Sofia Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst

Sofia Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst, better known as Catherine the Great, was the Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796. Born in Stettin, Prussia, she married the future Emperor Peter III of Russia and rose to power after his overthrow. Catherine is celebrated for her significant contributions to the Russian Empire, including territorial expansion, cultural development, and the establishment of the Russian Enlightenment. Her reign is often considered the golden age of the Russian nobility and marked a period of great reform and modernization in Russia.