Catherine the Great & Potemkin

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

  17 Krasnobaev p 490.

  18 K. L. Blum, Ein russischer Staatsman, Countess Sievers to Count Ya. Sievers 17 April 1774, quoted in A. G. Brückner, Potemkin p 26.

  19 Memoirs of the Life of Prince Potemkin p 17.

  20 Samoilov cols 597–8.

  21 Saint-Jean, Lebensbeschreibung des Gregor Alexandrowitsch Potemkin des Tauriers, translator’s preface, and chs 1–12; Waliszewski, Autour d’un trône vol 1 pp 114, 146. Semevsky, GAPT p 490.

  22 RGADA 18.202.2–3. Bishop Porphiry, ‘Information’, ZOOID 13: 187–8. Semevesky, GAPT pp 490–1.

  23 Porphiry pp 187–8.

  24 Samoilov cols 602–3.

  25 Byron, Don Juan, Canto IX: 84.

  26 Saint-Jean ch 1–12. RS (1872) 5 p 466, Family information about Prince Potemkin. Semevsky, GAPT p 493.

  27 Memoirs of the Life of Prince Potemkin p 20; Krasnobaev p 490.

  28 Castera vol 2 p 270. Semevsky, GAPT p 493.

  29 Memoirs of the Life of Prince Potemkin, p 20.

  30 CtG’s Frank Confession pp 355–6. Semevsky, GAPT p 492–3 GARF 728.1.425.1–5. CtG, Sochineniya vol 12 pp 697–9, CtG to GAP March 1774. SIRIO 26 (1879): 309–10. The Sardinian envoy Marquis de Parelo claims that GAP went to an occult hierophant to try to save his eye.

  31 Samoilov cols 602–3.

  32 RS (1872) 5 p 466, Family information about Prince Potemkin. RGADA 1.85.1.343, L 11, CII to GAP. Catherine here in early 1774 tells GAP that G. Orlov always spoke well of him.

  33 Bilbasov, Istoriya vol 2 pp 519–21.

  34 RS (1872) 5 p 466, family information about of Prince Potemkin. Saint-Jean chs 1–12. Semevsky, GAPT p 493.

  35 Waliszewski, Autour d’un trône vol 1 p 38.

  36 Krasnobaev p 491. Saint-Jean chs 1–12. Countess Elisabeth Razumov Skaya was later placed in a monastery by her father following her secret marriage to Count Peter Apraxin. GAP interceded on her behalf with K. G. Razumovsky. Semevsky, GAPT pp 492–3.

  37 Earl of Buckinghamshire, Despatches and Correspondence vol 2 p 232.

  38 Soloviev vol 14 pp 48–9 quoted in Madariaga, Russia, pp 139–50.

  39 Alexander, CtG pp 103–15; Madariaga, Russia pp 139–50.

  40 Kazan University 17.262.3–2300, 25–2708/56–5705.

  41 This account of the Commission is based on Madariaga, Russia pp 139–83, and Alexander, CtG pp 100–2, 112–20.

  42 RGADA 268.890.291–4, Geroldmeysterskaya contora (Heraldic Office).

  CHAPTER 5: THE WAR HERO

  1 RGADA 5.85.1.210, L 5, GAP to CII 24 May 1769. At the flat of Prince Prozorovsky.

  2 N. F. Dubrovin, Pugachev and his Henchmen vol 2 p 403, CII to Count Z. G. Chernyshev 23 June 1769.

  3 Voltaire, Oeuvres complètes vol 58 p 39, CII to Voltaire 4/15 August 1769.

  4 Christopher Duffy, Russia’s Military Way to the West pp 130–6.

  5 SIRIO 54 (1886): 161.

  6 RS (1895) 83 pp 199–200, Comte de Langeron, quoted in Duffy, Russia’s Military Way p 125.

  7 Frederick the Great, Oeuvres vol 23 p 89, quoted in Giles MacDonogh, Frederick the Great p 299.

  8 Duffy, Russia’s Military Way pp 130–6. Russian official salaries are from LeDonne, Ruling Russia pp 363–4.

  9 AAE 20: 1, 88. Hereafter, the Comte de Langeron’s ‘Journal de campagnes faites au service de Russie par comte de Langeron Général en chef’, and his other essays in the Quai d’Orsay, Archives des Affaires Etrangères are referred to as an AAE volume number.

