15-year-old Prussian princess Sophia Frederica arrives in Russia to marry the heir to the Russian throne Peter III. Marriage does not bring happiness: her husband hates her. But Empress Elizabeth Petrovna needs an heir capable of ruling a huge country, since the capricious and unbalanced Peter is not suitable for the role of the Russian Emperor. After seven years of painful marriage, Catherine gives birth to a son. But the current empress takes little Pavel for upbringing. Separated from her child and deprived of the only chance for female happiness, Ekaterina intends to fight. She is looking for allies among those who do not want to see Peter on the throne...

1763 is the first year after Catherine's coronation. Power is in her hands, but having taken the throne, she must hold on to it. The young empress will have to see for herself that the latter is much more difficult than the former, and only ten years later will she rightfully call herself the Autocrat of All Russia. These years will be filled not only with victories and accomplishments, but also with defeats, the loss of loyal people, the betrayal of those she considered close, the struggle against palace intrigues and the machinations of enemies from abroad.