GRIGORY G. ORLOV

Favorite Catherine II. With the patronage of Empress received the title of senator, Grafskiy title (1762). One of the organizers of a palace coup (1762), general-feldtseyhmeyster the Russian Army (1765-1775). The first president of the Free Economic Society.

Orlov is considered the founder of the line a simple soldier, participating in the 1689 Fire in the riot. For the courage and the strength of his comrades nicknamed Orel. Sentenced to death, approaching scaffold, he quietly pushed the foot prevents it go red head executed until it streltsy. That gesture impressed the king, and he pardoned the Eagle. That is, at least in legend.

Erected into the rank of officer and received the aristocracy, John Eagle, or Orlov as pereinachili his surname, the father of Major General and Novgorod Governor-General, Grigory Ivanovich, who married the fifty-three years on the gentlewoman, girl Zinovieva had its nine sons. Of these, five survived - Ivan, Greg, Alex, Fedor, and Vladimir.

All were guards. All - Bogatyrs as a selection. And all they had in their shelves respected among colleagues and they can bring, and in Russia there was no higher than their growth and stronger. In Izmaylovskiy Regiment served as lieutenant Grigory Orlov.

His exploits demits legends. He has been the topic of conversations everywhere, where soldiers and officers - in the capital′s pubs, in the Guards′ barracks, and even in the room the king′s palace.

Giant growth, broad-shouldered, with long muscular legs and torso, as if cut from stone, he is considered the strongest among izmaylovtsev. In the battle with Tsorndorfe Orlov showed not only courage but also a surprising endurance. All around him fell dead and wounded, as he rushed into the fight guschu under Prussian deadly shot. Note that Grigory fell fighting comrades cried out to him to escape. To their astonishment, Orlov got up and instead of choosing a safe place, is back in operation. Three times Orlov was injured, however, ′are they defying death.

His acts are not confined, as they say, a military assignment. He walked to the risk of making huge bets in the game, was inveterate hunter and went out a winner from traktirnyh bloody fisticuffs. Women lie to him in the legs, zavorozhennye its beauty and strength. He was neutomim in bed.

Among those who did not resist the famous guards was Kurakin Elena, the beautiful mistress of Colonel Peter Shuvalov, who served in the same regiment, where, and Orlov. With unspeakable impudence Gregory stole Elena risking incur the wrath of an almighty Shuvalov brothers. However, as always, Orlov won the fight. Shuvalov was dead, never having to take revenge on the opponent, who is now free to enjoy the love of dazzling beauty and further consolidated its reputation as desperate brave.

Grigory Orlov appeared in St Petersburg in spring 1759 in a prominent Prussian prisoner escort, Count Schwerin, former Adjutant of Emperor Frederick. Box placed in one of the best homes, have been in the palace, where he spent time with the Grand Duke. It was there that met the future Empress Catherine Orlov, a teen who has already been heard, as all of the capital.

Seen surpassed all expectations. This magnificent hero was not only the most courageous, but also most attractive. He raised as a tower over the other officers and colleagues could easily defeat any of them. Orlov was ozhivshim ancient hero. Catherine thought that none of the ancient Roman could not match these brave guardsmen in the indomitable courage and militant spirit - not to mention his masculine strength, which has become a truly legendary. Orlov fascinated Grand Duchess and won a special place in her thoughts.

To learn how, and Grigory Orlov, Catherine became lovers, is not mentioned in historical chronicles. She was already an experienced woman of thirty years old, romantic and passionate, with a claim to power. She needed a man who selflessly would love it and so selflessly defended her case. Orlov was a young secular knight, famous martial officer, whose inexhaustible energy and courage to find a solution to the war in crapulence and romantic adventures. He is very much like to make a career, but hampered by insufficient high background, low educational attainment. Yes, and patrons were not at court. He needed an opportunity to express themselves. Perhaps the passion of Grand Duchess razozhgla of ambition, or maybe he fell in love with Catherine, as before that did not like anybody.

