Catherine II - biography, facts from life, photos, reference information. Biography of Catherine II.

At birth, the girl was given the name of Sofia Frederick Augustus. Her father, Christians, August, was the prince of the small German principality of Anhalt Cerbst, but the glory gained his achievements on a military field. The mother of the future Catherine, Princess Holstein-Gottorpskaya Johann Elizabeth, cared little about raising her daughter. And because the girl raised the governess.

Education of Catherine was engaged in tutors, and, among them, Kappellan, who gave the girl's lessons of religion. However, many questions have their own point of view. She also mastered the three languages: German, French and Russian.

Entry into the monacon of Russia

In 1744, a girl rides with his mother in Russia. The German princess shall be engaged with the Grand Duke Peter and takes Orthodoxy, receiving the name of Catherine when baptized.

On August 21, 1745, Catherine marries the heir to the throne of Russia, becoming a cesarean. However, family life was distant from happiness.

After a long childless years, Catherine II finally made the heir. Her son Paul was born on September 20, 1754 and there are hot spores about who actually is the father of the boy. Whatever it was, but His firstborn Ekaterina almost did not see: shortly after birth, the child for her upbringing takes the Empress Elizabeth.

Capture the throne

On December 25, 1761, after the death of Empress Elizabeth, Peter III goes back to the throne, and Catherine becomes the wife of the emperor. However, it has little relation to state affairs. Peter and his wife was frankly cruel. Soon, due to the stubborn support provided by Prussia, Peter becomes alien to many courtiers, secular and military ranks. The founder that today we call progressive internal state reforms, Peter raised himself with the Orthodox Church, who fucked the church lands. And now, after six months, Peter was overthrown from the throne as a result of a conspiracy, in which Ekaterina joined his lover, Russian lieutenant Grigory Orlov, and a number of others, with the aim of seizing power. She successfully manages to make her husband renounce the throne and take the management of the empire into his hands. A few days after the renunciation, in one of his estates, in Ropsch, Petr was strangled. What a role in the murder of her husband played Catherine, it is unclear to this day.

Fearing to be discarded by opposing forces, Catherine is trying by all their might to win the arrangement of troops and churches. She recalls sent by Peter to war against Denmark troops and encourages and bestows those who go to her side. She even compares herself with Her Peter Great, declare that he was going on in his footsteps.

Governing body

Despite the fact that Catherine is a supporter of absolutism, she still takes a number of attempts to spend social and political reforms. She publishes the document, "Okaz", in which he proposes to cancel the death penalty and torture, and also proclaims the equality of all people. However, the Senate for any attempts to change the feudal system corresponds to a decisive refusal.

After the end of work on the "Opt", in 1767 Catherine convenes representatives of various social and economic layers of the population to form a laid commission. The legislative body did not come out of the commission, but its convocation entered the story as the first time, when representatives of the Russian people from all over the empire were able to express their ideas about the needs and problems of the country.

Later, in 1785, Catherine publishes the charter of the nobility, in which the politics changes and disputes the power of the highest classes, in which most of the masses are under the coup of serfdom.

Catherine, a religious skeptic by nature, seeks to submit to its power to the Orthodox Church. At the beginning of his reign, she returned the Church of Earth and property, but soon changed their views. The Empress announces the church part of the state, and therefore all its possessions, including more than a million fortress, become the property of the empire and are subject to serve.

Foreign policy

During his reign, Catherine expands boundaries Russian Empire. It makes significant acquisitions in Poland, pre-settled on the throne of the kingdom of his former lover, Polish Prince Stanislav Constable. By agreement of 1772, Catherine gives part of the regime of the Commonwealth of Prussia and Austria, while the eastern part of the kingdom, where many Russian Orthodox lives, departs the Russian Empire.

But such actions cause extreme disapproval of Turkey. In 1774, Catherine enters into peace with the Ottoman Empire, according to which Russian state receives new lands, and access to the Black Sea. One of the heroes of the Russian-Turkish war was Gregory Potemkin, a reliable adviser and lover of Catherine.

Potemkin, a faithful supporter of the policy of the Empress, and himself showed himself as an outstanding statesman. It was he who, in 1783, convinces Catherine to attach the Crimea to the Empire, thereby strengthening her position on the Black Sea.

Love for education and art

At the time of the modernity of Catherine on the throne, Russia for Europe was the state backward and provincial. The Empress is striving to change this opinion by all means, expanding opportunities for new ideas in education and arts. In St. Petersburg, she bases guesthouse for girls of noble origin, and later in all cities of Russia are opening free schools.

Catherine patronizes many cultural projects. She conquers the glory of a zealous assembler of the arts, and most of her collection is exhibited in her residence in St. Petersburg, in Hermitage.

Catherine, passionately literature, especially favorably refers to philosophers and writers of education. Announced by the literary talent, the Empress describes his own life in the meeting of memoirs.

Personal life

The love life of Catherine II has become the subject of many woven and false facts. Myths about her insatiability are debunked, but this regulatory person for his life really had a lot of love ties. She could not get married, as the marriage could shake her position, and therefore in society she had to wear chastity mask. But, away from prying views, Catherine showed non-reasonable interest in men.

End of Board

By 1796, Catherine here as a few decades had absolute power in the empire. And in the last years of the reign, she showed the whole the same liveliness of the mind and the fortress of the spirit. But in mid-November 1796, she was found unconscious on the floor in the bathroom. At that time, everyone came to the conclusion that it was enough to strike. 4.3 points. Total ratings received: 53.

