Catherine II - the famous Russian Empress, who was destined to become the mother of 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 not known 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 had her first lovers at the very beginning of her unhappy marriage to Peter III. Everyone knew that Peter III was in love with a maid of honor living in the Winter Palace, and marriage with Catherine was a burden to him. For the first few years of marriage, there was no intimate relationship between the heir to the throne and his wife, and the dismissive attitude of 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 some frivolity in her personal life, the future empress always knew how to take advantage of her connections with favorites. In particular, the connection with Grigory Orlov helped Catherine the Great to overthrow Peter III from the throne and take his place. While still the wife of Peter, Catherine became pregnant from Orlov, and in order to hide this fact, the future empress had to go to considerable tricks.

In particular, on the day of childbirth, a faithful servant of Catherine Shkurin set fire to his house, and interested Peter III went to look at this amazing sight. 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. So, for example, Catherine II used Grigory Potemkin to organize her reforms, improving the image of the Enlightenment policy among the masses.

The most famous favorites of Catherine II	Features of relations and the place of the favorite in Russian history
1. Sergey Vasilievich Saltykov	One of the first favorites of the Empress, an affair with which began in 1754. For a long time there was a misconception that Paul I was the son of Saltykov, but later historians disputed this fact. After the birth of Paul I, Sergei Saltykov was removed from the court, so as not to give rise to rumors about the illegality of the rights of the future emperor to the throne.
2. Stanislav Poniatowski	Communication with Poniatovsky began in 1756, and Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna, according to many sources, is his daughter. Despite the end of the novel in 1758, Catherine II continued to support Poniatowski, even making him the Polish king.
3. Grigory Orlov	One of the most significant favorites of the Empress. Communication with him continued from 1759 until 1772. After the death of Peter III, Catherine even thought about marrying Orlov, but the fact that the latter had countless mistresses became an incentive to cancel this decision. In 1772, Orlov lost the title of favorite, and was soon removed from the court.
4. Potemkin Grigory Alexandrovich	Despite the fact that his relationship with Catherine lasted only three years (from 1774 to 1776), he played a very important role in the internal politics of the Russian Empire. After the end of relations with Catherine, he maintained friendly relations with her, holding important government posts.
5. Ivan Nikolaevich Rimsky-Korsakov	Many historians call Rimsky-Korsakov the last strong love in the life of Catherine II. Their relationship began in 1778 and was already upset in 1779 due to the activities of Prince Potemkin. It was Potemkin who orchestrated the affair between Rimsky-Korsakov and Praskovya Bruce. Finding the lovers together and unable to bear the betrayal, Catherine II removed the former favorite from the court.

Features 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. Derzhavin, as well as Mikhail Lomonosov. As an Enlightenment figure, Catherine tried to discover new artists, poets, writers, to educate new generations of artists.

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

There are also known cases in which Catherine II manifested herself as a vengeful woman, not conducive to sympathy. So, for example, Catherine immediately removed favorites that she did not like from the court, as, 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.

Already to her contemporaries, her accession to the throne seemed to be some kind of fairy tale. The princess, with a great title and a tiny territory, came to the Russian royal court in the middle of winter. Having married the heir to the throne, she did not share a bed or a table with him, and after the death of the queen, she seized power, got rid of her husband and became the ruler, remaining her for 43 years. At the time of her death, Russia was roughly within its current borders and was considered a European power.

Sophia Augusta Frederick of Anhalt-Zerbst (1729-1796) - that was the name of the woman who managed to make such a dizzying career. Having adopted the Orthodox faith, she received the name Catherine and became the second queen to bear it. The Legislative Commission she created added the honorary title "Great" to the name. There were not so many other women in the world who had such a strong influence on the course of world history.

“Women who made history” (“Frauen, die Geschichte machten”) is the title of a six-part documentary film by the ZDF television channel, which was released on screens on December 1, which is tasked with repeating the success of the series of historical programs “The Germans” (“Die Deutschen”) aired from 2008 to 2010. Show time (Sunday, 19.30) speaks for itself. This time is highly desirable for educational programs. And this time is not available for programs with the number of inclusions below five million. Therefore, over the years, special program formats have been created, the task of which was to maintain these positions. The transition from educational programs to a continuous stream of unpretentious serials, which has been observed in recent years, clearly indicates a change in pedagogical ideas and the level of current television culture.

