History vs. Russia’s most infamous empress - Carolyn Harris

So, who’s next? Catherine the... Great, is it?

Don't let the name fool you. Catherine “the Great” started her rule by murdering her husband and spent it oppressing the masses and intimidating anyone who questioned her.

These accusations of murder are highly speculative, Your Honor.

And Catherine’s rise to greatness is hardly so vulgar.

Born Princess Sophie Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst— a region now part of Germany— she was just a teenager when Russia's Empress Elizabeth invited her to the Russian court in 1744. A scheming teenager with only one goal: to gain power by marrying the empress’ nephew and heir, the future Peter III.

She bribed courtiers to support the marriage and eventually convinced the Empress herself to bless their union.

All this despite later admitting she never had feelings for Peter.

Political marriages were hardly concerned with feelings.

Besides, Russia was lucky Catherine came along.

Not only was Peter notoriously bad-tempered, he was also raised in Germany and preferred German customs, making him an embarrassment in the Russian court.

Meanwhile, Catherine gave her life to Russia.