Under such circumstances, E. On the throne, the rights to which belonged to her son. But she understood that this son would have become in the throne of the toy of parties like Peter II. The regency was the case of fragile. The fate of Menshikov, Biron, Anna Leopoldovna had in memory of everyone.

Utkin, Nikolai Ivanovich - Empress Ekaterina II on a walk in the Park of the Tsarist village

The insightful glance of E. equally carefully stayed on the phenomena of life at home and abroad. Having learned, in two months on joining the throne, that the famous French encyclopedia was convicted by the Paris Paris for Burning and the continuation of it is forbidden, E. offered Voltera and Didro to make an encyclopedia in Riga. One this proposal bowed to E. The best minds that were then given to public opinion in all of Europe. In the fall of the city of E. crowned and stayed in winter in Moscow. In the summer of G. Podororuk, the world designed to build on the throne of John Antonovich, the son of Anna Leopoldovna and Anton Ulrich Braunschweigsky, held in the Slisselburg fortress. The plan failed - John Antonovich, while attempting to his liberation was shot by one of the guard soldiers; The world was executed by the court sentence. In the city of Prince Vyazemsky, sent to packed peasants attributed to the factories, was ordered to explore the question of the benefit of free labor before the hired. The same question was proposed by the newly instituted economic society (see free economic society and serfdom). First of all, it was necessary to resolve the issue of monastic peasants who took particularly acute character in Elizabeth. Elizabeth, at the beginning of his reign, returned the estates to the monasteries and churches, but in G. And she, with her dignitaries surrounded by her, came to be convinced of the need to transfer the management of church property into secular hands. Peter III ordered to fulfill the presenlation of Elizabeth and transfer the management of church assets of the savings board. The inventory of monastic assets were made, under Peter III, extremely rude. Upon joining E. II on the throne of the bishop filed complaints and asked for the return of the management of church assets. E., on the advice of Bestumev-Ryumin, satisfied their desire, abolished the savings board, but did not leave his intention, but only postponed his execution; She then ordered that the Commission G. resumed his classes. It was ordered to produce new inventory in monastic and church property; But new friends, the clergy was displeased; The Rostov Metropolitan of Arseny Matseevich especially rebelled against them. In the reporting to the Synod, he expressed sharply, arbitrarily intersecting church-historical facts, even distorting them and making offensive for E. comparison. Synod presented the case by Empress, in the hope of (as Solovyov thinks) that E. and this time will roll out its usual softness. Hope was not justified: the report of the Arseny caused such irritation in E. Which did not notice in it before, nor after. She could not forgive the arms comparing her with Julian and Juda and the desire to put her by the violature of his word. Arseny was sentenced to reference to the Arkhangelsk diocese, to the Nikolaev Korean monastery, and then, as a result of new charges, to the deprivation of monastic sanity and life imprisonment in Revel (see Arseny Matseevich). Characterized for Catherine the next case from the beginning of its reign. The case was reported on the permissiveness of the Jews to enter Russia. E. She said that to start the reign by a decree on the free entry of Jews would be a bad means to calm the minds; Recognize the entry is harmful - it is impossible. Then Senator Prince Odoevsky offered to look at what the Empress Elizabeth wrote on the fields of the same report. E. demanded a report and read: "From the enemies of Christ I do not want mercenary profits." Turning to the prosecutor general, she said: "I wish it to be postponed."

The increase in the number of serfs of the peasants through huge handpackers to the favorites and dignitaries of populated estates, the approval of serfdom in Malorussessia, fully fallen into a dark spot for the memory of E. Do not, however, lose sight of the fact that the lowestity of the Russian society affected at that time every step. So, when E. decided to cancel torture and suggested this measure to Senate, the senators expressed the fear that in case of cancellation of torture, no one goes to bed, will not be sure if he will stand in the morning. Therefore, E., not destroying torture vowelno, sent a secret prescription to be in cases where torture was used, the judges founded their actions at the head of the ordinance, in which the torture was convicted, as a matter of cruel and extremely stupid. At the beginning of the reign of E. II, an attempt was resumed to create an institution, resembling the Supreme Secret Council or replaced his office, in new form, under the name of the Permanent Council of the Empress. The project writer was Count Panin. The Feldshmeister General Wilboua wrote by Empress: "I don't know who is the compiler of this project, but it seems to me as if he, under the guise of the protection of the monarchy, is more subfiner inclined to the aristocratic board." Willboon was right; But E. and herself understood the oligarchic nature of the project. She signed him, but kept under the cloth, and he was never promulgated. Thus, the idea of \u200b\u200bPanin about the Council of Six Permanent Members remained one dream; Private Council E. has always consisted of alternating members. Knowing how Peter III's transition on the side of Prussia was irritated by public opinion, Catherine ordered Russian generals to comply with neutrality and contributed to the cessation of the war (see seven-year war). The internal affairs of the state demanded special attention: most of all amazed the absence of justice. E. On this occasion, vigorously expressed: "Loans increased to such an extent that it is hardly the most small place of the government, in which the court would have sent this ulcers without infection; whether he is looking for a place - whether anyone is being defended by money; Lie slander to whom - all the cunning miscarions reinforces the gifts. " E., E., was particularly striking, having learned that within the current Novgorod province they took with the peasants with money for bringing them to the oath to her faith. Such a state of justice made E. convene in the commission for the publication of deposits. This Commission, E., presented the unit to which it had to be guided by drawing up. Oaksa was compiled on the basis of the ideas of Montesquieu and Bekcaria (see Oaks Large ] And Commission G.). The Polish business, which arose of them, the first Turkish war and the inner universities suspended the legislative activities of E. To the city of Polish affairs caused sections and the fall of Poland: on the first section of G. Russia received the current province of Mogilev, Vitebsk, part of the Minsk, that is, most Belarus (see Poland). The first Turkish war began in the city and ended in the world in Kuchuk Kainardji, which was ratified in this world of the port recognized the independence of the Crimean and Budzhak Tatars; Daemed Russia, Kerch, Yenikale and Kinburg; opened Russian ships free move from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean; Granted the forgiveness of Christians who participated in the war; Allowed the petition of Russia for Moldavian affairs. During the first Turkish war in Moscow, the plague, which caused a dick riot; In the east of Russia, an even more dangerous riot flashed, known as Pugachevshchina. In the city of Plague from the army penetrated to Malorossia, in the spring of G. She appeared in Moscow; Commander-in-Chief (according to the current Governor-General) Count Saltykov left the city for a mercy of fate. Returning General Yeropkin accepted a voluntarily difficult duty - to protect the order and preventive measures to weaken the plague. Outows did not fulfill his prescriptions and not only did not burn clothes and linen from the dead from the plague, but they hid the death of them and buried on the backyards. The plague intensified: at the beginning of the summer, 400 people died daily. The people in horror crowded at the barbaric gate, before the miraculous icon. Infection from the crowding of the people, of course, intensified. The then Moscow Archbishop of Ambrose (see), the person enlightened, ordered to remove the icon. The rumor was immediately spread that the bishop, at the same time with the leaders, was agreed to starve the people. The misappropriate and fanatical crowd killed a decent archpastic crowd from fear. There were rumors that the rebels are preparing to light Moscow, destroy the drugs and nobles. Yeropkin, with several rotary, managed, however, restore calm. In the last days of September, Count Grigory Orlov arrived in Moscow, then the closest face to E is arrived: but at this time the plague has already weakened and ceased in October. 130,000 people died from this plague in one Moscow.

