CATHERINE L. Empress of Russia, a most extraordinary personage, whose history deserves to be given in detail. She was the natural daughter of a country girl; and was born at Ringen, a small village upon the lake Virtschewe, near Dorpt, in Livonia. The year of her birth is uncertain; but, according to her own account, she came into the world on the 5th of April, 1687. Her original name was Martha, which she changed for Catherine when she embraced the Greek religion. Count Rosen, a lieutenant-colonel in the Swedish service, who owned the village of Ringen, supported, according to the custom of the country, both the mother and the child; and was, for that reason, supposed by many persons to have been her father. She lost her mother when she was but three years old; and, as count Rosen died about the same time, she was left in so deplorable a situation, that the parish-clerk of the village received her into his house. Soon afterwards Gluck, Lutheran minister of Marienburg, happening, in a journey through those parts, to see the foundling, took her under his protection, brought her up in his family, and employed her in attending his children. In 1701, and about the 14th year of her age, she espoused a dragoon of the Swedish garrison of Marienburg. Many different accounts are given of this transaction: one author of great credit affirms that the bride and bridegroom remained together eight days after their marriage; another, of no less authority, affirms, on the contrary, that on the morning of the nuptials her husband being sent with a detachment for Riga, the marriage was never consummated. Thus much is certain, that the dragoon was absent when Marienburg surrendered to the Russians; and Catherine, who was referred for a higher fortune, never saw him more.

General Bauer, upon the taking of Marienburg, saw Catherine among the prisoners; and, being smitten with her youth and beauty, took her to his house, where she superintended his domestic affairs, and was Catherine supposed to be his mistress. Soon afterwards she was removed into the family of prince Mensikof, who was no less struck with the attractions of the fair captive. With him she lived until 1704; when, in the 17th year of her age, she became the mistress of Peter the Great, and won so much upon his affections, that he espoused her on the 29th of May 1711. The ceremony was secretly performed at Jawerof in Poland, in the presence of General Bruce; and on the 20th of February 1712, it was publicly solemnized with great pomp at Peterburgh.

Catherine, by the most unwearied affluence and unremitting attention, by the softness and complacency of her disposition, but above all by an extraordinary liveliness and gaiety of temper, acquired a wonderful ascendancy over the mind of Peter. The latter was subject to occasional horrors, which at times rendered him gloomy and suspicious, and raised his passions to such an height as to produce a temporary madness. In these dreadful moments Catherine was the only person who durst venture to approach him; and such was the kind of fascination she had acquired over his senses, that her presence had an instantaneous effect, and the first sound of her voice composed his mind and calmed his agonies. From these circumstances she seemed necessary, not only to his comfort, but even to his very existence; she became his inseparable companion on his journeys into foreign countries, and even in all his military expeditions.

The peace of Pruth, by which the Russian army was rescued from certain destruction, has been wholly attributed to Catherine, though she was little more than an instrument in procuring the consent of Peter. The latter, in his campaign of 1711 against the Turks, having imprudently led his troops into a disadvantageous situation, took the desperate resolution of cutting his way through the Turkish army in the night. With this resolution he retired to his tent in an agony of despair, and gave positive orders that no one should be admitted under pain of death. In this important juncture the principal officers and the vice-chancellor Shafirof assembled in the presence of Catherine, and drew up certain preliminaries in order to obtain a truce from the grand vizir. In consequence of this determination, plenipotentiaries were immediately dispatched, without the knowledge of Peter, to the grand vizir, and a peace obtained upon more reasonable conditions than could have been expected. With these conditions Catherine, notwithstanding the orders refused by Peter, entered his tent, and prevailed upon him to sign them. Catherine, by her conduct on this occasion, acquired great popularity; and the emperor particularly specifies her behaviour at Pruth as one of the reasons which induced him to crown her publicly at Moscow with his own hand. This ceremony was performed in 1724; and although designed by Peter only as a proof of his affection, was the principal cause of her subsequent elevation.

