Twenty-first August 1745 Grand Duke Peter married Catherine and only on September 20, 1754, the couple had a son, Pavel. At the same time, Catherine lived in a rather unfavorable environment. Masquerades, hunts, balls, unbridled fun, an idle and dissolute life gave way to attacks of hopeless boredom. She constantly felt under surveillance and was constrained in her actions, and even her great intelligence and tact could not save the woman from major troubles and fatal mistakes.
Both Peter and Catherine lost interest in each other long before the wedding. An eccentric, underdeveloped, physically weak and disfigured by smallpox ruler, he insulted his wife with strange antics, red tape and tactlessness. Catherine the Second, who came to the throne after the palace coup and the overthrow of her husband, was much more educated than Peter. But, before that, she was able to compromise herself in the eyes of Elizabeth.
However, the empress also became famous for her relations with the English ambassador Williams, as well as Poniatovsky and Apraksin. It was precisely the close relationship with the first of those listed that Empress Elizabeth considered as high treason. The existence of all these relationships is proven by letters.
Two meetings at night with Elizabeth were able to bring Catherine to reason, as historian D. Chechulin thinks, for example, and were for her the moment of changing life priorities. Thus, her desire for total power also includes aspects of the ruler’s moral order.
Catherine and Peter reacted very differently to the death of Empress Elizabeth. The latter, having learned about his death, behaved shamelessly and strangely, but the new empress tried by any means to express her respect for the memory of the deceased. Peter the Third was clearly in the mood for a divorce, after which, most likely, a monastery would have awaited his ex-wife and, quite possibly, a quick death.
According to researchers, the number of the empress's lovers was twenty-three people. At the same time, ten of them occupied the post of favorite, having corresponding responsibilities and enjoying privileges.
The most famous of Empress Catherine II's favorites were Platon Zubov, Grigory Potemkin and Grigory Orlov, with whom she even planned to marry after the death of her husband. It was from them (according to researchers) that she gave birth to three children. Each of those listed, one way or another, tried to influence Catherine’s decisions regarding the state, which became the reason for many of her reforms.
Favorites of Empress Catherine II
Catherine II had several favorite friends and confidantes to whom she could entrust her most intimate problems and experiences: Anna Nikitichna Naryshkina, Anna Stepanovna Protasova and Marya Savvishna Perekusikhina. However, there were also favorites to whom she trusted not her intimate experiences, but matters of national importance, and their names were Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova and Alexandra Vasilievna Branitskaya. At court they were not called favorites, but they were precisely favorites: by their position, they constituted the closest circle of Catherine II. The first, favorite confidantes, in addition to intimate problems related to Catherine’s favorites, were also entrusted with matters relating to the career advancement of court officials and various kinds petitioners, which brought them a good income. In addition, they received from the empress various benefits, advantages and assistance in the form of repayment of debts, money for the purchase or repair of a house and for other needs. Their relatives also received financial assistance (for weddings, christenings, purchasing housing, etc.), as well as those for whom the Empress’s favorite asked.
As already mentioned, among the confidantes and friends of Catherine II, the most trusted were: Anna Nikitichna Naryshkina (1730–1820), Anna Stepanovna Protasova (1745–1826) and Marya Savvishna Perekusikhina (1739–1824). Let's start with the last one.
Marya Savvishna Perekusikhina (1739–1824) was physically the closest and therefore confidant of Catherine II. She first served in the rank of chamber-jungfer in the empress's rooms, and was responsible, like a mother to a child, for dressing her in the morning and putting her to bed in the evening, for introducing favorites into the empress's chambers, and for the most intimate natural procedures. Until the end of Catherine II’s life, she was devoted and faithful to her, and after her death she never revealed the secrets of her former mistress to anyone.
It is known that she was a noblewoman from a very poor family who had a small estate in the Ryazan province. But it is not known exactly how she got into the palace, into the chambers of the empress herself. According to rumors, she received the position of chamberlain-jungfer on the recommendation of Grigory Potemkin, who was then the favorite of Catherine II. Potemkin became the favorite of Catherine II in 1774 and remained so as a lover (and according to one version, husband) until 1776. Following the rumors, we can say that it was during this period that Marya Savvishna appeared in the palace. At that time, she should have been 35 years old, which in itself was already too late for admission to the palace for the position of chamber-jungfer. However, there is news that is more similar to the truth that in the 60s Catherine baptized Maria Savvishna’s niece, Catherine. And this means that the favorite then was indeed Grigory, but not Potemkin, but Orlov, so the Orlovs, apparently, were her patronage. In the 60s, Marya Savvishna was 25–26 years old. She was 10 years younger than Catherine II. It is possible that she appeared in the chambers not of the Empress, but of Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna, and not in the 60s, but in the 50s of the 18th century, when she was still a young girl.
“Savishna,” as the empress called her, remained with the empress all these years, she had only what was granted to her, that is, to put it modern language, the “exclusive right” to appear in the Empress’s bedroom at the first call, to look after her in intimate matters, help her dress, and comb her hair. Over time, others began to do this work, but Savvishna was always present as a manager during the toilet, dressing, combing the empress’s hair, and during morning audiences.
Marya Savvishna’s rooms were located in close proximity to the chambers of Catherine II, so that high-ranking officials who came to the audience waited their turn in Marya Savvishna’s room, and these were: the Grand Duke’s tutor N.I. Panin, famous poet and State Secretary G.R. Derzhavin, President Russian Academy Sciences E. R. Dashkova, State Secretary A. V. Khrapovitsky, Chief Prosecutor Holy Synod ON THE. Protasov, honored generals and admirals. They all understood how important Perekusikhina’s word to the empress was for their affairs, and Savvishna constantly accepted gifts from visitors of such a high rank.
Catherine II completely trusted her Savvishna and her personal, including love affairs, consulted with her on everyday issues, found out her opinion regarding this or that court nobleman or candidate favorite.
From the chamber-jungfer, she transferred Perekusikhin to the chamber-lady-in-waiting, but these changes had almost no effect on the position of “Savishna” at court: she continued to remain in the empress’s rooms, faithfully serving her and performing the same duties. In addition to household chores, Perekusikhina accompanied her mistress during her daily walks, on pilgrimages, and long journeys, always being nearby, ready to come to her aid at any moment of the day or night.
Marya Savvishna was a simple, poorly educated, but very intelligent woman, extremely sincere and devoted. She loved her patroness, her empress, her mistress selflessly, completely devoting her life to her and remaining old maid. One day, Catherine gave Savvishna an expensive ring with her portrait and at the same time said, as if jokingly: “Here is your groom, whom I am sure you will never cheat on.” And from then on she began to call himself her fiancé. And indeed, Perekusikhin never cheated on this “groom”, even after his death.
In the 19th century, many anecdotes were published about Catherine II, characterizing her as a wise ruler. Russian Empire, as a kind person, intelligent and fair, distinguished by ease of communication not only with those close to her, but also with strangers. Some anecdotes also mentioned Marya Savvishna Perekusikhina. Here is one of them: “Once Catherine was sitting in the Tsarskoe Selo garden on a bench with her beloved chamberlain-jungfer M.S. Perekusikhina. A St. Petersburg dandy passing by, not recognizing the empress, looked at her rather impudently, did not take off his hat, and continued his walk, whistling.
Do you know,” said the empress, “how annoyed I am with this naughty fellow?” I am able to stop him and soap his head.
After all, he didn’t recognize you, mother,” Perekusikhina objected.
Yes, that’s not what I’m talking about: of course, I didn’t find out; but you and I are dressed decently, also with braid, dapper, so he was obliged to have respect for us, as ladies. However,” Catherine added, laughing, “I must tell the truth, you and I are outdated, Marya Savvishna, and if we were younger, he would have bowed to us too” (Characters of Catherine the Great. St. Petersburg, 1819).
For herself personally, Marya Savvishna never asked Catherine for anything, she was quite happy with her position, but she did not forget her relatives. Her brother, Vasily Savvich Perekusikhin, at her request became a senator, and her niece E.V. Torsukova and her husband received a place at yard and became very rich.
On November 5, 1796, when Catherine had a stroke, Savvishna was the first to find her lying unconscious in the dressing room and the first, after shock, pulled herself together and began to beg the confused Zubov to let her bleed, as had happened before. Perhaps this managed to save the life of the empress at least temporarily. But Zubov did not allow blood to be drawn without Dr. Rogers, who was away somewhere at that time. When Doctor Rogers arrived an hour later and wanted to bleed the Empress, it was already too late: the blood did not flow.
Paul I, who did not like everyone who faithfully served Catherine, including Marya Savvishna, having taken the reins of government into his own hands, first of all dismissed Perekusikhin from the court. However, wanting to show himself honest and fair, he assigned her a good pension from the Cabinet of His Majesty in the amount of 1,200 rubles per year, granted her 4,517 acres of land in the Ryazan province, and in St. Petersburg a house bought by the treasury from the banker Sutherland.
After the death of her beloved empress, Marya Savvishna lived for another 28 years. She died in St. Petersburg on August 8, 1824 at the age of 85 and was buried at the Lazarevskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
The same selflessly devoted favorite of Catherine II was Anna Stepanovna Protasova (1745–1826), daughter of Stepan Fedorovich Protasov, who became a senator in 1763, and his second wife Anisia Nikitichna Orlova, cousin of the Orlov brothers.
