Death of Catherine the Great

Background. Catherine II, born Sophie Auguste Friederike von Anhalt-Zerbst, had reigned as Empress of Russia from 9 July 1762. Her reign of over 34 years provided long-term stability to the war-torn Russian Empire and saw prosperity during the Enlightenment, with new cities, universities, and theatres established and Russia recognised as a great power of Europe.

Final Days. In September 1796, Catherine's Swedish cousin (once removed), King Gustav IV Adolf, visited her; the empress's intention was that her granddaughter Alexandra should become queen of Sweden by marriage, a plan stated as her aim rather than a realized union. On 16 November 1796, Catherine rose early, had her usual morning coffee, and settled to work on papers, telling her lady's maid Maria Perekusikhina that she had slept better than she had in a long time.

Death and Succession. Catherine suffered a stroke on 17 November 1796 and died without regaining consciousness. Her son Paul I Petrovich, born 1 October 1754, became Emperor of Russia, reigning from 1796 until his assassination in 1801. Paul later adopted laws of succession to the Russian throne that lasted until the end of the Romanov dynasty and of the Russian Empire.