Her influence continued undiminished until a short time before the death of the emperor, when some circumstances happened which occasioned such a coolness between them as would probably have ended in a total rupture, if his death had not fortunately intervened. The Catherine's original cause of this misunderstanding arose from the following discovery of a secret connection between Catherine and her first chamberlain, whose name was Mons. The emperor, who was suspicious of this connection, quitted Peterburgh under pretence of removing to a villa for a few days, but privately returned to his winter palace in the capital. From thence he occasionally sent one of his confidential pages with a complimentary message to the empress, as if he had been in the country, and with secret orders to observe her motions. From the page's information the emperor, on the third night, surprized Catherine in an arbour of the garden with her favourite Mons; while his sister, Madame Balke, who was first lady of the bed-chamber to the empress, was, in company with a page, upon the watch without the arbour.

Peter, whose violent temper was inflamed by this discovery, struck Catherine with his cane, as well as the page, who endeavoured to prevent him from entering the arbour, and then retired without uttering a single word either to Mons or his sister. A few days after this transaction these persons were taken into custody, and Mons was carried to the winter palace, where no one had admission to him but Peter, who himself brought him his provisions. A report was at the same time circulated, that they were imprisoned for having received bribes, and making their influence over the empress subservient to their own mercenary views. Mons being examined by Peter, in the presence of major-general Ushakov, and threatened with the torture, confessed the corruption which was laid to his charge. He was beheaded; his sister received five strokes of the knout, and was banished into Siberia; two of her sons, who were chamberlains, were also degraded, and sent as common soldiers among the Russian troops in Persia. On the day subsequent to the execution of the sentence, Peter conveyed Catherine in an open carriage under the gallows, to which was nailed the head of Mons. The empress, without changing colour at this dreadful sight, exclaimed, "What a pity it is that there is so much corruption among courtiers!"

This event happened in the latter end of the year 1724; and as it was soon followed by Peter's death, and Catherine, upon her accession recalled Madame Balke, it has been suspected that she shortened the days of her husband by poison. But notwithstanding the critical situation for Catherine in which he died, and her subsequent elevation, this charge is totally destitute of the least shadow of proof; for the circumstances of Peter's disorder were too well known, and the peculiar symptoms of his last illness sufficiently account for his death, without the necessity of recurring to poison.

While Peter was yet lying in the agonies of death, several opposite parties were caballing to dispose of the crown. At a considerable meeting of many among the principal nobility, it was secretly determined, on the moment of his dissolution, to arrest Catherine, and to place Peter Alexievitch upon the throne. Bassevitz, apprized of this resolution, repaired in person to the empress, although it was already night. "My grief and consternation," replied Catherine, "render me incapable of acting myself; do you and prince Menzikof consult together, and I will embrace the measures which you shall approve in my name." Bassevitz, finding Menzikof asleep, awakened and informed him of the pressing danger which threatened the empress and her party. As no time remained for long deliberation, the prince instantly seized the treasure, secured the fortresses, gained the officers of the guards by bribes and promises, also a few of the nobility, and the principal clergy. These partizans being convened in the palace, Catherine made her appearance; she claimed the throne in right of her coronation at Moscow; she exposed the ill effects of a minority; and promised, that, "so far from depriving the great-duke of the crown, she would receive it only as a sacred deposit, to be restored to him when she should be united, in another world, to an adored husband, whom she was now upon the point of losing."

The pathetic manner with which she uttered this address, and the tears which accompanied it, added to the previous distribution of large sums of money and jewels, produced the desired effect: at the close of this meeting the remainder of the night was employed in making the necessary preparations to insure her accession in case of the emperor's death.

