During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.
as Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II
as Count Alexei
as Grand Duke Peter
as Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
as Prince August
as Capt. Gregori Orloff
as Princess Johanna Elizabeth
as Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie'
as Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky / Arch-Episcope
as Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef
as Sophia as a Child
as Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)
as Herr Wagner (uncredited)
as Bit Part (uncredited)
