(1762 – 1796)
After the death of Peter III, Catherine became the empress. She glorified her name with loud conquests and wise state orders.
Of the statesmen of her reign are remarkable: the brothers Orlov, who most helped Catherine’s accession to the throne, as well as Potemkin and Zubov.
Potemkin enjoyed such unlimited confidence that none of her approximate ones used.
Nikita and Peter Panin. Nikita Iv. Panin gained fame for the project of armed neutrality, whose goal is to protect the sea trade.
For the drafting of new laws, she herself wrote the “Order” under the title “The Commission’s instruction to draft a new code.”
To preserve the population, measures were taken: German doctors were called out, pharmacies were set up, a medical college was established in 1763, hospitals were established, and vaccination was introduced.
In 1764, Catherine destroyed the Hetmanate in Little Russia and attached the peasants to those landlords on whose land they lived.
Educational institutions were founded in Moscow in 1763 and in Petersburg in 1767.
In 1771 – the plague in Moscow.
From 1768 to 1774 – the first Turkish war, ended Kuchuk-Karnadzhiyskim world. In this war, distinguished Rumyantsev, who won over the Turks two victories in 1770 under Larga and Cahul.
In 1773 – the first partition of Poland.
From 1773 to 1775 – the Pugachev revolt.
In 1775 the document “Institutions for the administration of provinces” was promulgated. Russia was divided into 20 provinces.
In 1782 the first general charter of public schools was drafted.
In 1785, two “Granted certificates” were given. One noble estate, the other – the townspeople.
The gratuitous letter to the nobility finally formed the estate of hereditary nobility. The nobleman is deprived of his rank by the sentence of the senate, he is judged with persons of equal origin, exempt from taxes, recruitment and corporeal punishment.
According to the urban situation, the residents were divided into several classes. Named citizens. Merchants, divided into three guilds. Artisans who divided into shops.
In 1783 the Russian Academy was established. In the same year, Crimea was joined to Russia. The management of the Crimea was entrusted to Potemkin.
From 1787 to 1791 – the Second Turkish War, ended in peace in Iasi. In this world, Turkey forever abandoned the Crimea and ceded land to Russia between the Bug and the Dniester with the city of Ochakov. The main hero of this war was Suvorov, who won over the Turks victory at Kinburn and in 1789 at Focsani and Rymnik.
From 1788 to 1790 – the war with Sweden. The reason for the war was the demand of the Swedish king Gustav III lands, won by Sweden Peter the Great. The war ended in peace in Kymeni. The borders of both states remained the same.
In 1793 – the second and in 1795 the third partition of Poland.
In 1796, Catherine died. She reigned 34 years and is known in history under the name “Great”.