All this is only assumption, one knows for sure - by the summer of 1761, when the war with Prussia was still in full swing, and demanded all the new victims, when the Empress is sinking, it would seem, to dying forgotten by sending curses against the hated Friedrich, when Elizabeth Vorontsova a few days before the wedding to Peter, and he sent Prussian secret military information, Catherine became pregnant by Grigory Orlov.

On their relationship was known to only a narrow circle of people, so Catherine was able to hide their pregnancies. Of course, Peter and his closest advisers knew about it. For him, the child was merely a proof of infidelity and promiscuity Catherine.

Malutka-malchuganu, who saw the world on April 18, gave the name of Aleksey Grigorievich. On this occasion, not the bell tolls, not palili cannon. There were no celebrations or official or other.

Before vosshestviya gave Catherine to the throne Grigory Orlov call to become his wife after the death of Peter. This is how it led him to think about how to accelerate the demise of the Emperor.

Grigory Orlov stayed in rooms Empress. Next to his bedroom queen arranged for the famous "favorite room, where they lived until her favorites out of the transition into the other room.

Orlov began to behave as a future informal emperor. He allowed himself to lie on the couch while the empress spoke with nobles and ministers of the circle, called the queen for "you", hugged and kissed her with strangers, while allowing themselves such liberties that all krasneli, while Catherine stood tears in the eyes. But she did not dare to stop him because of his love and fear.

9 October, 1762 Baron de Breteyl reported from St. Petersburg Duke of Choiseul: "I do not know, your lordship, which leads the queen correspondence with Mr Poniatowski, but it seems that there is no doubt that she gave him a successor in the person of Mr.

Photo — «Grigory G. Orlov»

Orlov, built in граф�кое dignity on the day of coronation . . . This is a very handsome man. He has several years in love with the queen, and I remember how one day she called me funny and told him about his preposterous sense, however, on rumors, he is very stupid. Because he spoke only in Russian, I am now more difficult to judge on this . . . "

Known anecdote of the same correspondent, he cited as evidence of bold talk permitted Empress of their environment. Grigory Orlov, one brags his personal influence in the Guard, all of a sudden, in the presence of gosudaryni wishes to announce that he would be quite a month to overthrow it from the throne. On that count Razumovsky said: "Perhaps, my friend. But the week and would not have passed, we would like you vzdernuli.

However, Orlov can not think about his words. At a time when Breteyl drew attention to his rapid elevation, the handsome officer, equal to that of the courageous beauty did not know Russia, have already adopted the inheritance Poniatowski and meant quite different. Grigory, darling of fortune, has never been ambitious in the true sense of the word. Catherine even believed that he suffers from a lack of ambition. He took part in the coup of the love of adventure, and Submit to instinctive desire to encourage people, even the least inclined to adventure, take the side of a beloved woman. He served his beloved.

Grigory Orlov did not like to engage in politics. For a simple, uneducated officer of the soldiers it was a dull affair. He just liked to play the role of the vanity.

This vanity led him quickly to become the husband of Russian Empress. He made his case raised Catherine to the throne of Peter and eliminated with the help of the brothers. Now he claimed that it performed its promise, for which he and his four brothers risked their lives and obagrili hands in the blood of Peter Fedorovich.

Handsome Gregory did not see to any of obstacles. It is seen, not one. And yet did not dare to speak from a different language of reason, it gave way under the power demands and gentle caresses favorite. Ekaterina Orlova loved sensual love. But she could not explicitly deny it. Empress Gregory said that he could not go for it, without the consent of the State Council.

Meanwhile Orlov and his brothers everywhere agitate in favor of marriage by spreading rumors of ill health hilosti and Paul and the need for Russian heir to the throne in the event of his death.