  10 Duffy, Russia’s Military Way p 135.

  11 RGADA 268.890.291–4, Geroldmeysterskaya contora (Heraldic Office).

  12 Memoirs of the Life of Prince Potemkin, p 25.

  13 Quoted in P. B. Bartenev, ‘Biografi generalissimov i general-feld-marshalov Rossiyskoy Imperatorskoy armii’, Voenno-istorichesheskiy sbornik (1911) vol 4 p 14.

  14 Langeron, AAE 20: 14, Russian army and the Turkish army.

  15 Langeron, AAE 20: 14–15.

  16 Wiegel vol 1 p 80 (1864–6).

  17 Masson 1859 p 149, quoted in Duffy, Russia’s Military Way p 169.

  18 RGADA 11.1.267.127 (reverse), GAP to P. A. Rumiantsev.

  19 SeA, St Petersburg (1826) p 164, Rumiantsev to CII 14 November 1775, Moscow.

  20 CHOIDR 1865 book 2, part 2 pp 2–3.

  21 SeA (1826) pp 164–71, Rumiantsev to CII 14 November 1775, Moscow.

  22 Semevsky, GAPT p 494.

  23 Lord Kinross, The Ottoman Centuries pp 394–5.

  24 Ligne, Letters (Staël) vol 2 p 8, Prince de Ligne to Comte de Ségur 1 August 1788, and vol 2 pp 10, 11, 12–13, September 1788. GAP on Turkish tactics from the Comte de Ségur Memoirs 1960 pp 268–9.

  25 SeA (1826) pp 164–71, Rumiantsev to CII 14 November 1775, Moscow. RGADA 1.43.11.1–1, GAP to CII 21 August 1770.

  26 Semevsky, GAPT p 494.

  27 SeA (1826) pp 164–71, Rumiantsev to CII 14 November 1775, Moscow. RGADA 268.890.291–4. Geroldmeysterskaya contora (Heraldic Office).

  28 Kinross p 400.

  29 Baron de Tott quoted in Kinross p 401.

  30 Voltaire vol 58 p 96, CII to Voltaire 16/27 September 1770, St Petersburg.

  31 Voltaire vol 58 p 91, Voltaire to CII 14 September 1770, Ferney; p 102, Voltaire to CII 25 October 1770, Ferney.

  32 CHOIDR (1865) book 2 pp 111–13, Rumiantsev to CtG 1771.

  33 KFZ January–April 1771.

  34 Semevsky, GAPT p 496. RGADA 1.85.1.209, L 10, CII to GAP ud. Usually dated in February 1774, this may date from 1771/2, which might also fit. If so, it was now that Catherine came to visit Potemkin and waited outside his room for two hours, behaviour that might suggest that they were on the verge of beginning a relationship. It would be ‘crazy’ enough behaviour for an Orlov ally to warn her that these were dangerous antics for an empress.

  35 Starina i Novizna (1879) vol 1 p 283, G. G. Orlov to P. A. Rumiantsev.

  36 SeA (1826) pp 164–71, Rumiantsev to CII 14 November 1775, Moscow.

  37 Samoilov col 1002. GAP’s letters to Zaporogian Ataman 15 April and 25 May 1772 quoted from A. Skalkovsky, The History of the New Sech or the Last Zaporogian Kosh vol 3 pp 127–9.

  38 AKV 32: 74. AKV 8: 1–38, S. R. Vorontsov to F. Rostopchin 18/29 October 1796.

  39 Alexander, CtG pp 160–1. Madariaga, Russia pp 211–13.

  40 Madariaga, Russia pp 213–14. Alexander, CtG pp 154–61. Voltaire vol 58 p 102, Voltaire to CII 25 October 1770, Ferney.

  41 SIRIO 13: 258–61.

  42 Madariaga, Russia p 259. Alexander, CtG p 165.

  43 Ribbing to Swedish Chancellery President 13 July 1772. Svenska Riksarkivet (Sra) Collection Muscovitica 356 no 29, quoted in Ransel, Politics p 293.

  44 GARF 728.425.1–5. CtG, Sochineniya vol 12 pp 697–9, Frank Confession, CtG to GAP, 21 February 1774. CtG, Memoirs 1955 pp 355–7.

  45 RGADA 5.85.1.370, L 8, CII to GAP ud, February 1774. Again, the letter mentioned earlier on his first return from the army in 1771 would also fit for this visit in 1772.

  46 Samoilov cols 1004–16.

  47 Madariaga, Russia pp 258–9. Alexander, CtG pp 135–7.

  48 CtG, Sochineniya vol 12 pp 697–9, CtG to GAP, Frank Confession.

  49 SIRIO 13: 270–2. SIRIO 19: 325.

  50 RGADA 5.85.1.370, L 8, CII to GAP ud, February 1774.

  51 AKV 32: 165, S. R. Vorontsov to A. R. Vorontsov 9 February 1774.

  52 AKV 32: 165, S. R. Vorontosov to A. R. Vorontsov 11 June 1773.

  53 RS (1889) 9 pp 481–517, notes of Prince Yury Vladimirovich Dolgoruky. Dolgoruky’s memoirs contain elements of fantasy. For attitudes to GAP in army see Lopatin’s essay in Perepiska pp 500–502 and M. V. Muromtsev to A. I. Bibikov from Silistria in A. A.
Bibikov, Zapiski o zhiznoi i sluzhbe Alexandra Ilicha Bibikova.

  54 Voltaire vol 58 p 231, CII to Voltaire 19/30 June 1773.

  55 SeA (1826) pp 164–71, Rumiantsev to CtG 14 November 1775, Moscow.

  56 RGADA 5.85.1.119, L 7, CII to GAP 4 December 1773.

  57 RS, notes of Dolgoruky. See note 53.

  58 RS, notes of Dolgoruky. See note 53.

  59 Quoted in J. T. Alexander, Autocratic Politics in a National Crisis: The Imperial Russian Government and Pugachev’s Revolt p 85 as RGADA 6.527.32, Platon Liubasy to N. N. Bantysh-Kamenskiy 18 December 1773.

  CHAPTER 6: THE HAPPIEST MAN ALIVE

  1 Samoilov col 1016.

  2 CtG, Memoirs 1955 p 356, Frank Confession, CII to GAP.

  3 Saint-Jean pp 1–10.

  4 Michael B. Petrovich, ‘Catherine II and a Fake Peter III in Montenegro’ p 169. Also Madariaga, Russia p 210.

  5 General information in this account of the Pugachev Rebellion is based, unless references are given, on A. S. Pushkin’s Istoriya Pugacheva, his novella The Captain’s Daughter and J. T. Alexander’s two books on the subject – Emperor of the Cossacks: Pugachev and the Frontier Jacquerie of 1773–75, and Autocratic Politics pp 1–10. Also Madariaga, Russia pp 239–55.

  6 Pushkin, Captain’s Daughter p 245.

  7 Alexander, Autocratic Politics pp 175–6.

  8 Ransel, Politics pp 241–50. SIRIO 19: 399–400.

  9 Ransel, Politics pp 241–50. Alexander, CtG pp 166–7. Madariaga, Russia pp 261–2. SIRIO 19: 325–7, Sir Thomas Gunning to Suffolk 27 September/8 October 1772, and SIRIO 19: 401, 4/25 February 1774.

  10 Supposedly CtG to Madame Geoffrin. Much published since but the original letter is unknown.

  11 Ségur, Mémoires 1827 vol 3 p 37, CtG to Ségur 1785.

  12 Quoted in Alexander, CtG p 173.

  13 Alexander, CtG pp 166–7. Madariaga, Russia pp 260–1.

  14 Robert B. Asprey, Frederick the Great: The Magnificent Enigma p 600.

  15 Engelhardt 1868 pp 42–3. Memoirs of the Life of Prince Potemkin p 27. Saint-Jean pp 1–12.

  16 GARF 728.1.425.1–5, CtG to GAP March 1774. CtG, Sochineniya vol 12 pp 697–9.

  17 Masson p 108.

  18 Memoirs of the Life of Prince Potemkin p 27.

  19 Engelhardt 1868 pp 42–3.

  20 Memoirs of the Life of Prince Potemkin p 27.

  21 GARF 728.1.425.1–5. CtG, Sochineniya vol 12 pp 697–9, CtG to GAP March 1774.

  22 KFZ 4 February 1774.

  23 RGADA 1.85.1.277, L 7, CII to GAP ud, February 1774. The basic source for the letters between CII and GAP is V. S. Lopatin’s Perepiska but in various cases, the author has also used the originals. Hence references give both the place of document and its page in Lopatin’s Perepiska as ‘L’ plus page number.

