What if the most powerful woman in Russian history spent 34 years building an empire, only to watch it crumble because she couldn't figure out succession? Michael Stevens breaks down Catherine the Great's catastrophic $50 million mistake that sent Russia spiraling into chaos the moment she died. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Catherine explicitly wrote her son Paul out of her will (and the 40-year grudge that made it inevitable) • How her lover Platon Zubov's desperate attempt to destroy her succession documents backfired spectacularly • The exact moment on November 17, 1796 when Russia's golden age ended with a stroke in a bathroom 👤 Perfect for: anyone who's ever wondered how the world's most successful leaders can still fail at the basics, and why having a plan beats having power every single time. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Michael introduces Catherine's billion-dollar empire and fatal blind spot [02:15] The 40-year feud between mother and son that shaped Russian history [04:45] Paul's twisted childhood and why Catherine knew he'd be a disaster [07:30] November 17, 1796: The stroke that changed everything [09:15] Zubov's panicked cover-up attempt and why it was already too late [11:30] How Russia paid the price for Catherine's succession failure This isn't just about Russian royalty. It's about what happens when brilliant leaders think they can control everything, including what comes after them. Catherine built one of history's greatest empires, but forgot the most important rule: succession planning isn't optional when you're irreplaceable. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow When Rome Burns on your podcast app and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite historical disaster is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: Catherine the Great, Russian history, succession crisis, leadership failure, imperial Russia

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