Secret husband. The story of the difficult love of Grigory Potemkin and Catherine II. Life story

“Many majestic images adorn the brilliant age of Catherine, but Potemkin overshadows them all in the eyes of his descendants with his colossal figure. Everyone still doesn’t understand him now, just as they didn’t understand then: they see a happy temporary worker, a son of chance, a proud nobleman, and they don’t see the son of fate, a great man who won immense happiness for himself with his mind, and proved his rights to it with a genius, ”- famous critic Vissarion Belinsky wrote in the 19th century.

The personality of Potemkin caused a lot of gossip and controversy among historians at all times. They discussed not only his contribution to the development of the country, but also relations with Catherine II, who experienced periods of violent passion, then cooling.

On the birthday of the Most Serene Prince, the site recalls how the son of a middle-class Smolensk nobleman won the heart of the empress.

Example for favorites

On September 24, 1739, a son was born in the family of a middle-class Smolensk nobleman, who was named Grigory. At the age of five, the boy moved to Moscow to Grigory Kislovsky, his godfather, the former president of the Chamber College. In the capital, the young man entered Moscow University, where he was even awarded a gold medal for diligence in 1756. However, his passion for science did not last long. After 4 years, he was expelled for "laziness and not attending classes", after which Grigory appeared in the regiment of the Horse Guards, to which he was assigned in absentia.

After a couple of years of service, the 22-year-old Potemkin had a happy opportunity to attract the attention of Catherine herself, who came to power thanks to a palace coup in June 1762. Grigory Aleksandrovich, who was at that moment in the position of sergeant-major, was engaged in agitation in the guards, which allowed the conspirators to win them over to their side. The new empress did not forget those who helped her overthrow her husband, Peter III, from the throne. Together with other participants in those events, Potemkin was introduced from the regiment to the production from sergeant majors to cornets, but the empress wrote with her own hand next to his last name - "to be a second lieutenant." A few months later he was appointed chamber junker to the Court with an increase in salary.

Relations between Grigory Alexandrovich and the Empress, according to eyewitnesses, began in 1774, when Potemkin was 34 years old. The Empress was 10 years older than him. Before that, Sergei Saltykov, whom some ill-wishers considered the father of Paul I, the last Polish king Stanislav Poniatowski, Grigory Orlov, from whom Catherine's son Alexei was born in 1762, and Alexei Vasilchikov, who occupied Orlov's chambers in the palace when he at the beginning of 1772 he left for a peace congress with the Turks in Focsani.

Grigory Potemkin was 10 years younger than the Empress. Photo: reproduction

Despite the fact that the list of admirers of the loving empress was considerable, Grigory Potemkin managed to take a special place in it. Only she called him her “husband”, and herself his “wife”, connected with him by “holy ties”. Even after the end of their stormy romance, Potemkin managed to retain the role of the second person in the state.

Many years after the death of Grigory Alexandrovich, the new favorite of the Empress, the main educator of her grandchildren, Platon Zubov, complained that his benefactress always went towards Potemkin and "simply feared him, like a demanding spouse."

“She only loved me and often pointed to Potemkin so that I could take an example from him,” he recalled.

Photo: Public Domain / Portrait of Catherine II. F. S. Rokotov, 1763

Secret wedding

Historians agree that Potemkin was not just content with the role of favorite in the palace. The surviving eyewitness accounts indicate that in the fall of 1774 or at the beginning of January 1775 there was a secret wedding of Catherine II and Grigory Alexandrovich.

Among the places where this event took place are the St. Sampson Cathedral in St. Petersburg, the Moscow Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Watchmen and the estate of Catherine Pella near St. Petersburg.

The crowns over the heads of the spouses were held by the groom's nephew Alexander Samoilov and the bride's close associate Yevgraf Chertkov. The ceremony was attended by Catherine's closest friend, favorite Marya Perekusikhina. The rite was performed, according to some sources, by the confessor of the Empress Ivan Panfilov.

Soon a girl appeared in Potemkin's house, who was named Elizabeth. On the day when the baby was born, according to the official version, the empress had an upset stomach due to unwashed fruits ... The girl, who was considered the daughter of the empress, received the surname Tyomkina. Surnames were given to such children by subtracting the first syllable from the father's surname.

The portrait of Elizabeth Grigorievna Temkina in the image of Diana can be seen today in the Tretyakov Gallery.

Elizaveta Grigorievna Temkina. Portrait by Vladimir Borovikovsky Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

After the birth of the girl, a difficult period began in the relationship between Catherine and Potemkin. Researchers of the life of the prince suggest that he was burdened by the role of a secret husband. Scandals often broke out between him and the Empress, while taking place in the presence of other people.

“We quarrel about power, not about love,” Catherine once wrote to him.

In the autumn of 1776, a new man appeared in the life of the Empress - Peter Zavadovsky, who also went down in history as the first Minister of Public Education of the Russian Empire. He stayed in the palace, however, not for long. A year later, due to intrigue, he was removed.

"He was zealously betrayed"

Until his death, Grigory Potemkin had enormous power in the country. He died on October 5, 1791 to Potemkin on the way from Iasi to Nikolaev.

“He was passionately, zealously devoted to me; scolded and got angry when he thought that the thing had not been done the way it should have been done. (...) But there was another rare quality in him that distinguished him from all other people: he had courage in his heart, courage in his mind, courage in his soul. Thanks to this, we always understood each other and did not pay attention to the talk of those who understood less than us. In my opinion, Prince Potemkin was a great man who did not do even half of what he was able to do, ”Catherine II later wrote.

Ekaterina Konstantinovna Guseva - Russian theater and film actress, singer, star of the musicals "Nord-Ost", "Anna Karenina", performer of Russian romances. She became famous for the role of Sasha Bely's wife Olga in the TV series.

Ekaterina, a native Muscovite, was born on July 9, 1976 in the family of a civil servant and a tailor. Tamara Mikhailovna worked as the chief inspector and, in addition to Catherine, raised another daughter, Anastasia, who later became the head of the kindergarten. The girls were all adored and pampered, the family lived together and happily.

