Catherine The Great Accomplishments

Over the period of 67 years, Catherine the Great- a former Empress of Russia in the 1700’s- used various methods in order to implement foreign policy unto her nation and the nations around her. Her accomplishments in foreign policy not only caused drastic changes in her own country for her own people, but also in surrounding countries and their people. The most impressive and life-altering achievement of Catherine the Great was the way in which she intelligently and manipulatively went about her way in seizing control over one-third of Poland.
The Catherine II we know today was originally named Sophia Augusta Fredericka; then later had her name changed to Yekaterina Alexeyevna. She was born into Prussian royalty in Poland, on May 2nd, in 1729.

Her parents, who had originally hoped for a boy, did not drown her in their love and affections. In fact, they barely displayed them at all. At the age of fifteen, she traveled to Russia for the first time with her mother, courtesy of Empress Elizabeth. (Erikson 28) Soon after her visit, she hastily converted to the Russian orthodox faith, and was married off to Peter III. (Erikson 44) She first began her rule in the year 1762, with the help and advocacy of many allies, some of which included the supportive countries of; Austria, England, and France. (Erikson 187) The first and foremost thing on Catherine’s mind was always land. She was desperately seeking ways in which she could extend the borders of Russia. After tireless nights of planning and fighting in battles, Russia was quickly able to call the Southern Ukrainian land, as well as Crimea- their own. The next item on the long to-do-list for the longest-ruling Empress, was to establish a trust amongst her, and the many men surrounding her, as well as to the ability to use them to her advantage. In a cunning, yet manipulative way, Catherine II managed to commission her short-time lover, Stanisław August Poniatowski as the king of Poland. This was the foothold Catherine II used to her advantage, which ultimately lead to the later partitions of Poland. (Erikson 276)
In appointing her lover Poniatowski as king, some of the people of Poland supported her, while the majority of the population was against her. The Orthodox Poles were for this idea of someone Russian ruling the thrown over someone from their own land, simply due to the fact that Catherine II had continually stood up for them, while trying to achieve religious toleration for Poland. On the other hand, the Catholic majority disliked the fact that Russia was now trying to take control of the way the religion had previously been applied. The Catholics had formerly been harassing the Orthodox people, which was the initial cause of the intervention of the Russian side. (Erikson 276) Unfortunately for the Russian presence in Poland, the Turks quickly learned of their new threat, and hastily decided to intercede. Not only did the Turks try to interject, but also once the French heard wind of what was going on up in Poland, they decided to close ranks with the people of Turkey as well. Overall, Russia was headed towards a bloody fiasco. Yet despite the obvious shortcomings of her country, Catherine II was still overly zealous and confident in herself, as well as the Russian Army. Although she had never formally acted as a general- or a voice amongst troops, Catherine II still managed, with the help of General Rumyantsev and Field Marshal Golitsyn, to overcome the impending destruction that would inexorably be carried out by the Turks.