Catherine the Great, who was German by birth, considered
herself an "Enlightened" monarch, and made some attempt to rule by Enlightenment ideals.
Catherine imported Western architects, scholars, and even sculptors and musicians to
make Russia more Western. She also introduced the use of the French language at the
Russian Court. She improved education and strengthened local governments; and also
restricted the use of torture and allowed some degree of religious
tolerance.
All this came to a crashing halt when a revolt
by Emelian Pugachev, who claimed to be her dead husband, convinced her that the peasants
were dangerous and she must rely on the nobility. She then confiscated church lands,
expanded serfdom, and freed the nobles from paying taxes. By the time of her death;
Russia was in worse shape than when she ascended the throne.
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