Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin
Prince Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin (Russian: Григорий Александрович Потемкин) (September 131739 (NS: September 24) – October 5 1791 (NS: October 16)) was a Russian general-field marshal, statesman and favorite of Catherine II the Great.
He was born in Chizhovo, near Smolensk into the family of an ordinary army officer. After studying at the University of Moscow, he enlisted in the horse guards. He participated in the palace revolution in 1762 which ousted Peter III and enthroned Catherine II. He received the rank of second lieutenant of the Guards. Catherine needed reliable assistants and appreciated Potemkin's energy and organizational abilities.
In 1774 their relationship took on a more intimate character. Potemkin became a favorite of the tsarina; he received a lot of awards, and was given the highest posts. During the next 17 years he was the most powerful person in Russia. Potemkin found pleasure in ostentatious luxury and personal wealth. Like Catherine he gave in to the temptation of absolute power, however in many dealings he was guided by the spirit of enlightenment. He showed tolerance of religious differences, and gave protection to national minorities. As commander-in-chief of the Russian army (nominally from 1784) he emphasized a more humane concept of discipline, demanding that officers take care of soldiers in a paternal way.
Potemkin achieved appreciable success in Russia's newly won southern provinces, in which ruled as a real dictator. He supported a stream of both Russian and foreign colonists, he founded some new cities, and created the Black Sea fleet. In 1783 he carried out the project of annexing Crimea to Russia, for which he received the title of "Tavrichesky prince", or prince of Tauris (or Taurida or Tauride, after an ancient name for Crimea). Four years later he organized Catherine's widely advertised ceremonial travel with her retinues to the southern provinces. The purpose of the trip was the intimidation of Russia's enemies, and it led to a war for which the country appeared poorly prepared (Russo-Turkish War, 1787–92). As commander, Potemkin was guided by a cautious strategy that was militarily justified but did not win him popularity.
In April 1791 he hastily returned to St. Petersburg. He died on October 5 1791 (NS: October 16) near Yass in Moldova where he represented Russia in negotiations with the Turks.
References
- http://www.krugosvet.ru/articles/36/1003600/1003600a1.htm (in Russian)
See also
