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

Catherine II is the famous Russian empress, who was destined to become the mother of the Enlightenment in the country, the mouthpiece of political and economic changes in the state. Despite the fact that Catherine the Great was adored by the people, the number of her lovers amazed both contemporaries and historians. Now it is completely unknown exactly how many lovers Catherine II had, but rumors about her intrigues worry many scientists. So, what role did Catherine’s favorites play in Russian history, and what love affairs are proven?

As you know, Catherine’s first lovers appeared at the very beginning of her unhappy marriage with Peter III. Everyone knew that Peter III was in love with a lady-in-waiting who lived in the Winter Palace, and his marriage to Catherine was a burden to him. For the first few years of marriage, there was no marriage between the heir to the throne and his wife. intimate relationships, but a disdainful attitude Peter III stimulated Catherine to have connections on the side.

Some historians are sure that even the future heir to the throne, Paul I was not the son of Peter III. According to biographers, the heir to the throne was born as a result of Catherine’s relationship with Sergei Saltykov.

And yet, despite a certain frivolity in personal life, the future empress always knew how to benefit from her connections with her favorites. In particular, the connection with Grigory Orlov helped Catherine the Great overthrow Peter III from the throne and take his place. While still Peter's wife, Catherine became pregnant from Orlov, and in order to hide this fact, the future empress had to resort to considerable tricks.

In particular, on the day of the birth, Catherine’s faithful servant Shkurin set his house on fire, and the interested Peter III went to look at this amazing spectacle. During the absence of her husband, Catherine managed to safely give birth to a son, who received the name Alexei Bobrinsky.

This is not the only lover of the empress who was used by this great woman to achieve power. For example, Catherine II used Grigory Potemkin to organize her reforms, improving the image of the Enlightenment policy among the masses.

Peculiarities of imperial patronage and relations with artists

It cannot be said that Catherine II entered into an intimate relationship with all her “favorites” at court. For example, the Empress supported the activities of G.R. for a long time. Derzhavin, as well as Mikhail Lomonosov. As a figure of the Enlightenment, Catherine tried to discover new artists, poets, writers, and educate new generations of artists.

Since the Empress always showed interest in the development of foreign culture, she ordered prominent artists of her time from abroad: Kering and Brompton. Thanks to the attention of Catherine II, many politicians, historians, and scientists were able to rise to the occasion, but their connection with the empress was limited to business relations.

There are also cases in which Catherine II showed herself as a vindictive woman who did not attract sympathy. So, for example, Catherine immediately removed favorites she disliked from the court; this, for example, happened with Rimsky-Korsykov. The exception was Potemkin, who managed to maintain friendship with the empress even after the end of their relationship.

Despite a very turbulent personal life, Catherine the Great managed to maintain the image of a far-sighted and competent politician. At one time, Alexandre Dumas wrote in his book “Twenty Years Later” that only Elizabeth of England and Catherine II knew how to be both mistresses and empresses for each of their favorites.

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………2

Catherine's lovers I …………………………………………...3

List of references………………………………………………………..12

Introduction

Empress Catherine the Second loved making love and never hid it: according to the most conservative estimates, the number of more or less permanent partners great woman ranged from 18 to 23. The amounts that Catherine’s carnal pleasures cost the treasury are colossal! 92 and a half million rubles were spent on ten main favorites alone. In addition, each bedfellow invariably received titles, estates, and thousands of serfs.

B Most contemporaries did not see anything unnatural in the empress’s hobbies: similar morals flourished in XVIII century in many European royal houses. So in the city of Petrov, the mechanism for attracting young people to the royal alcove was debugged. At some reception, the Empress paid favorable attention to, say, an unknown lieutenant. The next day, she dictated a decree to appoint the lieutenant to Her Majesty's aide-de-camp and immediately summon him to the palace. But here he did not end up in the commandant’s office, but for an appointment with physician Rogerson, a well-known specialist in venereal diseases. Having examined the new patient and found him healthy, the physician handed over the ward from hand to hand to Countess Bruce or maid of honor Protasova, whose duties piquantly balanced on the fine line of the art of pimping and testing the subject for sexual “quality.” Having successfully passed all the exams, even intimate ones, and having received the last instructions from the charming ladies, the recruit headed to a special room.

Luxurious apartments and crowds of livery servants were already ready to receive a new guest. Out of curiosity, opening a desk drawer, he discovered one hundred thousand rubles - an advance of love. In the evening, at a ball or reception, Catherine appeared leaning on the hand of a new temporary worker. At ten o'clock they left...

From now on, the Empress's lover was waiting new life. His every wish was strictly fulfilled. Except for one thing - he had no right to leave his rooms on his own.

