List of men of Catherine II the Great - Love passions. Personal life of Catherine II

Plan
Introduction
1 Feature
2 Chronological listings
2.1 Husbands, lovers and favorites
2.2 Children

3 In books, film and propaganda
4 See also
5 Bibliography
Bibliography Introduction The list of men of Catherine II includes men who figured in the intimate life of Empress Catherine the Great (1729-1796), including her spouses (legitimate and possibly morganatic; highlighted in purple in the table), official favorites and lovers. Catherine is notorious because of for his connections with numerous lovers, however, the number of names actually known from the memoirs of his contemporaries reaches only 23 (according to the list of the Ekaterinologist P. I. Bartenev with additions by Ya. L. Barskov; there are discrepancies). Only 10 of them officially occupied the post of favorite with all his privileges and duties, and therefore information about the others is rather vague, in particular, it is not always clear to what stage their relationship with the empress reached and how long they lasted, and for several they are not known exact surnames (highlighted in green in the table). The most famous of her favorites were Grigory Orlov, Grigory Potemkin and Platon Zubov. After the death of her husband Peter III in 1762, she planned a marriage with Orlov, however, on the advice of those close to her, she abandoned this idea, and with Potemkin, most likely, Catherine was secretly married in 1775 (see Wedding of Catherine II and Potemkin) - with these two men, as well as with the early deceased Alexander Lansky, she was connected by the strongest feelings. Three or four children were born to Catherine, and two or three more are attributed to her (see separate table). 1. Feature In 1778, the Frenchman Corberon reported to his government that “in Russia, from time to time, a kind of interregnum in affairs is noticed, which coincides with the displacement of one favorite and the appearance of a new one. This event overshadows all others. It concentrates on itself all interests and directs them in one direction; even ministers to whom this general mood responds suspend business until the final choice of a temporary worker brings everyone back to normal and gives the government machine its usual course. ”Usually (except for a short period in 1778-1780, when she was under fifty, and she changed several lovers in a short time) Catherine spent several years with her favorites, parting with them usually due to incompatibility of characters, poor education of favorites, their betrayals or unworthy behavior (the favorites had problems due to a big difference in age with the Empress, her rigid daily routine and control over their schedule and the need to pay respect to Potemkin). The surviving correspondence of Catherine with her lovers betrays “her unbridled sensuality”, but “as far as we know, she never entered into a relationship without love. There is no evidence that she ever approached a man, not believing that she was entering into a long and serious relationship. Probably, there were both "transitional cases" and "one-night dates" in search of a suitable companion, but they were inevitably rare, since it was almost impossible to bring someone into the palace and take them out without passing numerous servants, guards and courtiers who invariably noticed and commented any actions of the empress (information about a potential future favorite was valuable - letters from foreign diplomats to their homeland indicate that they carefully collected such rumors). Catherine's relationship with her favorites was the warmest, she actually passionately fell in love with each of them, surrounding each care and attention. The novel usually began "with an outburst of her maternal love, German sentimentality and admiration for the beauty of her new lover". She admired the current favorite in communicating with others, and when it became necessary to part with him, she fell into depression and sometimes abandoned business for several weeks. None of the lovers who lost her favor, even those who cheated on her, were not subjected to serious disgrace, they were usually sent from the capital with large gifts to the bestowed estates. Contemporaries and historians (especially Soviet ones) calculated the amounts that Catherine spent on gifts to her beloved during the period of favor, and called colossal numbers. Potemkin shortly before his death, April 1791 Almost all of her favorites after Potemkin were presented to Catherine by him personally (except for Zubov) and defended his interests. Apparently, after the crisis caused by the appearance of the next favorite after Potemkin, Zavadovsky, an “tacit agreement” was concluded between Catherine and Potemkin: each favorite should protect the interests of the prince at court. She demanded unquestioning obedience to Potemkin from the favorites, and if this rule was violated, the favorite was fired. The favorites of the empress were young people who had neither wealth nor influential relatives, who owed their exaltation entirely to Potemkin and Catherine and did not subsequently play an independent role. Potemkin's biographer writes that historians often overlooked the triangle "Catherine - Potemkin - young favorite", but it was precisely such a triangle that made up the "family" of the empress. Potemkin's rooms were still connected to the apartments of the Empress, he had the right to enter without a report, and the current favorite at any moment could be faced with the need to endure his company or even retire. Apparently, Ekaterina and Potemkin did not interrupt their “marital relations” until the end of their lives. Some memoirists call him "favorite-anshef", and the rest - "Unter favorites". 2. Chronological lists 2.1. Husbands, lovers and favorites №

