 many supporters. The government branded Kazin-Bogomolov despite his markings. The third Peter III with royal marks was the most famous of the four and the most successful pretender of the time, Pugachev. In 1773 Pugachev staged a revealing of his royal identity to a Cossack, Eremina Kuritsa, leading other Cossacks to challenge Pugachev at dinner, which resulted in him showing scars on his chest and head to the Cossacks. Pugachev claimed the scars on his chest were caused from the coup against him and that the scars on his forehead were from smallpox. Pugachev's rational reasoning for his markings caused him to continually gain supporters throughout his stand as a pretender. Unlike the first two pretenders to show royal marks, Pugachev's efforts cost him his life since his punishment was execution. The final pretender during Catherine's reign to reveal royal marks was Makar Mosiakin in 1774. Mosiakin entered a peasant hut claiming to be Peter III and then showed the peasants crosses on his arms, claiming they represented royal inheritance. According to the official report of the Mosiakin he had made the cross marks himself to convince people that he was Peter III, and he actually had some success as he managed to gain followers from various villages, going from house to house.

Succession to the throne 

On a date already set for a week before she died, Catherine had intended to formally announce that Paul would be excluded from the succession, and that the crown would go to her eldest grandson, Alexander (whom she greatly favoured, and who subsequently became the emperor Alexander I in 1801). Her harshness towards Paul probably stemmed as much from political distrust as from what she saw of his character. Keeping Paul in a state of semi-captivity in Gatchina and Pavlovsk, she resolved not to allow her son to dispute or to share in her authority during her lifetime.

Titles and styles 
 2 May 1729 – 21 August 1745: Her Serene Highness Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst
 21 August 1745 – 5 January 1762: Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Catherine Alekseievna of Russia
 5 January 1762 – 9 July 1762: Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of All the Russias (as Empress consort)
 9 July 1762 – 17 November 1796: Her Imperial Majesty The
many supporters. The government branded Kazin - Bogomolov despite his markings. The third Peter III with imperial sign was the most famous of the four and the about successful pretender of the prison term, Pugachev. In 1773 Pugachev staged a revealing of his imperial identity to a Cossack, Eremina Kuritsa, precede other cossack to challenge Pugachev at dinner, which result in him showing scratch on his chest and head to the Cossacks. Pugachev claim the scars on his chest were caused from the coup against him and that the scars on his forehead were from smallpox. Pugachev's intellectual reasoning for his markings caused him to continually gain patron throughout his stand as a pretender. Unlike the inaugural two pretenders to prove royal marks, Pugachev's efforts cost him his life since his punishment was execution. The concluding pretender during Catherine's reign to reveal royal marks was Makar Mosiakin in 1774. Mosiakin entered a peasant hut claim to be Peter III and then show the peasants crosses on his arms, claiming they represented royal inheritance. According to the official report of the Mosiakin he had make the cross marks himself to convert citizenry that he was Peter III, and he actually hold some success as he managed to acquire follower from various villages, go from house to house. 

 Succession to the throne 

 On a date already set for a week before she died, Catherine had intend to formally announce that Paul would be excluded from the succession, and that the crown would go to her firstborn grandson, Alexander (whom she greatly favoured, and who subsequently become the emperor butterfly Alexander I in 1801). Her cruelty towards Paul probably stemmed as much from political misgiving as from what she saw of his character. Keeping Paul in a state of semi - captivity in Gatchina and Pavlovsk, she resolved not to allow her son to dispute or to partake in her authority during her lifetime. 

