Latest / The Romanov Dynasty: Rise, Power, and Bloody End — Fexingo History / Catherine the Great and the Greek Project
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about the end of the Romanovs, but I want to go back to one of the most fascinating and ambitious Romanov rulers — Catherine the Great. And specifically, her so-called 'Greek Project'. Luna: The Greek Project — that sounds like something out of a novel. Lucas: It does, doesn't it? But it was very real. In the 1780s, Catherine and her favorite, Grigory Potemkin, hatched a plan to resurrect the Byzantine Empire. They wanted to push the Ottoman Turks out of Europe, capture Constantinople, and install Catherine's second grandson, Grand Prince Constantine — named after the Byzantine emperor — as the new emperor. Luna: Wait — her grandson was literally named Constantine for that purpose? Lucas: Exactly. She had him raised with a Greek nurse, surrounded by Byzantine symbols, and even had coins minted with his image as emperor of a restored Byzantium. The whole thing was a grand propaganda campaign as much as a military plan. And it wasn't just fantasy — it came after a huge victory against the Ottomans. Luna: Which victory are we talking about? Lucas: The Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774. That war ended with the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, a landmark agreement that gave Russia a foothold on the Black Sea. The treaty also gave Russia the right to protect Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire — a perfect pretext for future intervention. Catherine and Potemkin saw their chance. Luna: So the Greek Project wasn't just a crazy idea — it was built on real Russian power. Lucas: Right. And the next step was the annexation of Crimea in 1783. That gave Russia the entire northern coast of the Black Sea, including the strategic port of Sevastopol, which became the base for Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Potemkin then began developing the region, founding cities like Yekaterinoslav — which means 'Glory of Catherine' — and Kherson. Luna: I've heard of Potemkin villages — were those part of this? Lucas: Absolutely. In 1787, Catherine toured the newly acquired territories with Potemkin, and the legend says he had fake villages built along the Dnieper River to impress her. Historians debate how much was actually fake, but the tour was definitely a showcase of the region's potential. Catherine saw it as proof that the Greek Project was feasible. Lucas: The plan itself was outlined in a famous letter exchange between Catherine and Emperor Joseph II of Austria. They agreed to partition the Ottoman Empire in Europe: Russia would get the northern Balkans and Constantinople, Austria would get the western Balkans. Joseph was a bit hesitant, but Catherine was all in. Luna: So what happened? Why didn't it succeed? Lucas: A few things. First, the Austro-Turkish War of 1787–1791 didn't go as smoothly as hoped. Then the French Revolution erupted in 1789, and suddenly the European powers were more worried about revolutionary France than about the Ottoman Empire. Catherine herself became preoccupied with Poland and the spread of revolutionary ideas. The Greek Project slowly faded. Luna: So it was a victim of timing — and the French Revolution. Lucas: Exactly. But it also faced internal problems. Potemkin died in 1791, which was a huge blow. Catherine's later favorites, like Platon Zubov, didn't have the same vision or energy. And the Ottoman Empire, while weak, wasn't easy to destroy. Still, the idea stuck around in Russian imperial thinking for decades. Lucas: One interesting detail: Catherine actually had a model of Constantinople built at her palace in Tsarskoye Selo. She would walk through it, planning the conquest. And she wrote operas with themes of Greek liberation. It was a cultural project as much as a military one. Luna: A model city — that's almost eerie. She was so confident. Lucas: She was. And in some ways, the Greek Project succeeded symbolically. Russia became the protector of Orthodox Christians in the Balkans, and the idea of liberating Constantinople remained a dream for many Russians, including the last tsar, Nicholas II. But the actual conquest never happened. Luna: It's fascinating how that one ambition rippled through Russian history. Lucas: It really does. And it shows how the Romanovs, even at their peak, were thinking in terms of empire and legacy. Catherine saw herself as continuing Peter the Great's work, but also as a classical ruler, like an empress of Rome and Byzantium combined. Luna: So the Greek Project was her attempt to create a new Rome — Russian style. Lucas: Exactly. And even though it failed, it set the stage for Russia's long involvement in the Eastern Question, the Crimean War, and the Balkan conflicts of the 19th century. The dream of Constantinople never fully died. Luna: I want to learn more about Potemkin — he seems like such a character. Lucas: He was. A legendary figure. Maybe we'll do a whole episode on him someday. But for now, I think the Greek Project gives us a great window into Catherine's Russia — ambitious, enlightened, ruthless, and full of grand ideas.