Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Catherine the Great
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Portrait of Catherine the Great of Russia by Richard Brompton, showing her in regal attire with a jeweled crown and fur-trimmed robe, set in an ornate oval frame.
The rise and reign of Catherine the Great
Painting by Georg-Christoph Grooth of Empress Elizabeth of Russia seated in an ornate gown with lace, a blue sash, and a crown resting on a red cushion beside her. Portrait of Count Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov by Vigilius Erichsen, showing Orlov in formal attire with a blue sash and a patterned cloak, against a dark background. Map showing the territorial expansion of Russia from 1300 to 1796, with regions color-coded by the ruler or period of acquisition. The map highlights the principality of Moscow around 1300, its growth by 1462, and subsequent expansions under rulers such as Ivan III, Ivan IV, Peter the Great, and Catherine the Great, extending Russian territory across Eastern Europe and into Siberia. Major rivers, neighboring countries, and cities are labeled for geographic context. Grigory Potemkin Historical map showing Russian expansion in Asia, with different colors representing territories acquired during specific periods and under various rulers from 1533 to 1894. The map highlights the original Russian territory in 1533 and subsequent acquisitions stretching eastward across Siberia to the Pacific Ocean, and southward toward Central Asia. Major cities, rivers, and neighboring countries are labeled for geographic context. Portrait painting by Dmitry Levitsky of Empress Catherine II the Great wearing a red and ermine robe with royal regalia, standing beside a table with a crown. Historic map showing the partitions of Poland from 1772 to 1795, with color-coded regions indicating territories annexed by Prussia, Austria, and Russia during the first, second, and third partitions. The map labels key cities and regions, and outlines the shifting borders that led to the disappearance of Poland as an independent state during this period.
Debunking the myths around Catherine the Great
At a Glance
default image
Catherine II summary
Quizzes
Cleopatra hieroglyphic carving the Ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Wall of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt.
Women in Power Quiz
"Napoleon Crossing the Alps" oil on canvas by Jacques-Louis David, 1800; in the collection of Musee national du chateau de Malmaison.
Emperors and Empresses from Around the (Non-Roman) World Quiz
Related Questions
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Portrait of Catherine the Great of Russia by Richard Brompton, showing her in regal attire with a jeweled crown and fur-trimmed robe, set in an ornate oval frame.
Catherine II Oil on canvas by Richard Brompton, 1782; in the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. 83 × 69 cm.

Catherine the Great

empress of Russia
Also known as: Catherine II, Sophie Friederike Auguste, Prinzessin von Anhalt-Zerbst, Yekaterina Alekseyevna, Yekaterina Velikaya(Show More)
Written by
Zoé Oldenbourg-Idalie
Novelist and freelance writer. Author of Catherine de Russie and others.
Zoé Oldenbourg-Idalie
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

Catherine the Great (born April 21 [May 2, New Style], 1729, Stettin, Prussia [now Szczecin, Poland]—died November 6 [November 17], 1796, Tsarskoye Selo [now Pushkin], near St. Petersburg, Russia) was a German-born empress of Russia (1762–96) who led her country into full participation in the political and cultural life of Europe, carrying on the work begun by Peter the Great. With her ministers she reorganized the administration and law of the Russian Empire and extended...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content
Explore Subscriptions
DNA
Right
Mobile