Ekaterina Alekseevna Romanova (Catherine II the Great)
Sophia Augusta Frederica, Princess, Duchess of Anhalt-Zerb.
Years of life: 04/21/1729 - 11/6/1796
Russian Empress (1762 – 1796)
Daughter of Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst and Princess Johanna Elisabeth.
Born April 21 (May 2), 1729 in Schettin. Her father, Prince Christian Augustus of Anhalt-Zerb, served the Prussian king, but his family was considered impoverished. Sophia Augusta's mother was the sister of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden. Other relatives of the mother of the future Empress Catherine ruled Prussia and England. Sofia Augusta, (family nickname - Fike) was the eldest daughter in the family. She was educated at home.
In 1739, 10-year-old Princess Fike was introduced to her future husband, heir to the Russian throne Karl Peter Ulrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, who was the nephew of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich Romanov. Heir Russian throne made a negative impression on high Prussian society, showed himself to be ill-mannered and narcissistic.
In 1778, she composed the following epitaph for herself:
Having ascended to the Russian throne, she wished well
And she strongly wanted to give her subjects Happiness, Freedom and Prosperity.
She easily forgave and did not deprive anyone of their freedom.
She was lenient, didn't make life difficult for herself, and had a cheerful disposition.
She had a republican soul and a kind heart. She had friends.
Work was easy for her, friendship and the arts brought her joy.
Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin (according to some sources)
Anna Petrovna
Alexey Grigorievich Bobrinsky
Elizaveta Grigorievna Tyomkina
At the end of the 19th century, a collection of works was published Catherine II in 12 volumes, which included children's moral tales written by the empress, pedagogical teachings, dramatic plays, articles, autobiographical notes, translations.
The reign of Ekaterina Alekseevna is often considered the “golden age” Russian Empire. Thanks to her reform activities, she is the only Russian ruler who, like Peter I, was awarded the epithet “Great” in the historical memory of her compatriots.
The queen's favorite Grigory Orlov, together with his brothers, was generously showered with mercy and honors from a grateful woman. The officer was promoted to major general, received the rank of actual chamberlain, the Order of the Saint and a sword studded with diamonds.
For the time being, Grigory Grigorievich Orlov was the main man in the life of the Empress. But he could not change himself. He remained a poorly educated, rude, brave man, sincerely devoted to the queen, but unable to become her right hand, an advisor who can generate useful ideas and engage in the construction of the Russian state.
Soon the favorite place near this great woman took another worthy man- Grigory Potemkin.
Going back a little, it must be said that the ambitious Orlovs wanted to see their brother as the legal spouse of the Empress. But this was not destined to come true. According to one version, her entourage rebelled. One of the most influential nobles, Count Nikita Panin, told the Tsarina at a meeting of the State Council that she could do as she pleased, but Mrs. Orlova would never be the Empress of Russia.
According to another version, the queen herself did not want this marriage, realizing that she took everything she needed from Grigory Orlov. She needed not only a faithful, but also a very smart man next to her. Just like Potemkin.
Oryol Gate with the legendary inscription Grigory Grigorievich, at the end of his fame and influence, managed to once again prove his devotion to the queen and the state. In 1771 he was sent to Moscow, where the plague was raging. The rebellious Muscovites started a riot. Orlov managed to suppress him and accepted effective measures to eliminate the epidemic. His actions turned out to be thoughtful and lightning fast.
Grigory Orlov, who returned from Moscow to St. Petersburg, was again showered with awards and honors. In Tsarskoe Selo, a gate was erected on which was emblazoned a line from the poet:
“Moscow was saved from trouble by Orlov.”
Personal life
According to some historians, real love came to the empress's favorite at the end of his life. The nobleman, no longer needed by the queen, was sent to one of his estates, where he improved his health. Sometimes he traveled abroad, but spent most of his time in idleness on the luxurious Otrada estate.
The news that Grigory Orlov married his 18-year-old cousin Ekaterina Zinovieva, an orphan who had previously been in his care for 4 years, caused a lot of noise in St. Petersburg.
