Question 1

True or false: Catherine the Great was an avid collector of art and founded the Hermitage Museum.

Accepted Answer

True. She purchased massive art collections, including works by Rembrandt and Rubens. Her private collection became the core of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Question 2

True or false: Catherine the Great corresponded with Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Diderot.

Accepted Answer

True. She exchanged letters with Voltaire for 15 years and even bought Diderot's library when he needed money, letting him keep the books for life.

Question 3

True or false: Catherine the Great was the first female ruler of Russia.

Accepted Answer

False. Catherine was the second female ruler named Catherine. Catherine I (her predecessor's wife) ruled from 1725–1727, and other women like Anna and Elizabeth also reigned.

Question 4

True or false: Catherine the Great was born as Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, a German princess.

Accepted Answer

True. Catherine was born in Stettin, Prussia (now Poland) to a minor German prince. She was originally named Sophie Friederike Auguste.

Question 5

True or false: Catherine the Great was born a German princess, not a Russian.

Accepted Answer

True. She was born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst in Prussia. She changed her name and converted to Russian Orthodoxy after marrying into the Romanov family.

Question 6

True or false: Catherine the Great had a secret tunnel built from the Winter Palace to her lover's home.

Accepted Answer

False. No such tunnel existed. She was known for her many lovers, but they lived openly in the palace, not in secret underground passages.

Question 7

True or false: Catherine the Great corresponded with the philosopher Voltaire for many years.

Accepted Answer

True. Catherine admired Enlightenment thinkers and exchanged letters with Voltaire from 1763 until his death, discussing philosophy and governance.

Question 8

True or false: Catherine the Great died in a bizarre accident involving a horse.

Accepted Answer

False. This is a persistent myth. Catherine died of a stroke in her bed at age 67. The horse story is a smear originating from her political enemies.

Question 9

True or false: Catherine the Great was the daughter of Peter the Great.

Accepted Answer

False. Catherine was not related to Peter the Great. She married his grandson, Peter III, and seized power after overthrowing him.

Question 10

True or false: Catherine the Great abolished serfdom throughout the Russian Empire.

Accepted Answer

False. Catherine actually strengthened serfdom, giving nobles more power over serfs. Serfdom in Russia was not abolished until 1861, long after her reign.

Question 11

True or false: Catherine the Great banned serfdom because she believed in equality for all people.

Accepted Answer

False. Despite her Enlightenment ideals, she actually expanded serfdom, giving nobles more power over peasants to secure their political support.

Question 12

True or false: Catherine the Great died while trying to have sex with a horse.

Accepted Answer

False. This is a persistent myth. She actually died of a stroke in her bed. The rumor was spread by her political enemies to discredit her.

Question 13

True or false: Catherine the Great was the first ruler to be inoculated against smallpox in Russia.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1768, she secretly brought an English doctor to inoculate her and her son, setting an example that dramatically increased vaccination rates.

Question 14

True or false: Catherine the Great oversaw the partitions of Poland that expanded Russia's territory.

Accepted Answer

True. Catherine participated in the three partitions of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795), annexing large portions of Polish-Lithuanian territory.

Question 15

True or false: Catherine the Great founded the Smolny Institute, the first state school for girls in Russia.

Accepted Answer

True. Founded in 1764, the Smolny Institute in Saint Petersburg was the first public educational institution for girls in Russia, part of Catherine's reforms.

Question 16

True or false: Catherine the Great legalized abortion in Russia during her reign.

Accepted Answer

False. Abortion was not legalized under Catherine. She did, however, expand education and founded the first state-run school for girls.

Catherine the Great Trivia Questions