...Historical Leader Paper Catherine the Great Catherine II was originally born Sophie Augusta Fredericka in 1729. She was born to a noble family in and raised in Germany then call Prussia. She was born a princes and was raised as such. Sophie was considered as an immensely beautiful princes. However her family was considered as minor and as poor by royal family standards. What they did have was an important connection to the Russian Empire. Sophie left for Russia in 1744 to meet Empress Elisabeth at the age of 15. As with most princesses of the time she was married off to increase political and family ties. In Sophie’s case this was to Peter III. Grand Duke Peter was the nephew to the Empress and heir to the throne of Russia. Other than meeting Empress Elisabeth and Peter III her childhood was relatively dull. The first time Sophie met Peter she was not fond of him. She described him as being “small and infantile and talked about nothing but soldiers and toys”. He was far too childish for her. In addition Peter would drink in excess at the mere age of 16. Although she disliked him, Sophie’s marriage to Peter was her first step in becoming Catherine the Great. She unlike Peter immediately immersed herself in the Russian culture. She also converted from German Lutheran to Eastern Orthodoxy and thus she was reborn and renamed Catherine. Catherine was an intellect who learned the Russian language swiftly. The newlyweds were nothing alike. Even on their wedding night Peter stayed...
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...Catherine The Great "Women fell under her spell as well as men, for underlying her engaging femininity was a masculine strength which gave her the courage to present a bland and smiling mask in the face of the greatest tribulations." (Joan Haslip). Sophie Auguste Frederike von Anhalt-Zerbst aka. Catherine the Great was born May 2, 1729. She was known for being the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia reigning from 1762 until she died in 1796. She had been born in Stettin, Pomerania as a German princess to Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst who had belong to the ruling family of Anhalt. When Catherine was fifteen years old her mother had found her a husband. She was to wed Grand Duke Peter III of Holstein. Since Catherine didn't think to fondly of her soon to be husband she had decided to convert to Russian Orthodoxy after a year of instruction and education from the Russian court. Since she accepted the orthodox faith, she had changed her name from Sophie to Catherine. Catherine wanted to make a statement in life and that was to become completely Russian. This would make her popular with certain political elements which would go against her spaced-out husband. Catherine wanted to increase Russia's power even with them having weaker neighbors, who were Poland and the Ottoman Empire. She had established a virtual protectorate over Poland in 1764. As time passed by she had secured the largest portion of Poland which was among Russia, Prussia...
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...Voltaire called Catherine the Great the new “Semiramis of the North,” after the legendary founder of Babylon noted for her beauty, wisdom, and sexual excesses. Despite the notoriety she gained for her sexual escapades, Catherine's importance to the flowering of Russian literature was immense. One of her driving ambitions during her thirty-four-year reign was to advance Russian culture, and she patronized Russian authors and artists accordingly. Possessed of a self-admitted “mania” for writing and eager to provide models for the literary culture she sought to develop, Catherine produced reams of writing, including voluminous correspondence with Voltaire and other Enlightenment notables, passionate love letters, lively memoirs, political tracts,...
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...Essay: Peter the Great v.s. Catherine the Great Peter the great first took to the throne in 1682 as a ten-year-old boy. Though he lacked proper education at first, he soon gained knowledge and set his sights for modernizing Russia. His ideas, however, were difficult to express, therefore he soon became an autocrat. He gained control over everything from the Russian Orthodox Church to boyars, or landowning noblemen, forcing them into various positions as civilians or military personnel. Forcing the boyars to shave their beads, change their style of clothing and allow women into their parties didn’t please them, however the boyars’ lands and servants were protected by Peter. Peter also ushered in a new generation in academics, creating better education systems and creating more academies. He also fixed up the roads, waterways and canals to help with his modernization of Russia. (Ellis & Esler, 168-169) Though his ideas proved to be good ones, he had a terrible tolerance for rebels, often torturing them and displaying their corpses on the outside of his palace walls. His army became the largest in Europe, he “Built a world-class navy from scratch,” and sought to extend the borders of his kingdom. He fought against the Ottoman Empire to gain a route for trade with the west that wouldn’t freeze over, but suffered defeat at their hands. ( Ellis & Esler, 169-170) Peter’s army went to war with Sweden in 1700, again suffering many defeats, but finally nine years later he won seizing...
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...Catherine The Great was a German princess who became Empress of Russia. Catherine was born on May 2, 1729, in Poland. She was born into the family of Christian August and Joanna Elisabeth. Her most significant achievement was her role as an absolute monarch. In 1762, Catherine claimed the Russian throne, which would become the longest reign of any female leader of Russia. During this time, she made many contributions to the economic, political, social, and religious structure of Russia. Although she experienced some problems throughout her journey, she maintained relatively strong control as a ruler, for 34 years. A major downfall that was a result of her decisions was the treatment of her subjects. The majority of the Russian people...