Catherine II enrolled the 17-year-old noblewoman Protasova in the court staff as a maid of honor of the Supreme Court on the recommendation of her favorite Grigory Orlov. Apparently, this happened in 1763, when, through the intercession of the same Grigory Orlov, her father Stepan Fedorovich Protasov became a privy councilor and senator.
Anna Protasova, like Marya Savvishna Perekusikhina, devoted her entire life to the Empress, remaining an old maid. She was ugly, even ugly-looking, and besides, she was not rich. She was considered a maiden until the end of her days, although the courtiers of both the large and small courts were well aware of her real participation in the examination of candidates for favorites in terms of their male suitability.
There were cases when court gentlemen began to court her, but, unfortunately, it quickly became clear that the purpose of this courtship was to gain her support at court and take advantage of her closeness to the empress. Anna Stepanovna was 16 years younger than Catherine II, but her external unattractiveness only set off the empress’s charms.
In 1784, when Protasova’s age approached 40, Catherine granted her a maid of honor at the Highest Court with a “richest portrait” of the empress, that is, a portrait abundantly showered with diamonds, which Protasova was very proud of. The appearance of Anna Stepanovna has survived to this day: by order of the Empress, the French artist Jean Louis Voile painted a portrait of Anna Stepanovna Protasova, depicting her, apparently somewhat embellished, but most importantly - with this “richest portrait” pinned to the dress on a blue moire bow on the left side chest, at the shoulder.
As a lady-in-waiting of the Imperial Court, Protasova acquired the right to monitor the behavior of the ladies-in-waiting, give them instructions, and manage an entire staff of page-chambers. She began to receive a higher salary, live in more comfortable apartments located near the empress’s chambers, use the table “from the empress’s kitchen,” dine with the empress almost every day on a “gilded service,” and sometimes serve her in the bedroom.
As the favorite of Catherine II, Anna Protasova had great weight at court: people fawned over her, they sought her support, but they were also afraid of her. However, most often people turned to her for support, especially her relatives, even those who were distantly related. For example, there was this historical anecdote:
“Before the accession of Paul, the Order of Annen, established by the son-in-law of Peter the Great, Duke of Holstein Friedrich-Karl, was not considered among the Russians. Although Pavel Petrovich, when he was the Grand Duke, signed all the documents for the award of the Annen Order as Duke of Holstein, the latter was given only to those persons who were appointed by Empress Catherine II. The Grand Duke really wanted some of his close associates to wear the Annen Cross, but the Empress did not give this order to them.
Finally, the Grand Duke came up with the following trick. Having ordered two small Annen crosses with screws, he called to him two of his favorites, Rostopchin and Svechin, and told them:
I grant you both the Knights of Annen; take these crosses and screw them to the swords, only on the back cup, so that the empress cannot see.
Svechin screwed the cross on with the greatest fear, and Rostopchin considered it more prudent to warn his relative, Anna Stepanovna Protasova, who enjoyed the empress’s special favor, about this.
Protasova promised him to talk to Ekaterina and find out her opinion. Indeed, having chosen a convenient moment, when the empress was in a cheerful mood, she informed her about the heir’s cunning and said that Rostopchin was afraid to wear the order and at the same time was afraid of offending the Grand Duke.
Catherine laughed and said:
Oh, he is a poor hero! And I couldn’t have come up with a better idea! Tell Rostopchin to wear his order and not be afraid: I won’t notice.
After such an answer, Rostopchin boldly screwed the Annen Cross not to the back, but to the front cup of the sword and appeared at the palace.
The Grand Duke, noticing this, approached him with the words:
What are you doing? I told you to screw it to the back cup, and you screwed it to the front. The Empress will see!
Your Highness’s mercy is so precious to me,” answered Rostopchin, “that I do not want to hide it.
Yes, you will destroy yourself!
Ready to destroy myself; but by this I will prove my devotion to your Highness.
The Grand Duke, amazed by such obvious evidence of Rostopchin's devotion, hugged him with tears in his eyes.
This is the origin of the Order of St. Anne of the fourth degree" (M. A. Dmitriev. Little things from the stock of my memory. 2nd ed. M., 1869).
Anna Protasova never betrayed her patron and mistress; in all the unpleasant moments of the empress’s life, Anna Stepanovna was always there, she knew how to patiently listen to Catherine, console her, and persuade her, although it was oh so difficult to calm the stubborn and persistent empress.
Anna Stepanovna was next to her benefactor on November 5, 1796, when Catherine had a stroke. Protasova did not leave her bedside for 24 hours; she was present both during the agony and at the last breath of Catherine the Great.
Having come to power, Paul I did not excommunicate Anna Stepanovna Protasova from the court. She retained her court status as a maid of honor; she retained both the palace chambers and the palace kitchen. This attitude of Pavel towards her was explained by the fact that Anna Stepanovna, through the marriage of her niece, became a relative of the sovereign’s favorite Count F.V. Rostopchin, who became during Patriotic War 1812 Governor-General of Moscow. Moreover, Emperor Paul awarded her the Order of St. Catherine of the Lesser Cross, and with it, as expected, the title of “cavalry lady”, assigned her a good pension with the award of 100 souls of peasants in the Voronezh and St. Petersburg provinces.
Emperor Alexander I did not forget the former favorite of his unforgettable grandmother, and on the day of her coronation, when, according to tradition, many people at court received titles, orders, promotions and other awards, Anna Stepanovna was awarded the title of Countess. At her request, this count's dignity was extended to her three unmarried nieces and to her brother, Alexander Stepanovich, with his descendants.
After the death of Paul I, Countess Protasova continued to serve as a senior lady-in-waiting, but not at the High Court, but at the small court of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. At the same time, she managed to win the favor of Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, wife of Alexander I, and thus get into the intimate circle of courtiers of the Imperial Court.
In old age, Countess Protasova lost her sight, but she continued to go out into the world and appear at court.
The former favorite and senior maid of honor of Catherine II, Countess Anna Stepanovna Protasova, having outlived her patroness Catherine II and the emperors Paul I and Alexander I, died on April 12, 1826 at the age of 81. She served at the Russian court for 46 years and outlived her patron, Catherine the Great, by 30 years.
Along with the previous favorites, near Empress Catherine II there was a third, her special favorite, friend and confidante, Countess Anna Nikitichna Naryshkina(1730–1820), née Rumyantseva, daughter of Major General Count Nikita Ivanovich Rumyantsev and Princess Maria Vasilievna Meshcherskaya.
When Countess Anna Rumyantseva was 20 years old, she married Count Alexander Alexandrovich Naryshkin (1726–1795), chamberlain of the small court of Grand Duke Peter Feodorovich ( Peter III) and Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna (Catherine II). The wedding took place on October 8, 1749. By order of the then reigning Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna took the bride to the crown and accompanied the newlyweds to the house prepared for them. From that time on, a friendship began between Catherine and Anna, reinforced by the closeness of Lev Aleksandrovich Naryshkin, the brother of Anna’s husband and her brother-in-law, to Catherine.
Soon, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna appointed Anna's husband, Count Alexander Alexandrovich Naryshkin, chamberlain of the small court of the Imperial Highnesses, which further strengthened Catherine's friendly relationship with the Naryshkins. In her “Notes”, Catherine told how Lev Naryshkin helped her secret meetings with Poniatovsky: in the evening he picked up Catherine in a carriage and took her, wrapped in a dark cloak, to a meeting with her lover at his brother’s house, where he provided them with all the conditions for a meeting his daughter-in-law, Anna Nikitichna, and in the morning, unnoticed by anyone, he brought him back.
The lover Stanislav Poniatowski made his way to Catherine and her rooms in the Grand Duke's palace. But one day, according to his story, he was caught by guards, appeared before the husband of his beloved - the Grand Duke, heir Peter Feodorovich, who, having learned why Poniatovsky ended up on the territory of the small courtyard, invited Poniatovsky to spend time with the four of them: he, the Grand Duke, with his mistress Elizaveta Romanovna Vorontsova, and Poniatovsky with Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna. First they had dinner together, and then went off in pairs to their rooms. This friendly gesture on the part of the heir turned out to be not at all as broad as it might at first seem. When Catherine became pregnant, Peter Feodorovich renounced his involvement in the unborn child, and Catherine had to send Lev Naryshkin to negotiate with him, who, on behalf of the Grand Duchess, demanded that the heir publicly renounce intimacy with his wife, after which the issue was hushed up.
These were the morals in the spirit of favoritism that flourished in those days under Russian throne.