Name Portrait The beginning of a relationship End of a relationship Status Note Officially recognized Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna(1757-1759), most likely, was the daughter of Poniatowski, as Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich himself believed, who, judging by Catherine's Notes, said: “God knows where my wife gets pregnant from; I don’t know for sure if this child is mine and if 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. The only foreigner on the list of beloved Catherine, a born German princess: such an addiction to Russian beauties pleased her subjects, who remembered the “German dominance” of favorites Anna Ioannovna and Anna Leopoldovna. Born Little Russian. Since his retirement, he has held prominent positions in the administration. He loved the empress “like a woman” and was truly jealous of her, which hurt him in her eyes. I could not forget her even after parting. He left for the Lyalichi estate granted to him, in 1777 he was recalled by the empress back to the capital, since 1780 he has been engaged in administrative activities on her behalf. He became the first minister of public education. He married Vera Nikolaevna Apraksina, daughter of S. O. Apraksina, niece and master of Kirill Razumovsky. Considered next in ability after Potemkin among Catherine's favorites; the only one, besides him, whom she allowed to return and instructed to engage in state activities. 25 years younger than the empress; Catherine was attracted by his announced "innocence". He was very handsome and had an excellent voice (for the sake of it, Catherine invited world-famous musicians to Russia). After losing favor, he first stayed in St. Petersburg and talked about his connection with the empress in the living rooms, 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. In the end, her husband divorced Stroganova. Korsakov lived with her until the end of her life, they had a son and two daughters. Chronology of the "interregnum" (according to Kazimir Valishevsky):

1778, June - the rise of Korsakov 1778, August - rivals are trying to beat off the favors of the empress from him, they are supported by Potemkin (on the one hand) and Panin and Orlov (on the other) 1778, September - Strakhov defeats his rivals 4 months later - the rise of Levashov. A young man patronized by Countess Bruce, Sveikovsky (or Svihovsky), pierced himself with a sword in desperation that this officer was preferred to him. Rimsky-Korsakov briefly returns to his former position Rimsky-Korsakov fights Stoyanov

29 years younger than the 54-year-old at the time of the beginning of the relationship of the empress. The only one of the favorites who did not interfere in politics and refused influence, ranks, and orders. He shared Catherine's interest in the sciences and, under her guidance, studied French and got acquainted with philosophy. Enjoyed universal sympathy. He sincerely adored the empress and tried his best to keep peace with Potemkin. If Catherine began to flirt with someone else, Lanskoy “did not get jealous, didn’t cheat on her, didn’t dare, but so touching […] he lamented her disfavor and suffered so sincerely that he won her love again.” In 1767, while 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 he proposed a candidate as a favorite. He was tall and slender, blond, sullen, taciturn, honest and too simple. With letters of recommendation from Chancellor Count Bezborodko, he left for Germany and Italy. Everywhere he kept himself very modest. After his resignation, he settled in Moscow and married Elizaveta Mikhailovna Golitsyna, with whom he had children. The nephew of the previous favorite is Vasily Levashov. Then he left for Austria, where he bought a rich and profitable Frosdorf estate near Vienna, where he died at the age of 82. 28-year-old at the time of the beginning of the relationship. He was tall and intelligent. He wrote poetry and plays. He did not interfere in the administration of the state. Being married in Moscow, he repeatedly applied to Empress Catherine II with a request to allow him to return to St. Petersburg, but was refused. As Golovkin remarked: “He was neither this nor that, and nothing at all; he had only one entertainment - to harass his wife, whom he endlessly accused of being the culprit of his complete insignificance. She bore him 4 children, eventually dispersed. 2.2. Children Catherine's motherhood is indisputable only in relation to three children, and practically certain in relation to the fourth. The family ties with her of the remaining children (highlighted in blue in the table) are unprovable. Her only legitimate child, Grand Duke Pavel, was the result of her third pregnancy, the first two ended in miscarriages (December 1750 and March 1753). Name Portrait Years of life Father Note The baby was given to the upbringing of Potemkin's relatives. Although the version regarding Catherine's motherhood is considered generally accepted, there are also doubts about her - for example, the modern biographer Potemkin Montefiore doubts this, pointing out that there is no evidence that Potemkin took care of her, as he usually took care of his relatives, and also pointing out that that Tyomkin was never advertised at court, unlike Bobrinsky, who was not hidden at all. It is also worth noting the large time gap between the birth of Bobrinsky and Tyomkina and the dangerously mature age of Catherine II by this time. In addition, in the rooms of Catherine, her legitimate grandchildren from Paul (Alexander, Konstantin, etc.) were brought up, as well as for some time his eldest, illegitimate son, Semyon the Great. 3. In books, movies and propaganda Catherine II began to be notorious for her love of love even during her lifetime (largely due to anti-Russian propaganda), so in the literature you can find the most incredible fabrications about her intimate life (the number of lovers was called in the amount of 200-300 people) and all kinds of perversions, including bestiality. Young Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna

According to Lavoe, Catherine allegedly had a lover back in her homeland in Stettin, Count B..., who thought he was married to her, but this marriage was fictitious, since during the wedding Catherine was replaced in front of the altar by one of her friends, hidden under veil. This, at the direction of Valishevsky, is just a stupid fairy tale. The same Lavoe, gossiping, wrote that Saltykov had given way to some buffoon Dalolio, a Venetian by birth, and he also arranged new acquaintances for several days with his august mistress in the Yelagin house. Favoritism at Catherine's court was condemned by many, primarily by those who found themselves in political opposition (for example, Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, Semyon Vorontsov, Pyotr Panin). Mikhail Shcherbatov, in his essay “On the Corruption of Morals in Russia,” criticized her vice. This topic became especially fashionable in the last years of Catherine's reign, when not a single foreigner who wrote about Russia could do without mentioning it. Gossip lover Oxford professor John Parkinson, who visited the empire after Potemkin's death, collected and popularized jokes about Catherine: “In one company there was a dispute about which of the channels cost the most. One of those present noted that there can be no two opinions about this matter: the most expensive channel is Catherine's. Ambassador Sir John Macartney stated, in particular, that Catherine's taste for Russian men was due to the fact that "Russian wet nurses have a habit of constantly pulling off the male organ from babies, which miraculously lengthens it." O. Remizov, author of The Other Petersburg, tells how at the end of the 19th century the artist Konstantin Somov, the son of the curator of the Hermitage, hosted his friends - Kuzmin, possibly Diaghilev, Akhmatova and others. Somov said that his father discovered a magnificent cast of Potemkin's member in the Catherine's collection. When the guests did not believe him, he invited them to another room and showed them a porcelain cast. The item was later returned to the Hermitage, where it was never seen again. A description of the “tasting” of a potential favorite by women close to Catherine has been preserved. The author of the highly dubious memoirs Saint-Jean, who may have served in Potemkin's cavalry, repeated this story with the selection of the candidate by Potemkin, the examination by the doctor and the "main test" - and this legend is almost completely false, being true only in the possibility of examination by a doctor and the mention of dinner. The version of the "tasting" of future favorites, in particular Praskovya Bruce, is called into question by the fact that Bruce and the favorite Rimsky-Korsakov were removed from the court by Catherine for becoming lovers. Almost everyone believed in Potemkin's pimping: "Now he plays the same role that Pompadour did at the end of his life under Louis XV," de Corberon declared. In fact, the empress often chose not at all the one whom he read as her favorite, and the fact that she limited herself to his entourage was due to her confidence in their future loyalty to Potemkin. Leopold von Sacher-Masoch in the book “Novels of the Russian court. Passion at the Court of Catherine the Great" ( Katherina II, Russische Holgeschichten ) describes Catherine's seduction of lieutenant Mirovich and her use of sex to intrigue the elimination of her rival, Emperor John Antonovich. Other short stories in the collection are also devoted to the adventures of Catherine in line with the author's favorite masochism under the hand of a strong woman. Before Saltykov, a certain modern work and its derivatives also recorded Andrei Chernyshev and his two brothers, including Zakhar (probably referring to the famous sons of Avdotya Chernysheva, among whom was Zakhar, but there was no Andrei), the Swedish envoy Count Polenberg, Kirill Razumovsky. In addition to Sergei Saltykov - his brother, after him and before Poniatovsky - Lev Naryshkin, from whom she allegedly became pregnant; 2 years after the start of communication with Orlov, they mention “the handsome Pole Vysotsky, whom she saw in the park” (in fact, a person with such a surname was Potemkin’s nephew and was introduced to the empress’s alcove several decades later). In the same text, however, it is described that she was with Vasilchikov for several weeks, while in fact - almost 2 years; also attributed to her as a constant lover of Chancellor Panin, court stoker Teplov, a certain Armenian merchant (Lazarev?), As well as lesbian ties, for example, with a gypsy brought by Potemkin. In particular, Suvorov's disgrace and his exile to the estate are associated with the fact that he allegedly refused to provide the empress with his daughter for carnal pleasures. Zorich’s “case” is here connected not with Potemkin’s intrigue, but with the fact that Catherine decided to caress the nephew of a certain midwife named Zorich, who, on her orders, allegedly poisoned the wife of Grand Duke Paul Natalya Alekseevna (hussar Zorich, however, was from the nobility, and it is unlikely whether he had such relatives); Lanskoy in this case also turns out to be "poisoned" on the orders of Potemkin. Then they name among her favorites a certain officer Khvostov, Chancellor Bezborodko, Prince de Lin and Count de Segur. Mamonov’s wife, the maid of honor Shcherbatova, is not named Daria, but Elizabeth, and here she is not only given out with a dowry to marry a retired favorite, but on the orders of Catherine, the “overdone” Sheshkovsky immures her alive in the wall, then they take her out of there, marry, soldiers burst into the bedroom of the newlyweds, Mamonov is tied up, and his wife is raped by a company and beaten with whips on her back in blood. These and similar fabrications of pornographers, writing down any of her close associates as lovers of the Empress, do not agree with the studies of Catherine's scholars, who, based on the memoirs of contemporaries, compiled the list published above. The Polish-Jewish religious figure, false messiah Jacob Frank spread rumors that his daughter Eva Frank was born Catherine. According to gossip, Lanskoy died because he undermined his health with stimulants. Byron, poem "Don Juan"(1818-1819) - Catherine becomes the protagonist's mistress after the capture of Ishmael in 1790. Bernard Show. "Great Catherine"- a popular and screened play by the famous satirist playwright reinforced the myth of the depravity of the empress common in the West. The most repulsive is the rumor of an insatiable sexual appetite, due to which she died, as if crushed by a stallion raised on a rope, with which she tried to copulate. This rumor most likely traces its history to revolutionary France, where the monarch was unpopular, and similar gossip about horses circulated about Marie Antoinette. In the West, Catherine was called the "Russian Messalina." There is a German porn movie from the 1980s "Katharina und ihre wilden Hengste (de)"(Catherine and her wild stallions). Robert Asprin and Linda Evans fantasy novel "Time Scouts" about time travel: “Some lucky guy with BB-73 managed to make a Gate in the middle of the Russian palace built by Catherine the Great, and inadvertently find her in a delicate position with one of those notorious Russian boars ... (...) He remembered Catherine the Great and her Russian boar, and he wondered what this young child would do in a similar situation. Would you scream like an angry schoolgirl, or protest animal cruelty?” In one episode of the animated series Clone High, a clone of Catherine has a sexual relationship with a clone of President Kennedy.