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...in 1740 after his father’s death. After that he governed Prussia from 1740 until his death. He led his country through numerous wars with Austria and its allies. Frederick the Great of Prussia personified tolerant despotism. (Frank, Kagan, Ozment, Turner, p.539). Catherine the Great (1729-1796) Born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, the daughter of a German prince, she was related through her mother to the dukes of Holstein. She became the empress of Russia on July 9, 1762 until her death in 1796. Frederick regularly describes himself as “the first servant of the state,” contending that his own personal and...
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...Although the status of women in ancient Egypt was higher than in any other ancient civilization, the notion that a woman could be king was objectionable to the Egyptians, they went by the rule that only men could become pharaohs, never any females. Yet, a woman did become king and not just an ordinary king. She became the first great woman in recorded history; the ancestor of such figures as Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, and Catherine the Great. Her name was Hatshepsut and she ruled Egypt for 15 years until her dissapearance. There are many different theories as to how and why Hatshepsut became king, earned her success and gained power. Hatshepsut was born in the 18th Dynasty; the New Kingdom Egypt. Her father was Tuthmosis I and he ruled Egypt for approximately 12 to 14 years. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt between 1479-1458/57. She ruled in a time when women were allowed to own property and to hold official positions....
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...Catherine the Great, also known as Catherine II, is the longest-ruling female of Russia. She was born on May 2, 1729 in Stettin, Prussia. In 1744, Catherine moved to Russia where she started her relationship with Grand Duke Peter. Catherine and Peter became married on August 21st, 1745 and didn’t exactly have a happy relationship. Once Empress Elizabeth died, Peter inherited the throne and Catherine received the title Empress Consort. Peter was a bad leader, he alienated nobles and angered the Orthodox Church. Within six months of rule, Peter was overthrown in a coup that Catherine was a part of and not long after being overthrown, was murdered. With Peter overthrown, Catherine became the ruler. While in power, Catherine modernized Russia, made Russia a major European power, expanded the borders of Russia, and made reforms in agriculture and education. Though Catherine did many good things for Russia, there were still rebellions. Cossack Yemelyan...
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...'PETERSON DESIR PROF: SMITH-PETER CLASS: HST- 275 Catherine the Great was and remains one of the most important figures in Russian history. During her thirty-four-year reign Russia has greatly prospered not only materially , but more importantly intellectually, which played a vital role in the modernization or the westernization of Russia a couple centuries later. Evidently, analyzing her long reign through the prism of what is considered as democracy today, one could depict its very faults and blemishes. However, we should view her reign as it was then , but not as it should have been nowadays. Whether somebody coined it as an enlightened absolutism, the real truth remained : Catherine the Great has brought Enlightenment to Russia, the European Enlightenment. What was it, Enlightenment?- It was a philosophical movement that greatly fostered rational thinking, the use of science over traditions and superstitions, and also promoted freedom ,security and equality before law for all people. Catherine was thrilled by such great ideas. She devoted herself to reading and established a great line of correspondence with the true leaders of the movement such as Voltaire, Diderot, Bossuet,etc..In her letters, she overtly expressed her intention of becoming an adept of the movement. She started in creating schools and reforming the educational system. She Turned to Voltaire for advice. As an Enlightenment's follower, she was deeply interested...
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...A tragic hero is a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy, who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. In “A View from the Bridge” by Arthur Miller, the tragic hero, Eddie Carbone, has an obsessive love for his niece, Catherine. Eddie becomes jealous when Catherine begins a relationship with his wife’s cousin Rodolpho who is an illegal immigrant whom Eddie has brought into his home. Because of Rodolpho falling in love with Catherine, a series of events occur which leads to Eddie’s death. Eddie’s character, actions and beliefs change from positive to negative as the story leads towards Eddie’s death. The theme of Honor is also an element which leads to Eddie’s death. Eddie Carbone’s character has many positive qualities that are present from the start of the play. One of which is that Eddie is a very hardworking man, “He worked on the piers when there was work, he brought home his pay, and he lived.” This gives the reader the impression that Eddie is a good man who works hard for a living. He is a straightforward person who does things as part of a routine. Another of Eddie’s positive qualities is his caring nature, which is seen when he speaks to Catherine, “Katie, I promised your mother on her deathbed, I’m responsible for you. You’re a baby, you don’t understand these things.” Eddie acts as he was Catherine’s father and has taken the responsibilities of one, by wanting the best for Catherine. Eddie’s character has negative qualities are revealed as the play...
