Dear Ursula

Dear Ursula

Thank you for the card from St. Petersburg. I always connect that city with Catherine the Great (1729-96).

She was German by birth (she came from Darmstadt). She had an arranged marriage She was under pressure to produce family for the succession; one child died, and so she had another. She was tough and sophisticated. They could not stand each other.

The Czar was a simple man bullied in his youth. His father had died when he was young, and he was brought up in lonely charge of tutors. He liked dogs, and to play with toy soldiers.

She was a domineering woman. When the Czarina died she instigated the murder of her husband Peter, he who reigned as Czar for about six weeks. In that time, he set free many prisoners and, almost by accident, altered much of the history of Europe

Catherine had a friend and ally in Princess Daskov. Princes Dashkov played a part in the plot to kill him. He was shifted to Northern Siberia, and was dead in a week. Later, Princess Dashkov was discarded, by Catherine, but she was instrumental in collecting the treasures that now form the Hermitage Museum. Princess Dashkov had one son, who became the boyfriend to Catherine.

Catherine the Great was good at politics and live long time.

This is part of a letter to Ursula, my correspondent in my native village.

Rose Lynch 15-May-2006