Catherine the Great

By adamyusupov2004
  • Period: to

    Rough Childhood

    Catherine's mother and father did not pay much attention to her because they wanted a son rather than a daughter, which was very common in these times. Once Catherine married into the royal family and became empress of Russia, that is the only time her parents actually cared for her.

  • Name Change and Conversion

    Name Change and Conversion
    Once she converted to Russian Orthodox, she changed her name from Sophia Augusta Fredericka to Catherine. She felt this would help get her a better chance to becoming the empress of Russia. Also, she felt that since she was converting to a new religion, she should change

  • Catherine's Marriage

    Catherine's Marriage
    Catherine marries into the royal family of Russia and marries the Grand Duke Peter III. There was little evidence of love and affection within their marriage. He was very unfaithful to her, and when the time came, she began to be unfaithful to him as well. Together they had two children, Paul and Anna.

  • Paul I of Russia

    Paul I of Russia
    Catherine gives birth to her first born son, Paul I.

  • Anna Petrovna

    Catherine gives birth to her daughter, Anna Petrovna

  • Anna Petrovna Death

    Just at the age of almost 2 years old, Catherine's daughter Anna died due to small pox. This is what encouraged Catherine to want vaccinations in Russia.

  • Empress Elizabeth Dies

    Empress Elizabeth Dies
    Elizabeth II, the mother of Peter III, dies making Peter III Emperor of Russia, and Catherine his Empress.

  • Alexei Grigorievich

    Alexei Grigorievich
    Catherine the Great has a child with her secret spouse Grigory Olov, and they name him Alexei Grigorievich.

  • Peter III Dies!

    Peter III Dies!
    While married to Peter III of Russia (Peter the Great), she felt that he was not fit to be ruler, so she organized a coup to have him arrested. In his time being in prison, he was assassinated by one of his captors and this made Catherine the Empress of Russia.

  • Education for all

    Catherine set up a commission to study the educational systems of different countries. She put the Russian Statue of National Education into effect. This established a two tier system of high schools and primary schools which were free of charge, co-educational, and open to all of the free classes. This system was not the most successful, but it educated over 62,000 people.