Catherine II the Great Biography

Birth of Catherine II the Great, a minor German princess with a very remote Russian ancestry, and a cousin of Gustav III of Sweden and of Charles XIII of Sweden

England, Austria, Saxony and The Netherlands form an alliance against Russia

England, Austria, Saxony and The Netherlands form an alliance against Russia

The marriage proves unsuccessful - due to the Grand Duke Peters impotence and mental immaturity he may not have consummated it for 12 years. The future Catherine the Great marries the future Tsar Peter III. Catherine marries the Grand Duke Peter, the newlyweds settle in the Palace of Oranienbaum, which would remain the residence of the "young court" for 16 years

Catherines lover Gregori Orlov stages a coup. 4 days afterwar a coup Catherines husband Peter III dies in a scuffle

In the course of July 13 and July 14, the revolt of the Leib Guard removes Peter from the throne and proclaimes Catherine as reigning Empress

In the course of July 13 and July 14, the revolt of the Leib Guard removes Peter from the throne and proclaimes Catherine as reigning Empress

Death of Peter III, at the hands of Alexei Orlov (younger brother to Gregory Orlov, then court favorite and a participant in the coup)

Death of Peter III, at the hands of Alexei Orlov (younger brother to Gregory Orlov, then court favorite and a participant in the coup)

Death of Peter III, at the hands of Alexei Orlov (younger brother to Gregory Orlov, then court favorite and a participant in the coup)

Death of Peter III, at the hands of Alexei Orlov (younger brother to Gregory Orlov, then court favorite and a participant in the coup)

Catherines ascension manifesto justifies her succession by citing the "unanimous election" but many regard her reign as a usurpation, tolerable only during the minority of Grand Duke Paul

Catherines ascension manifesto justifies her succession by citing the "unanimous election" but many regard her reign as a usurpation, tolerable only during the minority of Grand Duke Paul

Catherines ascension manifesto justifies her succession by citing the "unanimous election" but many regard her reign as a usurpation, tolerable only during the minority of Grand Duke Paul. Although not descended from any Russian Emperor, Catherine succeeds her husband and becomes reigning Empress, following an earlier precedent when Catherine I succeeded Peter I in 1725

Peter succeeds to the throne as Peter III of Russia and moves into the new Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Catherine thus becomes Empress Consort of Russia

Secures the election of her nominee King Stanislas Poniatowski to the throne of Poland

Secures the election of her nominee King Stanislas Poniatowski to the throne of Poland

A commission of 564 Deputies is appointed for the modernization of the State

Stanislas Poniatowski is elected King but Prince Repnin imposes Catherines rule

Stanislas Poniatowski is elected King but Prince Repnin imposes Catherines rule

Stanislas Poniatowski is elected King but Prince Repnin imposes Catherines rule

Catherine makes Russia the dominant power in south-eastern Europe after her war against the Ottoman Empire which see major victories at Chesma and Kagul

Catherine makes Russia the dominant power in south-eastern Europe after her war against the Ottoman Empire which see major victories at Chesma and Kagul

Secured the election of Stanislas Poniatowski to the throne of Poland in 1764

Partitions Poland from Dwina to Kiev

Secured the election of Stanislas Poniatowski to the throne of Poland in 1764

Acquires land west as far as the Dwina & South almost as far as Kiev & the Dnieper

Catherine II defeats a rebellion in eastern Russia led by Yemelyan Pugachev

The Treaty of Kutchuk cedes Kerch and several other Black Sea ports in the Crimea to Russia and declared the rest of the khanate of Crimea independent

The Treaty of Kutchuk cedes Kerch and several other Black Sea ports in the Crimea to Russia and declared the rest of the khanate of Crimea independent

Under the Treaty of Kutchuk Kainardji Moldova is returned to Turkey

Moldova and Walachia were restored to the suzerainty of the sultan, but Russia obtains the right of intervening with the Sublime Porte (the sultans court) on behalf of those two principalities

Under the Treaty of Kutchuk Kainardji the Steppes are returned to Russia

Moldova and Walachia were restored to the suzerainty of the sultan, but Russia obtains the right of intervening with the Sublime Porte (the sultans court) on behalf of those two principalities

Under the Treaty of Kutchuk Kainardji Wallachia is returned to Turkey

This record states: Moldova and Walachia were restored to the suzerainty of the sultan, but Russia obtains the right of intervening with the Sublime Porte (the sultans court) on behalf of those two principalities.

