Philip Konrad

World Cultures 11
10/21/14
Was Catherine II an Absolute Monarch?

Catherine II is often known as an absolute ruler and somethings she is referred as not an
absolute ruler. Some people call her a great ruler and others called her a not so great ruler. There
are many theorys you can say about Catherine II but I believe she was an absolute ruler. My
reasonings behind this is she made sure she had control of the orthodox church, She turned the
prelates and priest into state employee and made Russia into a true European city of imperial
pretensions. These are the strong points behind her absolute ruling.
Catherine II continue the ruling of the Orthodox Church when Peter the great was ruler.
After Peter the Great died, Catherine II took over and took control over the Orthodox Church.
She has done several things to this church. Some good and some bad. She first started out giving
the church back their land and property back. Sadly, a little bit later, she took all that back and
gained control over the church. She then made the church part of the state including all of the
things the church had and owned. She has done things that are not so great to this church. To
tease them like that was totally wrong. I might be pushing it with the tease part but still, you
give something and then take it back soon afterwards is wrong and is not right. This was one of
my main points on why she was an absolute ruler.
Catherine II has done plenty of wrong in her life. I believe she has done more wrong then
right making her an absolute ruler. Catherine II has done something to the Orthodox Church
again. While taking control over the church and taking everything it has, she also made the
prelates and priest employees of the state. From going to taking the church back and everything
else to making the prelates and priest become employees of the state is wrong. This is why I
believe she is an absolute ruler. She demands things and she makes sure things happen with or
without peoples approval.
Lastly, Catherine II was an absolute ruler because of all the changes she did to Russia and
St. Petersburgs. Catherine II was a huge fan of beauty and she wanted to make Russia and ST
Petersburg beautiful. So she did a lot of changes that some would call nice and some would call
bad. Its really up to you. Some of the things she added were Monuments all around Russia and
St. Petersburg; she also was a big fan of music and art. Although, she could be mean and
sometimes only have it her way, she did appreciate art and did have good taste in many things.
But the beauty is only one good thing I see that wouldnt make her an absolute ruler. But the
absolute ruler facts heavily outweigh the non-absolute ruler facts.
Catherine II was an absolute ruler. She has done many things to prove that she was an
absolute ruler. She took control over the Orthodox Church, she gave people new jobs that they
never intended to be and changed this to the way of her likings. To me, this doesnt sound like a
non-absolute ruler. Although, there could be some facts that claim she isnt, I find it more that
she was an absolute ruler and never really was a non-absolute ruler. Like I said before, there are
many theories to these reasons but its really your opinion. I believe she was an absolute ruler
and wasnt a nice one to begin with. Lets hope that doesnt happen again.

"Catherine II." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
Time Machine, Alexander Palace. "Catherine II - Alexander Palace Time Machine." Catherine II -
Alexander Palace Time Machine. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.