On May 2, 1729, Sophie Friederike Auguste (Catherine II) was born in Stettin, Prussia and will soon become one of the most absolute rulers in the world. She was the daughter of a minor German prince, Christian August, and Princess Johanna Elisabeth. Catherine also had a younger brother, Wilhelm Christian, who died at age 12, so her mother decided to build up Catherine's knowledge since Johanna's most favored son died. Catherine was soon engaged to the Grand Duke Peter after a visit to St. Petersberg, and they got married on August 21, 1745. The relationship between the two soon turned from sour to bloody, Peter liked to "play" around with other women than spend time with Catherine. After Peter became czar on December 25, 1761, he wanted to replace Catherine with one of his lovers, so Catherine devised a plan and removed Peter form the throne 6 months after he was crowned czar of Russia. Catherine took the throne and ruled from 1762 to 1796. During her reign, she had many affairs with men, uprisings in her empire, and many rumors surrounding her. Though it all ended on November 17, 1796 when she was found dead in her bathroom because of a stroke.