This record states: Proclaimed Protectress of the Christians in the Balkans.

This record states: Russia gains access to the Black Sea & to the Straits.

This record states: Russia gains the Steppes from Turkey.

This record states: The Crimea gains its independence.

This record states: The Treaty of Kutchuk cedes Kerch and several other Black Sea ports in the Crimea to Russia and declared the rest of the khanate of Crimea independent.

Russia, Denmark, Sweden & Norway form an alliance to defend neutral shipping rights

Announces there should be free trade for all neutral vessels

Signs a defensive alliance with Austria

Signs a defensive alliance with Austria

The States General of the United Provinces joins the League of Armed Neutrality

Partitions the Balkans to drive the Turks out of Europe. Makes her grandson, Constantine, ruler of a new Greek Empire. Makes a Treaty with Josef II promising him the Eastern half of the Balkans

Issues the "Greek Plan", to restore the Byzantine Empire under a Romanov Emperor

Portugal joins the League of Armed Neutrality

Issues the "Greek Plan", to restore the Byzantine Empire under a Romanov Emperor

Issues the "Greek Plan", to restore the Byzantine Empire under a Romanov Emperor

Russia Annexes the Crimea from Turkey. Freed by Russia from Turkish sovereignty & incorporated into the Russian Empire. Catherine commissions new fortifications & a vast base at Sevastopol is built

Catherine annexes Crimea , a mere nine years after it had gained independence from the Ottoman Empire as a result of her first war against the Turks

Turkey signs a Treaty ceding the Crimea to Russia

Catherines "Grand Plan" of restoring Romananov rule from Constantinople ends

Russia establishes a settlement on Kodiak Island

The nobles are granted full control over their serfs and lands. The Nobility Charter grants limited rights of noble assembly & provincial Government. Noble status is made hereditary

The Nobility Charter grants limited rights of noble assembly & provincial Government

The Nobility Charter grants limited rights of noble assembly & provincial Government

Catherine II encourages the colonization of Alaska

Turkey declares War against Russia over its interference in the Khanite of Georgia

A Swedish & Turkish alliance is formed against Russia

A Swedish & Turkish alliance is formed against Russia

Sweden invades 150 miles away from Saint Petersburg

The Austrian army captures Belgrade & Russia occupies the Romanian Black Sea coast. Joseph II honours his alliance of 1781 & launches a Habsburg army against Serbia

The Austrian army captures Belgrade & Russia occupies the Romanian Black Sea coast

The Austrian army captures Belgrade & Russia occupies the Romanian Black Sea coast

Agrees a status quo peace with Gustav III of Sweden after Denmark attacks Sweden

Peace is agreed between Turkey & Russia at Jassy

The Romanian principalities are returned to Turkey

The River Dniester becomes the new frontier between Russia & Turkey

The Romanian principalities are returned to Turkey

Under the Treaty of Jassy Russia returns Bessarabia to Turkey

The Treaty of Jassy legitimizes Russian claima to the Crimea

Under the Treaty of Jassy Russia returns Moldova to Turkey

Russia retains all conquered territory east of the Dniester River. A pact between the Russian and Ottoman Empires ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-92 and confirming Russias increasing dominance in the Black Sea

Signed by Grand Vizier Yusuf-Pasha and Prince Bezborodko (who had succeeded Prince Potemkin as the head of the Russian delegation upon the latters death). Russia returns Moldova & Bessarabia to Turkey.

The Treaty recognizes Russias 1783 annexation of the Crimean Khanate and transfers Yedisan to Russia making the Dniester the Russo-Turkish frontier in Europe. The Treaty of Jassy legitimizes Russian claima to the Crimea.

Russia takes most of Lithuania & western Ukraine. Russia has the right of troop movements & to direct Polish foreign policy. Prussia takes Danzig & great Poland

Odessa is founded as a capital province of "New Russia" & window to the sth

Odessa is founded as a capital province of "New Russia" & window to the sth

Russia, Austria and Prussia hold a convention in Petersburg to finalize the 3rd division of the Polishn Republic

Russia, Austria and Prussia hold a convention in Petersburg to finalize the 3rd division of the Polishn Republic

Dies of apoplexy aged 67

Russia, Prussia and Austria sign an act that terminates the Lithuanian-Polish state

Russia, Prussia and Austria sign an act that terminates the Lithuanian-Polish state