the future of my country

      November 5th, 1796

Dear Diary,

         I truly feel as if my son Paul is unfit to take the throne. I would much prefer my grandson, Aleksandr to take the throne. I would feel much more comfortable with my soon passing to know that the throne was in good hands. I have worked so hard for my country and I would hate for my work to be reversed with my son on the throne. Paul’s sudden emotional changes and violence are not fit for the throne.  I hope my efforts to develop this great country continues to grow so that I can put Aleksandr on the throne rather than Paul.

My regards,

Catherine

The war was a success

Dear Diary,

         The war is finally over, it lasted a long six years.  In the war we annexed part of Poland(1772) and brought Southern Ukraine, the Crimea and Northern Caucacus under my control. The year is now 1774 and I feel that I have much more to do to make a better country, a better Russia.  With all of this to do along with my long lists and taking care of those Serfs which I really don't think should exist, I have to make sure to keep the county united with its new parts.  I hope that this works out well and can maybe bring up the legislative commission to fix the old laws again.

My regards,

Catherine 

The start of a war

Dear Diary,

        This year, (1768) we went into a war.  We hope to gain a bigger Russia.  I must be brief so that not to disclose to much in case this gets in the wrong hands.
My regards,

Catherine 

Authoritarianism

    Dear Diary,

       In the recent past, many people, specifically the serfs and religious minorities have questioned my level of authoritarianism as the Empress of Russia. I feel that they are needlessly complaining and will never be content. The second I give them something, they find something else to ask for or complain about. Muslims have been given complete religious tolerance in the empire, and some have even acquired high positions within the government. I have even set up schools so that the nomadic groups of Muslims in the interior of the country could settle down, but they want nothing of it. I have refrained from persecuting the Jews like many rulers before me, and set up a completely different set of laws for them. As an incentive to convert I have imposed heavy taxes on them. They may claim that this is cruel and unfair, but in the end it really helps them more than it hurts them. If they convert, not only do they have to pay less taxes, but they are also a part of the one true religion. I have also changed the lives of serfs and the laws that apply toward them in their favor, but they still complain. The nobles and the state  still technically own their serfs, but the serfs have been given more freedoms than before my husband Peter. Now, only nobles can own serfs. This reduces the number of serfs in the country. Also, state owned serfs are treated much better than their noble-owned counterparts. I have even allowed the serfs a right to complain about their nobles, under the condition that they do not directly complain to me. I have also opened many universities and schools which the average person can attend, allowing more people access to an education. Even the serfs (with their master's permission) can attend these universities. I have also set up a university specifically for women to increase the number of educated and powerful women. I consider myself to be a very liberal and non oppressive leader, but many do not see my side. It's like they have forgotten what it was like under the harsh and rigid rule of the Emperors before my husband Peter and before myself. Hopefully these people will be content one day, but I doubt it will be in my lifetime or by my hand. It is late out, and I have to wake up early tomorrow as usual.

                        Sincerely,

                                Catherine

Eccentricities

           Dear Diary,

Many of the people of my empire believe that the only thing that I do and enjoy is ruling the great Russian Empire. This is, however, entirely false. I enjoy many of the finer things in life besides running our great empire. One of my favorite things to do in my past time is attend the Opera. In fact, I have invited many composers and musicians to this country in order to perform and compose many more operas. In Germany (where I was born), music is a large part of life and I intend to keep it that way. I also enjoy writing plays, specifically comedies, which help me escape my otherwise stressful life as the longest ruling and most well known female ruler of the Russian Empire. Maintaining the golden age of this empire and its nobility is no easy task. Not only have I maintained the current empire, but I have even managed to expand our territories into the Americas. My philosophy of the correct way to rule is derived from the writings of Voltaire, who I have been in contact. Sadly, however, he has recently passed away. I must admit, I wept bitterly at the news of his death. Ever since the death of my husband, I have had numerous romances with different men. But before I even consider being with them, I have my assistant spend a night with them to see if they are even worthy of my presence. It's getting late now, and I have to wake at 5 tomorrow morning. 

My Regards, 

Catherine 

Taking control

Dear Diary,

        

         Today June 28th 1762 I shall take the throne with the help of my faithful advisers.  I hope that all will go well I hope to write from you soon. As I take control of this country, I set goals for myself that I hope to achieve while on the throne.  I really hope that I can enlighten my people, the russian people.  Along with this I hope to modernize this country and bring more progressive laws.  I also hope to improve the education in Russia especially for the women of this great country.  These are very hard things for me to accomplish especially for being a women but hopefully my people will allow myself to take the role of their Queen and make Russia a prosperous country connected to the rest of the world.