The head of the main editorial office of cultural, historical and scientific programs of the ZDF, Peter Ahrens, chose Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, Louise of Prussia and Sophia Scholl (who had previously been played by other actresses), because they, according to him words, are "universal heroines". In the new programs, there is no room for the voice of an omniscient commentator, quotes from historical sources and speeches of experts - all this is replaced by internal dialogues. This can be called Ahrens' "short dramas", but also the rejection of any historical methods.

Because of drunken men

But let's put cultural criticism aside and look at the result. After we were tired of Cleopatra, which opened this cycle, Ekaterina arrived as a replacement (December 10 on ZDF, November 30 on Arte). Alma Leiberg plays a girl whose first meeting with the country that has become her destiny took place in an ordinary tavern. While her mother resented the drunken peasants, her daughter was imbued with understanding for them, and maybe even some kind of sympathy.

No one explains to the audience whether this and subsequent scenes actually took place. But the princess’s monologue was found in the memoirs that really remained after the empress: about the lack of love for her husband and his “oddities”, about the unpredictability of her mother-in-law Elizabeth, about mortal boredom at the royal court on the outskirts of Europe. When Catherine talks about the pleasure she received from Diderot's lectures and from the works of ancient classics, this message to the audience is perhaps more effective than if some boring university professor told about it.

Indeed, ZDF's scientific editors have succeeded in translating the cold and sometimes apologetic presentation of Catherine's memoirs into the language of a documentary. She observes, draws conclusions and waits. A hired lover who, on the orders of the queen, must “make” her an heir to the throne, guards officers who find themselves in the bed of the empress after him, her own husband planning her murder, and coming to power when she, dressed in uniform, goes out in front of the guards and, being a German by birth, ascends to the Romanov throne - all this may have happened exactly as shown in the film. And the viewer watches this with great interest - and precisely because there are no bed scenes in the film.

Orgy in the royal palace

Catherine was very loving. She loved Russia, her people and, according to historians, 21 men. Grigory Orlov, who in 1762 helped get rid of her husband, Emperor Paul, was, according to her screen alter ego, a great lover. And these words speak about the Empress, perhaps, more than any expertise from past years. Because Catherine simply could not live without men.

Until her very old age, she chose her favorites, forced her ladies-in-waiting to carefully check them for potency and venereal diseases, and then she herself enjoyed life in their environment. The last lover, according to rumors, was 30 years younger than Catherine. Correspondence with Prince Potemkin, whom she allegedly even married, confirms this. She allowed him to power, she did not allow others - but no one hated her when she rejected them, and no one himself exchanged her for a younger woman. She rewarded her favorites and strengthened their position in society. This is the story behind the supposedly violent orgies in the royal palace.

And this is also narrated by a documentary that captures our understanding of this unusual, intelligent, sensual and powerful personality so much that we are happy to accept it all at face value. Not always, of course, but in this case for sure. Even if the cultural pessimists don't like it. But they don't like sex.

The materials of InoSMI contain only assessments of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editors of InoSMI.

