You're Dead to Me Catherine the Great
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Jan 5, 2024 Dr Julia Leikin and comedian David Mitchell join Greg Jenner to discuss the life of Catherine II of Russia, exploring her contradictions as a German princess who became empress of Russia, her belief in Enlightenment philosophy despite imperial expansion, and her sexual openness in the patriarchal eighteenth century. They delve into her rise to power, her reign and legacy, and the controversies surrounding her policies in Ukraine.
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Deliberate Cultural Assimilation
- Catherine was a German princess who deliberately learned Russian and converted to Orthodoxy to win favor at the Russian court.
- She used intelligence, language, and social networking to integrate and gain political advantage.
Dysfunctional Royal Marriage
- Peter III was immature, obsessed with parades and toy soldiers, and publicly humiliated Catherine.
- Their marriage became separate lives, prompting Catherine to find comfort in reading and lovers.
Coup Backed By Army And Church
- Catherine seized power swiftly with military support and religious legitimation after Peter's unpopularity.
- She used traditional Russian symbolism at her coronation to bolster legitimacy despite foreign origins.