A Russian monarch who studied philosophes?

Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, was a prominent monarch who engaged with the ideas of Enlightenment philosophes. She corresponded with influential thinkers like Voltaire and Diderot, integrating their ideas on governance and society into her policies. Catherine aimed to modernize Russia and promote education, law reform, and the arts, reflecting her commitment to Enlightenment ideals. Her reign is often seen as a significant period of cultural and political transformation in Russian history.