Catherine's lovers I

Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich
(Emperor Peter III)

2 Saltykov, Sergey Vasilievich
(1726-1765)

3 Stanislav August Poniatowski
(1732-1798)

4 Orlov, Grigory Grigorievich
(1734-1783)

5 Vasilchikov, Alexander Semenovich
(1746-1803/1813)

6 Potemkin, Grigory Alexandrovich
(1739-1791)

7 Zavadovsky, Pyotr Vasilievich
(1739-1812)

8 Zorich, Semyon Gavrilovich
(1743/1745-1799)

His Serene Highness Prince Grigory Grigorievich Orlov was born into the family of the Novgorod governor on October 6 (17), 1734. Father Grigory Ivanovich Orlov and mother Lukerya Ivanovna Zinovyeva then lived in the family estate, which was located in the village of Lyutkino. Grigory was a worthy representative of his family; he had that daring and agility that were characteristic of all men of the Orlov family.

Orlov brothers

Brothers Alexey and Grigory Orlov

There is a certain legend about the founders of the Orlov family and the assignment of the surname. The soldier Ivan took part in the Streltsy riot of 1689, whom his colleagues nicknamed Eagle for his courage and remarkable strength. This soldier, like other participants in the riot, was sentenced to execution. However, “Eagle” managed to avoid execution and was pardoned by the tsar for a very extraordinary act: the soldier kicked the head of the previous executed man, because it prevented him from going to the block. The calmness with which the condemned man reacted to his approaching death amazed the king. A little later, the nickname “Eagle” became a surname. Ivan Orlov received the rank of officer and nobility, his son Grigory became a major general and governor general of Novgorod.

At the age of 53, a descendant of that same “Eagle” married the noble maiden Lukerya, and had nine sons from her. True, only five survived: Vladimir, Ivan, Grigory, Fedor and Alexey. It is noteworthy that the brothers were such not only by blood, but also by spirit. This was facilitated by a prosperous childhood and positive influence head of the family. Grigory Ivanovich did not allow squabbles and quarrels in the family, he taught his brothers to mutual assistance and support. That is why many friends and acquaintances of the Orlovs talked about close and warm relations between the brothers: they shared expenses and income, had a common wallet.

The head of the family took care of education for his sons. Grigory Grigorievich Orlov, like the other brothers, received home education. The Orlov family was famous for its strength and endurance, so the boys differed from their peers in height, stature and agility. According to my father, attention should have been paid to the physical training of the “boys”, as well as a detailed study of military affairs. Perhaps this is why, much later, Empress Catherine II considered the education received by Gregory to be insufficient: Orlov spoke only Russian and was indifferent to sciences and teachings.

Catherine II and Grigory Orlov: crown princess and ladies' man

At the age of fifteen (1749), Gregory and two other brothers were brought by his father to St. Petersburg and sent to study in the ground cadet corps, after graduating from which he became a soldier in the elite Semenovsky regiment. Already at that time, young Orlov attracted the attention of women with his beauty and strength. Grigory was two heads taller than his peers and could compete with any strongman just for fun.

Having become an officer, he was sent to the Seven Years' War in 1757, where he received 3 wounds at Zorndorf, but did not leave the battlefield, which almost instantly spread the fame of the brave man among soldiers and colleagues.

Young Count Grigory Orlov

Palace coup in two acts

Oath of the Izmailovsky Regiment to Catherine II. Unknown artist. Late XVIII- first third of the 19th century.

The romance that broke out between Catherine II and Grigory Orlov flared up into a conspiracy against the future emperor. The Orlov brothers were known among soldiers and officers as reliable and decent people, so their words could not be doubted. Taking advantage of such popularity, the brothers at first cautiously, and then more and more openly criticized the heir to the throne and exalted the crown princess in conversations with friends and acquaintances. According to the Orlovs, Catherine was a martyr fighting for the future of the state, while her husband appeared in the image of a future tyrant and oppressor. It should be noted that Peter’s careless and at the same time arrogant behavior strengthened the doubts sowed by the conspirators. Therefore, the nobility and nobility quite easily accepted the idea of ​​​​the need for a change of power, while the military took direct part in the action.

The first time the possibility of a coup arose was on the day of the death of Empress Elizabeth, December 25, 1761. At that time, Catherine was five months pregnant, so she hesitated and in panic missed the moment suitable for coming to power. However, the position of his wife was not hidden from the emperor. Peter III denied his involvement in Catherine's pregnancy and intended to send his unfaithful wife to a monastery, and then remarry his favorite Elizaveta Vorontsova.

The future empress gave birth to pregnancy on April 11, 1762. In order to distract her husband’s attention from this event, Catherine’s supporters started an arson. Peter loved putting out fires, so upon receiving news of a burning house, he immediately left there, thereby giving enough time to send the newborn to a foster family. The child of Grigory Orlov and Catherine II was named Alexei and received the surname Bobrinsky.