The biography of Ekaterina Guseva was accompanied by a "suitcase" lifestyle. The family did not immediately acquire their own apartment, but before that they traveled with huge trunks from one grandmother to another. The girls have warm memories of such "gypsy nomads". Wherever they ended up, everywhere they and their sister were surrounded by care and love.

As a child, Catherine's father played hockey and played the violin. It was this violin that many years later accompanied Katya's heroine as a prop for the sensational cult TV series "The Brigade". Guseva at the age of 4 began to attend the rhythmic gymnastics section and even was in the group of the USSR reserve team. She managed to participate in competitions, then became interested in figure skating and swimming.

In high school, Ekaterina Guseva was engaged in a dance circle of the Georgian national ensemble. As part of the Colchis team, she performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater and went on long-distance tours. Ekaterina was the embodiment of an exemplary schoolgirl - a long massive braid, a neat appearance, a good figure (with a height of 167 cm, the girl's weight was 49 kg) and good grades. The exact sciences did not want to be fixed in memory, which gave fans the opportunity to approach and make friends with a diligent student: classmates helped her solve intricate problems and explained equations.

By the end of school, Ekaterina Guseva decided on her next profession and decided to get an education at a biotechnological institute, where she had already completed annual preparatory courses. However, at one of the school performances, the girl's life changed dramatically. In the interval between dressing up for a new episode, Guseva was on the eve of a new extravaganza. At the end of the evening, E.R. Simonova’s assistant approached Ekaterina and suggested that the talented girl try to enter the theater school. Schukin.

In a few days, Catherine learned several works (fable, monologue and poetry) and on the right day appeared before the selection committee. She left the selection, opening the door wide open - she entered. The news of the sudden admission to the acting school left the parents bewildered, my mother even cried. But after some time, Tamara Mikhailovna admired her beloved daughter from the audience.

Later, after the death of E. Simonov, the mentor of the acting course, where Guseva studied, acting classes were taught by Valentina Nikolaenko, who gained all-Union popularity after playing the role of Yarinka in the comedy Wedding in Malinovka.

Theatre

She successfully performed at the Mark Rozovsky Theater for about 4 years and managed to take part in the performances "Romances with Oblomov", "Poor Liza". Ekaterina Guseva was appreciated and offered to temporarily move to the North Pole and participate in the legendary musical Nord-Ost, getting used to the role of Katya Tatarinova. Who would turn down such an offer early in their career? Guseva did not refuse either. In preparation for the musical, she took lessons in musical literacy and professional vocals. The girl mastered the skill of singing in just two years, while the course is designed for five years.

The North Pole met Gusev with a temperature of -40-45 degrees. Upon arrival, the actress was dressed in special heat-resistant clothes and warned not to approach the edges of the ice floes - when the temperature rose even by a few degrees, they began to melt and became brittle. Ekaterina quickly acclimatized and soon, along with other participants, she sang in 40-degree frost. This fact was honored in his native country and made a corresponding entry in the Russian Book of Records.

Then the artist played in Nord-Ost almost every day. In 2002, she miraculously escaped a terrible terrorist attack on Dubrovka, as she was simply absent on the occasion of a well-deserved day off. Every week, in addition to the standard day off Monday, each participant had the right to take one more day off. On Wednesday, October 23, 2002, Guseva exercised this right, which was incredible luck. In 2003, the role performed by Ekaterina was awarded the nomination "Best Actress" by the national theater award "Golden Mask".

At the same time, the first discs with the recording of songs performed by Ekaterina Guseva - “Nord-Ost. Favorites” and “7 Gifts for Christmas”. The actress also releases romances in a duet with Leonid Serebrennikov. In 2007, Ekaterina Guseva pleased her fans with her first solo album, "Maybe it will work out."

Soon the performances of the musical ended and Katya became a member of the theatrical troupe of the Mossovet Theatre, where she is to this day. A series of wonderful performances followed, where Guseva reincarnated as the heroine Florela in the production of "The Dance Teacher", Stella "In the Space of Tennessee W." and others. In 2006, Ekaterina remembered the old days and got used to the role of a skilled figure skater paired with for the Stars on Ice project.

In 2004, the actress took part in a candid photo shoot, a photo of naked Ekaterina Guseva adorned the pages of the Maxim men's magazine. In 2011, six months after the birth of her daughter, the actress repeated a photo shoot for a popular publication.

In the mid-2000s, the actress received the role of Beauty in the musical Beauty and the Beast, and also joined the main cast of the musical play The Sound of Music. In October 2012, the singing actress becomes in the very popular musical "Count Orlov". After performing at the Operetta Theater, Guseva's filmography began to actively replenish and soon included more than 50 films. In 2009, the actress and singer was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Russia.

In 2012, Ekaterina Guseva became the host and participant in the anniversary concert of the soloist of the Lyube group, in which she sang the hit “Long” in a duet with the maestro and, together with the Fidget group, the musical composition “Wonderful than all stories”. At the singer's 60th birthday, which was celebrated at the beginning of 2017, the artist again performed the song "Long".

In 2013, the artist starred in the comedy video Doctors and Teachers, where she tried on the form of a seductive nurse.

Films

Ekaterina Guseva's career unfolded in 1997, when she graduated from an acting course, received a diploma, and with it her first film role. Guseva's filmography started with a role in the thriller "Snake Spring", where the main roles belonged to already established cinema stars and.

After that, Catherine received an offer to supplement the team of the troupe of the theater "At the Nikitsky Gates". In 2002, she starred in the “Brigade”, which thundered throughout the country and neighboring countries, starring.

After working in the cult series, the girl received offers from the creators of the projects “Intimate Life of Sevastyan Bakhov”, “Looking for a Bride Without a Dowry”, “Heaven and Earth”, “Hunting for Manchurian Deer”, “Thank you for the love!”. In the melodrama A Walk in Paris, Guseva starred with her own son Alexei. In 2012, the actress appeared in the action movie Brigade. The Heir, where he played the main role.

