Who was the first enlightened monarch in Russia?

Answer 1

Some might argue the point, but there probably haven't been any "enlightened" monarchs in Russia at all, in comparison to most of the Western world. About the only ruler who might come close would be Peter the Great, but even he has some quirks that might disqualify him from "enlightenment". Russia is a vast land with a fascinating history, and marvelous people, but has suffererd from a bad run of rulers for about the last, oh, eight hundred years or so.... Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Yes, I might just argue the point. I'm not suggesting the Tsars of Russia were any great shakes, as ruling dynasties go, but the tone of the above does suggest quite as narrow view. I'm sure both Peter & Catherine were not called 'Great' because they were only quite good. --- Catherine has a very tenuous claim to the term "Great" - there is ample evidence that she ordered or suggested the deaths of several opponents to her throne, she certainly did not appear overly concerned with the lifestyle of the millions of serfs of her own country, and she instigated several wars of territorial expansion in the south and east of Russia. She may have been interested in art and literature, but that does not necessarily qualify her as "enlightened".

Answer 2

The ruler of Russia during the Enlightenment was Catherine the Great

Answer 3

catherine the great

Answer 4

Catherine the Great