Pugachev rebellion raised Yaitsky Cossacks, dissatisfied with change in their Cossacks. In the city of Donskaya Cossack Emelyan Pugachev (see) accepted the name of Peter III and raised the banner of Bunta. Catherine instructed the dilution of the rebellion of Bibikov, who immediately understood the essence of the case; It was not an important Pugachev, he said, it is important for general displeasure. Bashkirs, Kalmyks, Kyrgyz joined the Yaitsky Cossacks and to the rebooting peasants. Bibikov, disposed of Kazan, moved more dangerous detachments from all sides; Prince Golitsyn liberated Orenburg, Michelson - Ufa, Mansurov - Yaitsky town. At the beginning of the city, the rebellion began to subside, but Bibikov died of exhaustion, and the rebellion broke out again: Pugachev mastered Kazan and moved to the right bank of Volga. Bibicova's place was taken by Count P. Panin, but did not replace it. Michelson smashed Pugacheva under Arzamas and taled him the path to Moscow. Pugachev rushed to the south, took Penza, Petrovsk, Saratov and hung the nobles everywhere. From Saratov, he moved to Tsaritsyn, but he was repulsed and under Black Yar was again broken by Michelson. When Suvorov arrived to the army, the impostor was barely held and was soon issued by his accomplices. In January, Pugachev was executed in Moscow (see Pugachevschina). With the resumed legislative activity of E. II, quite, however, and before that did not cease. So, in the city were abolished, the commercial and noble banks were established and the so-called appointence or strained bank was established (see the appliance). In the city, the existence of Zaporizhzhya Schash was discontinued, and without tearing to fall. In the same city, the conversion of provincial management. It was published an institution for the Office of the province, which was introduced in two twenty years: in the city began with the Tver province and ended in the city of the institution of the Vilna province (see Property). Thus, the reform of the provincial management, started by Peter Great, was derived by E. II from the chaotic state and is finished. In the city of E. commanded the word slave Replace the word loyal. By the end of the first Turkish war, Potemkin, striving for great matters, was particularly important. Together with his employee, Bezborodko, he made up a project known as Greek. The grandeur of this project is to destroy the Ottoman port, to restore the Greek empire, to the throne of which Konstantin Pavlovich, - liked E. The enemy of the influence and plans of Potemkin, Count N. Panin, the teacher of Cesarevich Paul and the President of the Foreign College, to distract E. from the Greek project , I brought it a project of armed neutrality, in the city of armed neutrality (see) was to provide the patronage of the trade in neutral states during the war and was directed against England, which was unprofitable for Potemkin's plans. Pursuing its wide and useless plan for Russia, Potemkin has prepared extremely useful and necessary matter for Russia - the accession of the Crimea. In the Crimea, with the recognition of his independence, two parties were worried - Russian and Turkish. Their struggle gave reason to take the Crimea and the Kuban region. The manifesto is the accession of the Crimea and the Kuban region to Russia. The last Han Shagin Gary was sent to Voronezh; Crimea is renamed to the Tauride province; Raughty of the Crimeans stopped. It is assumed that as a result of the raids of the Crimeans, the Great and Small Russia and part of Poland, from the XV century. Before the city, lost from 3 to 4 million population: the captives turned into slaves, the captives filled the harem or became the slave, in the ranks of women's servants. In Constantinople, Mamelukov Kormilitsa, the nannies were Russian. In the XVI, XVII, and even in the XVIII centuries. Venice and France used Russian slaves calanted into the shackles purchased in the markets of Levant, as workers on galleries. Pious Louis XIV tried only that these slaves do not remain schismists. The joining of the Crimea laid an end to the shameful trade in Russian slaves (see V. Laman in the "Historical Bulletin" for g.: "The power of the Turks in Europe"). Following the way Irakli II, the king of Georgia, recognized the Russian Protectorate. The year is marked by two important legislative acts: Posted by a diploma nobility (see nobility) and Urban position (see city). The Charter of People's Schools on August 15 was carried out only in small sizes. Projects on the basis of universities in Pskov, Chernigov, Penza and Ekaterinoslava were postponed. In the founded was the Russian Academy, to study native language. The basis of institutions was the beginning of the formation of women. Educational homes have been established, the preciseness is introduced, the pallas expedition is equipped for the study of remote outflows.