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 her connections with numerous lovers, however, the number of names actually known from the memoirs of contemporaries reaches only 23 (according to the list of Catherine's scholar P. I. Bartenev with additions by Ya. L. Barskov; there are discrepancies). Only 10 of them officially occupied the post of favorite with all its 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 it is 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, but 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 informed his government that “in Russia, at times, 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 the 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 (with the exception of 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 betrayal or misbehavior (problems among the favorites arose due to the large age difference with the empress, the rigid schedule of her day 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 has ever approached a man, not believing that she is 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 with 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 communication 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 introduced 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 rise 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
1	Grand Duke Pyotr Fedorovich (Emperor Peter III) (1728-1762)	1745, August 21 (September 1) - wedding	June 28 (July 9), 1762 - death of Peter III	legal spouse	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 Stanisław Poniatowski). Suffered, if you believe the rumors, some kind of impotence associated with the deformation of the penis - possibly phimosis, and in the early years did not have 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	Saltykov, Sergei Vasilievich (1726-1765)	1752. Since this period, it has been at the "small court" of the Grand Dukes Ekaterina Alekseevna and Pyotr Fedorovich. The beginning of the novel is probably the spring of that year.	1754, October. 2 weeks after birth led. book. Paul hastily sent as an envoy to Sweden. A few months earlier, when the signs of Catherine's pregnancy became noticeable, he was no longer allowed to see her and she suffered from separation.	secret lover	The only known male of the Empress is older than her. Catherine II, wanting to discredit her son Pavel, did not refute the rumors that Saltykov was his father. After the story with Catherine, he remained at foreign courts almost all his life.
3	Stanislav August Poniatowski (1732-1798)	1756. Catherine, recovering from childbirth and separation from her beloved Saltykov, fell in love again with a young Pole who came to Russia in the retinue of the English ambassador Williams.	1758. After the fall of Chancellor Bestuzhev, Williams and Poniatowski were forced to leave Petersburg.	secret lover	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 nee German princess: such an addiction to Russian beauties pleased her subjects, who remembered the “German dominance” of favorites Anna Ioannovna and Anna Leopoldovna.
4	Orlov, Grigory Grigorievich (1734-1783)	1759 or 1760. In the spring of 1759, Count Schwerin, the aide-de-camp 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.	1772. In total, the couple was together for 12 years, after the death of her husband, Catherine even wanted to marry him, but she was dissuaded. In parallel, he had many mistresses, of which Catherine was aware. Finally, at the beginning of 1772, he left for a peace congress with the Turks in Focsani, and in his absence the star of the favorite went down, as Catherine drew attention to Vasilchikov.	Secret lover, then official favorite (since 1762).	Bobrinsky, Alexey Grigorievich- the son of Ekaterina and Orlov, 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)	1772, September. In the spring and summer of this year, he often stood on guard at Tsarskoe Selo, where he attracted the attention of the empress and soon received a golden snuffbox "for the maintenance of the guards." Then he occupied the rooms in the palace in which Orlov lived, and out of fear of the sudden return of the former favorite, a guard was placed at the door of his premises. Such a change in favorite, after the Oryol decade, was a novelty and caused great commotion at court.	1774, March 20. Vasilchikov, in connection with the rise of Potemkin, was sent an imperial order to go to Moscow.	Official favorite	The first of Catherine's favorites is much younger than her in age (14 years difference), distinguished by beauty. He was disinterested and made little use of his position. Catherine, however, felt his emptiness and lack of education and considered him boring. After his resignation, he settled in Moscow with his brother, did not marry.
6	Potemkin, Grigory Alexandrovich (1739-1791)	1774, spring. An old acquaintance of Catherine, who took part in the coup	1776. In April 1776, he went on vacation to revise the Novgorod province, at which time Zavadovsky, whom the Empress "had her eye on", took his place.	The official favorite, apparently, the morganatic spouse since 1775 (see Wedding of Catherine II and Potemkin)	Catherine gave birth to Potemkin's daughter - Elizaveta Grigorievna Tyomkina. Despite the gap in his personal life, thanks to his abilities, he maintained the friendship and respect of Catherine and for many years remained the second person in the state. He was not married, his personal life consisted of the "enlightenment" of his young nieces, including Ekaterina Engelgart (see).
