The coronation dress worn by Catherine The Great, Empress of All Russia, 1989 (photo)

In collection of Kremlin Armoury, the coronation dress worn by Catherine The Great, Empress of All Russia, at the age of 33 in 1962. Catherine II was a princess from a German principality who had come to Russia in 1744, at the age of 15, to marry Peter III, the "mentally limited" grandson of Peter the Great, who became tsar in 1762. Catherine and Peter had little in common. She embraced Russia and the Russian way, while Peter detested Russia and all things Russian, preferring Prussian ways. Catherine gained support, and in 1762 led, with Alexis Orlov, a palace revolution. Peter was easily deposed and shortly after, killed. Photo by Cary Sol Wolinsky