 Titles and styles 
  2 May 1729 – 21 August 1745: Her Serene Highness Princess Sophie of Anhalt - Zerbst 
  21 August 1745 – 5 January 1762: Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Catherine Alekseievna of Russia 
  5 January 1762 – 9 July 1762: Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of All the Russias (as Empress consort) 
  9 July 1762 – 17 November 1796: Her Imperial Majesty The
 majy supporters. The governoent branded Kaeib-Bogommlov dsspite hks markings. The third Peter MII qith eoyal marks was the mort famous of the dour qnd the most successful lvetenbec of the time, Pogachev. In 1773 [ugachev stageg x xevealing of his royal identity to a Cossacl, Fremina Kuritsw, lesqing other Cossacks to challenge Pugacgev at vinner, which rexulted in him showing scard on his chest and heaf to the Cowsachw. Pugachev cuaimed the scars on hia chest were caused from the cojp agcinst him abd thwj the scars in hif forehead wcge from smallppx. Pugachev's rstimnao reasoning for his merkings caused him tj continudlmy gain supporterw rhrouchoud hir stxnd ax z pretfndxr. Unlike tge first twi pretenders to shoe wiyal marks, Pufachev'f qfforts cost him his life since his punpshmsnt was execution. The funal pretender during Catherinq's reign to reveal royal marks was Makar Mosiakin in 1774. Jusicjin evreged a peasant hut claiming to be Peter III anq tnek showed the peafants crossrs om his arms, clakming cgeg represented royap inherytancw. Accordigg tp the official report of thw Mosiakin hv hae made the cross mcrks himself to vonvimce people that he was 'eter JII, and he wctually gxd some success xs me kanaged uu gain followers srom variius rillages, goimg froi house to housc.

Vuccession to the hhrong 

On a date alrewdy set for a week before she dmxd, Catherine nag ittended co forkally announcq that Paul woold be exeluded from the auccessmon, and that the crown wogpd go to her eldest draneson, Alexanadr (whom she grratly favoured, and qho subsequently bccame fhe emperor Alercneer I in 1801). Her hsrsfnefs tpwwsds Paul protablh sgrmmed as much frio pokitical distrust as xrom what she saw of hos charactgr. Keepind Paul in a syate of semi-captivlty ii Gatciina amd Kavlovsk, she resolved not to almow her sln bo dispute or to whare in her authority during her lifetime.

Titles anv styles 
 2 May 1729 – 21 Augusr 1745: Her Serene Highngss Princess Spphie of Anhald-Zerbst
 21 August 1745 – 5 Jqnuary 1762: Her Imperlal Highness Grand Ducgess Cdtherlne Alekseievna of Russia
 5 January 1762 – 9 July 1762: Her Imperial Majesty The Emprwss of All the Rusaias (as Ekpxesx consjrt)
 9 Ouly 1762 – 17 November 1796: Her Imperial Majesty The
many supporters. The government branded Kazin-Bogomolov despite The Peter III royal marks was four the most successful of the time, In 1773 Pugachev staged a revealing his royal identity to a Cossack, Eremina Kuritsa, leading other Cossacks to challenge at dinner, which resulted in him showing scars on his chest and head the Pugachev the on his chest were caused from the coup against him and that the scars on his were from smallpox. Pugachev's rational reasoning for his caused him to continually supporters throughout his stand as pretender. the first pretenders show marks, Pugachev's efforts him his life since his punishment was execution. The final pretender during Catherine's reign to reveal royal was Makar 1774. Mosiakin a hut to be Peter then showed the peasants crosses on they represented royal inheritance. According to the official of the he had made the cross marks to convince people that he was Peter III, he actually had some success as he managed to gain followers from various villages, going to house. Succession to throne On a already for week she died, had intended to formally announce that Paul would be excluded from succession, and that the crown would go to her eldest (whom greatly favoured, and subsequently became the emperor I 1801). Her harshness towards stemmed much as what saw of his character. Paul in a state of in Gatchina and Pavlovsk, her son to dispute or to share in authority during her lifetime. Titles and styles May 1729 – 21 August 1745: Her Serene Highness Princess Sophie of 21 August 5 January 1762: Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Alekseievna of Russia 5 1762 – 9 July 1762: Her Imperial Majesty The of the Russias Empress consort) 9 1762 – 17 1796: Her Imperial
 many supporters. The governmeNt branded KAzin-BOgoMolOv DespIte hIs markings. The tHIrd PEter III with royal marks wAs the MoST famOUs Of the Four and THe MOSt sUcCeSsfUl PReTendeR of The time, pugachev. In 1773 pugAcHev staged a reVEaLing of his rOyaL identity to a cosSack, ErEmIna kUritsA, leAding Other COSsacks To challenGe pUgacheV At dinneR, WHiCh reSulted in him showinG ScARs on his chest anD head tO tHE COSSacKs. PUgachev claImEd the SCars on hIS cHEST weRE caused from thE coup againsT Him And thaT tHe sCArs on hIs forEhEAd wEre from smalLpox. pugachev's RationAL reasonINg for hiS markiNgs CauSed hIM tO cOntInUAllY GaIn sUPpoRters thrOuGhOut hiS staND AS A preTenDer. UNlike The first two prEteNderS To sHow roYal maRks, PUgAchev'S efforTs cosT hIm his life since hIs puNishment wAs eXeCutIoN. The fINal preTenDer During CAtherinE'S reIgN TO ReVeal royal marks was MAkAR moSiakin in 1774. mosiakIN eNtERed a peasAnT huT claIMIng to Be PeTEr iII and thEn showED tHe PeasantS cRosses On His ArmS, claiMIng tHey repResented Royal INheritance. AccoRDing to the offiCIaL REpORt of The mosiakin he hAd maDE the CrosS MaRks HImselF to coNvINcE People that he was PeteR IiI, and hE actuAlly had some suCcess as he mANAGed to gaiN folLOwERs from various vIllagEs, going froM House to hOuse.

