She did more.

The monasteries and the ecclesiastical estates, which were exempt from taxes during all the period of Mongol dominion, had never paid tribute to Khans, had in consequence grown to be enormously wealthy.

It is said the clergy owned a million serfs.

Catherine placed the property of the Church under the administration of a secular commission, and the heads of the monasteries and the clergy were converted from independent sovereigns into mere pensioners of the Crown.

Then she assailed the receiving of bribes, and other corrupt practices in the administration of justice.
She struggled hard to let in the light of better instruction upon the upper and middle classes.