The Turks declare war and Catherine recalls Alexi Orlov to Council. Zubov is used to spy on her. Grigory is ailing from a virus he caught in Crimea. She tries to keep her grandson Alexander from his parents and grooms him to succeed her. While Grigory is back in Crimea, he dies. Catherine is grief stricken and she dies as well. It is discovered that she married Grigory 10 years ago. Paul succeeds her.