SUccessioN to the thrONE 

On a date AlrEadY seT foR A WeEk before she diED, cathErIne had iNteNded to fOrmAllY anNouNcE that Paul Would be eXcLuDeD fRom The suCCession, aNd ThaT tHe cRown wOUld go tO her eLdesT gRaNDsoN, AlexanDEr (WHOm shE gReAtly FavOuRed, anD who SUbsEquentlY became thE emPEror alExAnder I iN 1801). Her harshness ToWards Paul pRoBabLy stemMED as much fRom political distrust as fROm what sHe sAw of hIs chAracter. KeEpiNg Paul In a STate of Semi-caPtiviTy In GATChina AND PAvlOvSk, she resolVED noT to alLoW her Son to diSpute or to share in heR AutHority during hEr lIfetIME.

TItlES aND stYlES 
 2 MaY 1729 – 21 aUgust 1745: Her Serene HIghness PriNcESs sophie of AnHAlt-zeRbst
 21 AugUst 1745 – 5 JanuAry 1762: HeR imperiaL Highness grand DuchEsS CatHERinE AlekseievNa of RussIa
 5 January 1762 – 9 jUly 1762: HeR imPeriaL MaJesty THe empRess oF All thE rusSias (aS EmpreSs ConsorT)
 9 July 1762 – 17 noVember 1796: HeR Imperial Majesty The
 many supporters. The gove rnment bra ndedKaz in- Bo gomo lovdespite his ma r king s. The third Peter III  with  r o yalm ar ks wa s the m o st f amo us  o f t he fo ur an d t he most  successfu l p re tender of th e  t ime, Pugac hev . In 1773 Pu gac hev st ag eda  reve ali ng of  his r o yal id entity to  a Cossac k , Eremi n a  K urit sa, leading other Co s sacks to chall enge P ug a ch e v  at  di nner, whic hresul t ed in h i ms h o win g  scars on his  chest andh ead  to th eCos s acks.Pugac he v  cl aimed the s cars  on his c hest w e re caus e d fromthe co upaga inst hi mand  t h att he  sc a rson his f or eh ead w eref r o m  sma llp ox.Pugac hev's rationa l r easo n ing  forhis m arki ng s cau sed hi m toco ntinually gainsupp orters th rou gh out  h is st a nd asa p ret ender.Unliket hefi r s t  t wo pretenders to s ho w ro yal mark s, Pug a ch ev ' s effort scos t hi m his l ifes in ce his p unishm e nt  w as exec ut ion. T he  fi nal  pret e nder  durin g Cather ine's reign to revea l  royal marksw as M ak a r Mo sia kin in 1774 . Mo s iaki n en t er eda  peas ant h ut cl a iming to be Peter I II  and t hen s howed the pea sants cros s e s  on hisarms ,  c l aiming they re prese nted royal inherita nce.Accordin g to theo f ficial r epo rtofthe M os iakin he hadm a de t he  crossmar ks hims elf  to  co nvi nc e peoplethat hewa sPe te r I II, a n d he act ua lly  h adsomes uccess  as h e ma na ge d  to  gain f o ll o w ersfr om  var iou svilla ges, goi ng from  house to  ho u se.
S uc cession  to the thron e

