Reforms Catherine 2 (briefly).

What do we know about the Russian Empress Catherine the Great?In memory of descendants often emerge facts, there is little related to public policy.Catherine was a very big fan of court balls, fine clothes.For it is always followed by a string of admirers.The life of her favorites, once connected with her love ties, went down in history.Meanwhile, Russian Empress was, above all, intelligent, bright, extraordinary personality and a talented organizer.It is worth noting that in its system of government was transformed for the first time after the reign of Peter the Great.Of great interest today cause of reform Catherine 2. Outline them, however, is unlikely to succeed.In general, all of its political changes fit into the mainstream theory, called enlightened absolutism.This trend in the XVIII century, has become very popular.Many areas of public and social life touched reforms Catherine 2. Table "reforms in the country", below, clearly shows this.

childhood and upbringing Princess Fike

Frederick August Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst - so sounded the full name of the future Russian Empress.She was born in the spring of 1729 in a small German town called Stettin (now a territory of Poland).Her father was in the service of the Prussian King.It was a vain man.At one time, it was the first regimental commander, then commander and later governor of his native city.The mother of the future empress was of royal blood.She was a great-aunt of Peter III - the future husband of his daughter.Sofia, or, as it was called relatives, Fike, was educated at home.She studied French, Italian, English, geography, history, theology, danced and played music.The girl had a cheerful disposition, was restless, was friends with the boys.The parents were unhappy with her behavior.Fike family was poor.But her mother had dreamed to give his daughter in marriage beneficial.Soon, her dream was to pretend to life.

marriage with the heir to the throne of Russia

In 1744 Zerbst Princess Fike was invited together with his mother in Russia to the royal court for the wedding with the future Russian Emperor Peter III, who was her second cousin.Sixteen year old bride was soon presented Elizabeth, which is seeking to establish the right of succession to the throne of the Romanovs, hoping to marry her ne'er-do-nephew.Russian Empress thought that pretty and elegant Sophia could distract Peter from his children's amusements with puppies and toys.Once Fike appeared in Russia, it began with the desire to learn Russian Orthodox court etiquette and the law of God.The wedding was set for August 25, 1745.On the eve of Sofia adopted Orthodoxy and received the name Catherine Alexeyevna.On the wedding day at 6 o'clock in the morning I was taken to Princess Elizabeth's chambers, where she dressed and combed.Wedding ceremony was held at the Kazan church.It is noteworthy that over 17 years after that here the Life Guards will swear allegiance to their new Empress Catherine Alexeevna.After the wedding has been given a grand ball and banquet at the royal court, where Fick was forced to dance with endless succession of elderly nobles.Immediately after the wedding, it became clear that the new husband is not going to fulfill their marital duties.All the time Peter spent in games with tin soldiers and cardboard castles.His marital bedroom, he turned into a kennel for hunting dogs.It was obvious that this ignoramus is not able to govern.Meanwhile, Russia needed internal reforms.Catherine 2, as such, did not exist yet.Yes, and close the royal court expected that the role of the wife of the Emperor and mother of his children for Fike was all.How much they were wrong.

The accession to the throne of Catherine

current Empress Elizabeth faded with each passing day, her health was very weak.A relationship crowned spouses did not develop.Peter lived openly with his mistress and talked about wanting to marry her.Catherine herself was soon too carried away 26-year-old chamberlain Sergei Saltykov.A few months after that Fike had a son, whom he called Paul.At the court we walked rumors that his father is a lover of Catherine.Despite all this, Empress Elizabeth proclaimed the boy's second turn heir to the throne.Meanwhile, Russia in alliance with Austria and France was at war with Prussia, where gain one victory after another.It pleased all but infantile Peter, who is considered the king of Prussia Frederick II unrivaled military genius.It was clear that in the case of his accession to the throne of Russia will sign a humiliating peace with Prussia, losing all acquired during the war.Soon what happened.Elizabeth died on Christmas Day in 1761.After that Peter became the Russian Emperor.In March 1762 he made peace with Prussia, which caused a lot of discontent in the ranks of the Russian army.It decided to use against the companions of Peter III Catherine Orlov brothers, one of whom, Gregory, was her lover and father of her last child.In Kazan Church Catherine held the rite of Confirmation, and taking the oath as the Empress of All Russia.The first swore allegiance to her soldiers.It happened June 28, 1762.At that time nobody would believe what will be the policy of Catherine 2.

Understanding the reign of Empress

A week after the events described, July 6, Catherine received a letter from the Orlova that her husband Peter, who wrote abdicationand referred to the manor Ropsha died.According to eyewitnesses, the newly formed Empress rushed, crying and screaming that her descendants will never forgive.However, other sources indicate that it was aware of the planned attempt on her husband as 2 days prior to his murder, it was sent to the doctor Paulsen not with drugs, but with tools for autopsy.Whatever it was, right to the throne of Catherine no dispute did not.And today, we can sum up her 34-year reign.To characterize its board within the state historians often use a term such as "enlightened absolutism."Proponents of this theory believe that the state must be a strong autocratic power, which will work to the benefit of all its citizens.Enlightened absolutism of Catherine 2 is expressed primarily in strengthening the bureaucracy, the unification of the management system and the centralization of the country.Empress believed that the vast territory of Russia and its harsh climate necessitates the origin and prosperity here autocracy.Schematically, you can portray the reforms of Catherine 2.