The enemies of Potemkin were interpreted, not understanding the importance of the acquisition of the Crimea, that the Crimea and Novorossia do not cost the money spent on their device. Then E. decided herself to inspect the newly acquired edge. Accompanied by Austrian, English and French ambassadors, with a huge retinue, in G. She went on a journey. Archbishop Mogilevsky, George Konissky, Mstislavle met her speech, which was famous for contemporaries as a sample of eloquence. All the nature of the speech is determined by its beginning: "Let's leave astronomers to prove that the land near the Sun draws: our sun is around us." In Kanev, I met E. Stanislav Schnislavsky, the king of Polish; Near Kagedan - Emperor Joseph II. He and E. put the first stone of the city of Yekaterinoslav, visited Kherson and looked at the Black Sea Fleet. During the trip, Joseph noted theatricality in the situation, saw the people into allegedly cultivated villages; But in Kherson, he saw the real case - and paid the justice of Potemkin.

The second Turkish war at E. II was keen, in the Union in Joseph II, from in G., December 29, the world was concluded. For all victories, Russia received only Ochasts, and the steppe between the Bug and Dnipro (see Turkish Wars and the Yaski World). At the same time, it was, with variable happiness, the war with Sweden, announced by Gustavi III in the city (see Sweden). It ended on August 3, the Relief World (see), on the basis of Status Quo. During the 2nd Turkish war there was a coup in Poland: on May 3rd, a new constitution was published, which led to the second section of Poland, in the city, and then to the third, in the city (see Poland). On the second section, Russia received the rest of the Minsk province, Volyn and Podolia, on the 3rd - Grodno Voivodeship and Kurland. In the city, in the last year, the reign of E., Graf Valerian teeth, appointed commander-in-chief in the campaign against Persia, conquered Derbent and Baku; His successes were stopped by E.

The last years of the reign of E. II was froze, with the reaction direction. Then the French revolution was played out, and with our home reaction, the UN hostage reaction, Jesuit-oligarchic, joined the Union. It was the last favorite of E., Prince Platon of Teeth, along with his brother, Graph Valerian. European response wanted to draw Russia to the fight against Revolutionary France - the struggle, alien to the direct interests of Russia. E. He said to representatives of the reaction of the kind words and did not give a single soldier. Then the subpoples under the throne E., accusations resumed that she illegally occupies the throne belonging to Pavel Petrovich. There is reason to assume that an attempt was preparing to build Pavel Petrovich to the throne. With this attempt, the expulsion from St. Petersburg Prince Friedrich Vürttemberg is likely to be connected from St. Petersburg. The home reaction was then accused E. allegedly in excessive freedomity. The reason for the charge was, by the way, the permission to translate Voltaire and participate in the translation of the Gazier, the story of the Marmontel, which was found antireligious, because there is no difference between the virtue of the Christian and pagan. Ekaterina was also almost no trace and a trace - and now, in such circumstances, the book of Radishchev "Travel from St. Petersburg to Moscow" appears, with the project of the liberation of peasants, as if discharged from the issued articles of her orders. Unhappy Radishchev was punished with reference to Siberia. Maybe this cruelty was the result of the concern that the exclusion of the articles on the liberation of peasants will be considered for the hypocrisy by E. In the city of Shlisselburg Novikov, such a lot of Russian enlightenment. The secret motif of this measure was Novikov's intercourse with Pavel Petrovich. In the cruelly suffered princess for his tragedy "Vadim". In the city, even Derzhavin was suspicious in the revolutionary direction, for the arrangement of 81 Psalm, entitled to "rulers and judges". So the educational reign of E. second, which has raised the National Spirit, Great Muga (Cathérine Le Grand). Despite the reaction recent yearsThe name of the educational will remain behind him in history. From this reign in Russia, the meaning of humane ideas began to be recognized, began to talk about the right of a person to think for the benefit of themselves similar [we almost did not touch the weaknesses of E. The second, reclamation of the word Renana: "A serious story should not give too much much Nravam Sovereign, if these morals did not have much influence on the overall course of affairs. "Under E. It was harmful to the influence of the Zub, but only because he was an instrument of a harmful party.]

Literature. Proceedings of Kolotov, Sumarokov, Leforta - Paneliki. Of the new more satisfactory works by Brikner. Very important work of Bilbasova is not over; In Russian, only one thing was, in German two. S. M. Solovyov in the XXIX t. His history of Russia stopped in the world in Kuchuk-Kainardji. Foreign compounds of Rüller and Castera cannot be carried out only on unkurited attention to them. From countless memoirs, Memoirs of Khrapovitsky are especially important (the best edition - N. P. Barsukova). See the newest Waliszewski essay: "Le Roman D" UNE IMPÉRATRICE ". Works on individual issues are indicated in respective articles. The publication of the imperial historical society is extremely important.