Personal life

The personal life of Ekaterina Guseva developed back in 1996, when the girl became the wife of a famous businessman. The husband is involved in the activities of the actress, his company "Base-Beauty" is engaged in the creation of various types of scenery.

At the end of 1999, Katya gave birth to her husband's son, who was named Alexei. 11 years later, daughter Anna was born. Interestingly, the son inherited his father's surname, but the daughter got the mother's star surname.

Today, Ekaterina Guseva and Vladimir Abashkin live in a stable, well-established relationship, but the husband does not stop joking that his adventurous wife is “the reason for his gray hair.” Following the example of his wife, Vladimir received a theatrical education - he learned to be a director.

The actress maintains her own account on Instagram, Ekaterina Guseva also has a personal website with the announcement of films, performances and performances with her participation.

Ekaterina Guseva now

In 2016, Ekaterina Guseva reincarnated as the heroine of the comedy series Find a Husband for Darya Klimova, where she played the main role. The film was about a banker who, in order to change her personal life, met musician Dan on the site (.

Now the actress is acting in comedies, melodramas and dramas “My Mother is a Woman”, “All Ages of Love”, “Two Against Death”, “A.L.ZH.I.R.”.

Filmography

• 1997 - "Snake Spring"
• 2002 - "Brigade"
• 2005 - "Yesenin"
• 2005 - "Hunting for deer"
• 2007 - "He, she and me"
• 2007 - "Thank you for the love!"
• 2009 - "Walk in Paris"
• 2009 - "Palm Sunday"
• 2011 - "Goldfish in the city of N"
• 2012 - "Brigade. Heir"
• 2016 - "Find a husband for Daria Klimova"
• 2016 - Black Cat

The Russian Empress Catherine II, also known as the Great, reigned from 1762 to 1796. With her own efforts, she significantly expanded the Russian Empire, significantly improved the system of administration and vigorously pursued a policy of Westernization, which implies a process of transition to Western ideas and traditions. During the time of Catherine the Great, Russia became a fairly large country. It could compete with the great powers of Europe and Asia.

The childhood of the future great empress

Catherine II, nee Sophia Frederike Auguste, was born on April 21, 1729 in a small German principality in the city of Stettin, Prussia (now it is Szczecin, Poland). Her father, Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst, was the prince of this tiny estate. He made a military career under Friedrich Wilhelm I.

Catherine's mother is Princess Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. The girl's parents were very hopeful for the appearance of an heir, and therefore did not show much affection for their daughter. Instead, they devoted most of their time and energy to their son Wilhelm, who, unfortunately, later died at the age of twelve.

Getting an education and intimacy with a governess

As a child, the future Catherine II was very close to her governess Babette. Subsequently, the Empress always spoke warmly of her. The girl's education consisted of those subjects that she needed by status and origin. These are religion (Lutheranism), history, French, German and even Russian, which will be very useful later. And, of course, music.

This is how Catherine the Great spent her childhood. Briefly describing her years in her homeland, we can say that nothing unusual could happen to the girl. The life of the growing Catherine seemed very boring, and she did not know then that an exciting adventure lay ahead of her - a journey to a distant harsh land.

Arrival in Russia, or the beginning of family life

As soon as Catherine grew up, her mother saw in her daughter a means of moving up the social ladder and improving the situation in the family. She had many relatives, and this helped her to engage in a thorough search for a suitable suitor. At the same time, the life of Catherine the Great was so monotonous that she saw in this upcoming marriage the perfect means to escape from the control of her mother.

When Catherine turned fifteen, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna invited her to Russia so that she could become the wife of the heir to the throne, Grand Duke Peter III. He was an immature and obnoxious sixteen year old boy. As soon as the girl arrived in Russia, she immediately fell ill with pleurisy, which almost killed her.

Elizabeth survived thanks to frequent bloodletting, which she insisted on. But her mother was against this practice, and because of this she fell into disgrace with the empress. Nevertheless, as soon as Catherine recovered and accepted the Orthodox faith, despite the objections of her father, a devoted Lutheran, she and the young prince got married. And along with the new religion, the girl received a different name - Katerina. All these events took place in 1745, and that is how the story of Catherine the Great began.

Years of family life, or How a spouse plays toy soldiers

Having become a member of the royal family on August 21, Catherine began to bear the title of princess. But her marriage was completely unhappy. The husband of Catherine the Great was an immature young man who, instead of spending time with his wife, preferred to play with soldiers. And the future empress spent her time entertaining herself with other amusements, reading.

The count, who was Catherine's chamberlain, knew the memoirist James Boswell well, and he informed the count of the details of the intimate life of the monarch. Some of these rumors contained information that shortly after his marriage, Peter took Elizaveta Vorontsova as his mistress. But after that, she did not remain in debt. She was seen in relationships with Sergei Saltykov, Grigory Orlov, Stanislav Poniatovsky and others.

The appearance of the long-awaited heir

Several years passed before the future empress gave birth to an heir. The son of Catherine the Great, Pavel, was born on September 20, 1754. The paternity of this child has been the subject of endless debate. There are many scientists who believe that in fact the boy's father is not the husband of Catherine the Great, but Sergei Saltykov, a Russian nobleman and member of the court. Others claimed that the baby looked like Peter, who was his father.

In any case, Catherine did not have time for her first child, and soon Elizaveta Petrovna took him to her upbringing. Despite the fact that the marriage was unsuccessful, it did not overshadow the intellectual and political interests of Catherine. The bright young woman continued to read a lot, especially in French. She loved novels, plays and poetry, but was most interested in the works of major figures in the French Enlightenment such as Diderot, Voltaire and Montesquieu.

Catherine soon became pregnant with her second child, Anna, who would only live for four months. The children of Catherine the Great, due to various rumors about the promiscuity of the future empress, did not evoke warm feelings in Peter the Third. The man doubted that he was their biological father. Of course, Catherine rejected such accusations from her husband and preferred to spend most of her time in her boudoir in order to hide from his unbearable nature.

