Catherine The Great (1729-1796)

Princess Sophie Friederike Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst, an obscure, poor principality in the Saxon Circle of the Holy Roman Empire, became Russia's longest reigning female monarch.
She couldn't even speak Russian and had to convert religions when she was sent to Russia as a young girl in 1744. She was 14 and was to marry her cousin, Karl Ulrich, duke of Holstein-Gottorp. She was chosen by Czarina Elizabeth because of her family connections, not through any strategic advantage.

Karl was the grandson of Peter the Great and heir to the Russian Throne as Grand Duke Peter. He was the nephew of Elizabeth and had been born in Prussia. He probably should have stayed there as he always favoured Prussia over Russia, leading to his downfall.

Name changes on the assumption of the Throne was common throughout Europe. 16-year-old Princess Sophie became Katherina on her wedding in 1745, and later, Karl was coronated Czar Peter III in 1762.

For 18 years, she regretted the choice of husband made for her. They had nothing in common and hated each other. Although they did manage to produce an heir, Paul, his paternity has been questioned ever since.

Peter III was a terrible Czar, and he was steering Russia into danger, so she decided to do something about it and staged a bloodless coup. On the 9th of July 1762, Peter III was deposed and abdicated without a fight. He died soon afterwards. She was merely following the example set by her husband's aunt, Czarina Elizabeth, who ousted the infant Czar Ivan VI and ruled herself. Ivan would become a prisoner for the next 20 years, and Catherine also kept his existence a secret. He was killed during a plot to overthrow Catherine and replace him on the Throne.

Catherine ushered in a Golden Age for Russia. She increased its size, gained deepwater ports, and led Russia into full political participation with the rest of Europe. She reformed government, taxation, education and westernized Russia. Russia was still a serfdom, and Catherine tried to reform this too but failed. She attempted to make vast land reforms to improve the peasants' standard of living and abolish serfdom but was prevented by the landed gentry. Russia became a centre for the arts, and her art collection forms the basis for the Hermitage in St Petersburg. Now Catherine's collection is known as one of the most significant art collections in the world.

Despite Catherine's achievements, she is more remembered for the sexual slanders against her. At a time when Royal Mistresses were recognized in several courts, Catherine's lovers shocked the establishment. Powerful women in the past always suffered the slings and arrows of being cast as sexually perverted, and Catherine was not spared. Although she died quietly of a stroke, the rumour spread around was she was having sex with her horse and was crushed under the animal.