Chief Chamberlain of the Court of Their Highnesses Alexander Naryshkin with his wife Anna Nikitichna, his brother Chief Master of Horse Lev Naryshkin (1733–1799), the main favorite of Peter III and “assistant of all his passions”, and under Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna - the main wit and merry fellow, as well as Stanislav Poniatovsky, and after his departure to Poland, the Orlov brothers - this was Catherine’s circle of friends, the germ of the conspiracy that brought her to the throne. Of course, there were also well-wishers who helped her enthronement, such as N.I. Panin, E.R. Dashkova, who also participated in this process. However, in comparison, for example, with Anna Nikitichna Naryshkina, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, although she was known as the empress’s favorite, was not in such favor as Anna Nikitichna, who was only one year younger than Ekaterina (in fact, they were the same age) and with whom they were very approached each other, both young and cheerful; the loving Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna with her love affairs and the devoted accomplice of her hobbies, the keeper of her intimate secrets - Anna Naryshkina. Was it possible to compare Anna Nikitichna, the most devoted and best friend, never condemning for anything, never being offended, but only helping with both advice and action, with Ekaterina Romanovna, the bearer the highest morality, always edifying, dissatisfied and condemning? Therefore, one day (this was in May 1788), Empress Catherine II ordered to prepare rooms for A.N. Naryshkina in the Tsarskoye Selo Palace and arrange them in such a way that there were no rooms left for Princess Dashkova. “...I want to spend time with one, but not with the other; They’re also in a quarrel over a piece of land!” - Catherine added in connection with this order.
Catherine II in her “Notes” wrote about the reasons for her rapprochement with Anna Nikitichna Naryshkina, who had no children: “This marriage had no more consequences than ours; This similarity in Naryshkina’s position and mine greatly contributed to the friendly connection that united us for a long time; my condition has changed after 9 years, counting from the day of my wedding, but she is still in the same situation, and has been married for 24 years.”
On September 15, 1773, Catherine made her friend a lady of state of the Imperial Court, and in 1787 she awarded her the Order of St. Catherine.
Anna Nikitichna did especially a lot for Catherine in those difficult days when the betrayal of the favorite Dmitriev-Mamonov became clear. For the empress, this was an impudent and rude insult; it was a blow to the very heart. Two young impudent people - favorite Alexander Mamonov and maid of honor Daria Shcherbatova - who had been dating and leading her by the nose for almost two years, simply laughed at her, an elderly woman, despising her title of empress and her power. At the same time, the favorite played a comedy, arranging scenes of jealousy for Catherine, monitoring her disposition towards other men. Or he could just talk about his love for his maid of honor Daria. Anna Nikitichna spent all these nightmare days with her patron and mistress, who was literally sobbing and could not calm down. She was shocked by Mamonov’s ingratitude and stupidity, his constant insincere declarations of love, this unjustified lie. Naryshkina was present during Catherine’s explanations with her favorite, and once she scolded him so much that Catherine later wrote: “I have never heard anyone scolded like that before.”
Anna Nikitichna, spending several hours a day alone with the empress, helped her gather her courage, carry out the engagement, and then the wedding of Alexander Dmitriev-Mamonov with Daria Shcherbatova, dress her maid of honor for the wedding and present them with money and valuable gifts. Justice and the greatness of the Empress were preserved and demonstrated before the Russian court, high society and the courts of Western Europe.
State Lady Naryshkina quickly responded to the situation, realizing that “wedge is knocked out with wedge,” and in a matter of days she introduced Catherine to a new favorite - Platon Aleksandrovich Zubov, even more handsome and more obsequious than Mamonov, and many years younger. Revenge was taken, and until the end of his days Mamonov felt like a fool, having exchanged the position of the “Red Kaftan” in the imperial palaces for a reclusive life in Moscow in the company of the narrow-minded, and therefore boring Daria.
After the death of Empress Catherine II, Anna Nikitichna remained at the Imperial Court. A few days after his accession to the throne, Paul I not only did not dismiss his mother’s former favorite, Anna Nikitichna Naryshkina, but on November 12, 1796 (7 days after the death of Catherine I) appointed her chamberlain of the Highest Court.
The Chamberlain of the Highest Court, the cavalry lady Countess Anna Nikitichna Naryshkina, a former friend and confidante of Catherine the Great, her lady of state and main favorite, died on February 2, 1820, just 9 days short of her birthday, when she would have turned 90 years old.
Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova (Vorontsova ) (1744–1810). Countess Ekaterina Romanovna Vorontsova (by her husband Princess Dashkova) was born in St. Petersburg on March 17, 1744 (according to another version - 1743). She herself, in her “Notes of the Princess,” determines the date of her birth as 1744, “approximately around the time when Empress Elizabeth returned from Moscow after her coronation.” The coronation of Elizabeth Petrovna took place in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin on April 25, 1742. The Empress appeared in St. Petersburg in the same year, 1742: on October 24, 1742, by her Decree, she declared her nephew Peter as heir to the Russian throne. Consequently, Ekaterina Vorontsova was lying: she was born in March 1743.
Ekaterina Romanovna was born into the family of senator Count Roman Illarionovich Vorontsov. But from the age of two, after the death of her mother, she was raised in the family of her uncle, Count Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov, who during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna was a prominent statesman, diplomat, and state chancellor of the Russian Empire. In her “Notes,” Ekaterina Romanovna gave the following description of her surname and her father: “I will not dwell on my father’s surname. Its antiquity and the brilliant merits of my ancestors place the name of the Vorontsovs in such a prominent place that my family pride has nothing more to desire in this regard. Count Roman, my father, the chancellor's second brother, was a riotous man and lost my mother in his youth. He did little about his own affairs and therefore willingly handed me over to my uncle. This kind relative, grateful to my mother and loving his brother, received me with pleasure.”
Mikhail Illarionovich was married to Anna Karlovna Skavronskaya, Elizaveta Petrovna’s cousin, so the Empress considered the Vorontsov family to be related to her and took part in her family affairs, taking care of Mikhail Illarionovich’s orphan nephews. She easily came to the Vorontsovs and often invited them to visit her, to Tsarskoe Selo. Moreover, Countess Anna Karlovna had the court title of lady of state (1742), and then received the highest court lady title of Chief Chamberlain (1760) and was awarded the Order of St. Catherine, 1st degree (Grand Cross).
Ekaterina Romanovna had two sisters: Maria Romanovna (married Countess Buturlina) and Elizaveta Romanovna, maid of honor, official favorite of Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich (Peter III), married Polyanskaya. But the sisters were older than Catherine. After the death of their mother, Elizaveta Petrovna appointed them as maids of honor to the palace, where they lived. Catherine rarely met her sisters and had almost no contact with them at all. She received her upbringing and education together with her uncle’s daughter. At that time, this was an excellent education for court life. As for education, Ekaterina Romanovna considered it insufficient, although she knew four languages, spoke French fluently, danced well and drew well. But she was dissatisfied with the knowledge she had received and asked herself the question: “But what has been done for character education and mental development?” And she answered herself: “Exactly nothing.” Although for court life such education was considered the most brilliant.
Even in her teenage years, Ekaterina Vorontsova showed great curiosity: she asked everyone who visited her uncle’s house, and these were politicians, envoys, writers, artists, “about foreign lands, about forms of government and laws.” Sometimes she received permission from her uncle to review his old diplomatic papers, and this contact with the historical past of Russian diplomacy gave her the greatest pleasure. But most importantly, she passionately loved reading books. She re-read almost all the books from her uncle’s library (and the library consisted of about 900 volumes), bought new items that arrived in bookstores, and enjoyed the courtesy of Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov, Elizaveta Petrovna’s favorite, who gave her all the new book and magazine arrivals from Paris that he had ordered. This self-education already in her youth made Ekaterina Vorontsova one of the most educated women in Russia.
The acquaintance with Prince Mikhail (Kondrat) Dashkov and their mutual affection were approved by Elizaveta Petrovna, and soon, in 1759, Countess Vorontsova became Princess Dashkova and with this name entered the history of Russia.
In the winter of 1759, Ekaterina Romanovna met Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna. In the “Notes of the Princess” this fact was noted in the following way: “In winter, the Grand Duke, later Peter III, and his wife, later Catherine II, also visited and dined with us. Thanks to many of my uncle's visitors, I was already known to the Grand Duchess as a young girl who spends almost all her time studying, and, of course, many other flattering reviews were added. The respect with which she subsequently honored me was the result of this friendly courtesy; I responded to it with complete enthusiasm and devotion, which then threw me into such an unforeseen sphere and had a greater or lesser influence on my whole life. In the era I’m talking about, it can probably be said that in Russia it was impossible to find two women who, like Catherine and me, were seriously engaged in reading; from here, by the way, our mutual affection was born, and since the Grand Duchess had an irresistible charm when she wanted to please, it is easy to imagine how she must have captivated me, a fifteen-year-old and unusually impressionable creature.”
This meeting turned out to be fateful for Dashkova. The Grand Duchess became an object of admiration and heartfelt devotion for the young princess, so Ekaterina Romanovna took part in the coup with the aim of overthrowing Peter III and enthroning his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna.
Despite the fact that Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich (Peter III) was the godfather of Ekaterina Dashkova, she, smart and very observant, realized as a girl that he was stupid and did not love Russia. She saw and understood that Elizaveta Petrovna, already at the end of her life, was very alarmed that she was handing over great Russia to an unworthy heir, albeit the grandson of Peter the Great. However, it was too late to do anything.
On December 25, 1761, on the first day of the Nativity of Christ, Elizaveta Petrovna died, and her uneducated, ill-mannered and stupid nephew, who was contemptuous of Russia and the Russian people, became sovereign emperor of the Russian Empire under the name of Peter III.
