Empress Catherine II - her German family and roots

[RomanovFan]

Wasn't she of Holstien blood through her mother making her and Peter III cousins? And are the Hohenzollern and Holstein families the same one?

[Marc]

No,the Holstein family comes from the House of Oldenburg,and the Hohenzollern family comes from the Counts of Zollern.Correct me if I am wrong.Princess Sophia Frederica Augusta's(Catharine II) mother is Princess Johanna von Anhalt-Zerbst,born Princess von Holstein-Gottorp.I would also like to know much about her mother as you.Does anyone know how did Fuerstin Johanna looked like?

[Svetabel]

I saw some portaits of Johanna - not a very lovely woman. In addition she gave nothing but trouble of her daughter Catherine II and  Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. Johanna was driven out of Russia by Elizaveta - Empress had considered her a spy of Friedrich II of Prussia.

[Marc]

Really?What was Cath II relation with her mother until the rest of her life?And also brother?Did they have contact?I would still like to see how Johanna looked like beacause I was reading about her self-proud dignity and about how she reacted when she married minor German Prince comparing to her cousins who were all well suited at the time.

[Svetabel]

Really?What was Cath II relation with her mother until the rest of her life?And also brother?Did they have contact?I would still like to see how Johanna looked like beacause I was reading about her self-proud dignity and about how she reacted when she married minor German Prince comparing to her cousins who were all well suited at the time.

Arriving to Russia in the beginning of 1740s Catherine was very ashamed of her mother as Johanna was a light-minded and frivolous woman.Johanna considered that she herself would a great star in the Russian society and tried to overshadow her own daughter.
Johanna died in 1759 in a poverty as she had lived an extravagant life.Catherine had to pay all her mother's financial debts.Moreover Catherine did not like her german relationss,did not let her brother to go to Russia as she knew too good that her penniless relatives were very greedy for money and high positions (posts).

[Marc]

Did she ceep in touch with any of her relations?I mean also did she admire any of her cousins?The word is too hard-I meant respect any of her cousins and did anyone ever came to Russia at her invitation?

[Marc]

If you find Johannas portrait please post it for me.Thanks in advance

[RomanovFan]

Princess Johanna was Peter III's aunt and preferred him over Sophie (Catherine II). I think Sophie had at least one younger brother as well and Johanna payed more attention to him and Peter than she did her own daughter. Personally, I think she wanted Sophie to marry her Russian cousin just to get rid of her.  Like Grand Duchess Anastasia, her mother in particular was disappointed that she was not a boy, but unlike the grand duchess, Princess Sophie was unloved by her mother. Her father I'm not so sure about.... he seemed to be away on trips an awful lot, but I could be wrong on that assumption.

[Svetabel]

Princess Johanna was Peter III's aunt and preferred him over Sophie (Catherine II). I think Sophie had at least one younger brother as well and Johanna payed more attention to him and Peter than she did her own daughter. Personally, I think she wanted Sophie to marry her Russian cousin just to get rid of her.  Like Grand Duchess Anastasia, her mother in particular was disappointed that she was not a boy, but unlike the grand duchess, Princess Sophie was unloved by her mother. Her father I'm not so sure about.... he seemed to be away on trips an awful lot, but I could be wrong on that assumption.

Johanna paid attention only to herself,her own needs and feelings! She didn't care about her children,she loved money ,honours and high life. Greedy and ambitious Johanna  had hoped to make good at Russian Empress expense.
As for Catherine's father he was an ordinary campaigner,deeply religious and quite a dull person.

[Marc]

Well,there must be some relations she stayed in good terms with?Or not?Again,Svetabel,don't get angy but if you have or find Johannas picture please post it!

[Svetabel]

Marc,I am sure to post Johanna's portrait when I'll find it. I guess it will be soon.

[Svetabel]

Johanna of Anhalt-Zerbst,mother of Catherine II

[Marc]

Aaaa,Svetabel,you finally found it...Great!Thanks!Do you know is there any colour portrait()does it exist) of Johanna or her husband Christian(parents of Catharine the Great)

[Svetabel]

Aaaa,Svetabel,you finally found it...Great!Thanks!Do you know is there any colour portrait()does it exist) of Johanna or her husband Christian(parents of Catharine the Great)

I saw colour-portraits in some book on Catherine II but I can't remember which book..

[Marc]

Svetabel,if you remember,plese scan it and post it to me.Please,please,please...