Did Catherine the Great love her husband Peter III, or was her affection directed elsewhere?

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  1. Catherine the Great’s relationship with her husband, Peter III, was complicated and widely considered unhappy. Most historical accounts suggest she did not love Peter and was largely indifferent or even disdainful toward him.

    Key points:
    Peter III was unpopular, immature, and erratic, which strained their marriage.

    Catherine sought affection and intellectual companionship elsewhere, developing relationships with several lovers during and after her marriage.

    Her political ambitions and personal dissatisfaction led her to orchestrate a coup that deposed Peter III in 1762, after which she became Empress of Russia.

    Historians generally agree her affection and energy were directed more toward her own goals and relationships outside her marriage than toward Peter.

    In short, Catherine’s affection was mostly not for Peter, but for her vision of power and the men who supported her.

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