La Historia

Russia Under Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great, also called Catherine II, ruled Russia from 1762-1796. Catherine, an intelligent woman who was familiar with philosophe’s works, invited DenisDiderot to Russia. Catherine was skeptical about what she heard. She did consider an idea to make a new law of the equality of people in eyes of law. In the end she did nothing, because she knew thatthe success depended on Russian Nobility. Her policy of favoring the landed nobility led to worse conditions. Catherine took stronger measures against peasants. All rural reform was halted. Sheproved to be a worthy successor to Peter the Great in her policies to territorial expansion. Russia gained about 50 percent of Poland’s territory. She talked about enlightened reforms., and even attemptedsome. Catherine realized Russia needed peace and stability, if proper change were to be effected. Inspired largely by the writings of the French philosopher Montesquieu, Charles Louis, and Baron de.In 1868, war broke out in Poland when Polish nobles rebelled against the central authority. Catherine directed her attention once more to domestic matters. Catherine was sent to Russia at age 15 andbetrothed to the heir to the throne, the Grand Duke Peter. She converted to Russian Orthodox Christianity, and was wed in 1745. When Empress Elizabeth died in 1761, Peter was proclaimed Emperor PeterIII, and Catherine became empress. Catherine undertook the first major reform, that of Russia's legal system, which was based on the inequitable, archaic and inefficient Code of Laws, dating backcenturies.

The Seven Years’ war
The Seven Years' War was a world war that took place between 1756 and 1763. It involved most of the great powers of the time and affected Europe, North America, CentralAmerica, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines. The Russian Empire left its offensive alliance with the Habsburgs on the succession of Peter III in 1762, and like Sweden concluded a...