E. Belov.

Gifted by the literary talent, susceptible and sensitive to the phenomena of the surrounding life, E. took an active part in the literature of his time. Excited by her literary traffic It was devoted to the development of educational ideas of the XVIII century. Thoughts about the upbringing, briefly stated in one of the chapters of "punishment", were subsequently developed in detail by E. in allegorical fairy tales: "About Tsarevich Chlorine" () and "On Tsarevich Fel" (), and mostly in "Instructions by Prince N. Saltykov "This given when appointing it by the educator of the great princes of Alexander and Konstantin Pavlovich (). Pedagogical ideas, expressed in these writings, E. preferably borrowed from Monten and Locke: The first she took a common look at the goals of the upbringing, she used the second in the development of particularities. Managing Montenem, E. put forward the moral element in the first place in the upbringing - in the soul of humanity, justice, respect for the laws, condescending to people. At the same time, she demanded that the mental and physical side of the upbringing gained proper development. Personally, conducting the upbringing of their grandchildren to a seven age, she was a whole for them training Library. For the great princes were written by E. and "Notes regarding russian history". In purely fiction writings, which belong to journal articles and dramatic works, E. is much more original than in the writings of pedagogical and legislative nature. Indicating the actual contradictions of the ideals that existed in society, her comedies and satirical articles were in a significant The extent to promote the development of public consciousness, making more clear importance and expediency of reforms made by it.

The beginning of the public literary activity E. refers to G., when it was an active employee and inspirer of the satirical magazine "Everything" (see). A patronage tone, assimilated by "all sorts of all" in relation to other journals, and the instability of its direction soon armed against it almost all the then magazines; The main opponent was a bold and straight "drone" N. I. Novikov. Sharp attacks of the latter on judges, the governor and prosecutors did not like "anything all"; Who was in this magazine controversy against the "drone" - it is impossible to say positively, but it is relifically known that one of the articles directed against Novikov belongs to the Empress itself. At the interval of up to a year, when E. again acted as a journalist, it was written five comedies, and between them the best of her plays: "On the time" and "name day of Mrs. Vorchekina". Pure literary advantages of comedy E. not high: there are little action in them, the intrigue is too easy, the discord is unitable. They are written in the spirit and according to the sample of French modern comedies, in which the servants are more developed and smart than their gentlemen. But at the same time, in Comedies, E. Displays purely Russian public vices and Russian types appear. Headache, Superstition, bad education, chase in fashion, blind imitation of the French - these are the themes that E. in her comedies were developed. These themes have been planned earlier by our satirical magazines G. and, by the way, "all sorts of all"; But the fact that the magazines seemed in the form of individual paintings, characteristics, sketches, in Comedy E. It turned out a more solid and bright image. Types of miser and heartless Khanji Khanzhahina, superstitious Gossip Gossip in Comedy "On Time", Petimetra Fatrolufyushkova and Nekopaykov Spotlights in the Comedy "Name Day Ms. Vorchakina" belong to the number of the most successful in Russian comic literature of the last century. Variations of these types are repeated in the remaining comedies E.

By city, the active participation of E. in the "Interlocutor of Russian Lovers", published at the Academy of Sciences, edited by Princess E. R. Dashkova. Here E. placed a number of satirical storts entitled common name "Wasy and Nevbilitz". Initially, the goal of these stortes was, apparently, a satirical image of weaknesses and ridiculous parties to the modern Empress of society, and the originals for such portraits were often taken by the sovereign from the environment of the persons close to it. Soon, however, "there were no unprecedented" began to reflect the journal life of the "Interlocutor". E. was the unlawful editor of this magazine; As can be seen from the correspondence of her with Dashkova, she read another manuscript with many of the articles sent to the journal; Some of these articles hurt her for the living: she joined the controversy with their authors, often heed them. For the reading public there were no secret participation by E. in the journal; At the address of the writer "Plegse and Nevbyitsy", the articles of the letter were often sent in which quite transparent hints were made. The sovereign tried whether to preserve composure and not to issue his incognito; Once only angry with "bold and reprehensible" questions of Fononvizin, she expressed her annoyance so vividly in the "Friend and Nevbiltsi" that Fonvizin found it necessary to hurry with the final writing. In addition to the "Plega and Nebylitz", the sovereign was placed in the "interlocutor" several small polemical and satirical settlements, for the most part of the pompous complicated compositions of the random employees of the "Interlocutor" - Lamb and Graph S. P. Rumyantsev. One of these articles ("Societies do not know the daily note"), in which Prinjea Dashkova saw a parody of the meeting just then founded, according to her thoughts, russian Academy, served as a reason for the discontinuation of E. in the journal. In subsequent years (1785-1790), E. wrote 13 plays, not counting the dramatic proverbs in French, intended for the Hermitage Theater.

Masons have long been attracted by E. If you believe it says, she gave themselves labor in detail with huge Masonic literature, but did not find anything in Freemasonry, except for "madness." Stay in St. Petersburg. (в г.) Caliosostro, about which she expressed as a villain, worthy of the gallows, was even more armed with her against Masons. Receiving anxious to carry out an increasingly increasing influence of Moscow Masonic circles, seeing among their approximate many followers and defenders of the Masonic teachings, the sovereign decided to fight this "crazy" literary weapons, and for two years (1785-86) wrote one for Another, three comedies ("deceiver", "seduced" and "shaman of Siberian"), in which Masonry ridicued. Only in the Comedy "Sezsed" are found, however, life features resembling Moscow Masons. The "deceiver" is directed against Caliostro. In the "Shaman Siberian", E., obviously, unfamiliar with the essence of the Masonic teaching, did not think that he had to reduce it for one level with shaman focus. There is no doubt that Satira E. did not have a big range: Freemasonry continued to develop, and to apply him a decisive blow, the sovereign resorted not to the gentle ways to corrected, as she called her satire, but to steep and decisive administrative measures.

