Catherine II Portrait of Catherine II in her 50s, by Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder Empress of Russia Reign 9 July 1762 – 17 November 1796 Coronation 22 September 1762 Predecessor Peter III Successor Paul I Empress consort of Russia Tenure 5 January 1762 – 9 July 1762 Born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst 2 May [O.S. 21 April] 1729 Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia (now Szczecin, Poland) Died 17 November [O.S. 6 November] 1796 (aged 67) Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire Burial Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg Spouse Peter III of Russia (m. 1745; died 1762) Issue among others… Paul I of Russia Full name German: Sophie Friederike Auguste Russian: Yekaterina Alekseyevna Romanova English: Catherine Alexeievna Romanova House Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov (by marriage) Ascania (by birth) Father Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Mother Princess Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp Religion Russian Orthodox (1744–1796) prev. Lutheran (1729–1744) Signature