Catherine the Great’s Coup
How did Catherine the Great seize Russia’s throne?
4.1 (39)
34 mins
Uncover how Catherine transformed a marriage crisis and growing political tensions into a daring coup against her husband, Peter III. Explore the secret alliances, military support, and rapid moves through Saint Petersburg that allowed her to seize the throne and reshape Russia’s future.
Ep 1:
The Making of an Empress
A dismissed German princess reinvents herself as Russian royalty, surviving a loveless marriage and years of humiliation while quietly building the power base she'll need to seize an empire.
Ep 2:
Six Months to Ruin, One Night to Rule
Peter III's disastrous six-month reign alienates the army, church, and court, setting off a frantic conspiracy that erupts overnight into Catherine's daring, horseback ride to the throne.
Ep 3:
The Empress, Her Lovers, and Her Legacy
As empress, Catherine battles the church, serfdom, and Enlightenment ideals while forging an extraordinary partnership with Potemkin—before scandal, propaganda, and a stroke seal her complicated legacy.
Discussions (5)
Floyd
Level 8 · 3 weeks agoPeter showed up to his own wedding night drunk and passed out while Catherine just laid there waiting. Then spent years playing with toy soldiers in the marriage bed. She really said fine I'll run the whole empire myself.
Nathaniel
Level 7 · 3 weeks agoShe chose Russia day 1 respect
Ronald
Level 7 · 3 weeks agoCatherine learning Russian while burning with fever and still choosing the Orthodox advisor is such a calculated and precise political move
