W5 Catherine the Great - Lecture notes 5 PDF

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Catherine the great era notes...

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Catherine the Great Enlightened autocracy ● French thought: enlightenment. ○ Many french aristocrats fled to Russia ○ Enlightened absolutism: reform and reformers in later eighteenth century Europe (h.m.scott) Rusian belonging in Europe- entering civilized world ● Cultural areas aligned with the West, she considered the french style to be the epitome of class. All of her policies placed Russia in the more ‘civilised’ european model, so this was clearly her desire. ○ The expansion into the west Social divisions vs civilization process ● The desire to move toward ‘civilization’ deepened the divisions even further as Catherine loosened the restrictions on nobles. This allowed more exploitation of the serfs and left them in the same conditions as ever, while only the nobility and upper classes underwent the changes of civilizational progress.

Russia in the late 18th century ● Gap between rich and poor increased: essentially became a two nation state of a tiny minority of nobles, and the vast majority of the population acting essentially as slaves. ● Catherine continued in the footsteps of Peter the Great, pushing forward in development and alignment with European ideals. ● Russian intelligentsia begins to sprout: cohort of highly educated individuals who begin to think and write in a more informed and critical way about their homeland. Beginning to critique autocracy and looking to speak truth.

Accession of Catherine II

● 1762 Palace coup: death of Elizabeth. Named Peter as her heir, who became Peter III. ○ Son of Peter’s eldest daughter, father a German prince. ○ Turned Russia into a major ally of Prussia, overturning Elizabeth’s actions. ○ Overturned the secret police ○ Exempt nobles from obligations to the state. ○ His prussian interests were not welcome ○ Alienated many leading officers of the court. ○ Peter married Catherine, however this was not a proper marriage as neither liked the other, each keeping lovers and having a separate life. ● Early life: grew up in Germany, Lutheran background but converted to Orthodoxy and learnt Russian when she was betrothed to Peter. ● Catherine fit into the court much better, had lovers among the guards: one of her lovers staged a coup and killed Peter. ● Rather than Catherine’s son Paul taking over from his father, Catherine established an act stating that she would reign for life, and that instead Paul would be her heir. Catherine as a ruler ● Took an active role in ruling, liked to be seen to do so. ○ Relied on advisors but aimed to portray herself as in control. ● Educated, ambitious, determined, egotistical. ● Framed herself as the successor of Peter the Great in order to legitimise her rule. ● Believed in the need for absolutism to establish a european culture in Russia. ○ Reinstated the secret police ○ Ruthless ruler when necessary, but generally preferred to use the carrot rather than the stick. ● Not just prepared to be a figurehead ● Initially took on a liberal stance to gain favour: loosened expectations again on the nobility. Later, she became stricter as she felt threatened. Tightened censorship.

● Enlightened despotism: ideal of absolutist rule. Assumed a form of rule that was autocratic but that was on the side of civilisational progress. Meant to be just. Lovers and favourites ● A succession of lovers. ● Most significant: G. Orlov, G. Potemkin, A. Dmitriev-Mamonov, P. Zubov. ● She kept them on her side with much money and land as gifts, parties, and general favours in return for them backing her. Russo-Turkish Wars (1768-74), (1787-92) ● Battle of Cesme Bay: Russia sank almost all the Ottoman fleet. Great naval prowess. ● Gained Crimea. Turks tried to reclaim, starting second war. However, they lost against General Suvorov’s forces. Partition of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795) ●

Russia defeated another arch enemy: Poland

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Poland was holding lots of eastern central europe.

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Austrian, Prussian and Russian states all fought over Silesia (southern poland). ○ Decided to partition Poland between the three of them. ○ Russia took much of Poland, where there was still a strong orthodox community from the times of Kievan Rus.

Western Expansion

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Under Catherine, Russia extended its territories greatly. It became a key force in European politics.

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Player in diplomatic resolutions.

Economy ●

Catherine liked to portray herself as an able housekeeper, however she did not organise economic matters well

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Russian rise in economic power was tied to the exploitation of the serfs Inefficient feudal system.

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Catherin wanted to be a pioneer, but failed to establish the conditions for a move to capitalism from feudalism.

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Most of Russia's development was slow, uncompetitive as it was state organised and funded. Needed a bourgeoisie as was present in France and Britain eg. however, this didn't happen. Would have needed significant structural changes.

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Agriculture important: modernisation of this was spoken about among the wealthy landowners, however little happened in reality.

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Catherine reinforced brutal exploitation of serfs. Contemplated reforms however the nobility bitterly opposed it and Catherine knew that she was reliant on them.

