Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst was born on 2 May 1729 ... and changing her name to Catherine, she married Grand Duke Peter, grandson of Peter the Great and heir to the Russian throne.

Catherine was born near Madrid in December 1485 ... marking the start of Catherine’s misfortune. While there was great celebration over the birth of Catherine's second child, Prince Henry ...

Taken from Catherine at birth and raised by his great aunt, Empress Elizabeth, and tutor, Minister Panin, Paul never formed a loving relationship with Catherine. The brutal, conniving and ambitious ...