  24 RGADA 5.85.1.342, L 7, CII to GAP ud, February 1774.

  25 RGADA 1.85.1.208, L 8, CII to GAP ud, February 1774.

  26 RGADA 5.85.1.370, L 8, CII to GAP ud, February 1774.

  27 RGADA 5.1/1.1.213, L 14, CII to GAP ud, February/March 1774.

  28 RGADA 5.85.1.292, L 56, CII to GAP ud.

  29 RGADA 5.85.1.370, L 8, CII to GAP ud, February 1774.

  30 RGADA 5.85.1.370, L 8, CII to GAP ud, February 1774.

  31 RGADA 5.85.1.137, L 10, CII to GAP ud, February 1774.

  32 Alexander Vassilchikov to French chargé d’affaires, quoted in Waliszewski, Autour d’un trône vol 1 p 145.

  33 RA (1873) 2 pp 123–5. A. P. Barsukov, Knyaz Grigory Grigorevich Orlov p 127. Count Solms to FtG 25 March 1774.

  34 SPBII 238.276a.7426.1/1, L 11, GAP to CII 27 February 1774.

  35 RGADA 1263.1.7713.3, L 13, CII to GAP 28 February 1774.

  36 SIRIO 19 (1876): 405.

  37 RA (1873) no 2 pp 123–5, Count Solms to FtG 7 and 18 March 1774.

  38 Frederick the Great, Politische Correspondenz 1879–1939 35 p 215 30 March 1774.

  39 RA (1873) 2 p 125. Barsukov, Orlov. Count Solms to FtG 7 March 1774.

  40 RS (1873) 8.9 p 342, General-Count P. I. Panin to Prince A. B. Kurakin 7 March 1774.

  41 RA (1873) 2 p 125. Barsukov, Orlov. Count Solms to FtG 7 March 1774.

  42 Brückner, Potemkin pp 26–7, quoting from Blum, Ein russischer Staatsman, Countess Sievers to Count Sievers 31 March 1774.

  43 Countess E. M. Rumiantseva, Pisma k ee muzhu grafu P. A. Rumiantsevu-Zadunayskomu 1762–1779 pp 179–81. See also: RA (1866) p 396 for General A. I. Bibakov’s enthusiastic reaction to GAP’s rise.

  44 SIRIO 27: 52.

  CHAPTER 7: LOVE

  1 The descriptions of GAP are based on G. Lampi’s unfinished portrait in the Hermitage. Waliszewski, Autour d’un trône vol 1 p 145. Stedingk p 98, J. J. Jennings to Fronce 17 March NS 1791. Also see the print of GAP as captain of the Chevaliers-Gardes, painter unknown. Thanks to V. S. Lopatin.

  2 SIRIO 19 (1876) 405.

  3 RA (1873) 2 pp 123 and 125, Count Solms to FII 4 and 7 March 1774.

  4 Waliszewski, Autour d’un trône vol 1 p 145.

  5 Comte de Ségur, Memoirs, ed Gerard Shelley p 186.

  6 Nathaniel Wraxall, Some of the Northern Parts of Europe p 201.

  7 AAE 11: 297, 1773.

  8 RGADA 5.85.1.145, L 54. RGADA 5.85.1.352, L130.

  9 RGADA 5.85.1.133, L 15.

  10 RGADA 1.1/1.54.44, L 61.

  11 RGADA 1.1/1.54.105, L 62.

  12 Blum quoted in Brückner, Potemkin pp 25–6. Countess Sievers to Count Sievers 28 April 1774.

  13 RGADA 5.85.1.252, L 48.

  14 Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, Pamietniki czasow moich p 80.

  15 RA (1877) 1 p 479 Ribeaupierre. SIRIO 23 (1878): 84, CII to Baron F. M. Grimm 2/4 March 1778.

  16 CII’s rules for the Little Hermitage: Waliszewski, Autour d’un trône vol 1 p 153.

  17 SIRIO 23 (1878): 7, CII to Grimm 30 August 1774.

  18 RGADA 5.85.1.382, L 59.

  19 SIRIO 23 (1878): 3, CII to Grimm 19 June 1774.

  20 RGADA 1.1/1.54.4, L 14.

  21 SIRIO 23 (1878): 4, CII to Grimm 3 August 1774.

  22 RGADA 5.85.1.150, L 94.

  23 RGADA 1.1/1.54.42, L 18.

  24 RGADA 1.1/1.54.6, L 24.

  25 RGADA 1.85.1.209, L 10.

  26 K. K. Rotikov Drugoy Peterburg pp 103–4.

  27 RGADA 5.85.1.326, L 60.

  28 RGADA 1.1/1.54.7, L 18. GAP’s song to CtG, ‘As soon as I beheld you’, contains the line: ‘Thy lovely eyes captivated me’. Masson p 108.

