As thanks, she would often give them gifts such as palaces, titles, land, and servants (one was even installed as King of Poland to maintain a relationship with the country). Her lovers were often generals, rich nobles, and admirals, which resulted in politically advantageous relationships. She spoiled her lovers rottenĬatherine was a smart woman whose natural sense for politics extended into the bedroom. The only thing she was guilty of was being a romantic, once writing in her journal: “The trouble is that my heart is loathe to remain even one hour without love.” Since her husband was a violent alcoholic and having lovers was common practice at the time, you’d be hard pressed to claim that she was a sex freak. There are about 12-20 recorded lovers, and most of her affairs lasted a few years. While Catherine did take on lovers over the course of her reign, it was within reasonable measures. History loves to punish a woman who enjoys sex. Sepia Times/Universal Images Group/Getty Images 1. For a full breakdown of the salacious rumors that were spread about Catherine the Great, read on. Yet for many, the infamous horse rumor comes to mind before anything else.
But despite the dissenters, she used her reign to bring the arts and sciences to Russia, ushering it into a golden age. This is not all surprising, considering that many powerful women in history have been subjected to rumors of sexual deviance: Marie Antoinette, Cleopatra, the list goes on.Ĭatherine came to power by overthrowing her husband in a coup, so needless to say, the men of 18th-century Russia were not exactly pleased.
These outlandish claims about her sex life were often made up by enemies to discredit and embarrass her in front of the court. And if you were wondering why characters keep talking about Catherine the Great having sex with a horse on Hulu's The Great, it's because that was one of the many lewd rumors that were spread about her during her reign. Catherine the Great's 34-year reign in Russia was as full of rumors as it was long.
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