Profile of the Day: Catherine the Great

On this day in 1729, Catherine the Great was born. Catherine the Great reigned over Russia from 1762 until her death in 1796 at the age of 67.

Image: Catherine the Great / British Library, Flickr

She was born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg on May 2, 1729. Her father belonged to the ruling German family of Anhalt, but held the rank of a Prussian general.

After converting to the Russian Orthodox Church, she received the new name Catherine. On August 21, 1745, she married Peter III. Peter III’s reign as emperor was a short 6 months. Just days after he was forced to abdicate in 1762, Peter died at the hands of Alexei Orlov, brother of Grigory Orlov who was a key figure of the coup. Despite not being a descendant of the Romanov Dynasty, Catherine succeeded her husband as Empress of Russia. She would become one of the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia. Today, her reign is often considered the Golden Age of the Russian Empire.

Explore Catherine the Great’s family tree on Geni and discover your connection to the Russian Empress.

View Catherine the Great’s Geni Profile