Table "Transformations in the country»

As you can see from the table, these reforms are fully manifested enlightened absolutism Catherine 2. It sought to concentrate all state power in his own hands and to reside in the country of all classes on special introduced its laws.

document "Instructions" - the concept of enlightened absolutism Catherine 2

Empress, rave about the writings of Montesquieu and adopt the basic principles of his theory, attempted convocation of the so-called Legislative Commission, whose main objective - finding out the needs of the people to make the necessary changes withinstate.As part of this organ was attended by 600 deputies of the different classes.As a guidance document of the Commission Catherine was published "Mandate", which was, in fact, the theoretical basis of enlightened absolutism.It is known that he was almost completely rewritten from the writings of Montesquieu - zealous adherent of the theory.Catherine herself admitted that she belongs here "in some places one line, one word."The commission lasted all year and a half, and was then dissolved.Lee was called to this body to carry out administrative reforms Catherine 2?Maybe, yes.But historians now agree to the fact that all the Commission's work was aimed at creating a favorable image of the Empress in Russia and abroad.It is this body had decided to award it the title "the Great."

Administrative reforms Catherine 2

These innovations were legalized November 7, 1775.It changed the administrative division of the territory of Russia.Previously, it was three-unit: province, provinces, counties.And now the area of ​​the state began to divide only governorship and counties.At the head of several governorships was the Governor-General.He submitted to the governors, and the herald-fiscals and refatgei.He was in charge of finance in the governorship of the Exchequer with the support of the Chamber of Accounts.At the head of each county was captains.In a separate administrative unit was isolated city, the head of which was put in place magistrates mayor.

Senate reform Catherine 2

This neoplasm was made Empress of December 15, 1763.According to him, the Senate became the highest court.In addition, it has been divided into six departments:

• first - was in charge of all government and political affairs in St. Petersburg;

• second - court cases in St. Petersburg;

• third - medicine, science, art, education, transport;

• fourth - naval and land affairs;

• fifth - government and political affairs in Moscow;

• sixth - lawsuits in Moscow.

Catherine 2 Management reforms here were designed to make the Senate an obedient tool of autocratic power.

Economic reforms

reign of Empress characterized by extensive development of the country.Economic reforms Catherine 2 touched the banking and financial sphere of foreign trade.During her reign, new credit facilities (loan funds and State Bank) began to accept funds from the public on deposits for storage.For the first time it was issued banknotes - paper money.State under Catherine was exported overseas products in large quantities, such as cast iron, sail cloth, wood, hemp, bread.It is difficult to say whether the positive results brought these reforms Catherine 2. Briefly tell about it is unlikely to succeed.Massive grain exports while its management has led to a famine in 1780 in many regions of Russia.The cases of mass destruction of peasants.Increased the price of bread.The state treasury was empty.But Russia's foreign debt exceeded 33 million rubles.

innovations in the education system

But not all the transformations of the Empress had negative consequences.Education reform Catherine 2 was launched in 1760.Everywhere began to open schools, which could go to children from different social classes.Particular attention was paid to women's education.In 1764 Smolensk was founded Institute for Noble Maidens.In 1783 the Russian Academy was opened, where invited eminent foreign scholars.What else manifested education reform Catherine 2?The fact that in the provinces formed the orders of public charity, which is responsible for the management of public schools, hospitals, homes for the sick and crazy and hospitals.In Moscow and St. Petersburg opened a home for street children, who received them in the upbringing and education.

Estates under Catherine 2

This transformation is still controversial among historians.Estates reforms Catherine 2 is to its publication in 1785 of two letters, one of which finally secured the privileges of the nobility, and the other sections of the urban population is 6 digits.The Empress called these innovations, "the crown of his activities.""Letters patent nobility" implies the following:

• this class has cleared from the quartering of military units, from corporal punishment, confiscation of property for criminal offenses;

• nobility acquired the right to the depths of the earth, the right to land ownership, the right to have a Class Institutions;

• these people were forbidden to hold office if their income from estates was less than $ 100, and they are deprived of the right to vote, if you do not have the officer's rank.

what is the urban reform Catherine 2?The Empress ordered to divide the population into 6 bits:

• urban inhabitants (homeowners);

• merchants 3 guild;

• artisans;

• nonresident and foreign merchants;

• eminent citizens (rich merchants, bankers, architects, painters, scientists, composers);

• townsmen (without buildings).

regards these innovations can be said that the policy of Catherine 2 are promoted strong stratification of society into rich and poor.At the same time the economic situation of some of the nobility declined.Many of them could not enter public service, not being able to acquire the necessary for this clothing and shoes.At the same time a number of large lords owned large areas of land and hundreds of thousands of serfs.

religious policy

what areas still affected state reforms Catherine 2?This strong-willed woman trying to control everything in the state, including religion.In 1764, she issued a decree deprived the church lands.Together with the peasants these territories were transferred to the management of some College savings.Thus, the clergy have become dependent on royal power.In general, the Empress tried to pursue a policy of religious tolerance.In the early years of her reign, stopped the persecution of the Old Believers, have received state support, Buddhism, Protestantism, Judaism.

Catherine 2 as an adherent of the theory of the Enlightenment

34-year reign of Empress filled with many conflicting events.Enlightened absolutism of Catherine 2, which she tried to preach among the nobility, and manifested in the created it "Instructions" and the convening of the Legislative Commission, and the reform of the estate, and in the administrative division of the territory of Russia, and reforms in education.However, these reforms have been limited.Caste system, the autocratic management principle, serfdom remained unshakable.Special attention is given to the relationship between Catherine French Enlightenment (Voltaire, Diderot).She led an active correspondence with them, exchanging ideas.They were of a very high opinion of her.However, modern historians believe that these relations were purely sponsorship character.Empress often generously of their "friends".

Results reign of the great Empress

time has come to characterize the reforms of Catherine 2 and briefly summarize her reign.