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imyourmausoleum 's review for:
Catherine the Great: Life and Legend
by John T. Alexander
informative
slow-paced
Princess Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, part of the Holy Roman Empire in 1729. Her father, Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, belonged to the ruling German family of Anhalt. She was educated by tutors, as was the custom for royals at the time. She mastered her native German language, and also French. She was something of a tomboy and loved swords. In fact, she taught herself how how to master the use of a sword. Despite her royal bloodlines, her family was not really wealthy. Her best chance at wealth and position was marriage.
Unfortunately for her, she was pawned off onto her second cousin, Peter, who she met when she was ten. She disliked him immediately. She thought he was wan and ugly, and she was not impressed with his desire to consume alcohol. Sophie was sent to Russia in 1744, marrying Peter in 1745, when she was sixteen. She learned the Russian language quickly, turning her into a multilingual princess. She also developed a fondness for reading. She converted to the Eastern Orthodox religion before her marriage, and as a result of her conversion, her name was changed to Catherine. The marriage was not consummated for years, but she and her husband had lovers on the side. Empress Elizabeth, Peter's mother, told them they must produce an heir, and she did produce a son-but the father has been doubted. Peter rose to the throne and ruled for only six months before dying. Catherine was crowned in 1762 and reigned until 1796. She expanded the borders of Russia, had a commercial treaty with Great Britain, regulated merchant activities, had several different wars occur, and a host of other policies. She was received mostly favorably by her people, and is generally seen as a competent monarch.
This book was very well researched. I really enjoyed it. I wasn't bored at all. One really interesting thing that I learned in this book was that Catherine was the reason for the creation of one of the most amazing pieces of jewelry in the world. The Imperial Crown of Russia was designed specifically for her coronation, and was used until the last of the Romanovs. I liked this book a lot.
Unfortunately for her, she was pawned off onto her second cousin, Peter, who she met when she was ten. She disliked him immediately. She thought he was wan and ugly, and she was not impressed with his desire to consume alcohol. Sophie was sent to Russia in 1744, marrying Peter in 1745, when she was sixteen. She learned the Russian language quickly, turning her into a multilingual princess. She also developed a fondness for reading. She converted to the Eastern Orthodox religion before her marriage, and as a result of her conversion, her name was changed to Catherine. The marriage was not consummated for years, but she and her husband had lovers on the side. Empress Elizabeth, Peter's mother, told them they must produce an heir, and she did produce a son-but the father has been doubted. Peter rose to the throne and ruled for only six months before dying. Catherine was crowned in 1762 and reigned until 1796. She expanded the borders of Russia, had a commercial treaty with Great Britain, regulated merchant activities, had several different wars occur, and a host of other policies. She was received mostly favorably by her people, and is generally seen as a competent monarch.
This book was very well researched. I really enjoyed it. I wasn't bored at all. One really interesting thing that I learned in this book was that Catherine was the reason for the creation of one of the most amazing pieces of jewelry in the world. The Imperial Crown of Russia was designed specifically for her coronation, and was used until the last of the Romanovs. I liked this book a lot.