28. The Great Empress’ Great Constipation
In her last days, Catherine the Great had been feeling constipated. During a heroic effort to force relief on the toilet, she overstrained herself and suffered a fatal stroke. When her loud gruntings ceased, her maids waiting outside assumed that her majesty had finally found relief.
They started getting nervous, however, as the minutes dragged on without Catherine emerging or summoning them. Eventually, they delicately inquired if all was well. Hearing no answer, they took a peak, and found the Empress dead on the toilet.