Debunking the myths around Catherine the Great
Overview of moviemakers' taking creative license with the facts in films about Catherine the Great.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal CorpsOverview of tsarist rule in Russia.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Georgios Kollidas/Dreamstime.com; © Wizreist/Dreamstime.comOverview of Catherine II's early life and reign.
Transcript
At Encyclopaedia Britannica, itâs our job to tell you just the facts about your favorite historical figures. Despite our best effort, facts still get confused with fiction.
Today, weâre revealing the truth behind everything Hulu, HBO, and Hollywood got wrong about Catherine the Great.
Wrong: Catherine married the emperor of Russia.
Peter didnât actually become emperor until he and Catherine had been married for almost 20 years.
Though The Greatâs Aunt Elizabeth considers taking the throne for herself, the real Elizabeth was empress at the timeâand remained so until her death in 1761.
Peter didnât inherit the throne (and Catherine didnât orchestrate a coup) until then.
Wrong: Catherine was constantly at risk of being deposed.
Though rumblings of dissent came two years after Catherine took the throne and again when her son came of age, neither potential rebellion was a threat for long. She reigned over Russia for 34 years.
Wrong: Catherine had an affair with a diplomat named Count Alexei.
Catherine the Great had plenty of lovers throughout her life, but The Scarlet Empressâs Alexei is entirely fictional.
Her relationships were often political as well as personal. One lover, Grigory Orlov, even led the coup against her husband, Peter.
If youâve caught anything else Pop Culture got wrong about Catherine the Great, or if youâve caught mistakes weâve made ourselves, please let us know!
And if you still have questions about Catherine, her husband, or her lovers, head on over to britannica.com.
The answers youâre looking for are just as interesting as whatâs on TV.
Today, weâre revealing the truth behind everything Hulu, HBO, and Hollywood got wrong about Catherine the Great.
Wrong: Catherine married the emperor of Russia.
Peter didnât actually become emperor until he and Catherine had been married for almost 20 years.
Though The Greatâs Aunt Elizabeth considers taking the throne for herself, the real Elizabeth was empress at the timeâand remained so until her death in 1761.
Peter didnât inherit the throne (and Catherine didnât orchestrate a coup) until then.
Wrong: Catherine was constantly at risk of being deposed.
Though rumblings of dissent came two years after Catherine took the throne and again when her son came of age, neither potential rebellion was a threat for long. She reigned over Russia for 34 years.
Wrong: Catherine had an affair with a diplomat named Count Alexei.
Catherine the Great had plenty of lovers throughout her life, but The Scarlet Empressâs Alexei is entirely fictional.
Her relationships were often political as well as personal. One lover, Grigory Orlov, even led the coup against her husband, Peter.
If youâve caught anything else Pop Culture got wrong about Catherine the Great, or if youâve caught mistakes weâve made ourselves, please let us know!
And if you still have questions about Catherine, her husband, or her lovers, head on over to britannica.com.
The answers youâre looking for are just as interesting as whatâs on TV.