The church immediately responded with a categorical condemnation of this marriage to the closest relative. Another would have been threatened with imprisonment in a monastery, but the queen remembered the favorite’s past merits and stood up for him. She even gave his wife the title of lady of state.
The personal life of Grigory Orlov was illuminated with incredible, but short-lived happiness. He forgot about his former love of feasts and parties. He hurried home to his adored young wife Katenka, who, it seemed, also reciprocated his feelings. But suddenly, in the fourth year of their happy life together, Katya was diagnosed with consumption. Her caring husband took her to Switzerland for treatment. But a young 22-year-old woman died suddenly in Lausanne.
Death
The death of his beloved woman in the summer of 1782 became an irreparable tragedy for Grigory Orlov. He could not survive this fatal blow and became mentally deranged from grief.
The brothers transported him to the Neskuchnoye estate in Moscow (later the famous Neskuchny Garden was laid out near it).
Here Grigory Orlov, despite all the efforts of the doctors, slowly faded away into quiet insanity. He died on an April night in 1783.
The former tsar's favorite was buried in the Otrada estate in Semyonovsky, but in 1832 his coffin was transported to Novgorod and reburied near the western wall of St. George's Cathedral, where the bodies of his brothers Alexei and Fedor were already buried. Their burials have not survived to this day.
Usually, when talking about the favorites of Catherine the Great, people first of all remember Grigory Orlov, Grigory Potemkin and Platon Zubov. Sergei Saltykov is mentioned less often. But in fact, Catherine had many more secret lovers and favorites.
Empress Catherine the Great with her fifth favorite and de facto co-ruler
Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin
1. The first reliably known secret lover is Sergei Vasilyevich Saltykov (1726 - 1765).
The only one of Catherine's favorites who was older than her. Consisted in connection with the great
princess, wife of the heir to the throne, Peter Fedorovich, from 1752 to 1754.
There is still an assumption that it is Saltykov, and not Peter III, who is
father of Catherine's son Pavel.
At least immediately after the birth of Pavel, Saltykov was sent
he never returned as an envoy to Sweden or Russia.
2. Stanislav August Poniatowski (1732 - 1798) - Catherine’s secret lover from 1756 to 1758.
From the relationship between Catherine and Poniatowski, a daughter was born in 1759, who was named Anna,
of course, Petrovna (died in 1759).
In 1764, already empress, Catherine made her former lover
King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. She also deprived him of the throne, dividing Poland
with Austria and Prussia (finally in 1795).
3. Grigory Grigorievich Orlov (1734 - 1783) - since 1760 - secret lover,
and from 1762 to 1772 - the official favorite of Catherine.
Together with his brothers, he took an active part in the coup of June 28, 1762,
as a result of which Catherine ascended the Russian throne.
Also in 1762, a boy was born from this relationship, who is known as
Count Alexey Grigorievich Bobrinsky.
Grigory Orlov went mad after the death of his young wife and died in 1783.
4. Alexey Semenovich Vasilchikov (1746 - 1813) - official favorite of Catherine in 1772 - 1774.
He was the first of the empress's favorites with whom she had a significant age difference -
he was 14 years younger than Catherine.
5. His Serene Highness Prince Tauride Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin (1739 - 1791) -
Catherine's official favorite from 1774 to 1776 and her morganatic husband from 1775.
From her relationship with Potemkin, Catherine had a daughter, Elizaveta Grigorievna Temkina.
Potemkin is known not only as the empress’s favorite, but also as her de facto co-ruler,
remaining an influential political figure until his death.
In addition, from 1777 to 1789, he supplied Catherine with new favorites, who were his adjutants.
6. Pyotr Vasilyevich Zavadovsky (1739 - 1812) - official favorite of the Empress in 1776 - 1777.
In 1802, he became the first minister of public education in the history of Russia in the government of Alexander I.
7. Semyon Gavrilovich Zorich (1745 - 1799) - hussar of Serbian origin,
Potemkin's adjutant - Catherine's official favorite in 1777 - 1778.
8. Ivan Nikolaevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1754 - 1831) - official favorite of Catherine
in 1778 - 1779, her aide-de-camp.
He was 25 years younger than the empress.
9. Vasily Ivanovich Levashev (1740 - 1804) - major of the Semenovsky regiment
favorite of the Empress in October 1779.
10. Alexander Dmitrievich Lanskoy (1758 - 1784) - another adjutant of Potemkin,
official favorite of Catherine in 1780 - 1784. Lanskoy was weak
health and died at the age of 26 from angina pectoris and fever. Ekaterina is hard
experienced the death of her young lover.
11. Alexander Petrovich Ermolov (1754 - 1834) - Potemkin’s adjutant,
future hero Patriotic War 1812.
He was Catherine's official favorite in 1785 - 1786.
12. Alexander Matveevich Dmitriev-Mamonov (1758 - 1803) - Potemkin’s adjutant,
official favorite of Catherine in 1786 - 1789.
He was 29 years younger than the empress.
13. Platon Alexandrovich Zubov (1767 - 1822) - the last favorite of the Empress
from 1789 until her death on November 6, 1796.
Zubov had the largest age difference with Catherine among all the favorites,
he was 38 years younger than her.
Participant in the assassination of Paul I on March 11, 1801, since after his accession to
the throne of the emperor, Zubov and his relatives were removed from the court.
Platon Zubov’s brother, Nikolai, dealt a fatal blow to Pavel’s temple.
Even great eras do not always end gracefully. Even great women do not always know how to age with dignity.
Catherine the Great, whose reign is called the “golden age of the Russian Empire,” alas, was not among those who take the autumn of life for granted.
Clinging to her vanishing youth, Mother Empress followed the usual path of high-ranking and wealthy ladies of all eras - the older Catherine became, the younger her favorites became.
In 1789, the Russian Empress turned 60, which was quite a respectable age for the 18th century. And in the same year, Catherine the Great found her last favorite.
Third son of a retired lieutenant colonel and provincial vice-governor Alexandra Zubova Plato was not endowed with any special talents. Enrolled at the age of 8 as a sergeant in the Semenovsky regiment, in 1779 he was transferred to the Horse Guards with the rank of sergeant. He did not achieve any special military merits, and did not strive for them. The young man grew up in ranks, thanks to his parental connections, and dreamed of getting everything at once - big ranks, money and power.
In 1789, Second Captain of the Horse Guards Platon Zubov begged his superiors to allow him to command the convoy that accompanied Catherine II during her trip from St. Petersburg to Tsarskoe Selo.
The 22-year-old Horse Guardsman, endowed with a slender figure and attractive appearance, during the trip desperately tried to attract Catherine’s attention and achieved his goal. He was invited to dinner, where he received a friendly conversation. After some time, Platon Zubov found himself in the personal chambers of the empress.
Wreck of a Giant
Perhaps this advancement would not have been so rapid if not for the court intrigues. Almost all of the empress's favorites had previously been selected and controlled by the all-powerful Potemkin, and Zubov ended up in Catherine’s bed without the approval of his Serene Highness. Potemkin’s enemies, of whom he had a great many, did their best.
Potemkin himself did not take the Empress’s new lover seriously - he was stupid, devoid of any talents, narcissistic, ignorant, how could such a person argue with the Prince of Tauride for influence on Catherine?
Grigory Potemkin reasoned soberly, but did not take into account that the 60-year-old empress was increasingly less capable of sober reasoning. When she saw Platon Zubov, she completely lost her head.
Favors showered on the new favorite, he rapidly rose in rank: already in October 1789, Zubov received an appointment as a cornet of the Cavalry Corps with promotion to major general.
For Plato, Catherine did not spare awards: only in 1790 he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, the Prussian Orders of the Black and Red Eagles and the Polish Orders of the White Eagle and St. Stanislav, as well as the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.
Immersed in state affairs, Potemkin did not immediately understand how serious everything was. And when I realized, it was already too late - the empress, who doted on “Platosha,” chose to sacrifice friendship and alienate Potemkin from herself, rather than admit that her new lover was a dissolute and stupid man.
Weakness of an aging woman
In the fall of 1791, Potemkin died suddenly. The Empress was shocked by the loss of her closest associate, whom, despite everything, she considered indispensable in state affairs.
However, she decided that the “new Potemkin” could be raised from “Platoshi”. Catherine persistently tried to involve him in business government controlled, categorically refusing to see that the favorite has neither the knowledge nor the ability to do this.
His political projects were completely divorced from reality, but Catherine was ready to consider them brilliant. The fact that some of the cases entrusted to Zubov were not failed is the merit of the secretaries assigned to him, among whom, for example, was the founder of Odessa Joseph Deribas. However, Catherine entirely considered these successes to be the achievements of “Platoshi”.
The bravest people at court whispered: the empress had become stupid in her old age. Together with Plato, the entire Zubov clan broke through to high government positions: father, brothers and other relatives.
Thanks to the Zubovs, embezzlement and bribery flourished in full bloom. The courtiers, realizing that the favorite was securely entrenched in the empress's bedchamber, lined up to him, asking for favors.
High-born nobles, military generals, respectable officials - they all humbly begged Platon Zubov for help in resolving various issues. And the favorite, a pathetic shadow of Orlov and Potemkin, reveled in his power, which he so dreamed of.
Poet Derzhavin dedicated odes to Zubov, the future hero of the Patriotic War Kutuzov prepared him special coffee, and the great Suvorov gave his only, dearly beloved daughter to his favorite brother.
“The old generals and nobles were not ashamed to caress his insignificant lackeys. We often saw how these lackeys pushed away generals and officers who had been crowding at the door for a long time and were preventing them from being locked. Lounging in an armchair, in the most obscene negligee, with his little finger stuck in his nose, with his eyes aimlessly directed at the ceiling, this young man, with a cold and pouting face, barely deigned to pay attention to those around him. He amused himself with the foolishness of his monkey, which jumped over the heads of vile flatterers, or talked with his jester. And at this time the elders, under whose command he began to serve as a sergeant, - Dolgoruky, Golitsyn, Saltykov and everyone else was waiting for him to lower his gaze in order to humbly rest at his feet,” this is how they later wrote about the time of omnipotence of the last favorite of Catherine the Great.
If at that time the Russian Empire did not stagger under the weight of “Zubovism,” it was only because it was securely built in best years Catherine's reign.
Portrait of Platon Zubov by Johann Lampi. 1793 Photo: wikipedia.org
Life after Catherine
By the end of the empress’s life, Zubov’s title had grown to the point of indecentness: “General-feldtzeichmeister, director-general of fortifications, commander-in-chief of the Black Sea fleet, Voznesensk light cavalry and Black Sea Cossack army, Her Imperial Majesty Adjutant General, Chief of the Cavalry Corps, Ekaterinoslav, Voznesensky and Tauride Governor-General, member of the State Military Collegium, honorary benefactor of the Imperial Orphanage, honorary lover of the Imperial Academy of Arts and the Russian orders of St. Apostle Andrew, St. Alexander Nevsky, St. Prince Equal to the Apostles Vladimir I degree, the royal Prussian Black and Red Eagle, the Polish White Eagle and St. Stanislaus and the Grand Duke of Holstein St. Anne's Knight."
But everything that has a beginning also has an end. On November 6, 1796, Catherine the Great died in the Winter Palace.
It was as if her favorite had been replaced - pathetic, frightened, he was expecting punishment from the new Emperor Paul I. At first Pavel did not pay attention to Zubov, considering him unworthy of any revenge. Then, however, he still fell into disgrace - his estates were taken away from the treasury, and the former favorite himself was ordered to go abroad.
The disgrace and favor of Emperor Paul were very changeable. In 1800, Platon Zubov returned to Russia, received his estates back and was appointed director of the First Cadet Corps and renamed infantry generals.
This did not prevent Zubov from becoming one of the active participants in the conspiracy against Paul I. Plato, together with his brothers, was directly involved in the murder of the emperor in the Mikhailovsky Palace on March 11, 1801.
It seems that Platon Zubov himself believed that he was big statesman. In any case, he seriously expected to occupy a high post under Alexandra I, writing new plans for government reforms.
However, Alexander I perfectly understood the true value of both Zubov and his ideas. Very soon he found himself on the sidelines of political life.
