Empress Catherine The Great

Prussian- Russian Empress, one of the most powerful and memorable in history. She married Karl Ulrich at 16, the grandson of Peter the Great and heir to the throne. He was weak, neurotic and paranoid; she took over by 1762, having him assassinated. Short and handsome but no beauty, she was ambitious, cruel, egotistical and domineering. Cultured, intelligent, studious and charming as well, she made powerful friends and won the loyalty of the Russian court. When she moved to Russia in 1745, she learned the language and customs. When Empress Elizabeth died, December 1761, Peter ascended to the throne. Within six months, Catherine undermined him and had herself proclaimed Empress 7/09/1762. Peter III abdicated but was killed eight days later. Catherine had a son who succeeded her, Paul I, who very possibly was not Peter's son at all but the son of one of the guards. Catherine also had a son by Count Grigorii Orlov, Alexei. A passionate woman, she had a series of young lovers, 22 at least that were known and historically tallied. By age 67, Catherine has lost all her teeth and was plagued by debilitating varicose veins. Two months before her death, she suffered a minor stroke. Though ill and confused, she continued to enjoy the company of her current favorite lover, a striking 20-something officer in the horse guards. On November 16 she had her morning coffee and read the newspapers. Within the half hour, she fell to the floor with another stroke. She died the following day without regaining consciousness, of a cerebral hemorrhage, apoplexy, on 11/17/1796 NS, 11:15 AM, Tsarskoe Selo, Russia. Link to Wikipedia biography