See alsoWedding of Catherine II and PotemkinList of favorites of Elizabeth PetrovnaList of illegitimate children of Russian emperors Bibliography

Bobrinsky A.G. Diary of Count Bobrinsky, kept in the cadet corps and while traveling in Russia and abroad // Russian archive, 1877. - Book. 3. - Issue. 10. - S. 116-165. Gelbig G. background Russian chosen ones. - M: 1999. Evgenyeva M. Lovers of Catherine. - M: Vneshtorgizdat, 1989. Catherine II and her favorites. Features. Evidence. Cases. Jokes. Jokes. - 2004. - ISBN 5-89947-004-6 Virginia Rounding Catherine the Great: love, sex and power. - 2006. Longinov M. N. Favorites of Catherine II, chronological list // Russian archive. - 1911. - No. 7. Shcherbatov M.M. Notes of Prince M.M. Shcherbatov about the damage to morals in Russia // Russian antiquity, 1870. - T. 2. - Ed. 3rd. - St. Petersburg, 1875 - S. 1-62; 1871. - T. 3. - No. 6. - S. 673-688.

Bibliography:

Kazimir Valishevsky. Romance of the Empress. Part 2. Book. 4. Chap. 3. The intimate life of Catherine. - Favoritism N. Bolotin. The youngest son of Catherine II // Science and Life. No. 9, 1999 Corberon's dispatch to Count Vergenne from St. Petersburg on September 17, 1778 S. S. Montefiore. "Potemkin" V. S. Lopatin. Letters Without Which History Becomes Myth Genealogical Tree. Ancestors and descendants of Catherine II the Great (1729-1796), Empress of Russia K. Valishevsky. Novel of the Empress // Part 1. Book. 1. Chap. 3. Secondary education of Catherine Letters of Catherine II to G. A. Potemkin // Questions of history. No. 6, 1989. Letters from Empress Catherine II to c. P. V. Zavadovsky. (1775-1777) // Russian Historical Journal, No. 5. 1918 Count Petr Vasilyevich Zavadovsky // Russian portraits of the 18th and 19th centuries. Edition of the Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich Romanov Minister of Education Count PV Zavadovsky Gelbig G. background. Russian chosen ones. - M., 1999. According to a letter from Zavadovsky to Field Marshal Rumyantsev. M. Yu. Lermontov in Tsarskoye Selo: Forerunner. N. S. Mordvinov V. N. Balyazin. Secrets of the Romanovs. Family unions Miklashevsky Mikhail Pavlovich Buksgevden Natalia Aleksandrovna Ekaterina II. Sex bomb of the Russian throne Frank, Eva // Encyclopedia Judaica Historical Myths: The Death of Catherine the Great

The list of men of Catherine II 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 lover, but how can we object to the empress, then, of course, there were 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 June 28 (July 9), 1762 - the 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 Poniatovsky). He suffered, he was a type of impotence, and in the early years did not carry out marital relations with her. Then this problem was solved with the help of a surgical operation, and in order to perform it, Saltykov got Peter drunk.

2. While she was engaged, she also had an affair, Saltykov, Sergey Vasilyevich (1726-1765). In 1752 he was at the small court of the Grand Dukes Catherine and Peter. The beginning of the 1752 novel. The end of the relationship was the born child Pavel in October 1754. After that, Saltykov was expelled from St. Petersburg and sent as an 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 novel, her daughter Anna Petrovna (1757-1759) was born to her, and Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich himself thought so, who, judging by Catherine's Notes, said: “God knows where my wife gets pregnant from; I don’t know for sure if this child is mine and if 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. Also, Catherine 2 was not upset and continued to fall in love further. Her next secret lover was Orlov, Grigory Grigoryevich (1734-1783). The beginning of the novel in the spring of 1759, Count Schwerin, the adjutant wing of Frederick II, arrived in St. Petersburg, who was captured in the Battle of Zorndorf, to which Orlov was assigned as a guard. Orlov gained fame by repulsing his mistress from Pyotr Shuvalov. The end of the relationship 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, Alexei Grigorievich was born on April 22, 1762, a few months after the death of Elizabeth Petrovna. It is reported that on the day when she began giving birth, her faithful servant Shkurin set fire to his house, and Peter rushed off to look at the fire . Orlov and his passionate brothers contributed to the overthrow of Peter and Catherine's accession 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. Often stood guard in Tsarskoye Selo, received a golden snuffbox. I took Orlov's room. On March 20, 1774, in connection with the rise of Potemkin, he was sent to Moscow. Catherine considered him boring (14 years difference). After his resignation, 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 his personal life, thanks to his abilities he maintained Catherine's friendship and respect and for many years remained the second person in the state. He was unmarried, his personal life consisted of the "enlightenment" of his young nieces, including Ekaterina Engelgart.

7. Zavadovsky, Pyotr Vasilyevich (1739-1812) official favorite.
The beginning of relations in 1776. November, presented to the Empress as the author, interested Catherine. In 1777, June did not suit Potemkin and was dismissed. Also in May 1777, Catherine met Zorich. He was jealous of Catherine 2, which hurt. 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 bodyguard. 1778 June caused inconvenience, expelled from St. Petersburg (14 years younger than the Empress) Was fired and expelled with a small reward. He founded the Shklov School. Entangled in debt and was suspected of counterfeiting.

9. Rimsky-Korsakov, Ivan Nikolaevich (1754-1831) Official favorite. 1778, June. Noticed by Potemkin, who was looking for a replacement for 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 adjutant wing to the empress. 1779, October 10. Removed from the court, after the Empress found him in the arms of Countess Praskovya Bruce, Field Marshal Rumyantsev's sister. 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 the sake of it, Catherine invited world-famous musicians to Russia). After losing favor, he first stayed in St. Petersburg and talked about his connection with the empress in the living rooms, 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. In the end, her husband divorced Stroganova. Korsakov lived with her until the end of her life, they had a son and two daughters.

10 Stakhiev (Fears) The beginning of relations in 1778; 1779, June. The end of relations 1779, October. According to the description of contemporaries, "a jester of the lowest sort." Strakhov was the protege of Count N.I. Panin Strakhov may be Ivan Varfolomeevich Strakhov (1750-1793), in which case he was not the Empress' lover, but a man whom Panin considered insane, and who, when Catherine once told him that he can 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) The beginning of relations 1778. End of relationship 1778. Potemkin's protege.

12 Rantsov (Rontsov), Ivan Romanovich (1755-1791) The beginning of relations 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 the London crowd in the riots organized by Lord George Gordon.

13 Levashov, Vasily Ivanovich (1740 (?) - 1804). The beginning of relations in 1779, October. The end of the relationship 1779, October. Major of the Semyonovsky regiment, a young man patronized by Countess Bruce. He was witty and funny. The uncle of one of the subsequent favorites is Ermolova. 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). The beginning of relations 1780, March. Potemkin's nephew. End of relationship 1780, March.

15 Lanskoy, Alexander Dmitrievich (1758-1784) Official favorite. The beginning of relations 1780 April He was introduced to Catherine by Chief of Police P. I. Tolstoy, she drew attention to him, but he did not become a favorite. Levashev turned to Potemkin for help, he made him his adjutant and led his court education for about six months, after which in the spring of 1780 he recommended him to the empress as a cordial friend. End of relationship 1784, July 25. He died after a five-day illness with a toad and fever. 29 years younger than the 54-year-old at the time of the beginning of the relationship of the empress. The only one of the favorites who did not interfere in politics and refused influence, ranks, and orders. He shared Catherine's interest in the sciences and, under her guidance, studied French and got acquainted with philosophy. Enjoyed universal sympathy. He sincerely adored the empress and tried his best to keep peace with Potemkin. If Catherine began to flirt with someone else, Lanskoy “did not get jealous, didn’t cheat on her, didn’t dare, but so touching […] he lamented her disfavor and suffered so sincerely that he won her love again.”

16. Mordvinov. The beginning of relations in 1781. May. Lermontov's relative. Probably Mordvinov, Nikolai Semyonovich (1754-1845). The admiral's son, the same age as Grand Duke Paul, was brought up with him. The episode was not reflected in his biography, usually not mentioned. Became a famous naval commander. Lermontov's relative

17 Ermolov, Alexander Petrovich (1754-1834) February 1785, a holiday was specially arranged to introduce him to the Empress. 1786, June 28. He decided to act against Potemkin (the Crimean Khan Sahib-Girey was supposed to receive large sums from Potemkin, but they were detained, and the khan turned to Yermolov for help), in addition, the empress cooled off. 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 he proposed a candidate as a favorite. He was tall and slender, blond, sullen, taciturn, honest and too simple. With letters of recommendation from Chancellor Count Bezborodko, he left for Germany and Italy. Everywhere he kept himself very modest. After his resignation, he settled in Moscow and married Elizaveta Mikhailovna Golitsyna, with whom he had children. The nephew of the previous favorite is Vasily Levashov. Then he left for Austria, where he bought a rich and profitable Frosdorf estate near Vienna, where he died at the age of 82.

18. Dmitriev-Mamonov, Alexander Matveyevich (1758-1803) In 1786, June is presented to the Empress after Yermolov's departure. In 1789, he fell in love with Princess Darya Fedorovna Shcherbatova, Catherine was donated. asked for forgiveness, forgiven. After the wedding, he was forced to leave St. Petersburg. Future married in Moscow. Repeatedly asked to return to St. Petersburg, but was refused. His wife gave birth to 4 children, eventually parted.

19. Miloradovich. The beginning of relations in 1789. He was among the candidates who were proposed after Dmitriev's resignation. They also included the retired second-major of the Preobrazhensky regiment of Kazarinov, Baron Mengden - all young handsome men, behind each of whom were influential courtiers (Potyomkin, Bezborodko, Naryshkin, Vorontsov and Zavadovsky). End of relationship 1789.

20. Miklashevsky. The beginning of the relationship is 1787. The end is 1787. Miklashevsky was a candidate, but he did not become a favorite. According to evidence, during the trip of Catherine II to the Crimea in 1787, some 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 towards favor), but it is not clear from what year. In 1798, Mikhail Miklashevsky was appointed Little Russian governor, but was soon dismissed. In the biography, the episode with Catherine is usually not mentioned.

21. Zubov, Platon Alexandrovich (1767-1822) Official favorite. The beginning of relations in 1789, July. He was a protege of Field Marshal Prince N. I. Saltykov, the main educator of Catherine's grandchildren. End of relationship 1796, November 6th. The last favorite of Catherine. Relations were interrupted with her death. 22-year-old at the time of the beginning of relations with the 60-year-old empress. The first official favorite since the time of Potemkin, who was not his adjutant. Behind him were N. I. Saltykov and A. N. Naryshkina, and Perekusikhina also fussed for him. He enjoyed great influence, practically managed to force out Potemkin, who threatened to "come and pull out a tooth." Later 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 II. Monuments dedicated to her.

The intimate life of Catherine the Great has long been the subject of discussion and controversy. This section lists officially confirmed and alleged men, some of whom had the official status of a favorite, while others were considered only lovers (which, however, did not prevent them from receiving generous gifts and titles from the empress).

Confirmed and official relationship

1. Romanov Peter III Fedorovich

Status: husband
Relationship start: official wedding on September 1, 1745
End of a relationship: died under unexplained circumstances 9 July 1762
Add. information: the children of Peter III - Pavel and Anna, were presumably the children of two lovers of Catherine II. Pavel Petrovich, according to the most popular theory, is the son of Sergei Saltykov, Anna Petrovna is the daughter of Stanislav Poniatovsky, who later became the Polish king. The empress accused her husband of not having a normal intimate life and justified her novels by his lack of interest in her person.

1. Saltykov Sergey Vasilievich

Status: Lover
Relationship start: spring 1752
End of a relationship: October 1754 - a few months before the birth of Paul I, he was no longer allowed to see the Empress, after his birth he was sent as an ambassador to Sweden.
Add. information: according to one version, he is the real father of Paul I. He was recommended to Catherine II by Bestuzhev, during the period of final disappointment by Empress Elizabeth in Peter III.