7	Zavadovsky, Pyotr Vasilievich (1739-1812)	1776 November. He was under Rumyantsev, was introduced to the Empress as the author of reports and reports on the affairs of Little Russia in the summer of 1775 during her stay in Moscow. He interested her as a person "quieter and more peaceful" than Potemkin.	1777, July. He joined the party of the Orlovs and Count Rumyantsev, did not suit Potemkin and was replaced by his efforts. In May 1777, after Catherine met Zorich, Zavadovsky was given a 6-month official leave.	Official favorite	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.
8	Zorich, Semyon Gavrilovich (1743/1745-1799)	1777, June. Potemkin, wanting to remove Zavadovsky, was looking for a replacement for him and took Zorich to his adjutant, and then appointed him commander of the Life Hussar squadron - Catherine's personal bodyguard.	1778, June. He aroused the displeasure of the empress with an immoderate card game, and Potemkin's dissatisfaction with his unwillingness to reckon with his interests, in a fit of temper he told the prince a bunch of insolence. Was expelled from Petersburg.	Official favorite	A handsome hussar of Serbian origin, 14 years younger than the Empress. Catherine was unhappy with his poor education and the fact that he did not share her cultural interests, she always expected that he could "do something dirty." As a result, he was dismissed with a large reward, granted by 7,000 peasants and settled in the Shklov town presented to him by Catherine II, where he founded the Shklov noble school at his own expense. Entangled in debt and was suspected of counterfeiting.
9	Rimsky-Korsakov, Ivan Nikolaevich (1754-1831)	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 (including Bergman, Rontsov). 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.	Official favorite	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.
1778/1779 was a chaotic year in Catherine's personal life, she could not choose a permanent lover for herself. Perhaps this was due to the blow from Korsakov's betrayal. Information about men of this period is contradictory. .				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 prevails over 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 previous position · Rimsky-Korsakov fights Stoyanov
10	Stakhiev (Fear)	1778; 1779, June.	1779, October.	According to the description of contemporaries, "a jester of the lowest sort." Strakhov was a protégé of Count N.I. Panin Strakhov may be Ivan Varfolomeevich Strakhov(1750-1793), in this case, he was not the lover of the Empress, but a man whom Panin considered insane, and who, when Catherine once told him that he could ask her for some kind of favor, threw himself on his knees and asked her hands, after which she began to avoid him.
11	Stoyanov (Stanov) Perhaps two separate people.	1778	1778	Potemkin's henchman
12	Rantsov (Rontsov), Ivan Romanovich (1755-1791)	1779. Mentioned among those who participated in the "competition", it is not entirely clear whether he managed to visit the empress's alcove	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)	1779 October	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)	1780, March. Potemkin's nephew	1780 March
15	Lanskoy, Alexander Dmitrievich (1758-1784)	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.	1784, 25 July. Died after a five-day illness with toad and fever	Official favorite	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	1781 May. For a short time, Catherine drew attention to the young man, which almost cost the resignation of the favorite of the Empress A. D. Lansky.	1781 June	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)	1785, February. The officer, Potemkin's adjutant, was introduced to them. Gelbig reports that Potemkin specially arranged a holiday to introduce Yermolov to the Empress. Only 9 months after the death of Lansky, whose loss hit her hard, Catherine resumed her personal life. Before he got into the "case", he had to carry out a difficult fight with other rivals, of which the most serious was 22-year-old Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov, Dashkova's son.	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."	Official favorite	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.
18	Dmitriev-Mamonov, Alexander Matveevich (1758-1803)	1786, July. A distant relative of Potemkin and his adjutant. Presented to the Empress the day after Yermolov's departure.	1789 November. Fell in love with the maid of honor, Princess Darya Feodorovna Shcherbatova, which was reported to Catherine. “... Before the evening exit, Her Majesty herself deigned to betroth Count A. M. Mamonov to Princess Shcherbatova; they, on their knees, asked for forgiveness and are forgiven. The groom was presented with gifts and ordered to leave St. Petersburg the very next day after the wedding on July 12.	Official favorite	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.
19	Miloradovich	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).	1789	Probably, Miloradovich, Mikhail Andreevich(1771-1825). The famous general, was killed on the Senate Square by the Decembrist Kakhovsky. The episode of a possible favor with Catherine is usually not mentioned in the biography. According to the instructions of Ya. L. Barskov, he is included in the Don Juan list of Catherine.
20	Miklashevsky	1787.	1787. Miklashevsky was a candidate, but did not become a favorite.	According to the evidence, during the trip of Catherine II in 1787 to the Crimea, among the candidates for favorites was some Miklashevsky. 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)	1789, July. He was a protege of Field Marshal Prince N. I. Saltykov, the main educator of Catherine's grandchildren.	1796 November 6th. The last favorite of Catherine. The relationship ended with her death.	Official favorite	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 oust Potemkin, who threatened to “come and snatch 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.

