CATHERINE II THE GREAT
1729 - 1796

Catherine was originally German Sophie Friederike Auguste. She later became Catherine II, Empress of Russia (1762 until 1796) and was a pretty tough bone.

She was appalled by her son Pavel's weakness and decided to skip Pavel in the line of inheritance and let Pavel's son Alexander I become her successor instead.

Here is Catherine the Great's timeline.

And here is the map

RUSSIA IN EUROPE
Click map to enlarge