Maybe a lack of education, or maybe a personality trait, did not make the favorite a good adviser in business matters. A simple soldier, having received a title, money and influence, nevertheless did not strive for power and control of the state. Many who knew Orlov personally described him as a generous, sympathetic and good-natured person. Once at court, Gregory was actively interested in art, science and philosophy, and patronized Lomonosov. After the death of the latter, the count bought all the works of the great scientist and preserved them for posterity.

M. V. Lomonosov

Many subjective reviews have been preserved about the empress’s relationship with her favorite, mainly in the correspondence of foreign ambassadors and foreign representatives. For example, the French chargé d'affaires Beranger from St. Petersburg wrote in 1764 that the count behaved so freely with Catherine II that he amazed everyone around him; he does not respect etiquette and public order, allows himself in the presence of official persons liberties, “which in a decent society a self-respecting courtesan would not allow her lover.”

For quite a long time, the empress really behaved like a mistress, fulfilling all the whims of her favorite. In a letter to Madame Geoffrin, Catherine spoke of Orlov like this: “When your last letter, Count Orlov was in my room. There is one place in the letter where you call me active, because I work on drawing up laws and embroider with wool. He, a notorious lazy person, although very smart and capable, exclaimed: “It’s true!” And this is the first time that I heard praise from him. And I owe it to you, dear lady.”

It is not known for certain, but according to some information, Catherine II and Grigory Orlov became parents to three offspring. Gennig, the English ambassador, reported that the first lady-in-waiting and confidant of the Empress Protasova was raising two girls under the name Alekseev, calling them his nieces, but in fact the parents were the count and empress. In 1764, the Duke de Pralines received a report from Brange about a baby whom Catherine and Gregory visited secretly with the trusted servant Shkurin (in this case we are talking about Bobrinsky). There were also rumors about the empress's unsuccessful pregnancy.

There were quarrels between lovers. In one of the letters, the foreign ambassador noted that Orlov behaved with the empress as if he were a servant, neglecting all the rules of etiquette and causing stormy scenes in front of strangers. After the squabble, the count went hunting, where he disappeared for three days, while the empress was in despair all this time. Reconciliation took place in Tsarskoye Selo, where Catherine II invited Orlov with a letter sent in a precious box.

Through the efforts of the empress, Grigory Orlov received a lot of positions and ranks. Thus, Catherine tried to force the favorite to be active in government affairs. The count received the positions: director engineering corps, chief of the cavalry guards, general-in-chief of artillery and general-feldtzeichmeister, president of the Office of the Guardianship of Foreign Colonists, head of all fortifications. Unfortunately, all efforts had the exact opposite effect and only caused Orlov irritation. According to the English ambassador, goodwill and generosity gave way to primness and pettiness in the count. The previously passionate relationship between the empress and the favorite gave way to quarrels and conflicts. Grigory Grigorievich began to spend a lot of time outside the Winter Palace, disappearing on the hunt, and openly flirted with the ladies of the court.

Buckingham's diaries contain records of an unpleasant incident on a country estate. One of the young court ladies complained that the count showed persistent attention to her and did not take her refusals into account at all. According to the girl, she feared the wrath of the empress, and besides, she loved someone else. On a trip out of town, Orlov continued his courtship. Suddenly the empress entered the room, which did not embarrass the count at all, but threw the young lady into embarrassment. To the girl’s surprise, Catherine did not get angry; on the contrary, she came up behind her and said in a whisper: “Don’t be embarrassed. I am confident in your integrity and respect for me. Don't be afraid that you will upset me. Vice versa. I owe it to you for your behavior.”

Grigory Orlov - public figure and military man

Count Grigory Orlov after the Battle of Chesma

Despite cooling feelings, the empress continued to need Orlov, if not as a lover, then as a comrade-in-arms. She continued to generously gift her favorite: in addition to land, tens of thousands of serfs, palaces, dachas and estates, the count received 10,000 rubles of pocket money monthly. Also, by order of the Empress, a heart-shaped medallion with rich diamond inlay and a portrait of Catherine was made. The decoration was allowed to be worn in a buttonhole, which was an exceptional case.

Grigory Grigorievich Orlov is often credited with creating the Free Economic Society. However, this is erroneous information.

The count had a very mediocre relationship with this structure: he was neither the author nor the founder, and was not the president of the VEO. Orlov's only significant contribution to this event was his signature on the message from the nobles to the empress. It is noteworthy that the first constituent Assembly The society took place in the building where Grigory Grigorievich lived - in the former Stegelmanov house. But the count himself, citing being busy, did not take part in the meeting. For the same reason, Orlov refused the presidency for the first time. Although from January 1 to September 1, 1766, he still held this position. During this period, Gregory managed to order a building design for the Society from the architect Zh.B. Wallen-Delamotte. The building was located on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Palace Square and was erected in 1768-1775.