To the specified time, in all likelihood, the acquaintance of E. with Shakespeare, in French or german translations. She converted to the Russian scene "Windsor Kumushki", but the alteration of this came out extremely weak and very little reminds of genuine Shakespeare. In imitation of historical chronicles, she composed two plays from the life of the ancient Russian princes - Rurik and Oleg. The main importance of these "historical ideas", in a literary relationship is extremely weak, lies in those political and moral ideas that E. invests in mouth acting persons. Of course, it is not the ideas of Rüric or Oleg, but the thoughts of E. itself in the comic Operators E. did not pursue any serious purpose: these were the places of play, in which the side of the musical and choreographic side played the main role. The plot for these opera sovereign took, for the most part, from folk fairy tales And the epic, known for her handwritten meetings. Only "Mount-Bogatyr Kostomovich", despite its fabulous character, enters into itself an element of modernity: this opera put in the comic light of the Swedish king Gustav III, who opened the hostilities against Russia at the time, and was removed from the repertoire immediately on the conclusion of the world With Sweden. French plays E., the so-called "proverbs" - small one-acting plays, the plots of which served, for the most part, episodes from modern life. They do not have a special meaning, repeating the themes and types already bred in other comedies E. E. itself did not attach the meanings of their literary activities. "On my writings," she wrote to Grimma, "I look like a balancing. I love to make experiences in all kinds, but it seems to me that everything written by me is quite mediocre, why, in addition to entertainment, I did not attach any importance to this."

Catherine II Great (1729-96), russian Empress (from 1762). German princess Sophia Frederick Augustus Anhalt-Crebst. From 1744 - in Russia. With 1745, the wife of the Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich, the future of the emperor, who overthrew from the throne (1762), leaning on the guardian (G. G. and A. G. Orlovy et al.). Senate reorganization (1763), land secularization (1763-64), abolished Hetmanism in Ukraine (1764). He headed the laid commission 1767-69. With her, the peasant war occurred 1773-75. Missed the institution for the management of the province of 1775, a humbled diploma to Nobility of 1785 and a humble diploma of 1785. Under Catherine II, as a result of Russian-Turkish wars, 1768-74, 1787-91 Russia finally gained in black m., North were attached. Black Sea, Crimea, Prikubye. Accept to the Russian citizenship Vost. Georgia (1783). During the Board of Catherine II, the sections of the Commonwealth Speech (1772, 1793, 1795) were implemented. Corresponded with other figures of French Enlightenment. The author of many fiction, dramaturgical, journalistic, popular science essays, "notes".

Ekaterina II Alekseevna (Urban. Sofia Augustus Frederick, Princess Anhalt-CrebrStskaya), Russian Empress (from 1762-96).

Origin, Education and Education

Catherine, a daughter who was at the Prussian service of the Prince of Christian-August, Ankhalt-Church and Princess Johann-Elizabeth (nee princess Hollytein-Gottorpskaya), was related to the royal houses of Sweden, Prussia and England. She received home education: He studied German and french languages, dance, music, basics of history, geography, theology. Already in childhood, her independent character, curiosity, perseverance, and at the same time a tendency to live, moving games was manifested. In 1744, Catherine and mother was caused to Russia by Empress, baptized according to the Orthodox custom, under the name of Catherine Alekseevna and was admed to the bride of the Grand Prince Peter Fedorovich (the future emperor Peter III), with whom he was married in 1745.

Life in Russia until joined the throne

Catherine puts itself a goal to win the arrangement of the Empress, her husband and the Russian people. However, her personal life was unsuccessful: Peter was infantile, so during the first years of marriage between them there was no marital relationship. Giving tribute to the cheerful life of the yard, Catherine turned to reading French enlighteners and works on history, jurisprudence and economics. These books have formed its worldview. Catherine has become a consistent supporter of the ideas of enlightenment. She was also interested in history, traditions and customs of Russia. In the early 1750s. Catherine started a novel with the Guards officer S. V. Saltykov, and in 1754 the Son gave birth to the Son, the future of Emperor Paul I, but the rumors that Saltykov was the father of Paul, do not have grounds. In the second half of the 1750s. Ekaterina had an affair with a Polish diplomat S. Schnislavsky (subsequently King Stanislav Augustus), and in the early 1760s. With the city of Orlov, from whom she gave birth to 1762 Alexei's son, who received the last name Bobrinsky. The deterioration of relationships with her husband led to the fact that she began to fear for her destiny if he arrived in power and began to recruit supporters at the court. The obstacle piety of Catherine, her judgment, sincere love for Russia - all this sharply contrasted with the behavior of Peter and allowed her to conquer the authority both among the Great Metropolitan Society and the general population of St. Petersburg.

Entry into the throne

For six months of the Board of Peter III, Ekaterina's relationship with her husband (who openly appeared in the lover's society E. R. Vorontsova) continued to worsen, becoming clearly hostile. There was a threat to her arrest and possible expulsion. Catherine carefully prepared a plot, relying on the support of the Orlovy brothers, N. I. Panin, E. R. Dashkova, and others. On the night of June 28, 1762, when the emperor was in Oranienbaum, Catherine secretly arrived in St. Petersburg and in the barracks of the Izmailovsky regiment was proclaimed Autocratic empress. Soon the soldiers of other regiments joined the rebel. The news of the Ettility of Catherine on the throne quickly spread around the city and was met by Petersburgers with delight. To prevent the actions of the overthrown emperor, the messengers were sent to the army and in Kronstadt. Meanwhile, Peter, having learned about the incident, began to send proposals for Catherine on the negotiations that were rejected. The Empress herself at the head of the Guards Regions spoke in Petersburg and on the way received a written renunciation of Peter from the throne.