In early 1763, has a passionate love Catherine went to Moscow for the coronation. Day of the coronation of Catherine became the beginning of a long, stretching for several months, declared and undeclared holiday. Arranged feasts, receptions, formal meetings in honor gosudaryni. Anyway, all this has led ever sonnuyu Moscow to shake off torpor, has long thought to call the Metropolitan idle aristocracy.

Catherine has been a frequent visitor at these meetings. She always smiled pleasantly. No one could even suspect that the external nonchalance hides malaise of early pregnancy. It is often accompanied by Grigory Orlov. Everywhere he is the highest, the most broad, the most prominent men. It was embroidered with gold jacket, the trousers, glitter rings on the fingers, and chest and sparkled from the orders and medals. Orlov when Catherine was not executed decorative role. He knew how to keep yourself, do not counter the Empress. On the contrary, he strongly emphasized her greatness. And while his message to her through the good cronyism, he never went beyond.

Support for such a strong, robust man of Orlov, meant a lot to Catherine. Because of its outdoor serenity hiding anxiety and uncertainty about the future.

At a meeting of the Council of State Catherine stated that it wants to married to Gregory Orlov. No one dared oppose it. All feared the powerful favorite, whom Catherine had already donate more than one million rubles, and ten thousand souls of peasants, turning him from a beggar at a rich man.

But Panin, tutor of Tsarevich, was also brave and venture. He hated the jealous Empress and Orlov, who watched as the vyskochek. Although he himself was a poor descent, but his intellect and education gave him the right to occupy a place of honor at the court, while Orlov was blatant and lazy.

And while the senators were silent, Panin said: "The Empress may come as she pleased, but Mrs. Orlova will never be the empress of Russia. " Proiznosya these words, he straightened up to his full height, leaned in defiant posture against the wall, which stood his chair. Referring to the minute Wallpaper, left his wig on the white spot, which his companions have noticed, and which then tried to poteretsya head "for courage" as they are expressed. Panina supported Kirill Razumovsky.

"My friend, I love you, but if I′m married to you, we are threatened with the fate of Peter III", - said the Empress favorite.

Orloff refused the idea of formal marriage, following the example of Anne Leopoldovny, and now demanded a morganatic marriage, citing the example of the Empress Elizabeth, who married with Alexei Razumovsky. But the Catherine objected to it: Elizabeth has never been a woman Razumovsky. At least, not kept any documents or evidence of the marriage. Thus there was no precedent.

Then, on the initiative Bestuzheva was put in motion the petition asks Catherine to marry a second time, to consolidate crown, as well as poor health led to the apprehension of Paul look at the future of the empire. Several persons spiritual rank and senators signed a petition. But this time the scandal broke.

Khitrovo associates with organized conspiracy directed against the eagles and their ambitions. In Moscow and St. Petersburg began the terrible strife. Said that the queen wants to marry the murderer of her husband. Disrupt the portrait of Catherine II with the triumphal arch, erected in honor of her coronation, held in Moscow with great pomp. Turbulent even at the Guards regiments, so that the empress′s favorite, and were forced to abandon his ambitious project.

Good for the Empress′s favorite outcome is not allowed to exercise his illusory dream, moreover, he lost another hope: handsome Orlov before becoming empress spouse, would receive the title of prince of the Roman Empire.

Photo — «Grigory G. Orlov»

It should be noted Bestuzhev with glitter held talks on this subject, including the Viennese ambassador. However, when the patent was obtained, and Catherine did not want to hear the proclamation of the favorite of the prince: but he risked being killed, and she threatened to deal with a mutiny!

November 25, 1764 French charge d′affaires Bérenger wrote from St. Petersburg: "The more I look to Mr. Orlov, the more convinced that he lacked only the title of Emperor . . . He holds himself with the Empress so naturally that affects all, they say that no one remembers anything like this in any state since the establishment of the monarchy. Not recognizing any of etiquette, he allowed himself in the presence of all such liberties with the empress, in any decent self-respecting society will not allow his courtesan lover.

