Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg was born in Poland on May 2, …show more content…
In 1744, Catherine was brought to Russia and converted to the Russian Orthodoxy so she could then marry the Grand Duke Peter. Catherine had a son, Paul, who was the heir to the throne. After the Empress (Peter’s mother) died in 1761, Peter took the throne. Peter was not a good leader for Russia so after six months of his rule Catherine the Great took the throne from Peter in a coup, and within a week Peter was killed. She had many plans regarding both domestic and foreign policy. During her first years in power she directed her attention towards strengthening her position. Catherine the Great needed to gain the support of the nobility and the military to ensure that she would not be overthrown by a coup as quickly as she had been brought to power by one. She took every opportunity to make peace with the nobility and the military while at the same time react severely to those who wanted to replace her son Paul. Catherine the