When he became emperor, his behavior, his statements finally convinced Dashkova that neither Russia nor its people needed such an emperor, that Empress Ekaterina Alekseevna, intelligent, very educated and well-mannered, loving Russia, deserves to be the ruler of the Russian Empire and has the right to rule at least as the mother of the minor Heir to the Throne Pavel Petrovich. Ekaterina Romanovna knew that not only she, but also many people, both among the courtiers and among high society, but most importantly, among the officers of the most privileged regiments, thought so. Everyone was outraged by the peace concluded by Peter III with Prussia on the most humiliating terms for victorious Russia and the start of the war with Denmark, a war completely unnecessary for Russia.
The humiliation from her husband-emperor, to which Empress Ekaterina Alekseevna began to be subjected at court, and in public, and the public expression of his desire to see his favorite-mistress Elizaveta Romanovna Vorontsova as empress (whom, by the way, he, as a commoner, simply called “Romanovna”), and the intention to send Ekaterina Alekseevna, whom he hated, to a monastery - all this showed what fate awaited the one whom Dashkova simply adored and, as an honest person, considered it her duty to save. Moreover, many of her “deeds” godfather Peter III happened before her eyes.
And Dashkova, having decided to carry out, as she said, a “revolution” and overthrow Peter III from the throne, began to look for accomplices in the conspiracy she had conceived to put Empress Ekaterina Alekseevna on the throne. Dashkova described all the measures she took in her “Notes of the Princess”:
“After the separation from my husband, I spared no effort to animate, inspire and strengthen opinions favorable to the implementation of the intended reform. The most trusted and closest people to me were the friends and relatives of Prince Dashkov: Pasek, Bredikhin - captain of the Preobrazhensky regiment, Major Roslavlev and his brother, captain of the Izmailovo Guards. ‹….› As soon as my idea about the means of a well-organized conspiracy was determined and strengthened, I began to think about the result, adding to my plan some of those persons who, with their influence and authority, could give weight to our cause. Between them was Marshal Razumovsky, head of the Izmailovo Guard, very beloved by his corps.” Having heard from the English envoy that “the guards are showing a disposition towards an uprising, especially for the Danish War,” Dashkova spoke with some officers of Razumovsky’s regiment - “with two Roslavlevs and Lasunsky,” then involved Panin, the teacher of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, in the conspiracy, who, however, , was eager to place his pet on the throne, and to assign Ekaterina Alekseevna the role of only the regent, but he completely agreed with the overthrow of Peter III. Having talked with Panin directly, Ekaterina Romanovna revealed to him the participants in the conspiracy, whom she had already involved in the case: two Roslavlevs, Lasunsky, Pasek, Bredikhin, Baskakov, Getrof, princes Baryatinsky and Orlov. “He was surprised and scared when he saw how far I had gone in my assumption and, moreover, without any preliminary negotiations with Catherine.” Dashkova managed to persuade Panin not to advertise his plans for the Heir at this time until real steps were taken.
The Archbishop of Novgorod, “known for his learning, loved by the people and adored by the clergy, of course, had no doubt about what the church could expect from such a ruler as Peter III.” And the young conspirator attracted him to her side, “if not as an active participant, then at least as a zealous patron of our plans.” Prince Volkonsky also joined her plan, who informed her that the spirit of murmuring against the emperor had also appeared among the soldiers: they were unhappy that they were being forced to turn their arms in favor of the Prussian king against Maria Theresa, who had recently been their ally, and the Prussian king enemy.
Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, working on creating a conspiracy, did not imagine that Ekaterina Alekseevna already held all the threads of it in her hands, had already developed a plan for a coup, relying on the guard and on the high authority of the guardsmen of the Orlov brothers, especially Grigory and Alexei. And she didn’t like these negotiations between Dashkova and everyone, moreover “without preliminary negotiations with Catherine", as Dashkova herself wrote. Ekaterina Alekseevna has already studied the experience of Russian coups with the aim of enthroning Catherine I, Anna Leopoldovna, Elizaveta Petrovna, following whose example she also decided to dress in a man’s military dress in order to appear in such an impressive form at the barracks and take the oath from the guards. She calculated that in Russia military officials faithfully serve, first of all, their lovers, and therefore the main guard authority - Grigory Orlov - became her lover. Catherine wrote to her former lover, the Polish king Stanislav-August Poniatowski, that she secretly supervised the preparation of the coup. , but she did not reveal this secret to her close circle (except for the Orlov brothers). She subsequently wrote about this in her Notes.
And Dashkova had a naive idea that the coup was prepared by her, but it happened as if by itself, by the will of Providence, as she wrote later in her “Notes”: “... without a plan, without sufficient funds, by different people and even opposite beliefs, like their characters, and many of them barely knew each other, had nothing in common with each other, with the exception of one desire, crowned by chance (sic!), but with more complete success than could be expected from the most strict and deeply considered plan..."
Ekaterina Romanovna did not even understand that Alexey Orlov could not have come to Peterhof on his own for Ekaterina and for her; he would not have dared to wake up the empress and, without prior agreement, say the following words: “It’s time to get up, everything is ready to proclaim you.” After all, Dashkova did not prepare all this. She was not involved either in the appearance of the imperial cortege on Nevsky Prospekt, or in the proclamation of her friend in the Kazan Cathedral as “the most autocratic empress of all Russia, Catherine II.”
Dashkova wrote her memoirs in her declining years, for all the years from the age of 18, when these events took place, she had a lot of time to comprehend and understand everything, but at the end of her life she very much appreciated her role in this “revolution”. highly: “As for me, I say, hand on heart, that although I played the first role in this coup - in the overthrow of an incapable monarch, at the same time I am amazed at the fact: neither historical experiences, nor the fiery imagination of eighteen centuries do not provide an example of such an event , which happened before us in a few hours” (emphasis added. - I.V.)
What is the power of delusion of a person who has read a huge number of books, especially on the history of Russia, both in Russian and French publications, including about the accession to the throne of Elizabeth Petrovna, whom Dashkova also knew personally! And for her, the accession to the Russian throne of Elizaveta Petrovna, who was also in a military uniform, also leaning on the guard, just as unexpectedly for everyone and just as quickly was proclaimed Empress of All Russia, was not “an example of such an event”?
Catherine II in her “Notes”, assessing her ascension to the Russian throne, wrote: “Princess Dashkova, the younger sister of Elizabeth Vorontsova, although she wants to take credit for all the honor of this revolution, she did not enjoy much confidence for her relationship; in addition, her nineteen years did not inspire much respect in anyone. She claimed that everything came to me through her hands. However, I had already been corresponding with all the bosses for six months before she learned the first name of one of them. True, she is very smart; but her mind is spoiled by her excessive vanity, and her character is eccentric; she is hated by her bosses and is friendly with flighty heads who told her what they knew, that is, unimportant details. ‹…› I had to hide from Princess Dashkova the ways in which others communicated with me, and for five whole months she knew nothing; the last four weeks, although she was told, but as little as possible. ‹…› Everything was done, I admit, under my special leadership; and, finally, I myself suspended everything, because leaving the city interfered with the execution of our plan; everything was completely ready two weeks ago.”
Catherine gave Dashkova a very accurate description, as we will see later: “She is very smart, but her mind is spoiled by excessive vanity and her character is eccentric.” As for the “bosses,” Dashkova really hated all of Catherine’s lovers: favoritism was alien to her.
For 19-year-old, romantically inclined Dashkova, who spent most of her life in solitude, with books, these events seemed like some kind of mysterious and exciting game to save her beloved friend and eliminate the rude and stupid emperor. She believed that the case had been won, and friendship with the empress, now crowned Catherine II, continued, and she, Dashkova, should be given a leading role at court, and relations with Catherine should remain friendly, as if on equal terms. And she began to behave in accordance with her ideas: showing her displeasure regarding the favored Grigory Orlov, giving orders to guard officers and soldiers, arguing with their commander in front of the soldiers, and so on. Catherine tried to somehow reason with her, but realized that it was useless, that it was better to maintain decent relations.
After her accession, Catherine rewarded everyone who helped her seize the throne. But at court it was proper to consider these awards as ordinary awards before the coronation of the monarch, especially since even those who did not participate in the conspiracy, but whom it was desirable to win over to the side of the new empress, for example, such as the Skavronskys, were noted by the empress's favor.
Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova was not forgotten either. Catherine II elevated her to the rank of lady of state of the highest court, granted her the Order of St. Catherine, 1st degree, with the title “Her Excellency the Cavalry Dame Grand Cross” and a cash prize of 24 thousand rubles. Dashkova had doubts about the prize for a long time and consulted with many: whether to take it or not, because she didn’t try for money, but in the end she took it, and made a lot of noise at court with her reasoning. But such was the character of the princess.
In the very first days after the coup, Catherine invited Dashkova, as her favorite, and Grigory Orlov, as her favorite, to the palace for lunch. When Dashkova came into the hall where the dining table was set, and saw Orlov there, sitting on the sofa with his leg outstretched (he seriously bruised it), and a table was pushed towards him, she realized that there was a conflict between the empress and Orlov. connection, and she did not like this discovery extremely. Catherine II immediately noticed the displeasure on Dashkova’s face and realized that Dashkova was far from her life credo, that with her particularly “honest” understanding of life, no ruler would remain on the throne for more than two months. Dashkova, adhering to Orthodox morality, did not understand what favoritism was, why Catherine, such an intelligent, educated and cultured woman, now the All-Russian Empress, chose as her favorite a rude, ignorant martinet like Grigory Orlov. She did not understand that Catherine ascended the throne on the shoulders of guard soldiers led by the Orlovs, and not thanks to 19-year-old Dashkova, who told six officers, three nobles and Panin about the conspiracy.
Catherine II never broke off relationships with anyone suddenly and rudely, because she knew that every person, especially smart, well-mannered and educated, could always be useful someday. Therefore, in front of the courtiers, she always treated Dashkova as her favorite, but began to avoid friendly meetings with her. Ekaterina Romanovna felt this cooling towards her, but Ekaterina’s always friendly tone when meeting her, invitations to the palace for dinner, to balls, to imperial appearances, simply to live in the palace with her husband, as a favorite - all this did not give Dashkova an official reason to consider herself rejected, but she always felt the chill of the relationship. When one day she wished to live in a palace next to Catherine, for some reason there was no room for her in the palace. the required premises: all the rooms were occupied by the Empress’s favorite Anna Nikitichnaya Naryshkina, with whom Dashkova was in conflict “over a piece of land,” as Catherine II defined it. Ekaterina Romanovna did not know that the rooms were not found by order of the Empress, but she felt that this was not without reason.
Catherine Romanovna's husband, Prince Mikhail Dashkov, was the secret confidant of Catherine II, who appointed Prince Dashkov (shortly before his departure to Poland) as the head of a cuirassier regiment, previously headed only by German commanders. Dashkova was proud that her husband, in her opinion, managed to make the cuirassier regiment the best regiment in Russia. (Strange, but in “Notes” she always calls her husband only “Prince Dashkov”, as a stranger, so the reader until the end of her memoirs never learns from her what his name was.)
Catherine II entrusted Prince Dashkov with his cuirassier regiment with the elevation of Poniatowski to the Polish throne. Dashkov, with the support of the Russian troops brought into Poland, had to ensure (sometimes by persuasion, sometimes by bribery, sometimes by hinting at the presence of troops) a positive vote of the Sejm for Poniatowski. Which was done flawlessly. But Dashkov did not return to Russia. He died in Poland from "fever associated with a sore throat." Was it so? In her memoirs, many years later, Dashkova several times mentions his throat illness and, in connection with this, the severe fever to which he was subject. Maybe it was necessary?
The news of the death of Prince Dashkov, who, having completed the task, was already returning home with his cuirassiers, but caught a cold on the way and died, crippled the twenty-year-old widow with two children: son Pavel and daughter Anastasia. She was sick for a long time. According to her, Prince Dashkov left huge debts, the payment of which would put the family on the verge of ruin. But the 24 thousand given to her by Catherine, which she wanted to refuse, completely covered the debts, and the ruin did not take place.
Feeling a chill in relations with Catherine and influential people at court, Dashkova, as a lady of state, citing the difficult financial situation of the family, asked Catherine for leave and left with the children to the village, to her husband’s estate. Life in the village was much cheaper than in the capital, and after 5 years of living in the village, Ekaterina Romanovna managed to save enough money for a long trip around Europe. Under the pretext of the need to give his son Pavel English education and after upbringing at home, which took place according to the method developed by Dashkova, Ekaterina Romanovna, as a lady of state, had to ask the Empress for permission to travel abroad. The two letters she sent to the Empress did not receive an answer, and Dashkova herself went to St. Petersburg for an answer. Catherine II met her very cordially, during the conversation she found out that Dashkova was going to return and would debunk negative myths about Russia abroad, and, of course, gave the go-ahead for her departure . And when Dashkova returned to her estate, the courier brought her 4 thousand rubles as a gift from the empress. Ekaterina Romanovna was indignant at the insignificant amount, in her opinion, and did not want to take it, but then, as she writes in “Notes,” she made a list of necessary things that needed to be bought for the trip, calculated their cost, took exactly this amount, and the rest I returned the money to the courier. She knew that the courier would report to Catherine exactly how Dashkova accepted her gift.
In December 1768, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, with her daughter Anastasia and son Pavel, went on a trip to Europe under the pseudonym “Princess Mikhalkova.” Europe already knew the lady of state, the cavalry lady of the Grand Cross, Princess Dashkova, the favorite Russian empress, the 18-year-old girl rumored to have placed Catherine II on the throne. The invented pseudonym could not hide her secret: many noble and famous people in Europe knew Dashkova by sight, because they had been to Russia and saw her at court next to Catherine. Therefore, she was warmly greeted by many celebrities: the head of the encyclopedists Diderot, and Voltaire, and new acquaintances from high spheres in France, and in Austria, and in Switzerland, and in Germany, and in England.
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Catherine II was great not only in matters of state, but also in love. After all, she was a woman. A woman who was brought at a fairly young age to a foreign country, married to the unloved and, to put it mildly, strange heir to the throne, Peter. A woman who was oppressed by Elizabeth in every possible way, who was hated by almost the entire female part of the imperial court during Elizabeth’s life.
It is not surprising that Catherine began to have lovers even before her emperorship. According to some experts, the number of Catherine’s lovers reached 23 people. It should be taken into account that many of her lovers are not a passing hobby (there were some), but quite serious relationship. Her chosen ones became favorites, participated in government affairs and did a lot of good for Russia.
Saltykov Sergey Vasilievich
The first of Catherine's reliably known lovers. Their relationship began in the spring of 1752. Ekaterina and Peter have been married for 7 years, but there are no children. And according to one version, Saltykov was “set up” for Catherine in order for her to become pregnant. It is also still widely believed that he is the father of Pavel Petrovich, the future Emperor of Russia. But this has not been reliably proven.
Stanislav August Poniatowski
In 1756, the romance between Catherine and a member of the English embassy Stanislav Poniatowski begins. There is again a version that he is the father of Catherine’s daughter Anna, who died in infancy. Catherine thanked Stanislav for his love. He became king of Poland.
Orlov Grigory Grigorievich
A handsome, tall, educated, fearless Guardsman of the Semenovsky Regiment simply could not help but become the empress’s favorite. especially since he helped Catherine ascend the throne. Their romance lasted more than 10 years. At first, Orlov “played” only the role of a lover, and from 1762 he became her favorite. Performs many responsible tasks. At the same time, he manages to love not only the Empress, but Catherine forgives him everything. She even considered the option of marrying Orlov, but those close to her dissuaded her. Catherine gave birth to a son from Orlov, Alexei Bobrinsky.
Vasilchakov Alexander Semenovich
He becomes the lover and then the favorite of Catherine while Orlov was in negotiations with the Ottoman Empire. Young and handsome (17 years younger than Catherine), he could not stay in favor for long. He was succeeded by a more powerful successor.
Potemkin-Tavrichesky Grigory Alexandrovich
In addition to the fact that he was the favorite of the Empress, Potemkin left a mark on history with other glorious deeds. He was a talented commander and statesman. It was he who presented Crimea as a gift to his queen.
Zavadovsky Petr Vasilievich
He replaced Potemkin at the “post,” but quite quickly he himself was removed from favor, not without Potemkin’s intrigues. It is believed that he truly loved Catherine. At the same time, he was a good statesman, which he continued to do after parting with the Empress.
Zorich Semyon Gavrilovich
A handsome hussar, 14 years younger than Catherine. Potemkin’s adjutant, then the head of Catherine’s personal security, then... it’s clear. Potemkin also contributed to Zorich’s speedy departure from St. Petersburg.
Rimsky-Korsakov Ivan Nikolaevich
Handpicked by Potemkin to replace Zorich, 25 years younger than Catherine. Catherine presented him with money, houses, and jewelry. But a year later I found her with Countess Bruce. This is where his favor ended.
Lanskoy Alexander Dmitrievich
Again presented to the Empress by Potemkin. He didn’t get involved in politics, his relationship with Catherine developed very well and romantically, but he died 4 years later from a fever. Catherine sincerely worried about his death.
Dmitriev-Mamonov Alexander Matveevich
Selected for Catherine...by Potemkin, of course. But he fell in love with the Empress's maid of honor. Catherine did not forgive this. But Alexandra let her go in peace, even allowing her to marry the “homewrecker.”
Zubov Platon Alexandrovich
38 years younger than Catherine (!). brightened up last years life of Catherine the Great. He was actively involved in politics, displacing even the powerful Potemkin.
There is also a list of at least a dozen names of Catherine’s lovers. But they were not officially favorites, and we will not examine fleeting connections and palace rumors. So the list turned out to be impressive. And pay attention: among Catherine’s favorites there were no ordinary people, rogues, dummies. And in this matter, Catherine was Great.
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Introduction
Access to the monarch is not always given to people who deserve it. A favorite, a temporary worker, simply a clever and unprincipled person, taking advantage of the trust of the sovereign, begins to announce decrees and resolutions on his behalf. Arbitrariness, covetousness, immorality and servility are flourishing. The favorites do not care about the interests of the state; for them there are only own desires. State affairs are abandoned, the treasury is plundered, unworthy people are appointed to important positions, and those who managed to serve the favorite are appointed. Thus, the monarch is separated from his government...
Catherine's accession to the throne has much in common with Elizabeth's accession to the throne in 1741. Catherine's policy was national and favorable to the nobility. Elizabeth's government was distinguished by its rationality, humanity, and reverence for the memory of Peter the Great, but it did not have its own program and acted according to Peter's principles.
The government of Catherine, an intelligent, talented empress, used old models of government, but also led the state forward according to its own program, which it acquired little by little according to the instructions of practice and abstract theories adopted by the empress. In this, Catherine was the opposite of her predecessor. Under her there was a system in management, and therefore random persons, favorites, had less impact on the course of state affairs than under Elizabeth, although Catherine’s favorites were very noticeable not only by their activity and power of influence, but even by their whims and abuses.
1. Favorites of Catherine II
Here is a list of famous favorites of Catherine II
This list was compiled by the Russian historian, specialist in the Catherine era, Ya. L. Barskov.
1. 1752-1754 S. V. Saltykov. Diplomat. Envoy in Hamburg, Paris, Dresden. S. V. Saltykov’s first assignment was a mission to Stockholm with the news of the birth of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, whose father, according to legend, is himself.
2. 1756-1758 S. Poniatovsky. Polish-Saxon ambassador to Russia. With the help of Catherine and with the support of the Prussian king Frederick II, he became king of Poland in 1764. During all the years of his reign, he focused his policies on Russia. Which was one of the reasons for his abdication from the throne in 1795.
3. 1761-1772 G. G. Orlov was the grandson of the rebel archer, pardoned by Peter the Great for fearlessness. The most active participant in the palace coup in 1762. Grigory Orlov, as a favorite, received the rank of senator, count, and adjutant general. He played a significant role in the creation of the Free Economic Society. He was its president. In 1771 he led the suppression of the “plague riot” in Moscow. From 1772, he lost his influence at court and retired in 1775. Potemkin handed Orlov an imperial decree, which ordered him to live in Gatchina under guard without a break until special new orders from the empress.
4. 1772-1774 A.S. Vasilchiko. Poor officer. Catherine granted the titles: count, chamberlain. He received the title of Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and became the owner of huge estates and hundreds of thousands of peasant souls. He was expelled from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
5. 1774-1776 G.A. Potemkin - the son of a Smolensk nobleman, in 1762. among the conspirators, after which he becomes a second lieutenant of the guard. Participates in the Russian-Turkish War (1768-1774) and receives the rank of general. Then vice-president of the Military Collegium, count, field marshal general, chief of regular troops. The empress's closest assistant in pursuing the policy of strengthening the absolutist state and forming the Starodub povet system began his career in the post of the secret "enlightened monarchy." Organizer of the suppression of the Pugachev rebellion and initiator of the liquidation of the Zaporozhye Sich. He had enormous power, being the governor of Novorossiysk, Azov, Astrakhan provinces, prince of the Holy Roman Empire, His Serene Highness Prince of Tauride (he received this title for the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 1783). He contributed to the development of the northern Black Sea region, the construction of Kherson, Nikolaev and Sevastopol, Yekaterinoslav. He was the organizer of the construction of military and merchant fleets on the Black Sea. A major diplomat.
6. 1776-1777 P.V. Zavadovsky. The son of a Cossack of the office at the headquarters of P.A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. He was introduced to the empress as the author of dispatches and reports on the affairs of Little Russia. Zavadovsky’s rise went so quickly that he was even seen as Potemkin’s rival. Although he was not a favorite for long, this ensured his high-ranking and bureaucratic career. Zavadovsky managed the Noble and Assignation banks and was the director of the Corps of Pages. And with the establishment of ministries in 1802, he became the Minister of Public Education.
7. 1777-1778 S.G. Zorich Nephew of the midwife who poisoned Catherine's daughter-in-law. He was an empty-headed, flighty spendthrift and gambler. However, he was not faithful to Catherine. He was sent from St. Petersburg to Crimea, to Potemkin.
9. 1780-1784 HELL. Lanskoy. This is the only one of the favorites who did not interfere in politics and refused influence, ranks, and orders, although Catherine forced him to accept the title of count from her, vast lands, tens of thousands of peasants and the rank of adjutant. Catherine wanted to marry him and announced this to Panin and Potemkin. In 1784 he was poisoned by order of Potemkin.
10. 1785-1786 A.P. Ermolov. Officer, Potemkin's adjutant, outbuilding adjutant. He received 100 thousand rubles and was expelled from St. Petersburg, like all temporary favorites.
11. 1786-1789 A.M. Mamonov. Officer, Potemkin's adjutant. Gained enormous influence on domestic and foreign policy. He was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky, showered with hundred-thousand-dollar diamonds, and two highest Polish orders.
12. 1789-1796 P.A. Zubov. Latest Favorite Catherine II. He did not show himself in any way in the post of Governor-General of Novorossiya and in the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Black Sea Fleet. The Empress gave him huge estates and granted him the title of His Serene Highness.
From now on, favoritism became a government institution in Russia, as in France under Louis XIV, XV, and the favorites, living with the empress, were recognized as people who served the fatherland and the throne.
Firstly, many of them were capable people, like Panin, Potemkin, Bezborodko, Zorich. Secondly, they delighted their empress’s leisure time, giving her strength for new labors. This is how Catherine herself looked at the matter.
The English envoy Harris and Caster, a famous historian, calculated how much the favorites of Catherine II cost Russia. They received more than 100 million rubles from her in cash. Considering the Russian budget of that time, which did not exceed 80 million a year, this was a huge amount. The cost of the lands belonging to the favorites was no less enormous. In addition, the gifts included peasants, palaces, a lot of jewelry, and dishes.
In general, favoritism in Russia was considered a natural disaster that ruined the entire country and hampered its development. Money that should have gone to the education of the people, the development of art, crafts and industry, to the opening of schools, went to the personal pleasures of the favorites and floated into their bottomless pockets.
2. Historical portrait aboutone of Catherine II's favorites
favorite Ekaterina Panin Potemkin
Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin (1718-1783).
A man of true intelligence and honesty -
Above the morals of this century!
Your services to the Fatherland cannot be forgotten.
D. Fonvizin.
Among the famous people who glorified the “age of Catherine,” one of the first places, of course, belongs to Nikita Ivanovich Panin, a man “outstanding for his abilities and education.” For twenty years he was in charge foreign policy Russia - “the most brilliant side of Catherine’s state activity.”
“There was not a single matter related to the integrity and security of the empire that would have bypassed his proceedings or advice... In matters concerning the good of the state, neither promises nor threats could shake it,” wrote his colleague and friend, famous writer DI. Fonvizin, “nothing in the world could force him to offer his opinion, against his inner feelings.”
He believed, and not without reason, that in his knowledge, experience and analytical skills he was superior not only to Catherine II, but also to most of the people from her immediate circle. Naturally, therefore, Panin considered himself entitled to instruct the empress and achieve the implementation of his political ideas. This suited her for now - the glory of the transformer would still go to the sovereign!
Panin's authority was so high that many foreign diplomats saw him as one of the leaders of the conspiracy. The Austrian ambassador, Count Mercy d'Argenteau, reported: “The main instrument for the elevation of Catherine to the throne was Panin.” French de Breteuil “Apart from Panin, who rather has the habit of a certain kind of work than great means and knowledge, this empress has no one who would could help her in management and in achieving greatness..."
Panin on October 4, 1763 became a senior member of the Foreign Collegium; in October, after Bestuzhev’s final removal from affairs, management of the board’s affairs was transferred to him. Without being officially appointed chancellor, he was placed, in fact, above the vice-chancellor, Prince D.M. Golitsyn and for almost two decades remained the main adviser to Catherine II and the head of Russian foreign policy. When Panin took office as a senior member of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, the institution was relatively small. There were about 260 employees, of which 25 were in Moscow. Panin knew his “cadres” very well, valued them and, perhaps, was even proud of them.
In St. Petersburg, foreign policy issues under Panin were resolved according to a well-functioning scheme. Nikita Ivanovich received correspondence from abroad and carefully studied it. Having selected the most important, he wrote his comments and suggestions in the margins and sent it all to the empress. Catherine looked through the papers and immediately approved them. Then the collegium drew up a rescript to send to the ambassador or other official documents, which the empress approved in the same manner. Sometimes Panin, “to gain time,” did not send papers for approval to the Empress again at all. The Empress conducted diplomatic correspondence or negotiations in agreement with Panin.
Panin becomes the empress's chief adviser. Not a single important issue of foreign and domestic policy cannot now be decided without his participation: “Everything is done by the will of the Empress and digested by Mr. Panin,” reports E.R. Dashkova to his brother in Holland. “At this time, Catherine firmly believed in Panin’s diplomatic talents,” testifies V. Klyuchevsky.
One of Panin's contemporaries, observing the state of affairs in Russia, came to a paradoxical conclusion: " Russian state has the advantage over others that it is controlled directly by God himself - otherwise it is impossible to explain to yourself how it can exist." Many people thought about how to correct this situation. Panin also thought about this. And he decided to start with the fact that he It seemed the most important thing was the reorganization of the public administration system.
In the Russian Empire, Panin reasoned, as in any monarchy, legislative power is confined to the person of the sovereign. Subordinate to him is the government (Senate), which governs the state in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Adjacent to the Senate are collegiums in charge of state affairs, each in its own area. Such a system, although it was created by Peter the Great following the example of Sweden, is far from perfect.
