Catherine the Great Palace

If you love history and are planning a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, a trip to Catherine the Great Palace is something to see. Catherine the Great was actually born a Princess, Sophia August Frederika in 1729 in the town of Stettin. Sophia’s father was a German military princeling by the name of Christian August and her mother, Princess Joanna Elizabeth. Nicknamed as a little girl, Feke or Figchen, not much is known about her childhood years.

When Karl August died suddenly in 1727, Elizabeth I of Russia took throne. In the 1740s, Elizabeth was trying to find her nephew a wife, her heir named Peter. Since Sophia was the appropriate age and a natural choice for Empress of Russia, she and her mother Joanna were asked to come to Russia in 1743. This match was encouraged by both Elizabeth and Joanna, proving to be a way of building an alliance to further Prussian’s interest in St. Petersburg court.

Peter first met Sophia at a banquet in her honor and claimed to see greatness in her. As Catherine went back to Russia, traveling from Riga to St. Petersburg, she met with Elizabeth I in 1744 who was totally enthralled with her. With this, Sophia began to study both Orthodoxy and Russian, leaving her earlier belief of Lutheranism. With that, she was again christened but this time, as Yekaterina or Catherine. Unfortunately, while there had been great hope for Peter, he proved to be a big disappointment. Very sickly and mean, he was not capable of ruling such a vast empire as Russia. In fact, he was so sick, that he and Catherine’s marriage was never consummated.

Elizabeth I was unaware of the full story and pressured the two to have a son to help secure the dynasty. Finally understanding the two would never conceive an heir, Catherine was given permission to have an affair with a handsome Russian officer by the name of Serge Saltykov, at which time a son was conceived and named Paul. However, Peter would claim Paul as his own son but as soon as he was born, he was taken to Elizabeth I, raising him as her own. As you can imagine, Peter and Catherine despised one another and when Elizabeth I died in 1761, he took the throne as Peter III.

Quickly forming an alliance with Prussia, which was to his own country’s detriment, he ordered the Imperial guard to get rid of their uniforms worn during the days of Peter the Great, instead making them wear Prussian-style uniforms. Peter also enforced brutal military rules, which caused many armed forces to hate him and turn against him. In fact, the level of hatred for Peter grew so rapidly among all people that Catherine overthrew him in 1762.

With that, Catherine took the throne, being crowned Catherine II in September of 1762. Her Russian officer killed Peter and soon, Peter was forgotten. She awarded her supporters high governmental positions, along with serfs, money, and land. With Catherine on the throne, major societal and governmental changes were made. However, she was disappointed is some of Russia’s governmental policies, making it easier for her to forget her own principals. Soon, she began to slip into autocracy and sadly, the ruin of the Orthodox Church that started under her husband’s rule continued under hers.

However, Catherine the Great build many some of the most impressive monuments throughout the country. Then, education, music, and arts, were patronized by her as she poured millions of rubles in Hermitage collection. Today, much of those collections can be enjoyed in various regions of Russia. Since Catherine could not remarry, it is said she simply kept a lover and secretly married. Sadly, Catherine was estranged from her son Paul throughout her entire life. Her son hated his mother for her role in his father’s murder among other things

Believing her son was incapable of managing the throne, she planned to leave the crown to her beloved grandson, Alexander. However, Catherine thought she had many years of life ahead of her and never made the official arrangements when she died of a heart attack in 1776, thus passing the crown to Paul. Her achievements were actually quite impressive. She helped build a strong country, making it a prosperous and lovely land. Even with so many wonderful achievements, Catherine the Great was unable to transform Russia alone.

Today when visiting Pushkin, just outside of St. Petersburg, Russia, you can visit the home of Catherine the Great. This palace has an amazing Baroque style but much of it was destroyed during World War II. However, with tremendous effort, the palace has been resurrected for all to enjoy. The majority of the restored interior dates back to Empress Elisabeth although you will see some 19th century interiors as well. Catherine the Great actually lived in a separate wing but when she was in her 60s, she was known for walking through the entire palace as she headed for church.

When visiting, you can take a leisurely stroll along the park’s alleys where you will be amazed by the beautiful sculptures, ponds, and pavilions. Then just next to the palace is a 19th century school for the elite known as Lyceum. There, the world-renowned Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, studied. Then just a few miles away from Catherine the Great’s Palace is Pavlovsk, the home of her son, Paul. This palace is also an incredible place that sits high on the hill, overlooking the breathtaking landscaped park with meandering river.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM