The relations between empress Catherine II and the French enlighteners: assessments of Soviet historians

The study presents an analysis of the views of Soviet historians on the relations between Catherine II and the French enlighteners. The most characteristic and common for them opinions are revealed. It is established that the researchers tried to find out what could have pushed both the French enlighteners and the Russian Empress to these relations. Several Soviet historians have confirmed the opinion of historians of the prerevolutionary period about these relations, for example, that on the part of Catherine II they were caused by vanity and fashion, but also by the desire to put some ideas into practice. Researchers of the Soviet period also established new motives for these relations. On the part of Catherine II they were the fear of the emerging public opinion, revenge on the French court, hypocrisy, a game, the illusions of the Empress, the desire to communicate with intelligent people. On the part of the French enlighteners they were political illusions, interest in Russia, fear of 'revolution from below'.