The monarch, Panin believed, no matter how intelligent and enlightened he may be, is not able to establish laws and decide other matters alone. If necessary, he will rely on the help of people close to him. This is where all the troubles begin.
And Panin proposes to establish an official and permanent body that would provide assistance to the monarch in legislative activities - the Imperial Council. He developed this idea in detail and even prepared a manifesto on the establishment of the Council - the Empress only had to sign it.
Proving its necessity, Panin bright colors the absence of basic laws in Russia is depicted, where everyone “out of arbitrariness and the credit of intrigue grabbed and appropriated state affairs.”
On December 28, 1762, Catherine II, yielding to Panin’s insistence, signed a manifesto on the creation of the Imperial Council, but the signature under it turned out to be torn, and it did not come into force. Only a decree was signed dividing the Senate into departments.
Having taken foreign policy into his own hands, Nikita Ivanovich quickly became not only its formal, but also its actual leader. The development of foreign policy - studying the situation, thinking about further steps, preparing detailed instructions for Russian representatives abroad - all this was concentrated in the hands of Panin.
First of all, he had to solve the Polish question. After the death of Augustus III, Catherine, in her instructions to her agents, set the task of seeking the election to the Polish throne of Stanislav Poniatowski, a king “who would be useful to the interests of the empire, who, apart from us, could not have any hope of achieving this dignity.” After the Sejm decided to nominate only Poles as candidates, the foreign ambassadors - French, Austrian, Spanish and Saxon - left Warsaw in protest. On August 26, 1764, the Coronation Diet in a calm atmosphere elected the steward of the Lithuanian Count Stanislav Poniatowski as king. Panin had every reason to be pleased. Russia achieved the election of its candidate to the Polish throne, and in such a way that calm was maintained in Poland and other European powers took this event for granted. His, Panina, external began to take shape politic system. It was based on the idea of creating the Northern Union. Panin believed that the pro-French coalition should have been opposed by an alliance of northern powers: Russia, Prussia, England, Denmark, Sweden and Poland. However, Panin alone cannot be considered the author of this program. In February 1764, Baron Y.A. Korf presented Catherine with a corresponding project on the Northern Union. Panin appreciated these ideas, took them into service, and since then the concept of the Northern Union (Northern System) has been associated mainly with his name. The draft includes the concepts of “active” and “passive” powers (on the part of the “passive” it was supposed to be content with their neutrality; Panin considered “active” powers to be those that could decide to enter into direct open struggle with the countries of the southern union: Panin considered Russia to be among the former, England, Prussia, and partly Denmark; “passive” meant Poland, Sweden and other countries that could be brought into the union).
Nikita Ivanovich Panin hoped, with the help of the Northern system, to strengthen Russia’s influence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden, as well as in Turkey, and to shift to the allies part of the costs of combating French influence in these countries. Using the words of Panin himself, it was necessary “to once and for all, through a system, take Russia out of constant dependence and place it, through the method of a common Northern Union, at such a level that, just as it has a notable part of the leadership in general affairs, it can also inviolably maintain peace and quiet in the north.” .
Thanks to the idea of the Northern Union, Russia's foreign policy acquired a programmatic character. Actions taken in individual countries were linked into a single whole. The first serious step in creating the Northern System can be considered the conclusion of an alliance treaty between Russia and Prussia in 1764. When Russia needed Prussia's active participation in Polish affairs, the treaty was signed. The alliance with Prussia allowed St. Petersburg to influence Polish affairs, restrain Turkey, “take precedence in the north” and “play the first role in Europe... without high costs from Russia." Negotiations with Denmark turned out to be relatively easy for Panin. Nikita Ivanovich insisted that in the secret articles of the treaty Denmark undertake to help Russia against Turkey and counteract French influence in Sweden. In return, Denmark received the Holstein possessions of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich The agreement was signed in February 1765. Then Panin took energetic steps to persuade the London cabinet to sign the union agreement. But he only managed to conclude a trade agreement (1766). successful activities Russian diplomacy, Austria and France resorted to the assistance of Turkey.
Türkiye declared war on Russia at the end of 1768. Friendly relations with Prussia, Denmark and England, that is, that part of the Northern System that was created by the beginning of the war, allowed Panin not to worry about the northern borders and concentrate entirely on the Turkish problem. Already in 1770, under the impression of the defeats it had suffered, Turkey turned to Prussia and Austria with a request for mediation in peace negotiations with Russia. In St. Petersburg they wanted to end the war as soon as possible. To successfully end the war, not only military efforts were required, but no less diplomatic ones. The reason for the outbreak of war was the unrest in Poland. Events developed in such a way that Polish affairs were closely intertwined with Turkish affairs, and they had to be resolved comprehensively. After Austria entered into a defensive alliance with Turkey in the summer of 1771, the government of Catherine II was forced to partition Poland. The issue of participation in the division was resolved between Catherine and Panin even before its discussion at the State Council. On May 16, 1771, Nikita Ivanovich “disclosed” the proposal of the Prussian king to the members of the Council. “By agreeing to partition, Russia received a triple win,” says Panin’s biographer A.V. Gavryushkin. “Firstly, a secure border with Poland. Secondly, as Panin said at the council, calming down the “Polish confusion” and, accordingly, the opportunity to withdraw, finally, from this country its troops. And, thirdly, the neutralization of Austria in the issue of the Russian-Turkish war. The Convention on the Polish question between Russia and Prussia was signed on February 6, 1772 and ratified on March 4. Panin proposed putting down other dates: signing - January 4 and ratification - February 4. Thanks to this, in the negotiations that began with the Austrians, the convention could be referred to as a fait accompli and, accordingly, deprive them of the opportunity to propose changes to its content.The trick was a success, because as soon as the discussion of the details of the agreement began , Frederick II and Kaunitz clashed over the size of the territories being captured, and Panin had to constantly urge his partners to show restraint.
In August 1772, a final agreement was already reached, sealed in three bilateral acts between Russia, Austria and Prussia. Russia received the Polish part of Livonia and part of Eastern Belarus, which at one time was torn away from Russian lands by the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. In the war with Turkey, Russian troops and navy won a number of brilliant victories, forcing the Turks to agree to peace, which was formalized in 1774 in Kuchuk-Kaynarji. Russia gained access to the Black Sea... On September 20, 1772, Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich turned 18 years old. Panin's responsibilities as a teacher ended here.
Conclusion
The favorites played an important role in the fate of Russia, influencing empresses and emperors; they skillfully carried out their plans regarding the foreign and domestic policies of the state. Sometimes the face of the emperor was only a mask of the favorite ruling the country.
References
1. Palace coups Russia 1725-1825, Phoenix, 1998
2. History of the Russian State: Lives of the 18th century, M., Book Chamber, 1996
3. Lesin V.I., Rebels and Wars, 1997
4. Obolensky G.L., The Age of Catherine the Great. Russian word, 2001
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The list of Catherine II's men includes men who figured in the intimate life of Empress Catherine the Great (1729-1796), including her spouses, official favorites and lovers. Catherine II has up to 21 lovers, but how can we object to the empress, then of course they had their own methods.
1. Catherine’s husband was Peter Fedorovich (Emperor Peter III) (1728-1762). They had a wedding in 1745, August 21 (September 1). The end of the relationship was June 28 (July 9), 1762 - death of Peter III. His children, according to the Romanov tree, Pavel Petrovich (1754) (according to one version, his father is Sergei Saltykov) and officially - Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna (1757-1759, most likely the daughter of Stanislav Poniatowski). He suffered from a form of impotence, and in the first years he did not have marital relations with her. Then this problem was solved using surgery, and in order to fulfill it, Peter got Saltykov drunk.
2. While she was engaged, she also had an affair, Saltykov, Sergei Vasilyevich (1726-1765). In 1752 he was at the small court of the Grand Dukes Catherine and Peter. The beginning of the novel in 1752. The end of the relationship was the birth of a child, Pavel, in October 1754. After which Saltykov was expelled from St. Petersburg and sent as envoy to Sweden.
3. Catherine's lover was Stanisław August Poniatowski (1732-1798) who fell in love in 1756. And in 1758, after the fall of Chancellor Bestuzhev, Williams and Poniatowski were forced to leave St. Petersburg. After the affair, her daughter Anna Petrovna (1757-1759) was born; Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich himself thought so, who, judging by “Notes of Catherine,” said: “God knows how my wife gets pregnant; I don’t know for sure whether this child is mine and whether I should recognize him as mine.” In the future, Catherine will make him King of Poland, and then annex Poland and annex it to Russia.
4. Likewise, Catherine 2 was not upset and continued to fall in love. Her next secret lover was Orlov, Grigory Grigorievich (1734-1783). The beginning of the novel In the spring of 1759, Count Schwerin, the aide-de-camp of Frederick II, who was captured in the Battle of Zorndorf, arrived in St. Petersburg, to whom Orlov was assigned as a guard. Orlov gained fame by wresting his mistress from Pyotr Shuvalov. The end of the relationship in 1772, after the death of her husband, even she wanted to marry him and then she was dissuaded. Orlov had many mistresses. They also had a son, Bobrinsky, Alexey Grigorievich was born on April 22, 1762, a few months after the death of Elizaveta Petrovna. It is reported that on the day she went into labor, her faithful servant Shkurin set fire to his house, and Peter rushed off to watch the fire . Orlov and his passionate brothers contributed to the overthrow of Peter and the accession of Catherine to the throne. Having lost favor, he married his cousin Ekaterina Zinovieva, and after her death he went crazy.
