- Catherine the Great gained throne of Russia in 1762
- Yemelyan Pugachev led rebellion against Catherine the Great
- Rebellion consisted of peasants, Cossacks and Old Believers
- Began in 1773 with invasion of Samara
- Invasion and burning of Kazan in 1774
- Pugachev fled along the Volga river
- Pugachev captured and executed Jan 1775