One step away from the throne

After the death of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, who died on December 25, 1761, Catherine's husband ascended the throne, becoming Peter the Third, while Catherine herself received the title of Empress. But the couple still lived separately. The Empress had nothing to do with ruling. Peter was openly cruel to his wife. He ruled the state together with his mistresses.

But Catherine the Great was a very ambitious woman with great intellectual abilities. She hoped that in time she would still come to power and rule Russia. Unlike her husband, Catherine tried to demonstrate her devotion to the state and the Orthodox faith. As she rightly assumed, this helped her not only to take a place on the throne, but also to enlist the necessary support of the Russian people.

Conspiracy against one's own spouse

Within a few months of his reign, Peter the Third managed to get a bunch of enemies in the government among the military and especially church ministers. On the night of June 28, 1762, Catherine the Great entered into an agreement with her lover Grigory Orlov, left the palace and went to the Izmailovsky regiment, where she addressed the soldiers with a speech in which she asked to protect her from her own spouse.

So a conspiracy against Peter the Third was committed. The ruler was forced to sign a document of renunciation, and the son of Catherine the Great Pavel ascended the throne. Under him, the empress was also to serve as regent until he came of age. And Peter, shortly after his arrest, was strangled by his own guards. Perhaps it was Catherine who ordered the murder, but there is no evidence of her guilt.

Dreams Come True

Since that time, the reign of Catherine the Great begins. In the early years, she devotes maximum time to ensuring the firmness of her position on the throne. Catherine was well aware that there are people who consider her a usurper who has seized someone else's power. Therefore, she actively used the slightest opportunity to win the favor of the nobles and the military.

As for foreign policy, Catherine the Great understood that Russia needed a long period of peace in order to concentrate on domestic problems. And this peace could only be obtained through a prudent foreign policy. And for its conduct, Catherine chose Count Nikita Panin, who was very knowledgeable in matters of foreign affairs.

Unsettled personal life of Empress Catherine

The portrait of Catherine the Great shows us her as a woman of rather pleasant appearance, and it is not at all surprising that the personal life of the Empress was very diverse.

Catherine could not remarry because it would jeopardize her position.

According to most researchers, the history of Catherine the Great has about twelve lovers, whom she often presented with various gifts, honors and titles in order to win their favor.

Favorites, or How to ensure your old age

After Catherine's romance with adviser Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin ended, and this happened in 1776, the Empress chose a man who had not only physical beauty, but also excellent mental abilities. It was Alexander Dmitriev-Mamonov. Many lovers of the Empress were very kind to her, and Catherine the Great always showed generosity towards them even after the end of all relationships.

So, for example, one of her lovers - Peter Zavadovsky - received fifty thousand rubles, a pension of five thousand and four thousand peasants after their relationship ended (this happened in 1777). The last of her many lovers is Prince Zubov, who was forty years younger than the Empress.

But what about the children of Catherine the Great? Is it possible that among so many favorites there was no one who gave her another son or daughter? Or did Paul remain her only descendant?

Children of Catherine the Great, born from favorites

When Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died, Catherine was six months pregnant from Grigory Orlov. The baby was born in secret from everyone on April 11, 1762 in a remote part of the palace. Her marriage to Peter the Third at that time was completely destroyed, and he often flaunted at court with his mistress.

Catherine's chamberlain Vasily Shkurin and his wife took the child to their house. The reign of Catherine the Great began when the boy was only a few months old. He was returned to the palace. The kid began to enjoy a normal childhood under the control of his parents - Empress Catherine and Gregory. Orlov began to use the child in an attempt to push Catherine into marriage.

She thought very long and hard, but nevertheless accepted the advice of Panin, who said that Mrs. Orlova would never be allowed to rule the Russian state. And Catherine did not dare to marry Grigory Orlov. When Alexei became a teenager, he went to travel abroad. The journey continued for ten years. After returning to Russia, the son received an estate as a gift from his mother and began to study in the Holy Cadet Corps.

The influence of favorites on state affairs

According to other historical data, the Empress gave birth to a boy and a girl from Poniatowski, but these children of Catherine the Great lived only about sixteen months. They have never been publicly recognized. Most came from noble families and managed to build an outstanding political career. For example, Stanisław Poniatowski became King of Poland in 1764.

But none of Catherine's lovers used their status enough to influence public policy. With the exception of Grigory Potemkin, with whom Catherine the Great had very deep feelings. Many experts even claim that a secret marriage was concluded between the Empress and Potemkin in 1774.

Catherine the Great, whose reign brought significant benefits to the Russian state, throughout her life remained a loving and beloved woman.

The main merits to the Russian state

And although love in Catherine's life was an important part, feelings never overshadowed political interests. The Empress always worked hard in mastering the Russian language to such an extent that she completely removed her accent, absorbed Russian culture and customs, and also scrupulously studied the history of the empire. Catherine the Great indicates that she was a very competent ruler.

During her reign, Catherine expanded the borders of the Russian Empire to the south and west by almost 520,000 square kilometers. The state became the dominant power in southeastern Europe. Numerous victories on the military front allowed the empire to gain access to the Black Sea.

Moreover, in 1768 the Assignation Bank was entrusted with the task of issuing the first government paper money. Similar institutions were opened in St. Petersburg and Moscow, and then bank branches were established in other cities.

Catherine paid great attention to the education and upbringing of young people of both sexes. The Moscow Orphanage was opened, soon the Empress established Smolny. She studied pedagogical theories in the practice of other countries and initiated many educational reforms. And it was Catherine who laid down the obligation to open schools in the provincial parts of the Russian Empire.

The Empress constantly patronized the cultural life of the country, and also demonstrated devotion to the Orthodox faith and the state. She paid maximum attention to expanding educational institutions and increasing the economic power of the country. But who ruled after Catherine the Great? Who continued her path in the development of the state?

Last days of government. Possible heirs to the throne

For several decades, Catherine II was the absolute ruler of the Russian state. But all this time she had a very strained relationship with her own son, the heir Pavel. The Empress perfectly understood that it was impossible to transfer power into the hands of her offspring.

