The Rise of Russia - Catherine the Great

Enlightenment Politics

•Catherine was familiar with Enlightenment ideas circulating in Europe. •Corresponded with philosophes such as Voltaire and Diderot to maintain her reputation as a progressive and liberal monarch. •1767 summoned a commission to advise her on revisions in the law and government of Russia •1767 Instructions -- written partly written by Catherine to help guide the Commission

Politics of Power

•Catherine carried out some limited administrative reforms, especially to do with local government •Catherine did not have a good claim to the throne -needed the support of the nobility to keep her crown •She put most local power directly in the hands of nobility instead of creating an independent royal bureaucracy •Cultivated friendships with nobility and rewarded loyalty; gained political cooperation from nobility •1785 Charter of the Nobility: Catherine guaranteed many noble rights and privileges such as freedom from taxation and right to hereditary titles; gave extensive power to nobility over serfs in judicial matters

Catherine II's Policies

•Catherine continued with two of Peter I's great objectives - expand Russia with a great military force and centralize the power of the crown •Like Peter, Catherine wanted to westernize and modernize Russia; like Peter, she was selective in her adoption of western ideas. •Catherine was a shrewd politician and a forward-looking monarch - she wanted to bring Russia more firmly within the European orbit and wanted to be thought of in Europe as a genuine reformer •No sharing of power

Russian Expansion

•Continued drive for warm water ports - renewed conflict with Ottomans •1774 Russians won territory in the Crimea along the Black Sea •Treaty with Ottoman Empire gave Russia navigation rights in Black Sea and access through the Bosporus •Partition of Poland: military break up of Poland negotiated by Russia, Austria, and Prussia -Poland ceased to be an independent state •Russia gains large portion of territory inhabited by 2 million people

Peasant Rebellions

•Harsh conditions for serfs in Russia led to considerable unrest •Over 50 revolts between 1762-1769 - local, easily contained •Pugachev's revolt 1773-1775 •Calls for abolition of serfdom •At height, over 40,000 troops •Catherine order large force to defeat rebels -Pugachev executed

Russia after Peter the Great

•Peter I died in 1725, no successor •A succession of weak & ineffectual rulers between 1725-1762 •Peter I's daughter Elizabeth ruled from 1741-1762 •1762 Elizabeth died - her nephew Peter III becomes Tsar •Peter III mentally deficient - some described as "mad"/mean •Peter III married a German princess in 1745 - the future Catherine the Great •A few months into rule, Peter III deposed and murdered --replaced by Catherine (with her approval and aid)