaries. It is said that Catherine got heavily influenced by Annals written by Tacitus who was a Roman historian and politician (56AD-120 AD).

Apart from this Catherine managed to worm her way into the court where she collected many supporters due it her charming personality and eloquence. She during this time period got associated with many influential people present at the court.

With most of her life accounted, some of Catherine's encounters are rather scorned upon. The editor of Catherine's memoir Alexander Hertzen claims she had illicit relations with Sergei Saltykov, a Russian officer even before consummation of Catherine's and Peter's marriage which she accepted later though Catherine also claimed in her memoir passed to Paul I, her son that her and Sergei Saltykov a platonic one and a means to make Peter jealous.

Blackmailed into producing another heir:

Catherine was an ambitious woman who wanted to adorn the title of being Empress of Russia thus she didn't want to produce any other heir to the throne who could compete against Peter for it but her plan soon crumbled down when her involvement with a Russian military ploy to crown Peter as Emperor of throne using will of Catherine I, Grandmother of Peter and mother of Elizabeth. Elizabeth in order to extract revenge from the couple aimed to curtail any rights Peter and Catherine had on the throne thus blackmailing the couple into producing an heir for her.

After giving birth to Paul I, Catherine gave birth to Anna though the child only survived for only 14 months. Due to Catherine's involvement with many lovers and groups opposing her husband, Peter started to believe Anna was an illegitimate child. His behavior towards her turned extremely abrasive.

The already frosty relations between the couple started to go further downhill only to reach its lowest after Peter's succession to the throne after the death of Elizabeth.

Such was the life of Catherine before she became Empress consort of Russia.

Love and hugs
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May 25, 2021 (Tuesday)