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

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

List of literature used…………………………………………..12

Introduction

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

B Most contemporaries did not see anything unnatural in the empress's hobbies: similar customs flourished in the 18th 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 on the award of the lieutenant to the adjutant wing of Her Majesty and his immediate summoning to the palace. But here he did not end up in the commandant's office, but at an appointment with the life physician Rogerson, a well-known specialist in venereal diseases. After examining a new patient and recognizing him as healthy, the life physician handed over the patron from hand to hand to Countess Bruce or the 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 everything, even the intimate exams, and having received the last instructions from the charming ladies, the recruit was sent to a special room.

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

From now on, a new life awaited the lover of the Empress. Every desire he had 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)

(1728-1762) The beginning of a relationship 1745 August 21 (September 1) - wedding - the end of a relationship: June 28 (July 9), 1762 - the death of Peter III. Legal spouse. 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 Stanisław Poniatowski). Suffered, if you believe the rumors, some kind of impotence associated with the deformation of the penis - possibly phimosis, and in the early years did not have 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 Saltykov, Sergei Vasilievich
(1726-1765)

1752. Since this period, it has been at the "small court" of the Grand Dukes Ekaterina Alekseevna and Pyotr Fedorovich. The beginning of the novel is probably the spring of that year. 1754, October. 2 weeks after the birth of Grand Duke Paul, he was hastily sent as an envoy to Sweden. A few months earlier, when the signs of Catherine's pregnancy became noticeable, he was no longer allowed to see her and she suffered from separation. Secret lover The only known male of the Empress is older than her. Catherine II, wanting to discredit her son Pavel, did not refute the rumors that Saltykov was his father. After the story with Catherine, he remained at foreign courts almost all his life.

3 Stanislav August Poniatowski
(1732-1798)

1756-1758. Catherine, recovering from childbirth and separation from her beloved Saltykov, fell in love again with a young Pole who came to Russia in the retinue of the English ambassador Williams. After the fall of Chancellor Bestuzhev, Williams and Poniatowski were forced to leave Petersburg. Secret lover 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 nee German princess: such an addiction to Russian beauties pleased her subjects, who remembered the “German dominance” of favorites Anna Ioannovna and Anna Leopoldovna.

4 Orlov, Grigory Grigorievich
(1734-1783)

1759 or 1760. In the spring of 1759, Count Schwerin, the aide-de-camp 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. In total, the couple was together for 12 years, after the death of her husband, Catherine even wanted to marry him, but she was dissuaded. In parallel, he had many mistresses, of which Catherine was aware. Finally, at the beginning of 1772, he left for a peace congress with the Turks in Focsani, and in his absence the star of the favorite went down, as Catherine drew attention to Vasilchikov. Secret lover, then official favorite (since 1762). Bobrinsky, Alexey Grigorievich- the son of Ekaterina and Orlov, 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)

1772. -1774, September. In the spring and summer of this year, he often stood on guard at Tsarskoe Selo, where he attracted the attention of the empress and soon received a golden snuffbox "for the maintenance of the guards." Then he occupied the rooms in the palace in which Orlov lived, and out of fear of the sudden return of the former favorite, a guard was placed at the door of his premises. Such a change of favorite, after the Oryol decade, was a novelty and caused a great commotion at court on March 20. Vasilchikov, in connection with the rise of Potemkin, was sent an imperial order to go to Moscow. The official favorite The first of Catherine's favorites is much younger than her in age (14 years difference), he was distinguished by beauty. He was disinterested and made little use of his position. Catherine, however, felt his emptiness and lack of education and considered him boring. After his resignation, he settled in Moscow with his brother, did not marry.

6 Potemkin, Grigory Alexandrovich
(1739-1791)

1774, spring. An old acquaintance of Catherine, who took part in the coup of 1776. In April 1776, he went on vacation to revise the Novgorod province, at which time Zavadovsky, whom the Empress "had her eye on", took his place. The official favorite, apparently, the morganatic spouse since 1775 (see Wedding of Catherine II and Potemkin) Catherine gave birth to Potemkin's daughter - Elizaveta Grigorievna Tyomkina. Despite the gap in his personal life, thanks to his abilities, he maintained the friendship and respect of Catherine 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 Vasilievich
(1739-1812)

1776-1777, November. He was under Rumyantsev, was introduced to the Empress as the author of reports and reports on the affairs of Little Russia in the summer of 1775 during her stay in Moscow. Interested in her, as a person "quieter and more peaceful" than Potemkin., July. He joined the party of the Orlovs and Count Rumyantsev, did not suit Potemkin and was replaced by his efforts. In May 1777, after Catherine met Zorich, Zavadovsky was given a 6-month official leave. Official favorite 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.