Pugachev Uprising (1773-74) ●

Peasant rebellion even more threatening than previous ones as the wider peasant community was mobilised.

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Ruthless violence regardless of age and gender.

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Many more military garrisons established across all provinces to prevent another uprising after Pugechev was killed by the army. Undermined any possible chance of Catherine trying to change the suffering of the serfs, pushing her instead to maintain the exploitative structure.

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The Golden age of the nobility ●

Catherine’s reign often considered the golden age of the nobles, as she freed them from any obligatory state service.

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Many remained in service as they did not have the means to live without the work, however it was now more of a privilege than compulsory work.

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Charter of nobility: added benefits to property rights. Exempted nobles from certain taxes and punishments.

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More leisure time saw a rise in cultural achievements and entertainment.

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Nobility becoming increasingly indebted due to the many luxuries being imported etc.

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New bank for the nobility: nobles could mortgage their land, which would become a problem later.

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Gallomania: France as the european trendsetter. Obsession with French customs established during Catherine’s reign.

The enlightenment ●

Very influential intellectuals from France in this period

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Les philosophes: Diderot, Voltaire, Rousseau.

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Encyclopédie produced: discusses many values such as the importance of education, freedom and science.

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Catherine never really tried to put in place the ideas of the philosophes. Preferred to play the rule of the enlightened leader rather than actually put ideas into place.

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Attitude toward enlightened thinkers cooled substantially as during the french revolution, the ideas of the philosophes were used to justify the pro-revolution side.

Catherine the enlightener ●

Educator, writer, patron: did not approve of old ways and orthodoxy, found them uncouth.

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State provided education: inspired by philosophes. First network of state schools were established, but relied on private donations as she did not put enough money in. ○ Mostly used by the middle strata ○ She established a school for noble girls as she considered girls’ education important, however still much of a focus on developing skills needed for women (like a finishing school).

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Academy of sciences: remained the main hub of learning, mostly dominated by foreign scholars.

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National academy of language and literature established.

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Russian Language academy established on the model of the Académie Française. ○ Led first by a woman (Ekaterina Dashkova)

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Catherine promoted a visible cultural life. Public sphere arose in an early form. Exchange of views. She saw this as the embodiment of her enlightened reign. Wanted it to occur around her with her as the centre, in control of debate.

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She wrote satirical articles and plays as polemical pieces. Much more scope given to individual intellectual ideas. Still resentful however of any real criticisms of her reign.

Freemasonry ●

Masonic lodges established in Russia, closely linked with those abroad too.

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Attracted those that sought spiritual enlightenment but fitting in with new ideas, as Catherine’s stance was not in favour of orthodox beliefs.

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Emphasis on higher spiritual truth, illumination. Personal development, with public engagement. (almost like an NGO)

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Emphasis on knowledge, and the production of ideas. Practically: published lots, not only masonic works. Became very important, infiltrated the highest echelons of Russian society. Egalitarian in principal.

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There wasn't necessarily a worry that there would be a putsch, but was more concerning that there was a very influential sphere that was outside of Catherine’s control.

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Clubs and societies also established as separate social spheres for debate.

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Coffee houses becoming more important

Publishing and Journalism ●

Decree: allowed anyone to establish a printing press, as long as they registered with the police and submitted all work for approval in advance; 1783.

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The Masonic network benefited greatly from this.

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Uneconomical but important. Books more economical than journals as they had a smaller audience.

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Wider dissemination of opinions even if still a relatively small number participation.

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Nikolai Novikov: publisher, orchestrator of discourse. Arose as a rival to Catherine in publishing as they both published journals. (The Drone vs Odds and Ends) ○ Both shut down eventually, Novikov accused of breaking copyright laws and was imprisoned.

Theatre ●

Flourished especially among the nobility, although Catherine also established public theatres.

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Satirical comedies most prominent: Denis Fonvizin. ○ The Minor (Hedorocl): criticises the nobility.

Poetry ●

Derzhavin: began to play with, or undermine, the three styles and registered already established. Odes (slavonic, eulogy of the ruler). No mixing of genres, however Derzhavin does this exactly. ○ Ode to Catherine that he wrote not necessarily an ode, also use of satire. ‘Felitsa’ his most famous work.

Prose ● Sentimentalism: Karamzin, Radishchev. ○ Radishchev: attacks on landlords for the brutal attacks on serfs, reproach on the autocrat for allowing this to take place. Published at the height of the french revolution. ○ Captured and sentenced to death, however he was instead exiled. ○ Karamzin: in favour of the autocracy. Radical in terms of literary language. Major shifts in literature under Catherine, especially toward the end....