Crimean_journey_of_Catherine_the_Great

Crimean journey of Catherine the Great

Crimean journey of Catherine the Great

1787 visit to the newly acquired New Russia and Crimea


The Crimean journey of Catherine the Great (Russian: Путешествие Екатерины II в Крым), also known as Таврический вояж (Taurida Voyage) at the time, was a six-month (January 2, 1787 – July 11, 1787) inspection trip of Catherine II of Russia to the newly acquired lands of New Russia and Crimea, gained as a result of the victorious wars against the Ottoman Empire (1735–39 and 1768–74) and peace treaties with the Cossack Hetmanate followed by the forced liquidation of the free Zaporozhian Sich.

Map of the Crimean Journey of Catherine the Great
A night illumination in honor of Catherine the Great on the Dnieper River

The trip was carried out with her court and several ambassadors. During the trip, she met with the Austrian emperor Joseph II, traveling incognito. The trip was arranged by Grigory Potemkin, a favorite and former lover of Catherine II. The trip happened just prior to the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792).[1]

The trip is the origin of the expression "Potemkin village", referring to the legend[2] of fake villages hastily erected by Potemkin along Catherine's route in order to impress her.


References

Further reading



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