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

1777-1778, June. Potemkin, wanting to remove Zavadovsky, was looking for a replacement for him and took Zorich to his adjutant, and then appointed him commander of the Life Hussar squadron - Catherine's personal bodyguard. He aroused the displeasure of the empress with an immoderate card game, and Potemkin's dissatisfaction with his unwillingness to reckon with his interests, in a fit of temper he told the prince a bunch of insolence. Was expelled from Petersburg. Official favorite Handsome hussars of Serbian origin, 14 years younger than the Empress. Catherine was unhappy with his poor education and the fact that he did not share her cultural interests, she always expected that he could "do something dirty." As a result, he was dismissed with a large reward, granted by 7,000 peasants and settled in the Shklov town presented to him by Catherine II, where he founded the Shklov noble school at his own expense. Entangled in debt and was suspected of counterfeiting.

Usually, speaking about the favorites of Catherine the Great, they first of all remember Grigory Orlov, Grigory Potemkin and Platon Zubov. Sergey Saltykov is mentioned less often. But in fact, Catherine had much more secret lovers and favorites.

I bring to your attention their complete list.(without those about which there were rumors that did not find reliable confirmation) in chronological order.

Empress Catherine the Great with her fifth favorite and actually co-ruler Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin

1. The first reliably known secret lover Sergei Vasilyevich Saltykov (1726 - 1765).

The only one of Catherine's favorites who was older than her. He was in connection with the Grand Duchess, wife of the heir to the throne Peter Fedorovich from 1752 to 1754.

Until now, there is an assumption that it is Saltykov, and not Peter III, who is
father of Catherine's son Paul.

At least, immediately after the birth of Pavel, Saltykov was sent as an envoy to Sweden and never returned to Russia.

2. Stanislav August Poniatowski (1732 - 1798) - Catherine's secret lover from 1756 to 1758.

From the relationship between Catherine and Poniatowski in 1759, a daughter was born, who was named Anna, of course, Petrovna (she died in 1759).

In 1764, already an empress, Catherine made her former lover the king of the Commonwealth. She also deprived him of the throne, dividing Poland with Austria and Prussia (finally in 1795).

3. Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov (1734 - 1783) - since 1760 - a secret lover, and from 1762 to 1772 - the official favorite of Catherine.

Together with his brothers, he took an active part in the coup on June 28, 1762, as a result of which Catherine ascended the Russian throne. In the same 1762, a boy was born from this connection, who is known as Count Alexei Grigorievich Bobrinsky.

Grigory Orlov went mad after the death of his young wife and died in 1783.

4. Alexei Semenovich Vasilchikov (1746 - 1813) - Catherine's official favorite in 1772 - 1774. He was the first of the favorites of the Empress, with whom she had a significant age difference - he was 14 years younger than Catherine.

5. The Most Serene Prince of Taurida Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin (1739 - 1791) - Catherine's official favorite from 1774 to 1776 and her morganatic husband from 1775.

From communication with Potemkin, Catherine had a daughter - Elizaveta Grigoryevna Temkina. Potemkin known not only as a favorite of the Empress, but also as her actual co-ruler, remained an influential political figure until his death. In addition, from 1777 to 1789 he supplied Catherine with new favorites who were his adjutants.

6. Peter Vasilyevich Zavadovsky (1739 - 1812) - the official favorite of the Empress in 1776 - 1777. In 1802 he became the first minister of public education in the history of Russia in the government of Alexander I.

7. Semyon Gavrilovich Zorich (1745 - 1799) - a hussar of Serbian origin, Potemkin's adjutant - Catherine's official favorite in 1777 - 1778.

8. Ivan Nikolaevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1754 - 1831) - Catherine's official favorite
in 1778 - 1779, her adjutant wing. He was 25 years younger than the Empress.

9. Vasily Ivanovich Levashev (1740 - 1804) - Major of the Semenovsky Regiment, favorite of the Empress in October 1779.

10. Alexander Dmitrievich Lanskoy (1758 - 1784) - another adjutant of Potemkin, Catherine's official favorite in 1780 - 1784. Lanskoy was in poor health and died at age 26 from angina pectoris and fever. Catherine was very upset by the death of her young lover. He was 29 years younger than the Empress.

11. Alexander Petrovich Ermolov (1754 - 1834) - Potemkin's adjutant, future hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. He was Catherine's official favorite in 1785-1786.