Grigory Grigorievich, as a military man, was one of the initiators of the campaign against the Turks to conquer the Black Sea lands. Orlov was also sent by Catherine II to Moscow to fight the plague in 1771. During two months of illness, the people began a riot, killed the metropolitan, and the governor managed to escape. The epidemic was eliminated in just a month, and the Empress ordered the construction of a Arc de Triomphe in honor of the hero and cast a medal with a portrait of the winner next to the figure of Curtius.

The signature on the medal read: “And Russia has such sons!” - According to some sources, the empress wanted to write “such a son,” but Grigory Orlov insisted on a more modest version.

How Count Orlov became His Serene Highness Prince

After Gregory returned to Winter, life returned to normal, but the idyll was short-lived. At that time, the Polish question was extremely acute: according to Catherine II, Augustus Poniatowski was an ideal candidate for the role of the Polish king. Orlov met this idea with violent indignation. Favorite right at the meeting Supreme Council declared that he would not allow the former lover of the empress to be made king. Grigory decided that Catherine was dreaming of Poniatovsky as a future husband, and therefore sought to make him a royal person.

Petr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky

N. Panin - Russian diplomat

Further events developed dynamically. Orlov got carried away my own cousin, which caused indignation in society because young age girls, and the personal jealousy of the empress. Stung by the obstinacy of the Empress, Orlov left for Focsani to conclude peace, which Rumyantsev obtained. After which, from Iasi he sent messages to the empress demanding that he be appointed commander-in-chief for the capture of Byzantium. The count had a row with Rumyantsev and threatened to be hanged right at the congress meeting. Orlov dreamed of war and glory, in order, with the help of General Bauer, to nullify Rumyantsev’s exploits. Having not received what he wanted, he settled in Iasi and indulged in festivities and parties, walking around in a diamond dress sent personally by the empress, completely ignoring Panin’s instructions, which he sent with enviable regularity.

Panin, meanwhile, repaid, at that time the former favorite of the empress, with the same coin. The long-standing hatred of the Orlov brothers finally found a way out and waited in the wings: less than two weeks had passed since Gregory’s departure, when Vasilchikov, the Empress’s newly minted favorite, moved into the favorite’s room.

The empress's new hobby confused the public. Frankly, the people and nobles got used to Orlov and believed that he would be the constant and only favorite of Catherine II. The openness with which the empress embarked on a new love affair, shocked the public - according to many, it was open debauchery and completely unacceptable behavior.

Soon rumors about his rival reached Orlov, but by that time it was too late - Panin’s trap had slammed shut, and Gregory lost not only control over Catherine, but also all influence over her. With all his impetuosity, the count hastened to save the situation - he rushed to St. Petersburg, which was more than one and a half thousand kilometers away, which at that time was an unthinkable distance. Without sleep or rest, Orlov spent days and nights driving the crew to the capital. Grigory Grigoryevich was stopped by the imperial order to undergo quarantine, since the plague was still raging in the south of the country, all travelers arriving from there were detained several dozen miles from St. Petersburg. Attached to the decree were proposals to wait out the allotted time in the palace in Gatchina, on the Izhora River.

Further, the game between the empress and the former favorite continued in letters and through intermediaries. Catherine needed Orlov to refuse all the positions he held, so she sent messengers to the count - Olsufiev, Betsky, Chernyshev. Gregory, in turn, wrote to the same friends, promising untold riches and royal rewards for arranging his reconciliation with the empress.

Such caution on the part of Catherine II was not accidental: on December 1, 1772, Count Orlov’s fortune amounted to tens of millions of rubles; in addition, he received the favor of the clergy, had more than a thousand soldiers at his disposal and was known as a hero in the ranks of the army. Orlov understood that the empress was striving to settle the matter peacefully, but did not stop trying to renew a “closer” connection. It got to the point of ridiculousness, for example, after Catherine’s demand to return the portrait in diamonds that she had given her, the count returned the jewelry, and promised to give the portrait only to her personally.

In the end, Catherine II by decree removed Grigory Orlov from all positions. In her diaries, she noted that she did not deny the importance of the role of the Orlov brothers in her destiny, expressed her gratitude to them, but considered her debt paid, since she showered the Orlovs with honors and wealth. Gregory was given complete freedom. In October 1772, Orlov changed the title of count to prince. Gregory stayed at court, freely communicated with the empress and her entourage, and the next morning he went to the city to revel and have fun.

Grigory Orlov and Catherine II are no longer lovers, but friends

The prince was possessed by an unquenchable thirst for pleasure. According to Sabatier, who painted a portrait of Orlov in 1772, Gregory was held back by absolutely nothing - neither morality, nor decency, nor education. All his wishes were instantly fulfilled. Such licentiousness, according to the artist, completely destroyed all the inclinations and abilities in the prince. Also, one of the courtiers noted the long and sloppy feasts of Gregory with the ladies-in-waiting: the serving and dishes left much to be desired, but Orlov was not bothered by this, nor were the women - the first beauty of the court and the servant attracted him equally.