Character and image of the Board

Catherine II was a subtle psychologist and a wonderful connoisseur of people, she skillfully selected assistants, not afraid of people of bright and talented. That is why Catherine Time is noted by the appearance of the whole Pleiads of outstanding public figures, commander, writers, artists, musicians. In communicating with the subjects, Catherine was, as a rule, restrained, patient, tactical. She was an excellent interlocutor, able to listen to everyone carefully. According to her own confession, she did not have a creative mind, but she traveled all sorts of little thought and used her for their own purposes. For all the time of the reign of Catherine, there were practically no noisy resignation, none of the items were subjected to opal, was not exiled and all the more executed. Therefore, the idea of \u200b\u200bthe Ekaterininsky reign as the "golden age" of the Russian nobility. At the same time, Catherine was very vain and most in the world treated his authority. For its preservation, she is ready to go to any compromises to the detriment of their beliefs.

Attitude towards religion and peasant issue

Catherine was distinguished by a swovel piety, he considered himself the head and protector of the Russian Orthodox Church and skillfully used religion in his political interests. Her faith, apparently, was not too deep. In the Spirit of Time, she preached violence. With it, the persecution of old goods were discontinued, Catholic and Protestanian churches were built, a mosque, but still the transition from Orthodoxy to another faith was cruelly punished.

Catherine was a convinced opponent of serfdom, considering it by the anti-human and nasty nature of man. There are many sharp statements about this, as well as reasoning about various elimination of serfdom. However, it was not decided to do anything concrete in this area because of the quite reasonable fear of the noble rebound and the next coup. At the same time, Catherine was convinced of the spiritual underdevelopment of Russian peasants and therefore, in danger of granting them, considering that the life of the peasants in caring landowners is quite prosperous.

A foreigner by origin, she sincerely loved Russia and took care of the welfare of his subjects. Having taught the throne through the palace coup, Peter III's spouse tried to implement the best ideas of European enlightenment into the life of Russian society. At the same time, Catherine spoke out against the Great French Revolution began (1789-1799), replacing the execution of the French king Louis XVI Bourbon (January 21, 1793) and prerelevant Russia's participation in the Anti-Manzu coalition of European states in early XIX. in.

Ekaterina II Alekseevna (nee Sofia Augustus Frederica, Princess Anhalt-Crembed) was born on May 2, 1729 in the German city of Shattin (Sov. The territory of Poland), and died on November 17, 1796 in St. Petersburg.

The daughter at the Prussian service of the prince of Christian-August Anhalt-Crebst and Princess Johann-Elizabeth (nee princess Hollytein-Gottorpskaya) was related to the royal houses of Sweden, Prussia and England. Received a home education, in the course of which besides dances and foreign languages There are also the foundations of history, geography and theology.

In 1744, she, together with his mother, was invited to Russia by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, and baptized according to the Orthodox custom under the name of Catherine Alekseevna. Soon it was announced his engagement with the Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich (the future emperor Peter III), and in 1745 they were crowned.

Catherine understood that the courtyard loves Elizaven, does not accept many oddities of the heir to the throne, and perhaps after the death of Elizabeth, it was with the support of the courtyard to go to the Russian throne. Catherine studied the works of French Enlightenment figures, as well as jurisprudence, which had a significant impact on its worldview. In addition, she made as much effort as possible to explore, and perhaps and understand the history and traditions of the Russian state. Because of his desire to know all Russian Ekaterina won the love of not only the yard, but also from St. Petersburg.

After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, the relationship of Catherine with her husband, who had never distinguished by warmth and understanding, continued to worsen, taking clearly hostile forms. Fearing arrest, Catherine with the support of the Orlovy brothers, N.I. Panina, K.G. Razumovsky, E.R. Dashkova on the night of June 28, 1762, when the emperor was in Oranienbaum, committed palace coup. Peter III was exiled to Ropshu, where soon under mysterious circumstances died.

Starting his rule, Catherine tried to realize the idea of \u200b\u200benlightenment and arrange a state with ideals of this most powerful European intellectual movement. It almost from the first days of the Board actively participates in state affairs, offering significant reform for society. Upon its initiative, in 1763 the Senate reform was carried out, which significantly increased the effectiveness of his work. Wanting to strengthen the dependence of the Church from the state, and provide additional land resources to the nobility that supports the policy of reforming society, Catherine conducted the secularization of church lands (1754). The unification of the management of the territories of the Russian Empire began, and Hetmanism in Ukraine was abolished.

Ekaterina enlightenment creates a number of new educational institutions, including for women (Smolny Institute, Ekaterininskaya School).

In 1767, the Empress convened the Commission, which included representatives of all segments of the population, including peasants (except for serfs), to edema a new deposition of laws. In order to direct the work of the Catherine's laid commission, "Okaz", the text of which was based on the writings of the enlightened authors. This document was essentially a liberal program of its reign.

After graduating from the Russian-Turkish war 1768-1774. And the repression of an uprising under the leadership of Emelyan Pugachev began a new stage of Catherine reforms, when the empress independently developed the most important legislative acts and, using the unlimitedness of his power, has implemented them in life.

In 1775, a manifest was published, which could have the free discovery of any industrial enterprises. In the same year, the provincial reform was carried out, which introduced a new administrative-territorial division of the country, which remained up to 1917. In 1785, Catherine issued pledged diplomas to the nobility and cities.

At the foreign policy arena, Catherine II continued to hold an offensive policy in all directions - North, Western and South. Follows foreign Policy You can call the strengthening of Russia's influence on European affairs, three sections of the Commonwealth, strengthening positions in the Baltic States, the accession of the Crimea, Georgia, participation in counteracting the forces of revolutionary France.

