THE DYNAMIC AND PASSIONATE CATHERINE II - THE GREAT, BORN GERMAN, A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE ON THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL THRONE. HER REFLECTION ON ART AND CULTURE

Abstract

In the current atmosphere of the extraordinary fifth inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the question naturally arises, among other things, of the longest reigning potentates of Old Russia, the Russian principalities, Tsarist Russia, the Russian State, the Russian Empire/ until 1917/ and, now, the Russian Federation. In this sense, there are interesting parallels between the reign of Ivan IV - Vasilyevich the Terrible, the Great Priest and first Russian Tsar, who ruled for 51 years /1533-1584/, and the reign of Empress Catherine II. the Great. She was in power for 34 years /1762-1796/. Each of the 75 rulers of Ancient Rus and Russia, from the earliest forms of rule dating back to the 9th and 11th centuries, respectively, stamped their original stamp on their nation, and at the same time ploughed a deep furrow in connection with the formation of the Russian commonwealth, statehood, Russian national and state consciousness, Russian spirit, patriotism and national pride.