Catherine the Great's Rise to Power and Reforms

Catherine the Great, a German-born usurper, became the Empress of Russia after the overthrow and death of her husband Peter III. Despite the initial guilt she felt, she implemented several progressive reforms and pursued Enlightenment ideals. She established Russia's first state-funded school and a girls' boarding school, improved legal systems, and attempted to abolish torture. She also supported smallpox inoculation and encouraged art, culture, and education. However, she faced challenges such as the Polish crisis and the Russia-Turkish war, in which she proved to be a skillful military leader. The war brought about a turning point where the Ottoman Empire was seen as weak, and it solidified Russia's position as a major European power.