Catherine the Great, whose reign ended in mid-November 1796, decided to make her grandson Alexander her successor. It was in him that she saw the future ruler and treated him very warmly. The Empress prepared her grandson for the reign in advance by educating him. Moreover, she even managed to marry Alexander, which meant coming of age and the opportunity to take a place on the throne.

Despite this, after the death of Catherine II, with the help of another son of the Empress, Paul the First took the place of heir to the throne. Thus, he became the one who ruled after Catherine the Great for five years.

Much is known, but who were the close friends of the autocrat? There are three court ladies with whom the empress shared her personal experiences: Marya Perekusikhina, Anna Protasova and Anna Naryshkina. She entrusted other favorites - Ekaterina Dashkova and Alexandra Branitskaya - with affairs of state importance. Kultura.RF tells how these ladies managed to win the friendship of Catherine the Great.

Marya Perekusikhina

Maria Perekusikhina. Image: New York Public Library Digital Collection

Marya Savvishna Perekusikhina, or simply Savvishna, as she was often called, was one of the closest friends of the Empress. It is not known for certain how a girl from a poor noble family in the Ryazan province ended up at the royal court. She was simple, poorly educated, did not speak foreign languages, but Catherine valued her primarily for her devotion, sincerity, complaisance and wisdom.

Only Perekusikhina, of all the ladies of the court, had the privilege of entering the empress's room at her first call; in the rank of Chamber Jungfrau, she dressed the Empress, and in subsequent years, becoming a chamber maid of honor, she acted as steward at the completion of her morning toilet and was responsible for preparing for bed. Over time, these rituals became the responsibility of simple ladies-in-waiting, but Perekusikhina never left the post of observer. Catherine II shared with her family and love secrets, listened to her opinion about the nobles of the court, asked for everyday advice.

Perekusikhina was inseparable from Catherine II - not only at court, but also during the empress's travels to cities and distant regions. The favorite had great influence: she could promote promotion, arrange someone's marriage, ask for money from the empress and achieve an audience. At the same time, the courtiers noted that the maid of honor never used her position to the detriment of the state or the patroness.

It was Perekusikhina who first discovered Catherine II when she had a stroke in 1796, and remained with the empress during the last minutes of her life. After the death of the Empress, Paul I removed Perekusikhina from the court and assigned her a generous pension.

Anna Protasova

Dmitry Levitsky. Portrait of Anna Protasova. 1800. State Russian Museum

17-year-old Anna Protasova was enrolled in the court staff thanks to the patronage of her uncle, Grigory Orlov. Catherine II tried for a long time to facilitate the wedding of Protasova and Arkady Morkov, a real privy councilor and diplomat, but the plans of the empress were not destined to be realized. The poor Protasova family could not provide the bride with a dowry, and Anna herself was a real ugly girl. “Mademoiselle Protasova was repulsively ugly, black, bearded and made me laugh with the majesty of her appearance”, - the Russian art critic Nikolai Wrangel wrote about the maid of honor.

When Protasova became a mature lady and never started a family, Catherine II granted her the title of chamber maid of honor. Her duties included supervising the work and behavior of the ladies-in-waiting and the staff of chamber pages. The luxurious apartments of the ladies-in-waiting were located next to the chambers of the empress, so that Protasova could come at the first call and serve her in the bedroom. She repeatedly accompanied Catherine on her travels: she went with her to Vyshny Volochek, to the Crimea. The privileges that the position gave Protasova consisted of a generous salary and the opportunity to keep the empress company during dinner. Anna Protasova was not the last figure at court: they sought her support, they were afraid of her, they fawned over her.

Protasova remained faithful to Catherine until the end of her life and was next to the Empress in the most difficult moments.

Unlike Marya Perekusikhina, Pavel I treated Anna Protasova favorably: she retained the title of maid of honor and the rooms she occupied. Moreover, he awarded Protasova with the Order of St. Catherine, appointed her a decent pension and granted 100 souls of serfs. And all because Protasova was a relative of the favorite of Paul I - Count Fyodor Rostopchin.

Anna Naryshkina

Johann Heinrich Schmidt. Portrait of Ekaterina Naryshkina. 1785.

Countess Anna Naryshkina (nee Rumyantseva) was not so much a friend as an accomplice of the Empress in love affairs. The acquaintance of the countess and the future empress took place in 1749. 19-year-old Anna Rumyantseva married Alexander Naryshkin, chamberlain of the small court of Ekaterina Alekseevna and Pyotr Fedorovich. The ruling Empress Elizaveta Petrovna ordered that Catherine personally help the bride prepare for the wedding - and the women quickly found a common language.

In those years, they had a lot in common: they were young and had a light disposition. Ekaterina Alekseevna, moreover, needed a faithful friend who would organize her meetings with favorites and keep love affairs secret - which Naryshkina coped with brilliantly. The women were also brought together by a common grief: for many years they were childless. “... My condition has changed after 9 years, counting from the day of my wedding, but she is still in the same position, and has been married for 24 years”, - Catherine II recalled in her Notes.

Their friendship became fateful not only for Ekaterina Alekseevna, but for the entire state. The Naryshkins were among the organizers of the palace coup, as a result of which Catherine the Great ascended the throne.

After the death of Catherine, Anna Naryshkina remained at court, and Paul I not only did not deprive the mother's favorite of her privileges, but also appointed her to the position of chamberlain - head of the court ladies' staff.

Ekaterina Dashkova

Dmitry Levitsky. Portrait of Ekaterina Dashkova. 1784. Private collection

The meeting of Countess Ekaterina Vorontsova with the future Catherine II took place in 1758. Vorontsova was introduced to the Grand Duchess as one of the most educated women in Russia. And this was not an exaggeration: she had an excellent education, spoke four languages, understood mathematics, had a talent for dancing and drawing. In her youth, Vorontsova lived with her uncle, Chancellor of the Russian Empire Mikhail Vorontsov, and read almost all of his home library. It turned out that Ekaterina Alekseevna shared the literary tastes of a new acquaintance, which gave rise to their mutual sympathy.

