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The Comical Coup That Put Her On The Throne
- Catherine overthrew her husband Peter III with military support after he proved incompetent and unpopular.
- The coup was nearly comical because Peter ignored warnings and was captured shortly after becoming emperor.
The Brutal Reality Of Serfdom
- Serfdom in 18th-century Russia functioned like slavery with extreme abuses and no autonomy for serfs.
- Torture and forced punishments were common despite formal prohibitions on killing serfs.
Account For Power Structures Before Reforming
- Recognize systemic constraints before promising sweeping reforms.
- Expect vested interests to block changes unless you can replace their influence.