Which country did Catherine the Great rule?

One of the most greatest female rulers of all time, Catherine II was the Empress of Russia known in history as Catherine the Great - modeled after Peter the Great. Anyway, during her life the Empress didn't use this title much. Under her rule, the Russian Empire was considerably expanded, made more efficient, and a lot of Western things and ideas were brought in the Russian culture. Even keeping with the tradition of absolute rule, Catherine II was not afraid to bring changes in political and social life of her country.

During her reign, Catherine the Great expanded Russia's borders to the Black Sea and into central Europe. The Empress kept in touch with many influential figures of the Enlightenment in Europe and adored their ideas, maintaining them in Russia. She actively promoted westernization and modernization. She was distributing education and the Enlightenment among the Russian elite.