1. Stanislav August Poniatowski

Status: Lover
Relationship start: 1756, arrived in Russia as part of the retinue of the English ambassador
End of a relationship: when in 1758 Bestuzhev, as a result of an unsuccessful intrigue, fell into disgrace - Poniatowski was forced to leave the Russian Empire
Add. information: the probable father of Anna Petrovna, which was indirectly confirmed by Peter III himself. Subsequently, thanks to the patronage of Catherine the Great, he became the Polish king and contributed to the division of the Commonwealth.

1. Orlov Grigory Grigorievich

Status: Lover before 1762, 1762-1772 - official favorite
Relationship start: 1760
End of a relationship: in 1772 he went to negotiate with the Ottoman Empire, during this period Catherine II lost interest in relations and drew attention to Alexander Vasilchakov.
Add. information: one of the longest novels of the Empress. In 1762, Catherine the Great even planned a wedding with Orlov, but the environment considered such an undertaking too adventurous and was able to dissuade her. From Orlov, the Empress in 1762 gave birth to an illegitimate son - Alexei Grigorievich Bobrinsky. He took a direct part in the coup of 1762. One of the most intimate people of the Empress.

1. Vasilchakov Alexander Semyonovich

Status: official favorite
Relationship start: in 1772 attracted the attention of Catherine II, while Count Orlov was away.
End of a relationship: after the start of relations between the Empress and Potemkin in 1774, he was sent to Moscow.
Add. information: was 17 years younger than Catherine, could not be a serious opponent to Potemkin in the struggle for attention.

1. Potemkin-Tavrichesky Grigory Alexandrovich

Status: official favorite
Relationship start: in 1774.
End of a relationship: during his vacation in 1776, the empress turned her attention to Zavadovsky.
Add. information: one of the most prominent figures in the intimate life of Catherine II was secretly married to her since 1775. An outstanding commander and statesman, having influence on her even after the end of intimacy. Presumably, his daughter, Tyomkina Elizaveta Grigorievna, was born to Catherine.

1. Zavadovsky Petr Vasilievich

Status: official favorite
Relationship start: in 1776.
End of a relationship: in May 1777 he was dismissed by the intrigues of Potemkin and sent on vacation.
Add. information: a capable administrative figure who loved the empress too much. Only Zavadovsky was allowed by Catherine to continue his political career after the end of the relationship.

1. Zorich Semyon Gavrilovich

Status: official favorite
Relationship start: in 1777 he appeared as an adjutant to Potemkin, and then became the commander of the personal guard of the Empress.
End of a relationship: sent from St. Petersburg in 1778 after a quarrel with Potemkin
Add. information: a hussar who has no education, but enjoys the attention of Catherine, who was 14 years older than him.

1. Rimsky-Korsakov Ivan Nikolaevich

Status: official favorite
Relationship start: in 1778 he was selected by Potemkin, who was looking for a more accommodating and less gifted favorite to replace Zorich.
End of a relationship: in 1779 he was caught by the empress in a relationship with the Countess Bruce and lost favor.
Add. information: was 25 years younger than Catherine. After the countess, Bruce became interested in Stroganova and was sent from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

1. Lanskoy Alexander Dmitrievich

Status: official favorite
Relationship start: in the spring of 1780 attracted attention on the recommendation of Potemkin.
End of a relationship: in 1784 he died of a fever. Different versions suggest poisoning or abuse of an aphrodisiac.
Add. information: did not interfere in political intrigues, preferring to devote time to the study of languages ​​​​and philosophy. A close intimate relationship with the Empress is confirmed by descriptions of her "broken feelings" in connection with the death of Lansky.

Catherine II is the great Russian Empress, whose reign was the most significant period in Russian history. The era of Catherine the Great is marked by the "golden age" of the Russian Empire, the cultural and political culture of which the queen raised to the European level. The biography of Catherine II is full of light and dark stripes, numerous ideas 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 Governor Stettin, Prince of Zerbst and 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 schooling for their daughter, without much ceremony with her upbringing. At the same time, the future Russian empress learned English, Italian and French at a high level, mastered dancing and singing, and also gained knowledge about the basics of history, geography and theology.

As a child, the young princess was a frisky and curious child with a pronounced "boyish" character. She did not show any special mental abilities and did not demonstrate her talents, but she helped her mother a lot in raising her younger sister Augusta, which suited both parents. In her youth, her mother called Catherine II Fike, which means little Federica.

