Catherine II :: essays research papers

"Women vanish under her spell as well as men, forunderlying her savory femininity was a masculine strengthwhich gave her the courage to present a bland and smilingmask in the face of the greatest tribulations." Sophia capital of MaineFrederica was born into a small Prussian kingdom in 1729.Her homet knowledge was in Stettin, Germany. Her birth was agreat disappointment to her parents, her father, PrinceChristian August of Anhalt- Zerbst and her mother, JohannaElizabeth, little girl of the prince of Holstein Gottorp. Bothparents had hoped for a son. After they did finally have ason, she was unattended even more. Although, when herparents discovered that she had a good memory, theyencouraged her to study religion, chronicle and geography.Besides learning, Sophia also became more arouse inhunting and riding horses rather than what were consideredmore feminine past times and was somewhat of a tomboy.Throughout her life, her mother only spoke to her to criticizeher. Her f ather cared genuinely much for her, but was tooengrossed with his military work to order her much affection.She spent much time with her governess who taught her toquestion e realthing and everybody and to trust her owncommon sense. Her guidance from her governess and herability to be independent at a young age helped her to by and bybecome a strong leader.At a very young age, she wished to marry her secondcousin, Peter Ulrich, who later changed his name to PeterFyodorvich. Elizabeth I of Russia chose her to marry herson, Peter Fyodorvich. Catherine prepared for the function ofczarina by studying the Russian language intently. Love vie no role in her thoughts to marry Peter Catherine wasonly interested in the throne. As a strict Lutheran,Catherines father was very unhappy about Catherinemarrying a Russian Orthodox. Her father wrote her letters pray her not to abandon Lutheranism. Catherine wasdetermined to gain the respect of the Russian Orthodox, sowhen she became deathly ill, she called for a Russianorthodox priest instead of a Lutheran. She won the trust andsympathy of Russia. On June 28, 1744, Catherine wasbaptized into the Russian orthodox faith. The next day sheand peter Fyodovich had an elaborate betrothal at the cathedral of St. Sophia. She married Peter in Augustof1745, and their marriage was a incident from thebeginning. Peter was very immature and spent most of histime playing with toy soldiers. 2/1/952 "The marriage was acomplete failure. The following(a) eighteen years were filledwith deception and humiliation for her." Peter lessened Catherinedeeply when he told her of women in the court that he loved