US Politics | Who was Catherine The Great and was she really killed by a horse?
CATHERINE THE GREAT has been the inspiration for many books, films and TV shows thanks to her dramatic life. So let's get to know more about her life. Who was Catherine The Great? Catherine The Great was the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, with a 34-year reign that transformed the country into one of the world's superpowers. Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst was born on May 2, 1729 in Stettin, then part of Prussia. The daughter of a minor prince, she changed her name to Catherine after being received into the Russian Orthodox Church. She then married Grand Duke Peter, her second cousin and the grandson of Peter the Great. 
Catherine the Great was the longest ruling female in Russia The pair had a largely unhappy marriage, producing one son, Paul. Her husband was overthrown and Catherine declared empress in 1762, before his death shortly afterwards. READ MORE ON RUSSIA Tan-go How long does it take to tan in the sun, can you still tan using SPF50 or in shade? ET TU? You could be the record holder if you spot Caesar in a salad in under 5 seconds Catherine was famed for ruthlessly seizing the throne and expanding the empire from Crimea to Alaska, modernising Russian society along the way. She enjoyed a reputation as a patron of the arts, literature and education. As well as writing her own comedies, fiction and memoirs, the Monarch surrounded herself with the brightest intellectual lights in the world, corresponding with Voltaire for 15 years. Initially celebrated as a political and social reformer, Catherine grew increasingly conservative. MOST READ NEWS HORROR FIND Three kids found dead at home with fourth body located in shed after 911 call BATTLE OF TITANS Terrifying vid shows pack of killer whales tearing apart great white shark ANON CALL Mystery call leads dad to body of son, 18, found in a pool of blood after party 'IT KILLS US' Missing girl's dad shares devastating update about 5-year-old's disappearance LOWER CHARGE I cut my summer energy bill by 50% by making 3 changes to how I cool my home CHILLING FIND Eerie discovery of decomposing body in hand-dug grave leads to teens' arrest During her long reign she was rumoured to have had many lovers, who she rewarded with positions of power before boring of them and seeing them off with large estates. Her most famous affair was with Grigori Alexandrovich Potemkin, which ended in 1776. She was known to command the support of the Church and also bought the support of the bureaucracy, instantly promoting civil servants after seven years in office. Catherine died in St Petersburg on November 17, 1796, and was succeeded by her illegitimate son Paul. Paul I, always in his mother's shadow, set about trying to smear her name by claiming she was a nymphomaniac. While most historians laugh off the raciest sex myths, they retain respect for a woman who rose to the top in a hierarchy still dominated by men. Was she really killed by a horse? Catherine was plagued with smears that she died trying to have sex with a horse, but this appears to be entirely untrue. The cruel ...joke... played on her love of horses and rumoured multiple affairs, and was reportedly spread by her maids who knew how much time she spent with her horse. In fact, the Queen died from a stroke. Her undated will gave specific instructions to lay her corpse ...dressed in white, with a golden crown on my head, and on it inscribe my Christian name.... We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Catherine the Great was the longest ruling female in Russia The pair had a largely unhappy marriage, producing one son, Paul. Her husband was overthrown and Catherine declared empress in 1762, before his death shortly afterwards. READ MORE ON RUSSIA Tan-go How long does it take to tan in the sun, can you still tan using SPF50 or in shade? ET TU? You could be the record holder if you spot Caesar in a salad in under 5 seconds Catherine was famed for ruthlessly seizing the throne and expanding the empire from Crimea to Alaska, modernising Russian society along the way. She enjoyed a reputation as a patron of the arts, literature and education. As well as writing her own comedies, fiction and memoirs, the Monarch surrounded herself with the brightest intellectual lights in the world, corresponding with Voltaire for 15 years. Initially celebrated as a political and social reformer, Catherine grew increasingly conservative. MOST READ NEWS HORROR FIND Three kids found dead at home with fourth body located in shed after 911 call BATTLE OF TITANS Terrifying vid shows pack of killer whales tearing apart great white shark ANON CALL Mystery call leads dad to body of son, 18, found in a pool of blood after party 'IT KILLS US' Missing girl's dad shares devastating update about 5-year-old's disappearance LOWER CHARGE I cut my summer energy bill by 50% by making 3 changes to how I cool my home CHILLING FIND Eerie discovery of decomposing body in hand-dug grave leads to teens' arrest During her long reign she was rumoured to have had many lovers, who she rewarded with positions of power before boring of them and seeing them off with large estates. Her most famous affair was with Grigori Alexandrovich Potemkin, which ended in 1776. She was known to command the support of the Church and also bought the support of the bureaucracy, instantly promoting civil servants after seven years in office. Catherine died in St Petersburg on November 17, 1796, and was succeeded by her illegitimate son Paul. Paul I, always in his mother's shadow, set about trying to smear her name by claiming she was a nymphomaniac. While most historians laugh off the raciest sex myths, they retain respect for a woman who rose to the top in a hierarchy still dominated by men. Was she really killed by a horse? Catherine was plagued with smears that she died trying to have sex with a horse, but this appears to be entirely untrue. The cruel ...joke... played on her love of horses and rumoured multiple affairs, and was reportedly spread by her maids who knew how much time she spent with her horse. In fact, the Queen died from a stroke. Her undated will gave specific instructions to lay her corpse ...dressed in white, with a golden crown on my head, and on it inscribe my Christian name.... We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
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