Like most powerful women, Catherine the Great had a lot of haters. She still has a reputation (partially true, and partially sexist confabulation) for politically strategic sexual manipulation. During her life, she was nicknamed "The Scarlet Empress" for her allegedly high volume of sexual partners (probably around 20 throughout the course of her life, which today would pretty much be no big deal).

Europe's embittered slut-shaming of Catherine reached its pinnacle following her death, when French intellectuals began circulating the 100% fabricated rumor that she had died while attempting to have sex with a horse.

In reality, Catherine died unremarkably in her bed at the age of 67, following a stroke.