en she became deathly ill, she called for a Russian orthodox priest instead of a Lutheran. She won the trust and sympathy of Russia. On June 28, 1744, Catherine was baptized into the Russian orthodox faith. The next day she and peter Fyodovich had an elaborate betrothal at the Cathedral of St. Sophia. She married Peter in August of1745, and their marriage was a disaster from the beginning. Peter was very immature and spent most of his time playing with toy soldiers. 2/1/952 The marriage was a complete failure. The following eighteen years were filled with deception and humiliation for her. Peter hurt Catherine deeply when he told her of women in the court that he loved and thought were beautiful. Catherine became very lonely and resorted to reading, by the time Catherine was 23, she was even more intelligent. After many years, Catherine still had not born a child with Peter. Elizabeth, determined to have an heir, arranged for Catherine to bear a child with another man. Catherine then chose her own lover, an imperial guard officer and war hero, to have a child with. Catherine had many lovers throughout her marriage to Peter III. Soon after the birth of Catherines second child, Elizabeth grew very sick. As Elizabeth deteriorated, so did Catherine and Peters relationship. Catherine soon found a new lover Grigory Orlov, a lieutenant in the palace guard, he ended up being one of Catherines most important allies. After the death of Empress Elizabeth on December 25, 1761, peter no longer felt that he had to disguise his hatred toward his wife. Catherine became powerless and could not fight back because she was pregnant with Orioles child. Because Peter could use this evidence of infidelity against her, she wore loose, heavy mourning clothes with long veils. This clothing was appropriate to wear when Elizabeths body was displayed in the palace. For ten days after Elizabeths death, Catherine knelt in prayer, while Peter was o...