The contribution of Catherine II to Russian history is so significant that the memory of her keeps many works of our culture.

On May 2, 1729, Sophia Frederick Augustus Anhalt-Cerebst, future Empress Ekaterina II was born in the German city. The name of the All-Russian self-container was washed with legends and rumors, and meanwhile her life is very interesting without any exaggerations.

1. In January 1744, an escort, accompanying 15-year-old Princess Sophia Frederick August, Anhalt-Cerebst, after 18 years, who began to the Russian throne under the name of Catherine II, commanded Karl Friedrich Jeronim von Münhgausen. The same famous beloved.

2. After joining the throne, Catherine immediately installed new orders of magnitude at the courtyard, subordinating its regime by state affairs. Her day was painted by the clock, and the routine remained unchanged throughout the reign. Only the sleep time changed: if the Empress got up in mature years at 05:00, then closer to old age - at 06:00, and by the end of life and at all at 07:00.

From 08:00 to 11:00 Catherine took high-ranking officials and Statis secretaries. Days and hours of reception of each official were constant. But not only the German pedantic of the sovereign manifested itself. Her papers always lay on the table in a strictly defined order. Opening hours and recreation hours, breakfast, lunch and dinner were also permanent. At 22:00 or 23:00, the Empress finished the day and went to sleep.

According to Count Segure, the rule of Catherine II was to "praise out loud, and scold slowly"

3. To fashion Catherine II was indifferent. The sovereign did not notice her, and sometimes it was quite consciously ignored. According to her own admission, she did not possess a creative mind, but wrote the play and even sent some of them to the "review" Voltera.

4. Catherine was quick-tempered, but he knew how to own himself and never accepted solutions in the gunpowder. She was very polite even with a servant, no one had heard a rude word from her. The Empress did not order, but asked to perform her will. Her rule, according to the testimony of Count Louis Philippe de Segure, was to "praise out loud, and scold slowly."

Portrait of Catherine after arrival in Russia. Louis Karavak, 1745

5. Under the reign of Catherine, the Great Population of Russia increased by 14 million, the army and government agencies were modernized, the ownership of the empire was significantly expanded.

6. People who knew Catherine closely, noted her attractive appearance not only in youth, but also in mature years, her extremely friendly appearance, ease of treatment.

90 rubles spent on food Ekaterina Great

7. There were 13 men in the life of the sovereign, including her husband, the relationship with which was documented.

8. According to legend, Catherine II, seeing the estimate of the Arch in the royal village, was surprised, but still agreed to build with the words: "To be so. This is my whim. "

Coronation portrait of Catherine II. F. S. Rokotov, 1763

9. For facilitating the spread of Buddhism in Russia, Ekaterina Great was counted by Lama Buryatia to one of the manifestations of white container.

10. During the reign of Catherine II, only one execution was committed - the leader of the peasant uprising of Emelyan Pugachev.

In case of Catherine II on the shield at the entrance to the Hermitage, the inscription was concerned: "The mistress of local places does not tolerate

11. In 1768, Thomas Dimsdale was called by Vomas Dimsdale for the introduction of in Russia. The Empress, knowing about the resistance of the Company's Company, decided to file a personal example and became one of the first patients of the English doctor. Dimsdale instilled an OPU to her and the great prince Pavel Petrovich. The recovery of Catherine and her son became a significant event in the life of the Russian yard.

12. Once in a conversation with Catherine II, Prince Potemkin praised the courage of the Greeks and their wives in the fight against the Turks and was very interested in Empress her story. Therefore, when the sovereign went on a trip to the south of Russia, an Amazonian company was met in Crimea, which consisted of hundreds of noble wives and daughters of Balaklava Greeks. He commanded 19-year-old Elena Sarandov. The girls were dressed in velvet raspberry skirts with fringe and green jackets, confused by the golden galoon. On the heads were white turbans with gilded sparkles and an ostrich pen. Three cartridges were issued to the gun of each "Amazon".

The Emperor of the Sacred Roman Empire, who traveled to Catherine, was so delighted with what was happening that he kissed Elena in his lips, and the sovereign knew her with a diamond perrsta. In the same year, when the Empress left the Crimea, the Amazonian company was dissolved.

Portrait of Catherine II in Russian outfit

13. Long before the death of the Empress made an epitaph for his future tombstone: "Here Ekaterina is resting here. She arrived in Russia in 1744 to marry Peter III. At fourteen, she took a three-way decision: to please her spouse, Elizabeth and the people. She did not miss anything to achieve success in this regard. Eighteen years, filled boredom and loneliness, prompted her to read a lot of books. Going to the Russian throne, she put all the efforts to give his subjects happiness, freedom and material well-being. She easily forgot and did not hate anyone. She was indulgent, loved life, was characterized by the cheerfulness of the Nrava, was the true Republican in his beliefs and possessed good heart. She had friends. The work was easy to her. She liked secular entertainment and art. "

14. According to the legend, the reign of Catherine of the Great ended due to the Council of the Tablement Plant, Taking Baths for Foot in cold water, Following the signed and 36-hour agony.

To meet Catherine II in Crimea, "Rota Amazon" was created "

Catherine II for a walk in the Tsarsko Selo Park. Vladimir Borovikovsky, 1794

15. Monument to Catherine II on a small garden street was opened in 1873. It took 50.8 tons of bronze. The height of the empress itself is 4.35 m. According to legend, jewelry buried under the monument: during the installation of the sculpture of the lady threw their robusts and earrings in the pit. At one time, under the monument even wanted to spend excavations, but these plans were not implemented.