Grigory Orlov

Grigory Grigorievich Orlov - General Feldzheikhmeister, favorite of Catherine II, the second of the Orlov brothers, the builder of the Gatchina and Marble palaces. From him the Empress gave birth to the illegitimate son of Alexei, the ancestor of the Bobrinsky family of counts.

The biography of Grigory Orlov is full of many interesting facts related to the court of the empress and the personal achievements of the prince.

So, before you is a short biography of Grigory Orlov.

Biography of Grigory Orlov

Grigory Orlov was born on October 6 (17), 1734 in the village of Lyutkino, Tver province. He grew up and was brought up in the family of State Councilor Grigory Ivanovich and his wife Lukerya Ivanovna.

In addition to Gregory, 5 more boys were born in the Orlov family, one of whom died in infancy.

Childhood and youth

All of Grigory Orlov's childhood was spent in Moscow. He received his primary education at home, but he did not have any special abilities for science. However, he was distinguished by beauty, strength and courage.

When Orlov was 15 years old, he was enrolled in the Semyonovsky regiment, where he began his service with the rank of private. Here the guy served for 8 years, receiving the rank of officer. In 1757, together with his colleagues, he was sent to the Seven Years War.

Military service

In the war, Orlov showed himself on a good side. He possessed incredible strength, good looks, tall stature and valor. In the biography of Gregory there is an interesting case when he proved his courage in practice.

Having received 3 wounds in the battle of Zorndorf, the warrior refused to leave the battlefield. Thanks to this, he attracted the attention of officers and gained a reputation as a fearless soldier.

In 1759, Grigory Orlov was ordered to deliver to St. Petersburg a famous prisoner - Count Schwerin, who served as an aide-de-camp under the King of Prussia. After completing the assignment, the officer met with General Feldzheikhmeister Pyotr Shuvalov, who took him to his adjutant.

Gregory began serving in the guards along with his brothers. Orlovs often disturbed the order, arranging noisy drinking parties.

In addition, the brothers had a reputation as "Don Juan", not afraid to enter into relationships with ladies from high society. For example, Grigory started an affair with the favorite of Count Shuvalov - Princess Kurakina.

Favorite

When Shuvalov found out about Orlov's relationship with Kurakina, he ordered to send the ungrateful warrior to the grenadier regiment. It was there that the future Empress Catherine II noticed the stately Gregory.

Since that time, many significant events began to take place in the biography of Grigory Orlov, the favorite of the empress. Soon, Catherine became pregnant by Orlov and gave birth to a boy, Alexei, who later received the name Bobrinsky.

Grigory Grigorievich, together with his brothers, provided serious assistance to the empress in the struggle for the throne. They helped her get her husband Peter 3 out of the way, who in turn wanted to send his wife to a monastery.

The Orlov brothers faithfully served the queen also because they considered Peter to be a traitor to the motherland, more protecting the interests of Prussia than Russia.

In the course of the palace coup that took place in 1762, the Orlovs were able to convince the hesitant military personnel to take the side of Catherine. Thanks to this, most of the soldiers swore allegiance to the queen, as a result of which Peter 3 was overthrown from the throne.

According to the official version, Peter died of hemorrhoidal colic, but there is an opinion that he was strangled by Alexei Orlov.

The Orlov brothers received many privileges from Catherine the Great, who was grateful to them for everything they did for her.

Gregory received the rank of major general and actual chamberlain. In addition, he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

For some time, Grigory Orlov was the main favorite of the empress, but soon everything changed. Since he did not have a great mind and was poorly versed in state affairs, the man could not become the queen's right hand.

Later, Grigory Potemkin became the favorite of the empress. Unlike Orlov, he had a subtle mind, insight and could give valuable advice. Nevertheless, in the future, Grigory Orlov will still render Catherine a great service.

In 1771, the ex-favorite was sent to Moscow, where the plague was raging. For this and other reasons, unrest began in the city, which Orlov managed to successfully suppress.

In addition, the prince took effective measures to eliminate the epidemic. He acted quickly, clearly and thoughtfully, as a result of which all problems were settled.

Returning to St. Petersburg, Grigory Orlov received many praises from the tsarina, along with awards and rewards. In Tsarskoe Selo, a gate was installed with the inscription: "The Orlovs saved Moscow from trouble."

Personal life

A number of historians believe that Grigory Orlov managed to know true love already at the end of his life. When Catherine the Great lost interest in her favorite, she sent him to one of her luxurious estates.

Later it became known that Orlov married his 18-year-old cousin Ekaterina Zinoviev. This news caused a violent reaction in society. Church representatives condemned this union, since it was concluded between close relatives.

This story could have ended deplorably for both spouses, but the empress, remembering the past merits of Gregory, stood up for him. Moreover, she awarded his wife the title of lady of state.

Gregory and Catherine lived happily until the moment when the girl fell ill with consumption. This happened in the fourth year of their family life. The husband was taken to Switzerland to treat Katya, but this did not help save her life.

Death

The death of his beloved wife in the summer of 1782 seriously crippled Orlov's health and became one of the darkest episodes in his biography. He lost all interest in life and soon lost his mind.

The brothers took Grigory to the Moscow estate Neskuchnoye. Over time, the famous Neskuchny Garden will be formed here.

It was here that the General Feldzheichmeister, despite the efforts of the doctors, gradually faded away in quiet madness. Grigory Grigorievich Orlov died on April 13 (24), 1783 at the age of 48.

Orlov was buried in the Otrada estate in Semenovsky. In 1832, his remains were reburied at the western wall of the St. George's Cathedral, where his brothers, Alexei and Fyodor, were already buried.