Catherine is, indeed, outside powers themselves, as mistress, obey all the vagaries of his lover. She wrote to Madame Zhoffren: "When was your last letter, Count Orlov was in my room. There is one place in the letter where you call me active because I′m working on drawing up laws and wool embroidery. He is downright lazy, albeit very clever and capable, exclaimed: "It′s true!" This is the first time that I have heard praise of him. And it is my duty to you, merciful gosudarynya.

If she dare to make it down, then only in the soft idleness, in which he found a higher pleasure. In vain, the Empress tried to develop his ambition, vain building it from the rank in rank in the official hierarchy, to make him get out of idleness and play some role in the state. He was the director of the engineering corps, kavalergardov boss, General anshefom artillery and general feldtseyhmeysterom, president of the Office of custody of foreign settlers, the chief of all the fortifications.

According to British Ambassador Genninga, Catherine had three children from beautiful Orlova, other data - two girls, whose maiden Protasova, the first chamber-maid of honor and attorneys Empress, brought up as his nieces, the surname Alexeyeva, felt their daughters Catherine and Grigory Orlov, and in 1764 Bérenger said the Duke de praline following details about the baby male, born, as told from Catherine soon after the death of Empress Elizabeth: "The child in Shkurin, the former trusted servant, and now Chamberlain. He teaches his nephew to name but a father and mother (Orlov and Catherine) frequently visited the child, leaving at dusk in an easy carriage, accompanied by only one lackeys. " He wrote: "He (Orlov), sometimes drawn from their gosudaryney, as with the servant. Some time ago, among them an extraordinary scene, after which Orlov went on for three days under the pretext of hunting. Catherine fell ill and two days to despair. On the third she wrote a very affectionate letter to his beloved, who has invested in a rich casket. She wrote to him that he hoped to see him in Tsarskoe Selo, which is sent. There is, indeed, was reconciliation. They told me that there also has another child was born, but dead. A significant decrease in circularity of the camp and poblednevshy complexion - all signs and all the facts confirm the news . . . "

Catherine has continued to generously cover Orlova gifts. She invited him to important posts, where he was able to use their talents, but her efforts were in the favorite one irritation. From the English envoy not escaped the changes occurred in the Orlov. Booking noted that instead of good old appeared primness and pomposity, pettiness and stubbornness. Orlov became neopryaten in clothing and not so attentive to Catherine. He often disappeared for days of hunting, and when appearing at the palace, it is not followed each other. And even without zazreniya conscience priudaryal for other women.

Events described in his diaries a curious case. A court lady, much younger than Catherine, envoy admitted that the last time, it does not pass Orlov, but she resists his assault as he favorite of Empress, and besides, she loves another. One company of courtiers, including a young woman, Orlov and Catherine went to the countryside estate. Gregory resumed courtship. Suddenly, the room where the visit took place, was Catherine.

How to write events, the lady on her own admission, was a loss of light ", but" the Empress came to her from behind and bent over his shoulder, whispered: "Do not dither. I am confident in your honesty and respect for me. Do not worry, that will bring me grief. On the contrary. That I am obliged for your behavior. "

Catherine sighed with relief when Orlov is a new fun. In addition, they have been quarreling. From the eyes do not escape "minor misunderstanding" between the Empress and Orlov. Others felt it was true proof that Catherine married with Orlov. It′s no secret that married men tend to forget about their wives. Others saw it as "the whims of the young upstart, and the weakness of loving women. "

In fact, Catherine was still fond of his "big child" Orlova. She needed it. Thanks to its manifest, it generously. In a free apartment, food and cover all costs, the favorite to receive 10000 rubles per month pocket money, tens of thousands of peasant serfs, lands, castles, country houses, including Ropshu, where he was killed by Peter III. He was granted a medallion in the form of hearts, diamonds cover, with a portrait of the Empress, and the right - which until then had not had - be it a portrait of buttonhole.

