Catherine the Great - Biography.

Catherine the Great - Biography. Empress of Russia Birth 1729 Death 1796 Reign 1762-1796 Significant Created a legislative commission in 1767 to revise and codify Russian law based on the Nakaz, or Instruction, which she published in the Acts same year Introduced a system of local self-government in 1775 that decentralized power, subdividing Russia into 15 major administrative units Established the Russian Academy of Letters in 1783 and passed an edict to allow the formation of private publishing houses In 1785, issued the Charter to the Nobility, by which the landholders of each province were allowed to form a general assembly and petition the empress Milestones 1754 Gave birth to a son who ruled Russia as Paul I after her death 1762 Overthrew her husband, Peter III, and declared herself Catherine II, sovereign ruler of Russia 1767 Published the Nakaz in which she outlined her vision for the reform of Russian government and society 1768 Declared war on the Ottoman Empire 1773-1774 Suppressed the Pugachev Rebellion and ordered Emel'ian Pugachev executed 1774 Concluded peace with the Ottoman Empire, gaining a foothold on the coast of the Black Sea and expanding westward after the First Partition of Poland in 1772 1783 Annexed the Crimean peninsula, greatly expanding Russian presence in the Black Sea 1787-1792 Again fought the Ottoman Empire, gaining a permanent hold along the Black Sea Did You Know Catherine was born in the Prussian city of Stettin, and spoke little Russian when she married Peter. Catherine corresponded with French writer Voltaire, a leading figure in the Enlightenment. Though successful in promoting the development of Russian culture, Catherine was unwilling to significantly liberalize government and serfdom actually expanded under her rule. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.