'Katharina II', (1933). Portrait of Catherine the Great (1729-1796), who ruled as Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, the country's longest-ruling female leader and arguably the most renowned. She came to power following a coup d'?tat when her husband, Peter III, was assassinated. Russia was revitalised under her reign, growing larger and stronger than ever and becoming recognised as one of the great powers of Europe. From "Gestalten Der Weltgeschichte", a book of cigarette-card portrait miniatures of figures in world history from the last four hundred years. [Germany, 1933]