Catherine II (born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; May the 2nd 1729— November the 17th 1796, typically called Catherine the Great, ruled as Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, making her the nation's longest-serving female ruler. Following the assassination of her spouse and 2nd cousin, Peter III, she rose to power. Russia grew bigger, its civilization was rejuvenated, and it was acknowledged as one of Europe's great powers during her reign.
Catherine used her honorable favorites, most significantly Count Grigory Orlov and Grigory Potemkin, to help her gain power and manage the empire. She ruled at the time of a period when the Russian Empire was rapidly broadening through intrusion and diplomacy, with the help of very effective generals like Alexander Suvorov and Pyotr Rumyantsev, and also admirals like Samuel Greig and Fyodor Ushakov. In the south, the Crimean Khanate was beat in the Russo-Turkish War (1768— 1774), and Russia colonized Novorossiya along the Black and Azov Seas, thanks to triumphs over the Bar confederation and the Ottoman Empire.
Catherine the Great has been mentioned so many times in Russian history, it's definitely a good chapter to study to understand the background of the country more.