Catherine the Great?

Question

What was Caterine the Great's real name? Where did she come from? What was her name after she was confirmed in the Orthodox Church?

Answer 1

Catherine was born Sophia Augusta Frederika of Anhalt-Zerbst on April 21, 1729 in Stettin, then Germany, now Poland.

Her father was known for his strong Lutheran faith, and Sophie would have to change her beliefs if she were to become engaged to the heir to the Russian throne.

Once in Russia, Sophie started to learn the Russian language and to study the Orthodox religion, and was received into the Church in a great ceremony. At her betrothal to Grand Duke Peter, Sophie became Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alexeyevna. In Russia the father's first name is added to that of the child. The Empress had chosen her own mother's name, Catherine, and Alexis because it sounded Russian. Catherine was now the second highest ranking lady in the country.

Answer 2

Catherine II of Russia, called the Great , Yekaterina II Velikaya; 2 May [O.S. 21 April] 1729 – 17 November [O.S. 6 November] 1796) reigned as Empress of Russia for some 34 years, from June 28, 1762 until her death. She was one of Russia's longest-serving and most influential rulers.

Her full name was- Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst

:)

Answer 3

I fink it was Effel Smiff.

Answer 4

The lovely Catherine Zeta-Jones made a TV movie about her. But Mae West said it best, when she played the title role in a little drama she named "Catherine Was Great."

Answer 5

here a website to go to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_I...

Answer 6

Sophia Augusta Frederika

Answer 7

Catherine II or Catherine the Great, 1729—96, czarina of Russia (1762—96).

Rise to Power

A German princess, the daughter of Christian Augustus, prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, she emerged from the obscurity of her relatively modest background in 1744 when Czarina Elizabeth of Russia chose her as the wife of the future Czar Peter III. Accepting the Orthodox faith, she changed her original name, Sophie, to Catherine. Her successful effort to become completely Russian made her popular with important political elements who opposed her eccentric husband. Neglected by the czarevich, Catherine read widely, especially Voltaire and Montesquieu, and informed herself of Russian conditions. In Jan., 1762, Peter succeeded to the throne, but he immediately alienated powerful groups with his program and personality. In June, 1762, a group of conspirators headed by Grigori Orlov, Catherine's lover, proclaimed Catherine autocrat; shortly afterward Peter was murdered.

Character and Legacy

Catherine increased the power and prestige of Russia by skillful diplomacy and by extending Russia's western boundary into the heart of central Europe. An enthusiastic patron of literature, art, and education, Catherine wrote memoirs, comedies, and stories, and corresponded with the French Encyclopedists, including Voltaire, Diderot, and d'Alembert (who were largely responsible for her glorious contemporary reputation). She encouraged some criticism and discussion of social and political problems until the French Revolution made her an outspoken conservative and turned her against all who dared criticize her regime. Although she had many lovers, only Orlov, Potemkin, and P. L. Zubov (1767—1822) were influential in government affairs. She was succeeded by her son Paul I.

hope these would help you..

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