Possessing a huge fortune and extensive possessions, Platon Zubov towards the end of his life became an extremely greedy and economical person. It is believed that his Stingy Knight Alexander Pushkin I copied it from Platon Zubov.
By the age of 50, the handsome young man with whom Catherine once fell in love has turned into a decrepit old man.
In 1821, at the age of 54, he decided to marry the 19-year-old daughter of a poor Vilna nobleman, Tekle Ignatievna Valentinovich. The girl’s parents did not want to hear about such a marriage, but here the miser unexpectedly showed generosity, giving a million rubles for the bride.
Zubov's Corner in Rundāle Palace. Photo: wikipedia.org
This marriage did not last long - already in April 1822, Platon Zubov died at Ruenthal Castle in Courland. His only legitimate daughter was born three weeks after her father's death and died in infancy.
The young widow, who inherited her husband's fortune, married the count four years later. Andrey Petrovich Shuvalov, with whom she lived in a happy marriage for almost half a century, giving birth to four children.
Tekla Valentinovich-Zubova-Shuvalova. Photo circa 1867. Photo:
Catherine II is the great Russian empress, whose reign became the most significant period in Russian history. The era of Catherine the Great is marked by the “golden age” of the Russian Empire, whose cultural and political culture the queen raised to the European level. The biography of Catherine II is full of light and dark stripes, numerous plans and achievements, as well as a stormy personal life, about which films are made and books are written to this day.
Catherine II was born on May 2 (April 21, old style) 1729 in Prussia in the family of the governor of Stettin, Prince of Zerbst and the Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp. Despite the rich pedigree, the princess's family did not have a significant fortune, but this did not stop the parents from providing home education for their daughter, without much ceremony with her upbringing. At the same time, the future Russian empress high level learned English, Italian and French languages, mastered dancing and singing, and also gained knowledge of the basics of history, geography and theology.
As a child, the young princess was a playful and curious child with a pronounced “boyish” character. She didn't show any special mental abilities and did not demonstrate her talents, but helped her mother a lot in raising her younger sister Augusta, which suited both parents. IN early years Mother's name was Catherine II Fike, which means little Federica.
At the age of 15, it became known that the Zerbst princess had been chosen as a bride for her heir, Peter Fedorovich, who later became the Russian Emperor. In this regard, the princess and her mother were secretly invited to Russia, where they went under the name of the Countesses of Rhinebeck. The girl immediately began studying Russian history, language and Orthodoxy in order to learn more fully about her new homeland. Soon she converted to Orthodoxy and was named Ekaterina Alekseevna, and the next day she became engaged to Pyotr Fedorovich, who was her second cousin.
Palace coup and ascension to the throne
After the wedding with Peter III In the life of the future Russian empress, practically nothing changed - she continued to devote herself to self-education, studying philosophy, jurisprudence and the works of world famous authors, since her husband showed absolutely no interest in her and openly had fun with other ladies in front of her eyes. After nine years of marriage, when the relationship between Peter and Catherine went completely wrong, the queen gave birth to an heir to the throne, who was immediately taken away from her and was practically not allowed to see him.
Then a plan to overthrow her husband from the throne matured in the head of Catherine the Great. She subtly, clearly and prudently organized a palace coup, in which she was helped English ambassador Williams and the Chancellor of the Russian Empire, Count Alexei Bestuzhev.
It soon turned out that both confidants of the future Russian empress had betrayed her. But Catherine did not abandon her plan and found new allies in its implementation. They were the Orlov brothers, adjutant Khitrov and sergeant Potemkin. Took part in the organization palace coup and foreigners who provided sponsorship for bribery the right people.
In 1762, the Empress was completely ready to take a decisive step - she went to St. Petersburg, where the guards units, who by that time were already dissatisfied with the military policy of Emperor Peter III, swore allegiance to her. After this, he abdicated the throne, was taken into custody and soon died under unknown circumstances. Two months later, on September 22, 1762, Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst was crowned in Moscow and became Empress Catherine II of Russia.
Reign and achievements of Catherine II
From the very first day of her ascension to the throne, the queen clearly formulated her royal tasks and began to actively implement them. She quickly formulated and carried out reforms in the Russian Empire, which affected all spheres of life of the population. Catherine the Great pursued a policy that took into account the interests of all classes, which won the enormous support of her subjects.
