Paul I of Russia which event the Russian Imperial Crown was crafted by court jewellers. The 8-year-old Paul retained his position as crown prince. In 1772, her son and heir, Paul, turned eighteen. Paul and his adviser, Panin, believed he was the rightful tsar of Russia, as the only son of Peter III. His adviser had also taught him that the rule of women endangered good leadership, which was why he was so interested in gaining the throne. Distracting him, Catherine took trouble to find Paul a wife among the minor princesses of the Holy Roman Empire. She chose Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Darmstad, who
Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna of Russia Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1779–1860) and Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel (1796–1880). They had four children: She died in St. Petersburg, aged 66. Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna of Russia Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna of Russia (Ekaterina Mikhailovna Romanova), () (28 August 1827 – 12 May 1894), was the third of five daughters of Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich of Russia, youngest son of Tsar Paul I, and Princess Charlotte of Württemberg. She was born in St. Petersburg. She had two elder sisters, Grand Duchess Maria and Grand Duchess Yelizaveta, called "Lili". Two more sisters were born after her, Alexandra and Anna, who