The nobles were sure that sooner or later Grigory Orlov would play the same role that Razumovsky once played under Elizabeth. And so it happened. Previously, Catherine II paid Gregory a visit in Gatchina. At that time, Orlov was courting the Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt when she and her two daughters arrived at the bride's party - Catherine was choosing a bride for Pavel and doubted which daughter to give preference to.

A dispatch with Solms’s concerns was immediately sent to Berlin, which said that Panin was afraid that Orlov might intend to marry the princess, since their communication almost immediately went beyond formalities, and the lady, inexperienced in love affairs, in her simplicity and naivety can easily accept the prince's advances. However, all the worries were in vain: the ladies' man had no interest in politics, and easily exchanged the princess for a maid of honor.

In 1774, when Potemkin took the place of the favorite, Orlov went on a trip to Europe. The prince did not deny himself pleasures and had plenty of fun, astonishing foreigners with his luxurious lifestyle. Upon his return, Gregory settled in Zimny. He established a close relationship with Catherine, rather of a friendly nature: she gave him a palace, and in return he presented her with a Persian diamond “Nadir Shah” for her name day, which cost 460,000 rubles.

Princess Orlova

Wife of Count Orlov - Ekaterina Nikolaevna Zinovieva

In 1777, Orlov became involved in another scandal. Grigory's cousin, the Empress's maid of honor, Ekaterina Nikolaevna Zinovieva, had a lot of admirers, but she chose her uncle as her husband. After the death of her parents, 14-year-old Ekaterina was in the care of Orlov and by the age of 18 she became his wife. There were rumors in the capital that Gregory simply raped his pupil, because the church categorically opposed this union. According to Zinovieva herself, it was mutual and ardent love. Despite the mutual desire to marry, the union was dissolved by the Senate as immoral and unacceptable. The situation was resolved only thanks to Catherine II: the Empress cashed the Senate's resolution, made Princess Orlova a lady of state and, as an expression of her special favor, presented an expensive gift.

After honeymoon, spent in Switzerland, the young returned to St. Petersburg, settled in one of the prince’s houses and lived quietly family life. Orlov almost never appeared at court and showed no interest in either politics or social life, paid all his attention to his young wife. Just a few years later, in 1780, the couple went abroad again - the princess was ill and doctors advised a warmer climate. Despite all the efforts of doctors, on July 16, 1782, Princess Orlova died of consumption in Lausanne. The prince could not survive the loss and lost his mind. According to rumors, in fits of delirium he imagined the image of Peter III and he whispered: “To punish me.” The brothers took Gregory to Moscow, the Neskuchnoye estate (later the Neskuchny Garden would be built on this site), he received the best treatment from the most eminent doctors of that time, but all efforts were in vain. On the night of April 13, 1783, Grigory Grigorievich Orlov died.

The period of the reign of Empress Catherine II was overshadowed by both mass social problems, which arose in the Russian Empire, and hitherto unprecedented scales of favoritism. The young suitors surrounding the empress were harshly Negative influence to internal and foreign policy states. Representatives upper strata The nobility began to seek personal gain through flattery to the new favorites of Catherine the Great, thereby undermining all moral norms and social foundations of that time. Naturally, one cannot in any way downplay the enormous importance in the development of Russia that the era of the Empress’s reign has. However, we will not describe in detail the acts of state and exploits of Catherine II, but will try to talk about the personal life of a woman who left a truly indelible mark on the history of our country.

Princess Fike

The future “by the grace of God Empress and Autocrat of All Russia” Catherine, who had already received the title “Great” from her contemporaries, was born on April 21, 1729 in the Prussian town of Stettin. Major General, Colonel Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst and his wife, Johanna Elisabeth, gave their first-born daughter a beautiful German name- Sophia Augusta Frederica. Despite the fact that the girl’s parents were related to many royal houses of Europe (her father had the title of prince and even later became the owner of the German principality of Zerbst, and her mother was born Princess of Holstein-Gottorp), her childhood was little like the life of a person of “royal blood” . Living in an ordinary German house, Fike, as her parents affectionately called her daughter, received the usual home education for a girl from a bourgeois family of that time, which necessarily included the ability to cook and clean.

The beginning of the “royal” path

In 1744, under the patronage of the Prussian king Frederick the Great, Sophia Augusta and her mother were summoned by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, who was looking for a bride for her son, to St. Petersburg. In Russia, the German princess underwent a baptismal ceremony and Orthodox custom received the name In 1745, she married Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich, the future Emperor Peter III. things didn’t work out for the young from the very beginning. The heir to the throne, either due to his immaturity or dementia, or simply from “lack of love,” was very cold with his wife. Even on their wedding night, he did not pay any attention to the young bride. She, distinguished by her irrepressible sexual temperament, simply needed male attention and, according to contemporaries, immediately after the wedding she began to openly flirt with gentlemen.