Peter at length expired in the morning of the 28th of January 1725. This event being made known, the senate, the generals, the principal nobility and clergy, hastened to the palace to proclaim the new sovereign. The adherents of the great-duke seemed secure of success, and the friends of Catherine were avoided as persons doomed to destruction. At this juncture Bassevitz whispered one of the opposite party, "The empress is mistress of the treasure and the fortresses; she has gained over the guards and the synod, and many of the chief nobility; even here she has more followers than you imagine; advise therefore your friends to make no opposition as they value their heads." This information being rapidly circulated, Bassevitz gave the appointed signal, and the two regiments of guards, who had been gained by a largess to declare for Catherine, and had already surrounded the palace, beat to arms. "Who has dared (exclaimed prince Repnin, the commander in chief) to order out the troops without my knowledge?" "I, (returned general Butterlin), without pretending to dispute your authority, in obedience to the commands of my most gracious mistress." This short reply was followed by a dead silence. In this moment of suspense and anxiety Menzikof entered, preceding Catherine, supported by the duke of Holstein. She attempted to speak, but was prevented by sighs and tears from giving utterance to her words: at length, recovering herself, "I come (she said), notwithstanding the grief which now overwhelms me, to assure you, that, submissive to the will of my departed husband, whose memory will be ever dear to me, I am ready to devote my days to the painful occupations of government until Providence shall summon me to follow him." Then, after a short pause, she artfully added, "If the great-duke will profit by my instructions, perhaps I shall have the consolation, during my wretched widowhood, of forming for you an emperor worthy of the blood and the name of him whom you have now irretrievably lost." "As this crisis (replied Menzikof) is a moment of such importance to the good of the empire, and requires the most mature deliberation, your ma..." Catherine justly will permit us to confer, without restraint, that this whole affair may be transacted without reproach, as well in the opinion of the present age as in that of posterity." "Acting as I do," answered Catherine, "more for the public good than for my own advantage, I am not afraid to submit all my concerns to the judgment of such an enlightened assembly; you have not only my permission to confer with freedom; but I lay my commands upon you all to deliberate maturely on this important subject, and I promise to adopt whatever may be the result of your decisions." At the conclusion of these words the assembly retired into another apartment, and the doors were locked.

It was previously settled by Menzikof and his party that Catherine should be empress; and the guards, who surrounded the palace with drums beating and colours flying, effectually vanquished all opposition. The only circumstance, therefore, which remained, was to give a just colour to her title, by perpetuating the assembly that Peter intended to have named her his successor. For this purpose Menzikof demanded of that emperor's secretary, whether his late matter had left any written declaration of his intentions? The secretary replied, "That a little before his last journey to Moscow he had destroyed a will; and that he had frequently expressed his design of making another, but had always been prevented by the reflection, that if he thought his people, whom he had raised from a state of barbarism to an high degree of power and glory, could be ungrateful, he would not expose his final inclinations to the insult of a refusal; and that if they recollected what they owed to his labours, they would regulate their conduct by his intentions, which he had disclosed with more solemnity than could be manifested by any writing." An altercation now began in the assembly; and some of the nobles having the courage to oppose the accession of Catherine, Thoephanes archbishop of Plescow called to their recollection the oath which they had all taken in 1722 to acknowledge the successor appointed by Peter; and added, that the sentiments of that emperor delivered by the secretary were in effect an appointment of Catherine. The opposite party, however, denied these sentiments to be so clear as the secretary chose to insinuate; and insisted, that as their late monarch had failed to nominate his heir, the election of the new sovereign should revert to the estate. Upon this the archbishop farther testified, that the evening before the coronation of the empress at Moscow, Peter had declared, in the house of an English merchant, that he should place the crown upon her head with no other view than to leave her mistress of the empire after his decease. This attestation being confirmed by many persons present, Menzikof cried out, "What need have we of any testament! A refusal to conform to the inclination of our great sovereign, thus authenticated, would be both unjust and criminal. Long live the empress Catherine!" These words being instantaneously repeated by the greatest part of those who were present, Menzikof, saluting Catherine by the title of empress, paid his first obedience by kissing her hand; and his example was followed by the whole assembly. She next presented herself at the window to the guards, and to the people, who shouted acclamations of "Long live Catherine!" while Menzikof scattered amongst them handfuls of money. Thus Catherine (says a contemporary) the empress was raised to the throne by the guards, in the same manner as the Roman emperors by the praetorian cohorts, without either the appointment of the people or of the legions.

