CATHERINE II

(1729-96) empre of Ru ia; b. Stettin, of which her f., the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, was gov.; m. Arch-Duke Peter of Ru ia, 1745, an ignorant sensualist, who frequently ill treated her. Thus mated and living in the vile court of the Empre Elizabeth, C.’s immoralities soon became as flagrant as those of her husband. The latter suce, Elizabeth as Peter III. (q.v.) in 1761, and one of his first actions was to declare their s., Paul, illegitimate. Peter was murdered 1762, and C., who was supposed to have had a hand in the busine , was declared empre . Notwithstanding her entire lack of morality, C. was a woman of great ability, and governed her country very succe fully.