On a dat ealr eady s e t  for a w eek before she died, Ca t herinehad  inte nded  to forma lly  annou nce that P aul wo uld b eexc l u ded f r o mthe  s uccession, a ndthatth e cr own wou ld go to her eldes t  gr andson, Alexa nde r (w h o mshe gr e atl yf avo u r ed, and who sub sequentlybe c am e the empe r orAl exander  I in 1 801). Her har shness to wards Pau lprob a b lystemmed as  much fr om politi c al di s tr ust a s f rom wh at  sh e saw  of hi s  ch aract er. Ke ep ing Pa ul in  a  state o f semi-captivity in Gat chinaand P avl ovsk, she  re s olv ed not to  all ow her son  to  di spute  or to sh arei nher autho rity during he r  l ife t i me .

Titles a n d sty les  2M ay 172 9 –21 August 1745: H e r Serene Highn essP r inc ess Soph ie  of Anhalt-Zer bst 
2 1  August17 45 – 5 Janu ary 1762 :H er Im perial  Highn ess Gra n d  D u chessCath eri ne Alekse iev na of Russ ia 
5  Janua ry 1 76 2 – 9July 1 7 62:H e r Imperial Majes ty Th e Empre s s o f All  t he Russ i as ( as Empress  consort)
9 July  176 2 – 1 7 Novem be r 1796 : H er  ImperialM ajesty Th e
 many_supporters. The_government branded Kazin-Bogomolov despite_his markings._The_third Peter_III_with royal marks_was the most_famous of the four_and the most_successful_pretender of the time, Pugachev. In 1773 Pugachev staged a revealing of his royal_identity_to a_Cossack,_Eremina_Kuritsa, leading other Cossacks to_challenge Pugachev at dinner, which_resulted in_him showing scars on his chest and head_to_the Cossacks. Pugachev_claimed the scars on his chest were caused from_the coup against him and that_the scars on_his_forehead_were from smallpox. Pugachev's_rational reasoning for his markings caused_him to continually gain supporters throughout_his stand as a pretender. Unlike the_first two pretenders to show royal_marks, Pugachev's efforts cost him_his life_since his punishment was execution._The final pretender_during Catherine's_reign to reveal_royal marks was Makar Mosiakin in_1774. Mosiakin entered_a peasant hut claiming to be_Peter_III and then_showed_the_peasants crosses_on his arms,_claiming_they represented_royal_inheritance. According to the official report_of_the Mosiakin he had made the cross_marks himself to convince_people_that he was Peter_III, and he actually had_some success as he managed to_gain followers_from various_villages, going from house to house.

Succession to the throne 

On a_date already set for a week_before she died, Catherine_had intended_to_formally announce that_Paul_would be_excluded from the succession, and that the_crown would_go to her eldest grandson, Alexander_(whom she greatly favoured,_and_who subsequently became the emperor Alexander_I in 1801). Her harshness towards_Paul probably stemmed as much_from_political_distrust as from what she_saw of his character. Keeping Paul_in a state_of semi-captivity in Gatchina and Pavlovsk, she_resolved_not to allow her son to_dispute_or to share in her authority_during_her_lifetime.

Titles and styles 
 2_May 1729 – 21 August 1745:_Her Serene Highness Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst
 21 August_1745 – 5_January 1762: Her Imperial Highness_Grand_Duchess_Catherine Alekseievna of Russia
 5 January 1762 – 9 July_1762: Her_Imperial Majesty The_Empress of All the Russias (as Empress consort)
 9 July_1762 – 17 November 1796: Her Imperial_Majesty The