First serious love

While her husband was still alive, the future empress had a secret lover. He became Sergei Vasilyevich Saltykov (1726-1765), a noble nobleman of the grand ducal family, who had the rank of chamberlain under the Grand Duke. Saltykov was 26 years old at the time they met. He became the first favorite of Catherine II and the only one of all who was older than her. The relationship between the young people lasted from 1752 to 1754, until the birth of Catherine’s son, the heir to the throne, Pavel Petrovich. Many contemporaries attributed the true paternity of Paul to Saltykov. Whether this is true or not is unknown for certain; the empress herself never denied these rumors. As for Sergei Vasilyevich, in the same year he was sent as an envoy to Europe, from where long time corresponded with his beloved. It is from Saltykov that the favorites of Catherine the Great begin their countdown, whose portraits are well preserved to this day.

Second love: young Pole

Catherine, being a young, cheerful and very enthusiastic woman, simply could not remain lonely. In 1756 she had a new lover. This was Stanislaw August Poniatowski (1732-1798), a well-educated diplomat who soon became the Polish ambassador in St. Petersburg. According to rumors, it was from this connection that the future empress gave birth to her daughter Anna in 1757, who died at the age of two. It is known that Pyotr Fedorovich knew about his wife’s relationship with the young Pole, and moreover, he supported them. The only significant opponent of Catherine’s “adventures” was the ruling empress - In 1758, she learned about vicious relationship her daughter-in-law, was very angry and ordered to immediately send the envoy back to Poland. Catherine retained the memory of her beloved even after the forced separation. In 1764, she, already an empress, helped Stanislav August ascend to the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Grigory Orlov (1734-1783)

What role did Grigory Grigorievich Orlov play in the fate of this woman? What does history tell us? The future favorite of Catherine the Great was born on October 17, 1734 in the family of a retired major general, Grigory Ivanovich Orlov. The childhood of Gregory and his four brothers passed in an atmosphere of love, harmony and warmth. The head of the family, who was the unquestioned authority, never allowed any quarrels or scandals in the family. The Orlovs received the usual home education for people of their circle, where Special attention was devoted to military affairs and physical training. The brothers differed from most of their peers in their tall stature, heroic stature and enormous power. In 1749, Grigory entered the St. Petersburg Land Cadet Corps, after which he was immediately enrolled in the elite guards. The young man was very handsome, loved by women and had a passion for amorous adventures. At the same time, he was distinguished by his courage and fearlessness, which allowed him to quickly rise to the rank of lieutenant and go as part of the active army to the Seven Years' War.

Feats of arms

On the battlefield, the future favorite of Catherine II, Orlov, showed himself to be a very brave warrior. Gregory’s glory came from a bloody battle near the German village of Zorndorf, where the Russian army met the troops of the Prussian king Frederick II. During the battle, the desperate cavalry guard showed brilliant courage, amazing composure and enormous endurance. Being wounded three times, he remained in the ranks, rushed into the thick of the battle and tirelessly struck down the enemy. The news of the hero's exploits spread throughout the ranks of soldiers, inspiring all Russian soldiers, and the Prussian army was defeated and put to flight. For the courage and bravery shown in the battle, Grigory Orlov was elevated to the rank of captain, and the war ended for him. The fact is that during the Battle of Zorndorf, Frederick’s adjutant, Count von Schwerin, was captured. The responsible mission of delivering the prisoner to the court of Empress Elizabeth was entrusted to the young guardsman.

Meeting the future empress

In the spring of 1759, Gregory arrived in the northern capital, where he was immediately greeted by his brothers, Alexei and Fedor, who served with the rank of lieutenant of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Guards regiments, respectively. The trio had a fun time, indulging in merry feasts, love adventures And card games. However, in 1760, Gregory was transferred from the guard to the artillery and appointed adjutant to a very influential nobleman, Count Pyotr Ivanovich Shuvalov. Finding himself in the center of court life, the handsome Orlov meets thirty-year-old Catherine, attractive and sophisticated in love affairs, but at the same time an unhappy woman suffering from loneliness and humiliation from her husband. Grigory Grigorievich charmed the future empress with his youth, passion and adventurism. For a long time, lovers managed to hide their relationship from strangers.