But the passion of Catherine Orlov began to weaken. Favorite, not wishing to lose his position, immediately changed. 2 October, 1771 he went to Moscow to deal with the plague, has two months to rage in the second capital of the empire. The people there, rebelled, killed the Metropolitan. The governor escaped.

Orlov volunteered to go to zachumlenny city, and Catherine sent him away. After the departure of Orlov, she approached me for a few days of beautiful Polish Vysotsky.

Revolt in Moscow had been silenced, the disease defeated. Orlov returned to triumph in St. Petersburg, which took a habitual favorite. He again became a man, not knowing the dangers, like the ancient Roman republic great time ", as Voltaire once wrote to Catherine. In the king′s on his way to Gatchina, a triumphal arch built to mark his return.

Photo — «Grigory G. Orlov»

On the coin, broken on the same occasion, the favorite portrait placed next to the figure of Kurtz, and below them the words: "And Russia has such sons!" Catherine wishes to stand: "this son, but he demanded another edition Orlov more modest . . .

At this time Catherine was Polish question. The Empress has decided to elevate to the Polish throne of Augustus Poniatowski. Orlov vskipel of frenzied jealousy. It is to imagine that, having made the Polish King Poniatowski, Catherine will be for him to marry.

"I will not allow the King of your former lover" - he cried at the Supreme Council, stuknuv a fist on the table.

Chancellor Bestuzhev and Panin used to pertness Orlova. The Empress′s tongue, but decided that it was time to put an end to dictatorship Orlov, who acted as the emperor.

Moreover, Catherine was aware of his obsession with love, the object of which was his fragile cousin, barely pereshagnuvshaya threshold childhood. His betrayal was deeply vulnerable Empress.

A few months after his triumphant return of the favorite went to Fokshany as an intermediary in the conclusion of the world, produced Rumyantsev. He was accompanied by a royal retinue, and Mrs. Catherine Belke wrote: "I believe that my angels world are now faced with these opposing beaver Turks, Count Orlov - without exaggeration, the first modern beautiful - truly an angel to appear before the shaggy man. Svit his brilliant and elect . . . but I bet on the mortgage, the person eclipse all others. A strange person, the ambassador, nature was so generous to him, both as regards appearance, as well as the mind, heart and soul . . . "

Based in Iasi, Gregory sent a letter to Catherine, which claimed that it has appointed its Chief and authorized to Byzantium. Orlov wanted to resume the war and the eclipse through the General Bauer, who enlisted the assistance, feats Rumyantseva. He wanted to lead an army and at a meeting of Congress, began quarreling with Rumyantsev, threatened to hang him. He did not pay attention to the instructions that slalom Panin. Then, suddenly broke off the negotiations and left to Iasi, where the time spent in luxury holidays, dandy in dress, embroidered with diamonds, send them by Catherine.

He was not suspected that his room in St. Petersburg employed a new favorite, which he introduced Panin. Two weeks after the departure Orlova Ekaterina became enthusiastic Vasilchikova, and a new lover, settled next to her bedroom.

St. Petersburg has come into disarray. All fancied that Orlov would be the favorite for life "for the bodily needs," as said by John Lincoln. Suddenly a cool, barefaced debauchery, challenge the whole society. Despite the ease of manners, tsarivshih the court, everyone was confused that a new open communications.

Grigory Orlov soon learned that he has a rival. He understood that power over Catherine slipped from his hands and that he is in power, as a simple subject Empress. Orlov immediately realized that, left St. Petersburg, he was caught in a trap, arranged for him Panin, who agreed to by all means to oust a favorite.

The festival has been interrupted; Orlov jumped at the crew and pomchalsya in St. Petersburg, to which was more than fifteen hundred miles! Day and night, without rest, replacing horses, mchalsya count. Not short of a few dozen miles to the capital, Imperial order forcing the crew to stay: Travelers arriving from the south, where the plague raged, had to undergo quarantine. This commandment was included instructions and kind offers to serve a quarantine in the Gatchina Palace on the river Izhora.

