Catherine II of Russia was born on 2 May 1729 in Szczecin. Empress of Russia from 1762 until her death, Catherine was a German princess named Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst who came to Russia to marry the future Peter III. A few months after he took the throne she overthrew him in a coup with the support of the guards. During her long reign Russia expanded across the Black Sea coast and Crimea, and took part in the partitions of Poland. She corresponded with Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Diderot, supported the arts and founded what became the Hermitage Museum, but she also crushed Pugachev's rebellion and strengthened the nobility's power over serfs. She is known as Catherine the Great.
Before and after
- 10 February 1728Birth of Peter III of Russia
- 27 October 1728Birth of James Cook
- 1729Founding of Karachi
- 12 January 1729Birth of Edmund Burke
- 2 May 1729Birth of Catherine II of Russia
- 1730Founding of Southbridge
- from c. 1730s to 1780sRise of Rococo
- from 1730 to 1735Ottoman–Persian War of 1730–1735
- 1730Founding of Fitchburg
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 23 May 1568 to 30 January 1648Eighty Years' War
- 13 April 1598Edict of Nantes
- 24 October 1648Peace of Westphalia
- from 22 February 1700 to 10 September 1721Great Northern War
- from March 1701 to September 1714War of the Spanish Succession
- from 17 May 1756 to 15 February 1763Seven Years' War
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.