To pull the Russian Empire out of the financial quagmire, the tsarina carried out secularization and took away the lands of churches, turning them into secular property. This made it possible to pay off the army and replenish the treasury of the empire by 1 million peasant souls. At the same time, she managed to quickly establish trade in Russia, doubling the number industrial enterprises in the country. Thanks to this, the amount of government revenue increased fourfold, the empire was able to maintain a large army and begin the development of the Urals.
Concerning domestic policy Catherine, today it is called “absolutism”, because the empress tried to achieve the “common good” for society and the state. The absolutism of Catherine II was marked by the adoption of new legislation, which was adopted on the basis of the “Order of Empress Catherine,” containing 526 articles. Due to the fact that the queen’s policy was still “pro-noble” in nature, from 1773 to 1775 she was faced with a peasant uprising led by. The peasant war engulfed almost the entire empire, but the state army was able to suppress the rebellion and arrest Pugachev, who was subsequently executed.
In 1775, Catherine the Great held territorial division empire and expanded Russia into 11 provinces. During her reign, Russia acquired Azov, Kiburn, Kerch, Crimea, Kuban, as well as part of Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and western part Volyn. At the same time, elected courts were introduced in the country, which dealt with criminal and civil cases of the population.
In 1785, the Empress organized local government in cities. At the same time, Catherine II established a clear set of noble privileges - she freed the nobles from paying taxes, compulsory military service, and gave them the right to own lands and peasants. Thanks to the empress, a secondary education system was introduced in Russia, for which special closed schools, institutes for girls, and educational homes were built. In addition, Catherine founded Russian Academy, which has become one of the leading European scientific bases.
Special attention During her reign, Catherine devoted development Agriculture. Under her, for the first time in Russia, bread began to be sold, which the population could buy with paper money, also introduced into use by the empress. Also among the valor of the monarch is the introduction of vaccination in Russia, which made it possible to prevent epidemics of fatal diseases in the country, thereby maintaining the population.
During her reign, Catherine the Second survived 6 wars, in which she received the desired trophies in the form of lands. Her foreign policy Many to this day consider it immoral and hypocritical. But the woman managed to go down in Russian history as a powerful monarch who became an example of patriotism for future generations of the country, despite the absence of even a drop of Russian blood in her.
Personal life
The personal life of Catherine II is legendary and arouses interest to this day. The Empress was committed to " free love", which was a consequence of her unsuccessful marriage with Peter III.
The love stories of Catherine the Great are marked in history by a series of scandals, and the list of her favorites contains 23 names, as evidenced by data from authoritative Catherine scholars.
The most famous lovers of the monarch were Platon Zubov, who at the age of 20 became the favorite of 60-year-old Catherine the Great. Historians do not rule out that the empress’s love affairs were her kind of weapon, with the help of which she carried out her activities on the royal throne.
It is known that Catherine the Great had three children - a son from her legal marriage with Peter III, Pavel Petrovich, Alexey Bobrinsky, born from Orlov, and a daughter, Anna Petrovna, who died of illness at the age of one.
IN last years In her life, the empress devoted herself to caring for her grandchildren and heirs, as she was on bad terms with her son Paul. She wanted to transfer power and the crown to her eldest grandson, whom she personally prepared for the royal throne. But her plans were not destined to happen, since her legal heir learned about his mother’s plan and carefully prepared for the fight for the throne.
The death of Catherine II occurred according to the new style on November 17, 1796. The Empress died from a severe stroke; she tossed about in agony for several hours and, without regaining consciousness, passed away in agony. She was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Movies
The image of Catherine the Great is very often used in modern cinema. Her bright and rich biography is taken as a basis by screenwriters all over the world, since the great Russian Empress Catherine II had a turbulent life filled with intrigues, conspiracies, love affairs and the struggle for the throne, but at the same time she became one of the most worthy rulers of the Russian Empire.
In 2015, a fascinating historical show started in Russia, for the script of which facts were taken from the diaries of the queen herself, who turned out to be a “male ruler” by nature, and not a feminine mother and wife.
