Sometimes Catherine became so involved that she would forget to eat meals. At the age of 33, on September 22, 1762, Catherine was crowned 17/2/76 the most serene and powerful princess and Lady Catherine the Second, empress and autocrat of all the Russias. Catherines goal was always to impress the good will of the Russian clergy. In February of 1764, Catherine signed a decree making the Russian Orthodox Church a state asset. This motion freed one million serfs. Catherine then made a pilgrimage to the city of Rostov where she set up a sliver shrine to Saint Dimitiri, this greatly impressed the Russian people. After a small battle with the church, she realized that having the clergy as an enemy did not pose a serious threat. Instead of befriending people of the clergy, she began to befriend philisophers and enlightenment thinkers.These philisophers consisted of Denis Diderot, Montesquieu, and Voltiare. They inspired her to rewrite the antiquated, confusing code of laws. 1/2/16 Denis Diderot wrote in regards to Catherine, She has the soul of Brutus and the body of Cleopatra. The Nakaz, published in 1767, instructions for the revision of legal code was the most important work of her life. Other accomplishments included liberal projects; a home for orphans; the construction of a public health department; and an institution for educating the daughters of nobility. She put an end to state intervention of commerce and built many new roads. Although it was hard to believe, Catherine was not always working.In her spare time, she enjoyed the company of dogs, and usually had up to four of five dogs at a time. Her dogs dined with her and were treated with tender love and care. Catherine also enjoyed discovering new, unsusual foods. She greatly encouraged the cultivation of potatoes, which were considered, the devils weed. She established the Russian Academy for the study of arts and published a literary magazine, wrote memoirs, en...
