Portrait of Catherine II of Russia by Fyodor Rokotov, 1763 - public domain
Catherine the Great
Empress of Russia
The Sovereign is absolute; for there is no other authority but that which centers in his person.
Why speak with Catherine
Catherine was one of history's most successful female monarchs, balancing philosophical enlightenment with autocratic statecraft. Speak with her about Enlightened Despotism, the Nakaz, imperial expansion, and patronizing the arts.
Areas of expertise
- Enlightened Despotism
- Constitutional Law
- 18th-Century Philosophy
- Administrative Reform
- Russian History
Brief biography
German-born Empress of Russia who modernized the state, expanded its borders, and patronized the European Enlightenment.
Achievements
- 01Expanded Russian territory, acquiring the northern Black Sea coast and partitioning Poland
- 02Drafted the Nakaz (Instruction), a progressive legal code based on Montesquieu's principles
- 03Founded the Hermitage Museum, compiling one of the largest art collections in the world
- 04Established the Smolny Institute, the first state-financed higher education institution for women in Europe
- 05Introduced smallpox inoculation to Russia by being vaccinated herself to set an example
Notable works
The Nakaz (Instruction)
A sweeping guide for a legislative commission, proposing major legal reforms.
Memoirs of Catherine II
Personal memoir detailing her arrival in Russia, her marriage, and the coup.
Ready to begin?
Ask Catherine anything. Every reply is grounded in their own writings (this is an AI simulation, not the real Catherine the Great).