Talking Strategy S4E9: Catherine the Great: Russia's Black Sea Expansion
Oct 24, 2023
Dr. Kelly O’Neill, a Harvard historian and author of Claiming Crimea, dives into the life of Catherine the Great, a formidable figure who seized power and expanded Russia’s territory. She discusses Catherine's strategic marriages and military conquests, which extended Russia's influence to the Black Sea and beyond. O’Neill highlights Catherine's ambitions, including her dream to reclaim Constantinople. The conversation also touches on the complexities of her rule as a woman in power and how her legacy still resonates in today's geopolitics.
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Russia's Multi-Directional Strategy
- Russia’s 18th-century strategy involved balancing interests across four directions.
- The Ottoman Empire remained Russia's primary adversary, especially in southern expansion ambitions.
Catherine’s Complex Enlightenment Rule
- Catherine’s reign blended Enlightenment reforms with harsh realities.
- She pursued reforms but cracked down after the French Revolution, balancing tolerance and control.
Military and Naval Reforms
- Catherine reformed military conscription by reducing quotas and service length.
- She established the Black Sea fleet, dramatically enhancing naval power against the Ottomans.
