Catherine II was born with the name Sophia Augusta Frederica in the German city of Stettin in Prussia. In 1745, she was given a new name - Catherine (Ekaterina) by the Russian Orthodox Church and later married Grand Duke Peter, grandson of Peter the Great and heir of the Russian throne. However, the marriage was not a happy union since Peter was not interested in his wife, which resulted in both of them having affairs. Catherine and Peter had one son - Paul, who would later succeed Catherine.

After the death of Empress Elizabeth on December 25th, 1761, Peter was proclaimed Emperor Peter III. However, he was deposed by Catherine and on September 22nd, 1762 she was crowned.

During the early years of her reign, Catherine secured her position as empress by concentrating on domestic affairs. Catherine sought to address the dire situation of her country serfs, workers who were owned for life. She was met with criticism and protest over changing Russia's, then existing feudal system.  She widened Russia's sphere of influence, expanded Russia's borders and continued a process of westernizing the country, which had been started by Peter the Great.

Catherine the Great died on November 16, 1796. She ruled greatly for 34 years and was the longest-ruling Empress in Russia.  She worked a lot and was responsible for many accomplishments that made Russia a powerful country. The death of Catherine the Great signified the death of a great reformer and great leader.