Greg has kept the external peace and not shown sight that upset. Catherine was afraid at first of a desperate escapades with his hand, and she sighed with relief after learning that the ex-favorite performed her will. But the Empress wished to renounce all of his posts. She began to arrange it with caution, sending it to the Orlov Beckov, the Olsufeva, the Chernyshova, doubling the courtesy and attractive offers.

Orlov settled in Gatchina and lowered the tone. He sent a letter to a letter to your friends: Beckov, Olsufevu and Chernysheva, beseeching him to reconcile with the empress, and promising to reward them regally for their service. But Catherine has never changed their decisions about favorites.

French commissioner in cases 1 Dec, 1772 wrote: "The Empress is satisfied that the salary of the Grigory Orlov Guards are more than one thousand soldiers, and that it has acquired the location of the clergy . . . He said ten million rubles of capital, so afraid of his empress, and prefers to settle the matter peacefully. "

However, a more delicate sense of admix from Catherine to the banal fear, and handsome Orlov for his part has done everything to raise and maintain both a sense . . . When the Empress demanded from him that he had returned to her portrait, cover with diamonds, which no longer had to wear a chest, he sent a portrait of diamonds and left, saying that it does not transmit except in the hands of those who handed it to him.

Catherine threats do not frighten him. When it was conceived to conclude it in Ropshe, he said, that would be very happy to take her there as a boss. Empress finally stopped protracted negotiations decree declaring Orlova discharged them from their posts. Catherine II wrote: "I owe the family Orlov, I showered with their wealth and honor, I will always protect them, and they can be useful to me, but my decision has: I have suffered eleven years, now I want to live like me, and wishes quite independently. With regard to the Prince - he can do well, he will: he is free to travel or remain in the empire, drink, hunt, make yourself . . . lovers The Guide it well - the honor and glory to him; lead bad - he is ashamed. "

Over the fact that he came to St. Petersburg. Orlov appeared in all the glare, the decree of October 4th, 1772 he was granted the title of prince. He came to the court and present, as in the old days, when playing at the Empress card. He was cheerful, reviving, wit. Catherine turned to him with questions and he answered without the slightest scruple, spoke of the extraneous things. On another morning, he traveled around the city, talking with all who met on the change in his fate, joking over his fall, so that the interlocutors become uncomfortable.

Photo — «Grigory G. Orlov»

He was on a visit to the Grand Duke. Evening visited brothels and open to the public kutil women.

Sabatier, painting a portrait in the 1772 favorite, wrote: "His irrepressible passion for fun, crazy passion in women, the absence of a deterrent to the beginning, immediately implement the slightest desire - all this has destroyed deposits, which could evolve with different education, the difficulties encountered and the well-known ambition. "

And one knowledgeable official observed: "From morning till evening he was maid of honor left in the palace (the Empress in Tsarskoye). Dinner with them and dine. Laying scruffy, ugly mess, and the Prince in the meantime enjoy . . . Morally no better. He play pranks; soul he is the same as the tastes, and for him everything is okay, he loves, like eating, and he does not care that kalmychka or FINCA, the first court beauty. This Burlak.

All were confident that handsome Orlov will provision such as that held Alexei Razumovsky, in recent years, the reign of Elizabeth, when Shuvalov took his place in the palace. The ex-favorite every day started to get signs of benevolence and generosity of the Empress: it rained gifts of cash and kind.

