5 Interesting Facts About Catherine the Great (None of them Involve a Horse)
- She was not Russian
Surprisingly, one of the greatest rulers in Russian history was not Russian.
Catherine the Great was born Princess Sophie Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst in the German city of Stettin, now modern-day Poland. At 15, she traveled to Russia to marry the future Tsar Peter III.
The two were not well matched.
Peter’s mental immaturity, eccentricities, and unpopular policies quickly turned his wife and his people against him.
In July 1762, after gaining the support of the military and the clergy, Catherine staged a coup. After just 6 months on the throne, Peter III was arrested, imprisoned, and forced to sign a document of abdication. Eight days later, he was dead.
2. She was an enlightened monarch
For 34 years, Catherine worked to modernize Russia and make her adopted country a key player on the European stage.
She liked to think of herself as an enlightened monarch. She read many books by prominent Enlightenment thinkers of the time and exchanged letters throughout her life with Voltaire.
She expanded Russian borders, reorganized laws, invested in the arts, reformed the education system, constructed palaces, and personally wrote and distributed numerous books and pamphlets in a campaign to spread Western ideas.
Although she ultimately failed to abolish serfdom, she made many significant changes that modernized Russia and improved the lives of her people.
3. She was the first person to be inoculated against smallpox in Russia
Catherine’s forward-thinking mindset and faith in science helped revolutionize the Russian healthcare system.
Smallpox was a serious — and often deadly — disease common during Catherine’s reign. A new scientific breakthrough against the disease was gaining traction throughout Europe. However, due to superstition and fear, the Russian people were reluctant to undergo the procedure.
Seeing their reluctance, Catherine decided to inoculate herself and her son, the heir to the Russian throne. Her example proved to the people that inoculation was safe and effective. This led many Russians to follow suit. By 1800, over 2 million Russians had been inoculated against smallpox.
This breakthrough sparked nationwide public interest in healthcare, which led to training programs, hospital funding, and improvement in the overall healthcare system in Russia.
4. She was an art glutton
Catherine developed a habit of buying up massive art collections from all across Europe, much to the frustration of other European rulers who grew tired of being outbid by the Russian Empress.
By the end of her 34-year reign, she had accumulated over 14,000 paintings and drawings, along with countless sculptures, medals, jewelry, and books.
However, Catherine was not necessarily a fan of art. Her shopping sprees were most likely fueled by politics.
Throughout history, art has been used as propaganda. It can influence and control the historical narrative. It can be used to showcase power and flaunt wealth.
Catherine may have enjoyed art, but showcasing the power and might of Russia was the true goal of her collection.
5. She died quietly in her bed
It is a common practice throughout history to vilify or discredit powerful women. Catherine the Great is not immune from this.
Catherine’s enemies used her death as a means to spread falsehoods aimed at tarnishing her reputation and discrediting her rule.
Catherine did not die on the toilet, or worse, while copulating with a horse. These are myths. Myths that, unfortunately, many still believe today.
The truth. Catherine the Great suffered a stroke and died quietly in her bed on November 17, 1796.
Further reading
If this article sparked your interest in Catherine the Great, then I recommend checking out the book Catherine The Great: Portrait of A Woman by Robert K. Massie.
It is a fantastic biography and one of my all-time favorite books.
