The Great, Hulu's new show about Catherine the Great's less-than-ideal marriage—and her plans to ameliorate that situation—treads on familiar territory. Myriad movies and TV series, not least HBO's 2019 miniseries Catherine the Great, have dramatized the Empress's ascent to the throne and subsequent reign.
So how did it all really go down? Here, the true story of how Catherine the Great overthrew her husband, Tsar Peter III.
The future empress was not meant to rule.
Born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, a minor German princess, she was selected by Empress Elizabeth to wed her heir, the future Peter III. Elizabeth was herself childless, but selected her nephew, the German-born Peter, to succeed her.
A portrait of Catherine after she had married Peter, but before he ascended the throne.
After her conversion to Orthodoxy, she took the name Catherine. She did her best to eschew her Germanic origins, and endear herself to the Russians as one of them. To occupy herself during her famously unhappy marriage to Peter, who she'd later describe in her memoirs as stupid and too keen on alcohol, she immersed herself in her studies. Catherine was particularly taken with the writings of Enlightenment thinkers, like Diderot and Voltaire.
Peter, on the other hand, is remembered as a strange figure, ill-suited to the throne. Oft-mentioned is his strong interest in playing with toy military figurines, which he apparently sometimes took to bed with him.
After Elizabeth died, Peter III enjoyed a very short reign.
The ill-fated Tsar quickly angered crucial allies, including the Russian Orthodox church and the country's military class. With the help of her lover at the time, Grigory Orlov, Catherine plotted to overthrow her husband.
In 1762, Catherine, a talented equestrian, lead a group of 14,000 soldiers to unseat her husband. After successfully dethroning him, she emerged from the Winter Palace in a male guardsman’s uniform, proclaiming herself the new Empress. At first, the coup was bloodless.
Portrait of the future Paul III and Catherine the Great.
But the dethroned Peter III didn't last long.
Alexei Orlov, Grigory's brother, killed Peter III in prison. At the time, it was widely assumed that Catherine was behind this, but historians aren't so sure."The circ*mstances and cause of death, and the intentions and degree of responsibility of those involved," Catherine the Great biographer Robert K. Massie wrote, "can never be known."
A late 18th century illustration of Catherine the Great emerging from Winter Palace, just after deposing her husband.
News Writer
Chloe is a News Writer for Townandcountrymag.com, where she covers royal news, from the latest additions to Meghan Markle’s staff to Queen Elizabeth’s monochrome fashions; she also writes about culture, often dissecting TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Killing Eve.
Absolutely, the story of Catherine the Great's rise to power is fascinating and rich with historical intricacies. Catherine, born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, indeed faced a tumultuous marriage with Tsar Peter III, leading to her eventual ascension to the Russian throne. Let's break down the concepts within the article to shed more light:
-
Catherine's Background: Born a minor German princess, Catherine was chosen by Empress Elizabeth to marry her heir, Peter III, to secure the Russian throne's succession.
-
Catherine's Transformation: Upon converting to Orthodoxy, she adopted the name Catherine and worked to distance herself from her German origins, embracing Russian culture to gain acceptance among the people.
-
Enlightenment Influence: Catherine delved into Enlightenment philosophies, deeply influenced by the works of thinkers like Diderot and Voltaire, using her studies to cope with her unhappy marriage.
-
Peter III's Eccentricities: Peter III is depicted as an ill-suited ruler, remembered for his odd behaviors, such as his fondness for playing with toy soldiers, and his inability to govern effectively.
-
Coup and Ascension: Catherine, aided by her lover Grigory Orlov, orchestrated a coup in 1762, leading soldiers to overthrow Peter III. She emerged as the new Empress, initially staging a bloodless coup.
-
Uncertain Fate of Peter III: After being dethroned, Peter III met an untimely end. There's speculation about Catherine's involvement in his death, though historians remain uncertain about the circ*mstances and level of her responsibility.
-
Legacy and Controversy: Catherine's reign as Empress was significant, marked by cultural advancements and territorial expansions. However, controversies surrounding her personal life and the events of Peter III's death persist, creating debates among historians.
The article's exploration of Catherine's life and actions during this period paints a vivid picture of her challenges, her thirst for knowledge amid marital hardships, and her eventual seizing of power. The historical narrative of her rise to become one of Russia's most impactful leaders is a testament to her intelligence, determination, and political acumen.
