Catherine the Great was a long-reigning Empress of Russia known for expanding the empire through conquest and diplomacy. She came to power in 1762 following the abdication and assassination of her husband, Peter III. Though she began as a reformer, Catherine grew more conservative over time, giving nobility greater control over serfs while also establishing new schools. She governed during the Golden Age of the Russian Empire and added over 200,000 square miles of territory through victories over the Ottomans and partitioning of Poland.