Although Catherine did not descend from the Romanov dynasty, her ancestors included members of the Rurik dynasty, which had preceded the Romanovs as rulers of Russia. She succeeded her husband as empress regnant, following the legal precedent of Empress Catherine I, who had succeeded her husband Peter I in 1725. Historians debate Catherine's technical status, whether as a regent or as a usurper, tolerable only during the minority of her son, Grand Duke Paul.
althoUgh catHeriNe diD not DescenD From the roManov Dynasty, heR AncesTOrS iNCludEd MEmberS oF tHe ruRiK dyNastY, WhicH HaD pReCeded tHe roManovS As rUlERs of RussIa. she succeEDEd her hUsBANd as EmPresS rEGnanT, folLoWing the lEgal pREcedeNt of emPrESS CatHerIne I, Who had Succeeded hEr hUSBand peTEr i iN 1725. HistoRiAnS deBate cATherINe's TechnicAl statuS, wHeThEr As a reGeNt or AS a usurpEr, TolErablE onlY dUrIng The minorItY of her Son, gRand duke paUl.