Conspiracy against the Emperor

The Orlovs, reputed to be brave and decent people, enjoyed enormous authority in the guards regiments, which represented serious power and support for the tsarist power. The brothers, in conversations with friends, began to create the image of a martyr for the Grand Duchess, gradually attracting everyone to their side. larger number nobles and military men. The arrogant behavior of the heir to the throne himself, Peter, also did not contribute to his popularity. The first opportunity to carry out a coup for the conspirators, which included the current (G. Orlov) and future (G. Potemkin) favorites of Catherine 2, presented itself on December 25, 1761, the day of the death of Empress Elizabeth. However, she herself Grand Duchess I found myself completely at a loss, panicked terribly, and the moment was lost. However, the reason for Catherine’s confusion soon became known. She was five months pregnant, and all the courtiers were aware that Gregory was the child’s father. The boy was born in April 1762, was named Alexei, received the title of count and became the founder of the noble Bobrinsky family.

Palace coup

The first “steps” of Emperor Peter III (making peace with Prussia and disbanding the guard, which was the main support of the Russian troops) caused enormous discontent in society. The Orlov brothers, uniting the indignant military men, decided to carry out a coup on the night of June 27-28, the purpose of which was to overthrow the emperor. brought Catherine from Peterhof to the capital, where Gregory and his associates met them. The guards regiments swore allegiance to the future autocrat, and at 9 o’clock in the morning the ceremony of her coronation began in the Kazan Cathedral. Peter III, while in Oranienbaum, was well aware of the hopelessness of his situation and dutifully signed his abdication of the throne. The Empress was well aware of the enormous role of the brothers in her enthronement and subsequently repeated more than once that she owed a lot to the Orlovs.

Grigory Orlov - favorite of Catherine the Great

After the coronation, Catherine, having showered all her assistants with titles, titles and awards, moved to Winter Palace. Orlov, despite the estates donated by the empress, preferred to live next to his beloved. It was truly a wonderful time for him. Elevated to the rank of count and receiving the rank of major general, Grigory Grigorievich began to wield enormous power, was always close to the empress, and she discussed all state affairs with him. Catherine II passionately loved her favorite and even seriously planned to marry Orlov. With great difficulty, Count Nikita Panin still managed to dissuade the autocrat from such a step. Historians know his words: “Mother, we all obey the command of the Empress, but who will obey Countess Orlova?” Gregory, according to eyewitnesses, also loved Catherine very much and presented her with expensive gifts, the most famous of which is a huge diamond.

Life at court

Grigory Grigorievich always supported the empress’s endeavors and, to the best of his abilities, tried to help her in governing the state. He did not have the thirst for power that many of Catherine the Great’s favorites experienced, and his contemporaries spoke of him as a generous, trusting and good-natured person. Count Orlov was interested in science and philosophy, poetry and art. He provided support and patronage to the great Lomonosov, and after his death he was able to buy out all the scientist’s works and preserve them for posterity. He was one of the initiators of the campaign against the Turks with the goal of conquering access to the Black Sea. Although the empress did not let her lover go to war, a use was quickly found for him. Grigory Orlov, a favorite of Catherine the Great, was sent to Moscow to fight the plague epidemic. He managed to show his organizational skills there and cleanse the city of the terrible infection within a month. Catherine greeted her lover as a hero, ordered the Arc de Triomphe to be erected in his honor and a medal was cast with a portrait of the count.

Sunset of a bright star

On April 18, 1772, Gregory was sent to Romania to negotiate with the Turks. During this trip, Orlov learned that Catherine II had a new favorite. He turned out to be Alexey Semenovich Vasilchikov (1746-1813) - a cornet of the Life Guards Horse Regiment, who belonged to a famous noble family. Gregory interrupted the conference on August 28 and rushed to St. Petersburg, wanting to meet with the empress. At this time, Catherine had already received a report from the news that Orlov had failed the negotiations, and decided to finally break with him. The Empress refused her ex-lover in audience and sent him on a year’s “vacation”, while giving him a rich annual allowance, as well as thousands of serfs. In 1777, the count married his cousin, who soon fell ill with tuberculosis and died. Grigory Grigorievich could not stand her death, lost his mind and died on April 24, 1783.

Life doesn't stand still

Alexey Vasilchikov did not have such outstanding data as the previous favorites of Catherine the Great possessed. Although he was 17 years younger than the empress, he was distinguished by a lack of education and quickly became boring to the empress. Of his merits, one can only highlight his unselfishness and the fact that he did not take advantage of his position at all. He was replaced in 1774 by Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin, who became one of the most famous people of her time, from whose connection Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Elizaveta Grigorievna. Scion of a poor man noble family, Potemkin became a great statesman, friend and de facto co-ruler of the empress. The “post” of the favorite Grigory Alexandrovich was replaced by Pyotr Vasilyevich Zavadovsky, who also became a prominent dignitary. During the reign of Alexander I, Catherine's grandson, he received the post of Minister of Public Education.

