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Significant Acts
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Created a legislative commission in 1767 to revise and codify Russian law based on the Nakaz, or Instruction, which she published in the same year
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Introduced a system of local self-government in 1775 that decentralized power, subdividing Russia into 15 major administrative units
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Established the Russian Academy of Letters in 1783 and passed an edict to allow the formation of private publishing houses
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In 1785, issued the Charter to the Nobility, by which the landholders of each province were allowed to form a general assembly and petition the empress
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Milestones
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1754 Gave birth to a son who ruled Russia as Paul I after her death
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1762 Overthrew her husband, Peter III, and declared herself Catherine II, sovereign ruler of Russia
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1767 Published the Nakaz in which she outlined her vision for the reform of Russian government and society
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1768 Declared war on the Ottoman Empire
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1773-1774 Suppressed the Pugachev Rebellion and ordered Emel'ian Pugachev executed
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1774 Concluded peace with the Ottoman Empire, gaining a foothold on the coast of the Black Sea and expanding westward after the First Partition of Poland in 1772
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1783 Annexed the Crimean peninsula, greatly expanding Russian presence in the Black Sea
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1787-1792 Again fought the Ottoman Empire, gaining a permanent hold along the Black Sea
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Did You Know
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Catherine was born in the Prussian city of Stettin, and spoke little Russian when she married Peter.
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Catherine corresponded with French writer Voltaire, a leading figure in the Enlightenment.
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Though successful in promoting the development of Russian culture, Catherine was unwilling to significantly liberalize government and serfdom actually expanded under her rule.
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