In 1762, a 33-year-old German-born outsider pulled off one of history’s boldest coups—without shedding a drop of blood. ‎ ‎Her name was Catherine. She wasn’t born royal. She married into power, learned the Russian language, converted religions, and outmaneuvered her reckless husband, Emperor Peter III. ‎ ‎She won the army, the church, and the nobles—and claimed the Russian throne. Then she rewrote the empire’s laws, expanded its borders, and brought Enlightenment to the East. ‎ ‎She didn’t wait