A few words in conclusion

The favorites of Catherine 2, who were mainly adjutants of His Serene Highness Prince Potemkin, began to replace one another. Some of them, like the future hero of the Patriotic War, Ermolov, gained fame and people's love. The majority, as N.M. Sorotokin writes in her book “Favorites of Catherine the Great,” were engaged in outright money-grubbing, corruption, and emptying the state treasury. And the phenomenon of favoritism has become a dark stain on the entire history of the Russian state.

The most famous favorites of Catherine the Great

You can see photos of some of them in our article. Although these are not all the empress’s favorites. Favorites of Catherine 2 who received the greatest fame: Alexey Petrovich Ermolov (future hero of the war with Napoleon), Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin (great statesman that era) and the last favorite of the Empress.

Empress Catherine the Great, as many know, was very loving. Considering all her official favorites, the men featured in intimate life, lovers and official husbands, you can count up to 21 lovers. List of men of Catherine the Great:

Peter Fedorovich, also known as Emperor Peter III, was the husband of Catherine II. They got married on August 21, 1745. Relations ended between them in 1762 due to the death of Peter III. The couple did not have a close relationship due to Peter's impotence. The problem was solved with the help of surgery.

Catherine had an affair with Sergei Vasilyevich Saltykov while she was married to Peter. Their romance began in 1752; it was in this year that he was at the small court of the Grand Dukes Catherine and Peter. Saltykov was expelled from St. Petersburg and sent to Sweden as an envoy. This happened in 1754 after the birth of Catherine’s son Paul.

In 1756, Catherine fell in love again. Her next lover was Stanislav August Poniatowski. He left St. Petersburg after the fall of Chancellor Bestuzhev in 1758. After some time, Catherine made him King of Poland, and after some time she annexed Poland to Russia. Ekaterina had a daughter, Anna, after an affair with Saltykov. Peter did not know how his wife became pregnant, but he believed that the right decision will recognize the child as his own.

The next one secret lover Catherine the Great was Grigory Grigorievich Orlov. In the spring of 1759, their relationship began. Orlov was a guard of Count Schwerin who arrived in St. Petersburg; he was captured in the Battle of Zorndorf. After he recaptured Pyotr Shuvalov’s mistress, Orlov became famous. Catherine the Great wanted to marry Orlov after her husband died, but since Orlov had many mistresses, she was dissuaded from such a marriage.

Catherine's official favorite was Vasilchikov Alexander Semenovich, whom she met in 1772. In Tsarskoye Selo, Vasilchikov often stood guard. He and his brother began to live in Moscow after retirement, but never married. He and Catherine were 14 years apart, and she thought he was boring.

The next official favorite, and later husband, was Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin. They legalized their relationship in 1775. From her relationship with Potemkin, Catherine the Great had a daughter, Elizabeth.

The new official favorite of Catherine the Great was Pyotr Vasilievich Zavadovsky. Their relationship began in 1776. He was jealous of Catherine after she met Zorich in 1777, this damaged their relationship, and in the same year Catherine recalled him back to the capital.

In 1777, Semyon Gavrilovich Zorich was appointed Catherine's personal guard. He was 14 years younger than her. He was fired and expelled from St. Petersburg in 1778.

In 1778, Ivan Nikolaevich Rimsky-Korsakov became the next official favorite. In the arms of Countess Praskovya Bruce, Catherine noticed him and broke off relations with him in 1779.

In 1778, Catherine the Great had a relationship with Stakhiev (Strakhov). She began to avoid him after he knelt in front of her and asked for her hand. The relationship came to an end in 1779.

In 1778, Catherine’s relationship with Stanov began and ended.

Catherine the Great's lover from 1779 to 1780 was Ivan Romanovich Rantsov. appeared illegitimate son Count Vorontsov.

In October 1779, Catherine had a fleeting affair with Vasily Ivanovich Levashov.

Catherine had another quickly ending romance with Nikolai Petrovich Vysotsky. It began and ended in March 1780.

The next official favorite of Catherine was the young Lanskoy Alexander Dmitrievich. He was 29 years old younger than Catherine Great. The relationship began in April 1780, and ended due to the death of Alexander in 1784 on July 25.

The Empress's next lover was Lermontov's relative Mordvinov. In 1781 the relationship began.

In 1785, at a specially organized holiday, Catherine met her next lover, Ermolov Alexander Petrovich.

After Ermolov left, Catherine met a new lover in 1786, Dmitriev-Mamonov Alexander Matveevich. He fell in love with Princess Daria Fedorovna Shcherbatova and was forced to leave St. Petersburg.

Catherine also had a fleeting relationship with Miloradovich in 1789.

The next candidate for favorites, and who did not become, is Miklashevsky. The relationship began and ended in 1787.

Catherine the Great began a relationship in July 1789 with her official favorite Zubov Platon Alexandrovich. He was Catherine's last favorite. The death of Catherine the Great ended their relationship in November 1796. At the time Plato met Catherine, he was 22 years old and she was 60 years old.