How did Catherine II become known as the great?

Answer 1

Catherine the Great had an interesting life. She was born a minor German princess when Elizabeth of Russia decided she needed people to inherit her throne. Elizabeth had no children and her father Peter the Great had left a legacy for the Russian people. When Elizabeth searched for her future king and queen she looked to Germany and brought Fredrick a minor German prince and Catherine together. They were both in their teens. Catherine set out to become Russian in all ways. She learned Russian, changed her name to Catherine, converted to the Russian orthodox religion from Luthern, and learned the ways of the court. Frederick was the opposite. He refused to learn Russian, didn't convert, and played with tin soldiers dressed in uniforms. They married in their late teens, but Fredrick was not interested in a wife and years went by before the marriage was consummated. By this time Catherine had begun to have lovers and she was pregnant with a lover's baby. Before she was far along in her pregnancy she managed to spend one night with Fredrick. A boy was born. Years went by and Catherine had lovers while Fredrick brought in German troops and wearing fancy uniform played war games. Elizabeth died and Fredrick was to become Czar, but Catherine couldn't let that happen. She gained control of the elite troops had them kidnap Fredrick, and lock him up. Within days he was dead and Catherine took control of the government. The troops declared she was Catherine the Great. In her years on the throne she doubled the size of Russia, built churches, collected art from around the world, built palaces, and tried to reform the serf system. She was also asked by King George to send troops to the American Revolution, but declined. She was a very powerful lady and did accomplish a great deal in her life.