Catherine the Great as tragic romantic figure

Catherine the Great (1729-1796), Empress of Russia (1762-1796), is well-known for her political prowess, military strategy, dedication to the education of girls, appreciation of the arts including philosophy...the list is without end. Last night we took in the latest exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Catherine the Great: Art for Empire, Masterpieces from the State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg.

Many things sparked my interest but none more so than an excerpt from her journal shortly after her marriage at the tender age of 14 to Peter III of Russia. She realized right away that her husband did not love her and in fact showed no interest in her at all. In her journal she exhorts herself to waste no time or energy or heartsickness in attempting the impossible; in short, she decides to distance herself emotionally from the man. One wonders if all the energy she poured into her studies—the Russian language, art, history, philosophy, political strategy—which contributed to her own and Russia's rise in power, stemmed, at least initially, from an unsuccessful marriage.

Not to say she pined away. Catherine the Great is reputed to have taken dozens of lovers.