The reign of Catherine may be considered as the reign of Menzikof, that empress having neither inclination nor abilities to direct the helm of government; and she placed the most implicit confidence in a man who had been the original author of her good fortune, and the sole instrument of her elevation to the throne.

During her short reign her life was very irregular; she was extremely averse to business; would frequently, when the weather was fine, pass whole nights in the open air; and was particularly intemperate in the use of tokay-wine. These irregularities, joined to a cancer and a droopy, hastened her end; and she expired on the 17th of May 1727, a little more than two years after her accession to the throne, and in about the 40th year of her age.

As the deaths of sovereigns in despotic countries are seldom imputed to natural causes, that of Catherine has also been attributed to poison; as if the disorders which preyed upon her frame were not sufficient to bring her to her grave. Some assert, that she was poisoned in a glass of spirituous liquor; others, by a pear given her by general Diever. Suspicions also fell upon prince Menzikof, who, a short time before her decease, had a trifling misunderstanding with her, and who was accused of hastening her death, that he might reign with still more absolute power during the minority of Peter II. But these reports deserve not the least credit, and were merely dictated by the spirit of party or by popular rumour.

Catherine was in her person under the middle-size, and in her youth delicate and well-formed, but inclined to corpulency as she advanced in years. She had a fair complexion, dark eyes, and light hair, which she was always accustomed to dye with a black colour. She could neither read nor write; her daughter Elizabeth usually signed her name for her, and particularly to her last will and testament; and count Osterman generally put her signature to the public decrees and dispatches. Her abilities have been greatly exaggerated by her panegyrists. Gordon, who had frequently seen her, seems, of all writers, to have represented her character with the greatest justice, when he says, "She was a very pretty well-look'd woman, of good sense, but not of that sublimity of wit, or rather that quickness of imagination, which some people have believed. The great reason why the czar was so fond of her, was her exceeding good temper; she never was peevish or out of humour; obliging and civil to all, and never forgetful of her former condition; withal, mighty grateful." Catherine maintained the pomp of majesty with an air of ease and grandeur united; and Peter often frequently to express his admiration at the propriety with which she supported her high station, without forgetting that she was not born to that dignity.

The following anecdotes will prove that she bore her elevation meekly; and, as Gordon asserts, was never forgetful of her former condition. When Wurm, who had been tutor to Gluck's children at the time that Catherine was a domestic in that clergyman's family, presented himself before her after her marriage with Peter had been publicly solemnized, she recollected and addressed him with great complacency, "What, thou good man, art thou still alive! I will provide for thee." And she accordingly settled upon him a pension. She was no less attentive to the family of her benefactor Gluck, who died a prisoner at Moscow; she pensioned his widow; made his son a page; portioned the two eldest daughters; and advanced the youngest to be one of her maids of honour. If we may believe Weber, she frequently enquired after her first husband; and, when she lived with prince Menzikof, used secretly to send him small sums of money, until, in 1705, he was killed in a skirmish with the enemy.

But the most noble part of her character was her peculiar humanity and compassion for the unfortunate. Motraye has paid an handsome tribute to this excellence. "She had, in some sort, the government of all his (Peter's) passions; and even saved the lives of a great many more persons than Le Fort was able to do; she inspired him with that humanity, which, in the opinion of his subjects, nature seemed to have denied him. A word from her mouth in favour of a wretch, just going to be sacrificed to his anger, would disarm him; but if he was fully resolved to satisfy that passion, he would give orders for the execution when she was absent, for fear she should plead for the victim."

In a word, to use the expression of the celebrated Munich, "Elle estit proprement la médiateur entre le monarque et ses sujets."