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Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of I Heart Radio and Grim and Myelt from Aaron

Manky.

Listener discretion is advised.

On July 8th, 1762, the woman who would go on to be known as Catherine the Great got

word that the moment had come for the coup she had been planning with her closest advisors

and generals.

The next morning, while her husband, the ineffectual emperor Peter III, lingered with a mistress

at a palace outside of the city.

Catherine rode in military uniform through the barracks, solidifying her support and her

loyalty amongst the troops of Russia.

Her husband had been the Tsar for fewer than six months when he was captured by guardsmen

loyal to Catherine and forced to abdicate.

Just eight days after that, the imprisoned Peter died.

Likely of strangulation, although the official autopsy, would declare it to be apoplexy.

Such began in earnest the long and illustrious reign of Catherine the Great.

The minor princess turned consort, turned embress, who ushered in a new era of enlightenment

...