When Peter III took the throne, Ekaterina Dashkova, at that time already the wife of Prince Mikhail Dashkov, joined the organizers of the coup d'état: she believed that the new sovereign would lead Russia to death with her views and plans. Thanks to the intelligence and prudence of Dashkova, many aristocrats were attracted to the side of Ekaterina Alekseevna: Count Nikita Panin, Count Kirill Razumovsky, Ivan Betsky, Prince Fyodor Baryatinsky and others.

In 1762, after the accession of Catherine, the unanimity between the comrades-in-arms was shaken. The new empress deeply offended Dashkova, not mentioning her merits in organizing the coup. The end of their friendship came when Catherine II found out that Dashkova did not approve of her marriage to Grigory Orlov.

Alexandra Branitskaya

Joseph Maria Grassi. Portrait of Alexandra Branitskaya. 1793. Private collection

Countess Alexandra Branitskaya was the niece of Grigory Potemkin, a favorite of Catherine II. Potemkin introduced an 18-year-old relative to court and secured the rank of maid of honor for her. Branitskaya did not have a good education and outstanding appearance, but she possessed amazing wisdom and had a powerful patron, which more than compensated for her shortcomings.

Branitskaya fell in love with the Empress so much that she made her a chamber maid of honor. She became one of the close associates of the empress and became her confidant, almost a member of the family. The content of Branitskaya was expensive for the state treasury: according to the records in the books of the Court Office, up to 400 rubles a day went to the table of Catherine's favorite. Her rooms were located not far from the chambers of the Empress, she often spent time with her and sometimes accompanied Catherine on her travels.

In 1787, the Empress awarded Branitskaya with the Order of St. Catherine. After the death of Catherine, Branitskaya, like many other persons objectionable to Paul I, was no longer accepted at court - she left for the Bila Tserkva estate and lived there until the end of her life.

The Reuters news agency, which told the day before, with reference to Russian banker Andrei Akimov, about the relationship between Katerina Tikhonova and Vladimir Putin, is ready to confirm its information with an audio recording - in response to the denials of the press secretary of the Russian president and the press service of Gazprombank. Confirmation of the fact that Tikhonova is Putin's youngest daughter is far from the only information provided by the agency. A Reuters investigation reveals that since Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia, many of his friends have become owners of huge fortunes. But not the president himself - at least that's what his supporters say, who say Putin is "above" the get-rich-quick fever that has marked his rule. In April of this year, Putin declared income in the amount of 7.65 million rubles. He owns two small apartments and a garage. His daughter Katerina has succeeded much more than her father in financial affairs, and as the Reuters investigation shows, she succeeded in this with the support of powerful friends of the Russian president.

Andrey Akimov, chairman of Gazprombank, told a Reuters correspondent that he met Katerina, now 29, when she was a child. He saw her in less distant times. According to Akimov, Katerina lives under the name of Tikhonov ( her identity has already been discussed in the media and social networks more than once. – RS). Katerina describes herself as the wife of Kirill Shamalov, son of Nikolai Shamalov, a longtime friend of President Putin. Shamalov Sr. is a shareholder in Rossiya Bank, which US authorities consider the bank of the Russian elite.

After the publication, the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov stated that "it can refute the information that is presented in Reuters." A little later, the press service of Gazprombank issued a refutation, saying that Akimov, "who is on a business trip in China," read the agency's information "with surprise and bewilderment." In response, on Wednesday morning, Reuters representatives told RBC that "Akimov spoke to them on the record" and the agency considers its presentation of his words "completely correct."

Kirill and Katerina's net worth, according to financial analysts met by Reuters correspondents, is estimated at about $ 2 billion. Most of this fortune is a stake in a large petrochemical company acquired by Kirill Shamalov from Gennady Timchenko, another old friend of the president. The young couple also owns a villa in the vicinity of the Biarritz resort in France - it is estimated at $ 3.7 million. Kirill Shamalov also bought this property from Gennady Timchenko.

Katerina Tikhonova heads the Innopraktika project at Moscow University. According to Reuters, as part of it, she signed contracts worth several million dollars with a number of government organizations. There is no indication that these transactions have brought any profit to her personally. Katerina is working on the implementation of the plan for the reconstruction of Moscow State University, which is estimated at $1.7 billion.

Putin's eldest daughter, Maria, is also associated with Moscow University. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Fundamental Medicine of Moscow State University, a specialist in the field of endocrinology. Both Putin's daughters and Kirill Shamalov declined to provide Reuters with any comments. The representative of Gennady Timchenko also did not agree to answer the question about the villa in Biarritz, saying that he was "not ready to comment on personal matters."

Katerina and her 33-year-old husband belong to the younger generation of the Russian elite, who acquired big money and high social status thanks to the connections of their high-ranking parents. This is somewhat reminiscent of the so-called "princes" in China - the children and grandchildren of the highest functionaries of the Communist Party, who gradually also occupy high positions and acquire large fortunes.

According to sociologist Olga Kryshtanovskaya, who at one time was a member of the pro-Putin United Russia party, a “new aristocracy” is emerging in politics and big Russian business associated with the state, in which the younger generation inherits the status of people from Putin’s inner circle. "Many in Russian society believe that these young people do not deserve such a position, and are wondering who they are, in fact, in general," Kryshtanovskaya notes.

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in an interview with Reuters, describes the current system as "neo-feudal" and notes that it crushes both the state apparatus and big business. "In today's Russia, it is considered completely normal when the boards of directors of state banks are headed by children of the highest ranks of state security. Many of these children were not even 30 years old at the time of their appointment. This is not just a dynastic succession. Children not only inherit the positions of their parents, but also the right in general take the post they want. The danger is that soon all the main resources of Russia will be in the hands of five to seven families, "says Navalny.