However Vasilchikov not take any part in public affairs, and Orlov, apparently, even sending foreign policy. The Prince was in Tsarskoye administered. The Empress has caused him to visit in Gatchina, and there, in violation of all rules, meets the Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt, and her two daughters, one of which was to become the wife of Grand Duke Paul! And the Empress some time fluctuated, which of the princesses choose. 5 Jul. , 1773 frighten Solms sent his state of Berlin to the courier dispatch, which, inter alia, stated: ". . . Count Panin, Zorka always watching for anything that makes family Orlov, it seems, has reason to suspect that Prince Orloff extends its ambitious types of intentions to marry a princess darmshtadskoy. Unusual care, which, in his own land, surrounded by the countess, and free treatment, as it allows me to princesses, especially the same with the younger, which formally takes care to confirm these suspicions . . . Princess of liveliness of his character can not suspecting anything wrong, give this man the opportunity to have ambitious ideas to. "

However, the envoy worries vain: Orlov was too "intellectually lazy" to take an active role in foreign policy. He threw the princess darmshtadskuyu for getting the first maid of honor, and public affairs of the city.

After the elevation of Potemkin in 1774 Orlov went abroad, traveling to Europe, the amazing alien capital of their luxurious way of life and the most courageous players pugaya their large bids. Diderot, saw him in Paris, Orlova compared with the boiler, which is forever busy, but nothing varit. Returning a year later in St. Petersburg, Orlov took the position, reminiscent of the situation Razumovsky in the previous reign. In the yard of his name simply as "Duke. " From the Empress to him, apparently, not been established if the previous close, then at least, hail-fellow, friendly, almost as between equals, not as gosudaryney and between subjects. At present it to Catherine Palace, he said the purchase of the famous Persian diamond "Nadir Shah", which paid 460 thousand rubles. He presented his queen on the day of her name.

They were still bound by an invisible thread. In 1776 Catherine wrote to Grimm: "I always feel more inclination to obey the influence of people who know more than me, if only they are allowed to feel what they′re looking for this effect, otherwise I run off with all the legs off. I do not know anybody who would have been so able to help manifest this tendency in me, as Prince Orloff. His natural intelligence, going his own way, and my mind it should be. "

In 1777, 43-year-old ex-favorite влюбил�� with seriously. It was the love of a happy, though at first a lot of obstacles met and had a tragic outcome - the novel that began idyllic and ended in tragedy.

Pretty, graceful, has just crossed the threshold vosemnadtsatiletiya maid of honor Empress Zinovieva had a lot of the bridegroom. She went first cousin to Prince. It is inflamed by her love and met reciprocity. A formal ban on such marriages of church and civil laws did not stop the Prince. But the marriage was dissolved by decree of the Senate, which requires to make the couple and a young woman wrote a letter to his brother Basil, full of despair, telling of his unsuccessful attempts to visit with her husband. She adds: "I love him like no one liked, and in spite of all, thank God, very happy. "

Finally Catherine has decided expressed generosity. It annul a decree of Senate, Princess Orlova even entered in the State and the ladies gave her a solid gold instrument. Young went to hold a honeymoon in Switzerland, and the princess told of his happiness and delight in poetry, which soon overflew entire Petersburg: "Any land, a paradise with you. "

A few months later the Prince and Princess returned to St. Petersburg, and settled in the house Shtegelmana - one donated by the Empress favorite - were quiet, modest life, is not drawing the attention and is giving her happiness. Prince seldom appeared at court and told Harris that no longer enjoys any influence.

In 1780 couple again went abroad: Princess nedomogala and health required a warmer climate. But alas, instead of waiting for her long-awaited maternal death. Chest disease was incurable. In vain, until recently a happy couple move from town to town to consult with renowned experts. Princess Orlova died in Lausanne July 16, 1782. Derzhavin devoted to her touching lyrics, and Orlov, returning to St. Petersburg, has lost of reason, his heart could not bear the loss of a beloved. Told that the seizure delirium he saw a vengeful image of Peter III and repeated continually: "The punishment to me. " Six months later, Count Orlov died. Catherine Grimm wrote: "While I was prepared for this terrible event, but will not hide from you, it deeply saddened me . . . In vain, I strongly, and I will repeat itself all that is spoken in such cases: the answer is the explosion of sobbing, and I suffer terribly. "