At the age of 15, it became known that the Zerbst princess was chosen as the 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 Countess Reinbeck. The girl immediately began to study Russian history, language and Orthodoxy in order to more fully learn 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, nothing practically changed in the life of the future Russian Empress - she continued to devote herself to self-education, to study philosophy, jurisprudence and the writings 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 relations between Peter and Catherine completely went wrong, the queen gave birth to an heir to the throne, who was immediately taken away from her and practically not allowed to see him.

Then, in the head of Catherine the Great, a plan was ripened to overthrow her husband from the throne. She subtly, clearly and prudently organized a palace coup, in which she was helped by the 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 execution. They were the Orlov brothers, Adjutant Khitrov and Sergeant Major Potemkin. Foreigners also took part in organizing the palace coup, providing sponsorship to bribe the right people.

In 1762, the empress was completely ready for a decisive step - she went to St. Petersburg, where she was sworn in by the guards, who by that time were already dissatisfied with the military policy of Emperor Peter III. After that, he abdicated the throne, was taken into custody and soon died under unknown circumstances. Two months later, on September 22, 1762, Sophia Frederick Augustus of Anhalt-Zerbst was crowned in Moscow and became Empress Catherine II of Russia.

The reign and achievements of Catherine II

From the very first day of 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 taking into account the interests of all classes, which won the colossal support of her subjects.

In order 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 souls of peasants. At the same time, she managed to briskly establish trade in Russia, doubling the number of industrial enterprises in the country. Thanks to this, the amount of state revenues quadrupled, the empire was able to maintain a large army and begin the development of the Urals.

As for Catherine's domestic policy, 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 still had a "pro-noble" character, from 1773 to 1775 she faced an uprising of peasants 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 carried out the territorial division of the empire and expanded Russia into 11 provinces. During her reign, Russia acquired Azov, Kiburn, Kerch, Crimea, Kuban, as well as parts of Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and the western part of Volhynia. At the same time, elective courts were introduced in the country, which dealt with the criminal and civil cases of the population.

In 1785, the Empress organized local self-government by city. At the same time, Catherine II brought out a clear set of noble privileges - she freed the nobles from paying taxes, compulsory military service and gave them the right to own land and peasants. Thanks to the Empress, a system of secondary education was introduced in Russia, for which special closed schools, institutes for girls, and educational homes were built. In addition, Catherine founded the Russian Academy, which became one of the leading European scientific bases.

Catherine paid special attention to the development of agriculture during her reign. Under her, for the first time in Russia, bread began to be sold, which the population could buy for paper money, also put into use by the Empress. Also, the virtues of the monarch include the introduction of vaccination in Russia, which made it possible to prevent epidemics of deadly 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. Its foreign policy is still considered by many to be immoral and hypocritical. But the woman managed to enter the history of Russia 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 has a legendary character and is of interest to this day. The Empress was committed to "free love", which was the result of her unsuccessful marriage to 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 the data of authoritative Catherine theorists.

The most famous lovers of the monarchy were Platon Zubov, who at the age of 20 became the favorite of 60-year-old Catherine the Great. Historians do not exclude 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, Alexei Bobrinsky, born from Orlov, and daughter Anna Petrovna, who died of an illness at the age of one.

In the last years of 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, as her legitimate heir learned about the mother's plan and carefully prepared for the struggle for the throne.

The death of Catherine II came according to the new style on November 17, 1796. The Empress died of 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 stormy 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 womanly mother and wife.

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.

She was born on April 21 (May 2), 1729 in Shettin. Her father, Prince Christian-August of Anhalt-Zerbsky, served the Prussian king, but his family was considered impoverished. The mother of Sophia Augusta was the sister of King Adolf-Friedrich of Sweden. Other relatives of the mother of the future Empress Catherine ruled Prussia and England. Sophia Augusta, (family nickname - Fike) was the eldest daughter in the family. She was educated at home.

In 1739, the 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. The heir to the Russian throne made a negative impression on the highest Prussian society, showed himself to be uneducated and narcissistic.

In 1778 she composed the following epitaph for herself:

Having ascended the Russian throne, she wished well

And she strongly desired to give her subjects Happiness, Freedom and Prosperity.

She easily forgave and did not deprive anyone of freedom.

She was indulgent, did not complicate her life and had a cheerful disposition.

She had a republican soul and a good heart. She had friends.

Work was easy for her, friendship and the arts brought her joy.

Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin (according to some sources)

Anna Petrovna

Alexey Grigorievich Bobrinsky

Elizaveta Grigoryevna Tyomkina

Collected works published at the end of the 19th century Catherine II in 12 volumes, which included children's moralizing tales written by the empress, pedagogical teachings, dramatic plays, articles, autobiographical notes, translations.

The reign of Ekaterina Alekseevna is often considered the "golden age" of the Russian Empire. Thanks to her reforming activities, she is the only Russian ruler who, like Peter I, was awarded the epithet "Great" in the historical memory of her compatriots.