When asked by Reuters about whether Katerina Tikhonova is Putin’s daughter and whether she is married to Kirill Shamalov, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied: “We have no information about personal life, marital status, family ties, scientific and educational activities, participation in any specific projects of Mrs. Tikhonova and other persons mentioned in your letter. Recently, many rumors have been circulating regarding the family ties of Vladimir Putin and, in particular, his daughters. The share of truthful information in publications of this kind is ridiculously small. "

After her father became president of Russia in 2000, Katerina managed to remain in the shadows for a long time. In 2011, Vladimir Putin, in an interview with Russian television, revealed that she studied Oriental studies at St. Petersburg University, specializing in Japanese language and history. Little was known about her adult life - until the journalist and popular blogger Oleg Kashin published information in January of this year that the president's daughter was working at Moscow State University under the name Tikhonov. This surname allegedly comes from the name of her maternal great-grandfather (Katerina's grandmother was Ekaterina Tikhonovna Shkrebneva). In addition to Andrey Akimov of Gazprombank mentioned above, two academic sources connected to Moscow State University confirmed that Tikhonova is the daughter of Vladimir Putin.

According to the information on the official website of Moscow University, Katerina Tikhonova is "attached" to the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Moscow State University. Since 2011, she has been listed as a member of the team of authors of one of the mathematics textbooks and at least six scientific papers. The topics of these works concern, in particular, space medicine and the reaction of the human body to the state of weightlessness. Among the co-authors of most of these works is the rector of the university - Viktor Sadovnichy. He declined to answer questions from Reuters, but the university issued a statement describing Tikhonov as a "talented researcher" whose work "has been repeatedly presented at scientific seminars and conferences." As noted in the statement, "we do not provide information about the private lives of employees."

In May 2013, Tikhonova became the director of the non-profit National Intellectual Development Foundation associated with Moscow State University, and a little later, also the head of the National Intellectual Reserve Center. Both organizations are implementing the Innopraktika project, which supports young scientists. Among the staff and advisers of the project are Sergei Chemezov and Nikolai Tokarev, former KGB officers who have been close to Putin since his days in the GDR. In Dresden, they lived next door to Putin and his family. Now Chemezov heads the state corporation Rostec, and Tokarev heads the Transneft concern. In addition, the Board of Trustees of Innopraktika includes the head of Rosneft, Igor Sechin, and the chairman of the board of Gazprombank, Andrey Akimov. According to Akimov, "I knew that Tikhonova was Putin's daughter. But, of course, we decided to support the innovative projects of Moscow State University, regardless of anyone's family ties." According to the banker, Tikhonov does not enjoy any special advantages, and he himself supports the plan for the reconstruction of Moscow State University, regardless of the participation of the daughter of the Russian president in it. Tikhonova herself recently spoke about her role and responsibilities in Innopraktika in an interview with Interfax.

According to Russian official sources, the National Intellectual Development Foundation, headed by Tikhonova, has entered into agreements with state-owned companies Rosneft, Rosatom and Transneft since 2013 for a total of 182 million rubles. Of the 10 contracts seen by Reuters correspondents, 8 were awarded without a tender. Contracts concern mainly the conduct of research work within the framework of Moscow State University. A representative of Rosneft confirmed that the company is cooperating with the university in 17 projects, the total cost of which is 530 million rubles.

In March of this year, Katerina Tikhonova was appointed Deputy Vice-Rector of Moscow State University. It is unclear whether she is paid for her work in this position. The corresponding order of the rector Sadovnichy is published on the university website, but Tikhonova's name is not in the official list of employees - although she appears as a member of the scientific council of Moscow State University.

The activities of Katerina Tikhonova are connected not only with Moscow University. She is not the first year involved in acrobatic rock and roll. In 2013, she and her partner placed fifth at the World Championships in Switzerland. Now Tikhonova is the head of two organizing committees of the All-Russian Federation of Acrobatic Rock and Roll. Among the sponsors of the federation are Sibur, Novatek and Gazprombank. All of them are fully or partially controlled by people from the "inner circle" of the President of Russia. Among them are Gennady Timchenko, Kirill Shamalov and his older brother Yuri. All of the listed companies are also listed on the Innopraktika website as its partners. A spokesman for Sibur says the firm actively sponsors various sports, including a number of Russian hockey and football clubs, a Formula 1 team, and a basketball federation.

Information about a possible connection between Katerina Tikhonova and Kirill Shamalov appeared at the beginning of this year - in RBC TV messages and Oleg Kashin's blog. According to them, the couple visited Switzerland. During this trip, Tikhonova introduced herself as Shamalov's "wife", Reuters found out.

In France, this young businessman owns a house on the Avenue General McCrosky in Biarritz with an area of ​​​​about 300 square meters. meters with an adjacent land plot (garden) with an area of ​​2000 sq. The house was built in the 1950s, its current price is about 3.5 million euros, says Pierre Furro, an architect who reconstructed the building seven years ago. According to documents in the public domain, the previous owner of the villa was Gennady Timchenko. In September 2007, Timchenko and his wife Elena Ermakova registered SCI Atlantic for the purpose of buying real estate. On November 15, 2012, the shares of the capital of this company, owned by Timchenko and his wife, were transferred to the name of Kirill Shamalov. The price of the transaction was not disclosed. Neighbors say they did not see the young couple in Biarritz. The representative of Gennady Timchenko declined to comment on the property in Biarritz, saying only that the purchase and sale was carried out "at the market price."

This house is only a small part of Shamalov's growing assets. In 2008, he joined the board of the Sibur holding, which operates in the gas and petrochemical industries. Shamalov acquired a 4.3 percent stake in Sibur, and in 2014 another 17 percent, again from Timchenko. Last year, Sibur announced operating income of 361 billion rubles and a profit of 25 billion. The price of a 21 percent stake in Sibur, owned by Kirill Shamalov, is estimated by financial analysts to be about $2 billion. The price for which Shamalov acquired this stake in the company's capital has also not been disclosed. A spokesman for Sibur told Reuters that the company "does not comment on the private lives of our managers and members of the board of directors."

Compared to the younger generation of the Russian elite, Vladimir Putin, judging by his declaration of income and assets, remains a man of the middle class. One of his apartments is located in Moscow, the other - in St. Petersburg. Any property abroad in the declaration does not appear. The president's spokesman has repeatedly refuted reports of a huge villa built on the Black Sea coast and dubbed "Putin's palace" by the media. Last year, Reuters reported that the construction of this facility was partially financed by Nikolai Shamalov, the father of Kirill, the alleged husband of Putin's daughter.