My regards,

Catherine 

My conversion

Dear Diary,

          While I am a very observant Protestant, I feel that I need to convert to the Russian Orthodox faith in order to feel accepted by the Russian people.  Without this conversion, I will not be able to gain power and successfully rule.  While my husband and I do not get along well, this will hopefully help heal some wounds between us.

My regards,

Catherine

Type of Rule

Dear Diary, 

Although mother introduced me to the Lutheran Church as a child, I felt "connected" to the Russian Orthodox faith when I married my lovely Prince Peter. How convenient it is that I converted because now that he has passed away, I can be the Empress! As a moderate monarch, I plan to be one of the greatest reformers of Russia. I know I can accomplish a lot like the strong and powerful woman I am. Some say my domestic and foreign policies are too far-fetched, but I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when I accomplish everything! The first few years of my reign, I reckon it will be a good idea to direct my power towards strengthening my position. Russia will emerge into the great world of politics as a stronger nation because of my reforms! Russia's economic strength will be greatly enhanced. I will surely be remembered forever as a great leader. 

Catherine

Failures

Dear Diary, 

I feel as if my reign is almost over, I have tried my best but no matter what I do, I get criticized and terrible things result from everything I do these days.  My people want me to abolish serfdom, once I refused something terrible happened. Pugachev, that pretender to the Russian throne, revolted against me with the peasants, they were all sick of the peasant slavery and he started a rebellion. Many people died during this war, the rebellion spread all over East-European Russia and moved towards Moscow. I was told that towns were destroyed, villages and manor houses went up in flames and innocent people died. If it weren’t for my loyal troops, I am afraid that I would have been over, luckily they captured Pugachev and ended the rebellion (brutally), they are now calling this, "Pugachev's Rebellion." Still, this is a huge historical mark that will affect all of my glorious accomplishments. I now need to maintain a stricter control on my people and prevent any further rebellions. To do this, I am introducing a new system of government, each province will be under the rule of a noble who will maintain law and order, and landlords MUST maintain a tighter control on their peasants. We can only wait and see what will happen. 

Catherine

Accomplishments

Dear Diary,

     Today my servant told me that some peasants think that I am not that great, of course it took all that I had to not to hunt them down and kill them. I don't understand why my inferiors criticize my every move, have they not realized how I took Russia from a poor uneducated country and introduced new reforms and increased its wealth? Under my rule, Russia is bigger than ever, no other King or Queen has ever accomplished that. Out of 50 provinces, I acquired 11 of them and built 114 new cities and towns, Russia has expanded from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea! One of my proudest accomplishments would be wiping Poland off the map, of course I had to share its territory with Prussia and Austria otherwise it would have resulted in a huge conflict, but it was worth it.

     The people of Russia seem to forget how modernized Russia has become under my rule. My new accurate censuses in each province tell us about Russia and the population and how my country is doing. Nevertheless, The population of Russia thinks that my newly built bridges and roads were a waste of money, but why are my people using them so much if they don't like them? Soon, because of the arts, Russia will (hopefully) acquire a reputation as center of civilization, that will show my critics. Once St. Petersburg is finished being rebuilt, it WILL be one of the world's most "dazzling" cities.

     Men, women and children would die everyday if it weren't for my doctors. Because of me, hospitals are all over Russia and at least one is in each province. No other ruler has established the first College of Medicine, but I have.

    Before me can you believe how underpopulated Russia was before my rule? People from all over the world are settling in my country because of my advertisements in foreign newspapers. Soon Russia will be a busy country with tons of people and they will all be thanking me even when I’m dead for preserving Russia from becoming an underpopulated nation. 

   

Catherine

Introduction

                    Readers Note:

This website is a virtual representation of the personal diary of Sophie Augusta Fredrika, better known as Catherine the Great. This has been carefully translated into English for everyone to read.

Before you read this you should know more about who you are reading:

Catherine the Great's Timeline:


1729- Catherine the Great was born

1745- Marries Peter III

1754- Gives birth to her son Paul

1762- Crowned 

1768- War with Turks

1772- First partition of Poland

1774- Russia defeats Turkey 

1775- Pugachev Rebellion

1787- Second Turkish war

1795- Catherine the Great dies