Catherine the Great
Was Catherine’s rise to power fate or skill?
4.4 (13)
60 mins
Explore Catherine’s rise from a Prussian princess to the Empress of Russia. Discover how her marriage to the immature and cruel Peter II revealed her strength, as she skillfully navigated the court to gain allies.
Ep 1:
The German Princess Who Became Empress
Behind the myths of scandal lies a true story: how a young Prussian princess named Sophie transformed herself into Catherine, navigating court intrigue and a doomed marriage to claim Russian power.
Ep 2:
Books, Bullets, and a Guardsman's Heart
Trapped in a loveless marriage, Catherine turned to Enlightenment philosophy for strategy—then found her fiercest ally in dashing guardsman Grigory Orlov, whose loyalty would fuel her rise.
Ep 3:
The Sword, the Stallion, and the Coup
On one electrifying night, Catherine mounted a grey stallion, sword raised, to seize the throne from her failing husband in a coup that stunned all of Russia.
Ep 4:
Beauty, Brains, and the Burden of Serfs
Empress now, Catherine's contradictions come into focus—dazzling yet flawed, brilliant yet compromised—as her rule collides with the brutal reality of serfdom and Pugachev's fierce rebellion.
Ep 5:
Love, Power, and the Weight of a Crown
From devoted lovers to distant motherhood, Catherine's private choices shaped her empire—setting the stage for a legacy as dazzling and divided as the woman herself.
Discussions (25)
Richard
Level 7 · 9 mo agoThis! That horse rumor is total bs. She died of a stroke. It’s just like the podcast said, they use sexual stories to tear down powerful women. It happens all the time and it’s so gross.
Dominic
Level 8 · 9 mo agoPeter’s behavior implies severe executive dysfunction. Calling him childish is clinically inaccurate.
Louis
Level 8 · 9 mo agoThe horse death is a myth she died on the toilet