5. Vasilchikov, Alexander Semyonovich (1746-1803/1813) Official favorite. Acquaintance in 1772, September. He often stood guard in Tsarskoye Selo and received a golden snuffbox. Took Orlov's room. 1774, March 20, in connection with the rise of Potemkin, he was sent to Moscow. Catherine considered him boring (14 years difference). After retirement, he settled in Moscow with his brother and did not marry.
6. Potemkin, Grigory Alexandrovich (1739-1791) Official favorite, husband since 1775. In April 1776 he went on vacation. Catherine gave birth to Potemkin's daughter, Elizaveta Grigorievna Tyomkina. Despite the gap in her personal life, thanks to her abilities, she maintained Catherine's friendship and respect and for many years remained the second person in the state. He was not married, his personal life consisted of “enlightening” his young nieces, including Ekaterina Engelgart.
7. Zavadovsky, Pyotr Vasilyevich (1739-1812) official favorite.
The beginning of the relationship in 1776. November, presented to the empress as an author, interested Catherine. In 1777, June did not suit Potemkin and was removed. Also in May 1777, Catherine met Zorich. He was jealous of Catherine 2, which did the damage. 1777 recalled by the empress back to the capital, 1780 engaged in administrative affairs, married Vera Nikolaevna Apraksina.
8. Zorich, Semyon Gavrilovich (1743/1745-1799). In 1777, June became Catherine's personal guard. 1778 June caused inconvenience, expelled from St. Petersburg (14 years younger than the Empress) Was dismissed and sent into retirement with little remuneration. Founded the Shklov School. Enmeshed in debt and suspected of counterfeiting.
9. Rimsky-Korsakov, Ivan Nikolaevich (1754-1831) Official favorite. 1778, June. Noticed by Potemkin, who was looking to replace Zorich, and distinguished by him due to his beauty, as well as ignorance and lack of serious abilities that could make him a political rival. Potemkin introduced him to the empress among three officers. On June 1, he was appointed aide-de-camp to the Empress. 1779, October 10. Removed from the court after the Empress found him in the arms of Countess Praskovya Bruce, sister of Field Marshal Rumyantsev. This intrigue of Potemkin had as its goal the removal not of Korsakov, but of Bruce herself. 25 years younger than the empress; Catherine was attracted by his announced “innocence.” He was very handsome and had an excellent voice (for his sake, Catherine invited world-famous musicians to Russia). After the loss of favor, he first stayed in St. Petersburg and talked in living rooms about his connection with the empress, which hurt her pride. In addition, he left Bruce and began an affair with Countess Ekaterina Stroganova (he was 10 years younger than her). This turned out to be too much, and Catherine sent him to Moscow. Stroganova’s husband eventually gave her a divorce. Korsakov lived with her until the end of her life, they had a son and two daughters.
10 Stakhiev (Strakhov) Beginning of relations 1778; 1779, June. End of relationship 1779, October. According to the description of contemporaries, “a jester of the lowest order.” Strakhov was a protégé of Count N.I. Panin Strakhov may be Ivan Varfolomeevich Strakhov (1750-1793), in which case he was not the empress’s lover, but a man whom Panin considered insane, and who, when Catherine once told him that he could ask her for some favor, threw himself on his knees and asked for her hand, after which she began to avoid him.
11 Stoyanov (Stanov) Beginning of relations 1778. The end of relations 1778. Potemkin’s protégé.
12 Rantsov (Rontsov), Ivan Romanovich (1755-1791) Beginning of the relationship 1779. Mentioned among those who participated in the “competition”; it is not entirely clear whether he managed to visit the empress’s alcove. End of relationship 1780. One of the illegitimate sons of Count R.I. Vorontsov, half-brother of Dashkova. A year later he led a London mob in riots organized by Lord George Gordon.
13 Levashov, Vasily Ivanovich (1740(?) - 1804). Beginning of relations 1779, October. End of relationship 1779, October. Major of the Semenovsky regiment, a young man protected by Countess Bruce. He was distinguished by his wit and cheerfulness. Uncle of one of the subsequent favorites - Ermolov. He was not married, but had 6 “pupils” from a student of the theater school Akulina Semyonova, who were granted the dignity of nobility and his surname.
14 Vysotsky, Nikolai Petrovich (1751-1827). Beginning of relationship 1780, March. Potemkin's nephew. End of relationship 1780, March.
15 Lanskoy, Alexander Dmitrievich (1758-1784) Official favorite. Beginning of relationship 1780 April He was introduced to Catherine by Chief of Police P.I. Tolstoy, she paid attention to him, but he did not become a favorite. Levashev turned to Potemkin for help, he made him his adjutant and supervised his court education for about six months, after which in the spring of 1780 he recommended him to the empress as a warm friend. The end of the relationship was 1784, July 25. He died after a five-day illness with toad and fever. 29 years younger than the 54-year-old at the time the empress began her relationship. The only one of the favorites who did not interfere in politics and refused influence, ranks, and orders. He shared Catherine’s interest in science and, under her guidance, studied French and became acquainted with philosophy. He enjoyed universal sympathy. He sincerely adored the Empress and tried his best to maintain peace with Potemkin. If Catherine began to flirt with someone else, Lanskoy “wasn’t jealous, didn’t cheat on her, wasn’t insolent, but so touchingly […] lamented her disfavor and suffered so sincerely that he won her love again.”
16. Mordvinov. Beginning of relationship 1781 May. Relative of Lermontov. Probably Mordvinov, Nikolai Semyonovich (1754-1845). The admiral's son, the same age as Grand Duke Paul, was brought up with him. The episode did not affect his biography and is usually not mentioned. He became a famous naval commander. Relative of Lermontov
17 Ermolov, Alexander Petrovich (1754-1834) February 1785, a holiday was specially organized to introduce the Empress to him. 1786, June 28. He decided to act against Potemkin ( Crimean Khan Sahib-Girey was supposed to receive from Potemkin large sums, but they were detained, and the khan turned to Ermolov for help), in addition, the empress also lost interest in him. He was expelled from St. Petersburg - he was “allowed to go abroad for three years.” In 1767, traveling along the Volga, Catherine stopped at his father’s estate and took the 13-year-old boy to St. Petersburg. Potemkin took him into his retinue, and almost 20 years later proposed him as a favorite. He was tall and slender, blond, gloomy, taciturn, honest and too simple. WITH letters of recommendation Chancellor Count Bezborodko left for Germany and Italy. Everywhere he behaved very modestly. After retirement, he settled in Moscow and married Elizaveta Mikhailovna Golitsyna, with whom he had children. Nephew of the previous favorite - Vasily Levashov. Then he left for Austria, where he bought the rich and profitable Frosdorf estate near Vienna, where he died at the age of 82.
18. Dmitriev-Mamonov, Alexander Matveevich (1758-1803) In 1786, June was presented to the empress after the departure of Yermolov. 1789 fell in love with Princess Daria Fedorovna Shcherbatova, Catherine’s understanding was complete. asked for forgiveness, forgiven. After the wedding, he was forced to leave St. Petersburg. Future married people in Moscow. He repeatedly asked to return to St. Petersburg, but was refused. His wife gave birth to 4 children, and eventually they separated.
19.Miloradovich. The relationship began in 1789. He was among the candidates proposed after Dmitriev’s resignation. Their number also included retired second major of the Preobrazhensky regiment Kazarinov, Baron Mengden - all young handsome men, behind each of whom stood influential courtiers (Potemkin, Bezborodko, Naryshkin, Vorontsov and Zavadovsky). End of relationship 1789.
20. Miklashevsky. The beginning of the relationship was 1787. The end was 1787. Miklashevsky was a candidate, but did not become a favorite. According to evidence, during Catherine II’s trip to Crimea in 1787, a certain Miklashevsky was among the candidates for favorites. Perhaps it was Miklashevsky, Mikhail Pavlovich (1756-1847), who was part of Potemkin’s retinue as an adjutant (the first step to favor), but it is unclear from what year. In 1798, Mikhail Miklashevsky was appointed governor of Little Russia, but was soon dismissed. In biography, the episode with Catherine is usually not mentioned.
21. Zubov, Platon Alexandrovich (1767-1822) Official favorite. Beginning of relationship 1789, July. A protege of Field Marshal Prince N.I. Saltykov, the chief educator of Catherine’s grandchildren. End of relationship 1796, November 6. Catherine's last favorite. The relationship ended with her death. The 22-year-old at the time of the start of a relationship with the 60-year-old empress. The first official favorite since Potemkin, who was not his adjutant. N.I. Saltykov and A.N. Naryshkina stood behind him, and Perekusikhina also worked for him. He enjoyed great influence and practically managed to oust Potemkin, who threatened to “come and pull out a tooth.” Later he participated in the assassination of Emperor Paul. Shortly before his death, he married a young, humble and poor Polish beauty and was terribly jealous of her.
Memory of Catherine 2. Monuments dedicated to her.