  29 RGADA 5.85.1.343, L 11.

  30 RGADA 1.1/1.54.16, L 15.

  31 RGADA 5.85.1.253, L 44.

  32 RGADA 1.1/1.54.12, L 23.

  33 RGADA 5.85.1.343, L 11.

  34 RGADA 5.85.1.133, L 15.

  35 RGADA 5.85.1.343, L 12.

  36 RGADA 5.85.1.150, L 94.

  37 RGADA 5.85.1.347, L 57.

  38 RGADA 5.85.1.144, L 64.

  39 RGADA 1.1/1.1.213, L 14.

  40 RGADA 1.1/1.54.27, L 32.

  41 RGADA 5.85.1.226, L 37.

  42 RGADA 5.85.1.172, L 87.

  43 RGADA 5.85.1.160, L53.

  44 RGADA 1.1/1.54.3, L 87.

  45 RGADA 5.85.1.226, L 37.

  46 RGADA 1.1/1.54.11, L 27.

  47 RGADA 5.85.1.313, L 59.

  48 RGADA 10.1/1.54.19, L 16. SIRIO 13: 398.

  49 RGADA 5.85.1.255, L 17.

  50 RGADA 1.1/1.54.14, L 93.

  51 RGADA 1.1/1.54.17, L 26.

  52 GARF 728.1.425.1–5. CtG, Sochineniya vol 12 pp 697–9, CII to GAP.

  CHAPTER 8: POWER

  1 Unless specified, for the sources of
general information about the Pugachev Rebellion, see Chapter 6, note 5. Masson p 108.

  2 RGADA 5.85.1.213, L 14.

  3 RGADA 1.1/1.1.213, L 14.

  4 RGADA 1.85.1.209, L 10.

  5 RGADA 1.85.1.343, L 11–12.

  6 RGVIA 52.1.72.336.

  7 Rumiantseva pp 179–80, Countess E. M. Rumiantseva to Count P. A. Rumiantsev.

  8 Castera vol 2 p 401. Rumiantseva pp 179–80.

  9 Brückner, Potemkin p 26 Count Sievers 17 April 1774.

  10 RA (1873) 2 p 125, Solms to FII 7 March 1774. Mansel, Pillars of Monarchy pp 31, 93.

  11 RGADA 5.85.1.207, L 14.

  12 Rumiantseva pp 180–1.

  13 Rumiantseva pp 179–80.

  14 RGVIA 52.1.72.336.

  15 RGADA 5.85.1.15, L 16.

  16 RGADA 5.85.1.410, L 22.

  17 RA (1873) p 126, Solms to FII 18 March 1774. Rumiantseva p 183, 8 April 1774.

  18 Khrapovitsky 30 May 1786. Rumiantseva p 183, 18 April 1774.

  19 Durand de Distroff quoted in Waliszewski, Autour d’un trône vol 1 p 146.

  20 Waliszewski, Autour d’un trône p 146.

  21 RGADA 1.1/1.54.64, L 27.

  22 SIRIO 5: 413, Sir Robert Gunning to Suffolk.

  23 RGADA 5.85.1.12, L 29. Dubrovin, Pugachev vol 3 pp 47–9.

  24 Madariaga, Russia p 249.

  25 RGADA 5.85.1.299, L 30.

  26 SIRIO 19: 406, Gunning to Suffolk 10/21 June 1774.

  27 E. P. Karnovich, Zamechatelnyye bogatstva chastnykh v Rossii pp 265–7.

  28 RGADA 1.1/1.54.25, L 25.

  29 AKV 10: 110, S. R. Vorontsov 12/24 July 1801, London. The procurement of these medals was given priority by Catherine and ministers. For example, CII herself wrote to Gustavus III of Sweden about GAP’s Order of Seraphim (see SIRIO (1914) 145: 96), and on 12 March 1774 Nikita Panin ordered the Russian Ambassador to Poland, Otto-Magnus Stackelberg, to ask King Stanislas-Augustus to give GAP the White Eagle (see SIRIO (1911) 135: 68).

  30 RGADA 1.1/1.54.22, L 30. SIRIO 19: 406, Gunning to Suffolk.

  31 RGADA 5.85.1.143, L 31.

  32 GARF 728.1.416.40, L 34. AGS: 1 part 1 p 452, St Petersburg.

  33 Alexander CtG pp 176–8. Madariaga, Russia pp 249–51. Russkiy Biographicheskiy Slovar vol 14 (1904), Count P. S. Potemkin.

  34 AGS: 1 p 454.

  35 E. S. Shumigorsky, Imperator Pavel i zhizn i tsartsvovaniye p 23. G. Derzhavin, Sochineniya vol 5 Zapiski p 498.