[tps_title]CATHERINE THE GREAT[/tps_title]
Catherine the Great was the most renowned and the longest ruling female leader of Russia. She came to power following a coup d`etat when her husband Peter III was assassinated. Russia, under her reign became larger and stronger than ever. Under her reign, Russian empire expanded much with conquests and diplomacy. She reformed the administration of Russian provinces and many new cities and towns were founded on her orders. She continued to modernize Russia along Western European lines. As a patron of arts, she presided over the age of Russian Enlightenment when, Smolny Institute, the first state – financed higher education institution for women in Europe was established.
