CATHERINE II: (1729-1796) Empress of Russia 1762-96, known as Catherine the Great.

An excellent A.L.S., Catherine, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. (December 1765), to Count von Münnich, in French. The Empress states 'I am very satisfied learning that the horrors of the tradesman….and his fellows of iniquity have been uncovered. Continue with this affair in the same way you have been doing since the beginning. ´ She continues `Here it is not as cold as it was the first days…. but the path between town and here could harm someone convalescent. I am getting better and will return soon', further concluding `You might say that the Empire will not suffer because of my stay here´ With blank integral leaf. Lightly mounted and matted in light beige, and framed and glazed in a decorative frame to an overall size of 14 x 16. VGCount Burkhard Christoph von Münnich (1683-1767) German Soldier and Engineer, a Field Marshal of the Russian Empire. Münnich was the major Russian Army reformer and founder of several elite military formations and also became involved in the politics of the Russian Empire. As a statesman, he is regarded as the founder of Russian Philhellenism, and served under Peter the Great, Catherine I, Peter II, Anna of Russia, Peter III and Catherine II.Catherine the Great, the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, came to power following a coup d´état when her husband, Peter III, was assassinated. Russia was revitalised during her reign, growing larger and stronger than ever and becoming recognised as one of the great powers of Europe. As a patron of the arts she presided over the age of the Russian Enlightenment and the Catherinian Era is often considered the Golden Age of the Russian Empire.