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...Catherine the Great is a controversial leader. She was born a minor German princess and married Peter III, heir to the throne of Russia. Peter was not a good ruler. He had many lovers, was an alcoholic, he was juvenile, he was neurotic, and he was rebellious. Catherine was especially angered when Peter considered having one of is mistresses rule with him rather then her. She started a rebellion against Peter, forcing him to step down. She later planned his assassination with one of her lovers. Even her way to the throne can be seen as controversial, just like her rule. The major negatives to the rule of Catherine the Great include her many lovers, her treatment of peasants, and her poor skills at handling money. Catherine the Great did not handle the state treasury well. She exempted people from paying taxes, but still planned large military missions. These ate up the state treasury. Under her rule she drained the treasury, leaving Russia almost bankrupt. She sacrificed the economy of her country so the people could have more luxury. This may seem good at first, but when Russia was drained of money things were...
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...Hareton Earnshaw and Catherine. As the novel progresses, we see love develop between these two characters that is best explained by how they are brought together, the problems that their relationship poses and how this relationship affects the other characters in the novel and the plot of the novel itself. The first way to understand this relationship is to examine how these two characters are brought together. In the novel, there is a real sense that fate has a lot to do with the union between the lovers, as Catherine and Hareton are reunited at the symbolic Penistone Crags. Catherine has a burning desire to go to the crags, the symbol of maturity, natural erotic desire and wild temptation. She asks Nelly and her father “Now, am I old enough to go to Penistone Crags?”(Brontë 147) As Catherine reaches teenage years, she desires to travel outside of Thrushcross Grange and ascend the large Penistone Crags, which are close to Wuthering Heights and Hareton. Catherine and Hareton spend the whole day near the Crags until Nelly fetches them. Brontë then describes the interaction between Hareton and Catherine as joyful, describing that “Her hat was hung against the wall, and she seemed perfectly at home laughing and chattering, in best spirits imaginable, to Hareton, now a great, strong lad of eighteen, who stared at her with considerable curiosity and astonishment” ( Brontë 149). This quote shows how there is an underlying connection between them; Hareton and Catherine begin to show similar...
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...When Catherine and her brother Hindley first met they could not stand Heathcliff. Catherine however ends up falling in love with him after time. When Catherine ran into Edgar she quickly falls for him because she has control of becoming wealthy by pursuing Edgar. As Nelly and Catherine were talking Catherine utterly says, “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; So he shall never know how i love him: and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than i am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire (Wuthering Heights...
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...April 26th 2016 Researched Items King Henry VIII: King Henry VIII was the son on King Henry VII. He is very well known for his 9 wives. He married his first wife, Catherine of Aragon in 1509 and had his first son in 1511 whom died 2 months later. Catherine continued to have miscarriages and the children that they did have would die shortly after birth. Henry became frustrated and even though he was still married to Catherine he had two mistresses: Mary Boleyn and Elizabeth Blount. After being married for 17 years, Henry fell in love with Mary Boleyn and solicited an annulment from the Pope since him and Catherine were married through the church. Catherine died alone in 1536. King Henry VIII is significant to history because he separated church and the government. During this time period, Kings were rulers of everything including religion and when the Pope refused to annul king Henry’s marriage with Catherine, King Henry took matter into his own hands and found someone else to annul his marriage. (Tudor) Lucrezia Borgia: Born during Italy’s Renaissance period, when artists and architects emerged to world appreciation. Her father was Pope Alexander VI and a mistress named Vannozza Cattanei. Lucrezia was married at least 2 times, if not 3. At age 11, her father cancelled her marriage...
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...did. One of the most debated topics in the story is that of love. Even after years of debate, the vast number of critics has never been able to agree on the controversial issue of love in regard to one simple question: Was Frederic Henry actually in love with Catherine Barkley? Though numerous critical analyses are available as evidence to argue either side of the issue, it is my belief that the most compelling arguments are made by those critics who support the idea that Frederic Henry was in fact in love with Catherine Barkley. Throughout the whole of A Farewell to Arms, it is never made perfectly clear to the reader whether or not Frederic Henry is actually in love with Catherine Barkley. What in the end becomes such a passionate relationship starts off very different so the reader is never able to decide exactly where Henry stands. One critic, Melissa Howard, sees this in what is only their second encounter when Henry “...attempts to kiss her and she slaps him, however, rather than being dismayed he feels that it gives him the advantage. Clearly, Henry views their relationship as a game” (Howard). This last line is the point that critics repeatedly argue in an attempt to prove that Henry’s feelings toward Catherine are based on pure lust, with the idea of love playing no role in his actions. These ideas are reinforced by some of the text in the novel itself, but at the same time Henry’s narrations of...
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