Another daughter of Putin. Biomedical Specialist

Vladimir Putin's eldest daughter Maria is even more in the background than her sister. Reuters was unable to find any recent, confirmed photographs of Maria.

Born on April 28, 1985, Maria studied biology at St. Petersburg University and medicine at Moscow State University.

According to Russian and Western press reports, she married a Dutch businessman named Joritt Joost Faassen. According to some reports, she lived in the Netherlands for some time, but this cannot be verified.

Putin said this year that both of his daughters live in Moscow, but gave no details.

Maria's surname is now Faassen, and under that name she is pursuing a career in biomedicine, specializing in endocrine system research, according to scientific publications.

Her name is listed on the site Truth, which contains data on the staff of Moscow State University and their work, among several authors of the work "The state of the antioxidant system of the blood in patients with acromegaly."

Maria is a PhD and collaborates with the Endocrinology Research Center in Moscow, which runs a charity project to help children with diseases of the endocrine system "Alfa-Endo".

In an email to Reuters, Maria replied that all requests for information regarding the center should be addressed to its management. She did not answer questions about when she got married or if her father's position affects her career.

Alfa-Endo is financed by Alfa-Bank, a major Russian bank with branches in the US, UK and Cyprus. The largest shareholder is Mikhail Fridman, a billionaire with interests in banking, energy and telecommunications. A bank spokesman told Reuters: Alfa Bank, and more broadly Alfa Group, is the financial sponsor of the project, and that's it. We don't know who else is involved in the project."

Maria's husband worked at Gazprombank, a large bank with strong ties to Putin's inner circle. Until at least August of this year, Joritt Joost Faassen was listed on the website of the Russian consulting group MEF Audit as Deputy Chairman. He is no longer listed on the site and did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Rising stars of the second generation of the Russian elite

Born in 1977, the son of Yuri Kovalchuk, the founder and largest shareholder of the Bank of Russia, as well as co-founder, together with Vladimir Putin, of the Ozero dacha cooperative. Boris is the CEO of the holding company InterRAO. Reuters did not respond to a request for comment.

Yuri Shamalov. Brother of Kirill Shamalov, eldest son of Putin's old friend Nikolai Shamalov. Yuri Shamalov is Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprombank, President of Gazfond, Russia's largest pension fund. At the same time, Gazfond is the largest shareholder of Gazprombank. Nor did he respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Igor Rotenberg. 42 years. He was given the significant assets of his father, Arkady Rotenberg, who practiced judo with Putin. Rotenberg Sr. turned into a billionaire at a time when Putin was building a "vertical of power." The assets sold to Igor Rotenberg include a 79 percent stake in Gazprom-Burenie, a 28 percent stake in the Mostotrest construction company, and a 33 percent stake in the TPS holding engaged in real estate transactions. In a written statement to Reuters, Igor Rotenberg notes: "Of course, thanks to my father, I had a very good starting position. Now I am an independent businessman and am increasing my assets in the market competition."

Igor's younger brother, born in 1981, loves to play hockey like Putin. Engaged in the development of hockey in Finland, vice-president of the St. Petersburg hockey club SKA, whose president is Timchenko. Since 2010 – Vice President of Gazprombank.

Ivan Sechin. Son of Igor Sechin, head of the state company Rosneft. In January, he was awarded a state award by Putin "for his contribution to the development of the country's oil and gas sector" for "an extended period of time." According to media reports, Ivan Sechin is about 25 years old. He received the award less than a year after he started working as deputy head of one of the divisions of Rosneft. He did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Born in 1970. The son of former KGB general Yevgeny Murov, head since 2001 of the Federal Security Service, which is engaged in the protection of Putin, other senior government officials, government buildings. Chairman of the Board of the State Company "Federal Grid Company of the Unified Energy System", the main supplier of electricity in Russia. The company's shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange. Reuters did not respond to a request for comment.

Sergei Ivanov Jr. The son of a former KGB general, head of the presidential administration Sergei Ivanov. Ivanov, 35, is a director of Gazprombank and chairman of the board of Sogaz, one of the largest insurers on the Russian market. Ivanov Jr. told Reuters last year that his father's position "only makes it harder for him to work at Gazprombank." He declined to comment further.

38 years old. Son of Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Russian Security Council. Since 2010 - the head of one of the largest state-owned banks in Russia - Selkhozbank. Also did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Gleb Frank. The son of the former Minister of Transport Sergei Frank. In 2010, he married the daughter of an old friend of Putin, Gennady Timchenko, Ksenia. A year later, 32-year-old Frank was included in the board of directors of the large construction company Stroytransgaz, co-owned by Timchenko. At the same time, Frank increased his stake in Russian Aquaculture, a fish farming company, by buying Timchenko's shares. In June of this year, the company was valued at $26 million. According to sources close to Frank, the shares were bought at the market price, but where Gleb Frank took the funds to conclude the deal, the source does not specify.

P.S. The press service of Gazprombank issued a statement denying that Andrey Akimov confirmed to Reuters the information that Katerina Tikhonova is Putin's daughter. “Mr. Akimov did not make such statements. Akimov was very surprised that the journalists of such a reputable publication allowed not only a distortion of what was said, but a direct manipulation, ”the press service of the bank indicates in its message.

Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov, according to RIA Novosti, stated the following: "I can refute the information that was presented in Reuters, so I can refute it, and already with Akimov's reliable statement. Because Reuters indicated that Akimov said that some citizen is Putin's daughter. That's what I can refute, based on his own refutation." “And as for the daughters? Who are the daughters of Putin, I can’t tell you, because I don’t have such information and should not have it, because this is not part of my official duties,” Peskov said.

As a Reuters representative told RBC, the agency excludes an error in its publication. It has a recording of a conversation with Akimov, who confirmed that Katerina Tikhonova is the youngest daughter of the President of Russia.