Word: potemkin
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Potemkin asked for and received permission to serve as a cavalry officer in the war against Turkey, but Catherine worried about his safety and recalled him to St. Petersburg two years ago. There he encountered fading Favorite Orlov on a stairway and asked him: "Any news?" Said Orlov: "Only that you are going up and I am coming down...
Once Catherine had appointed Potemkin her adjutant general, the traditional title in such cases,* she was lavish hi her rewards. In addition to his regular monthly allowance of 12,000 rubles (.£2,200), he received special presents on festive occasions, often 100,000 rubles at a time, as well as jewels, furs and royal lands. Potemkin is now one of the largest landowners in Russia?yet he spends so prodigally that his debts are estimated at 200,000 rubles. Catherine has been equally lavish with her affections. Even though he lives near by, she has written him almost daily...
...vremenshchik (man of the moment). He is Pyotr Zavadovsky, 37, her private secretary, who has moved into the traditional consort's suite just below the Empress's own chambers (and connected to them by a green-carpeted circular stairway). Where does that leave His Serene Highness General Grigori Alexandrovich Potemkin, 36, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Count of the Russian Empire, recipient of Prussia's Black Eagle decoration, Denmark's White Elephant and Sweden's Holy Seraphim? It apparently leaves him maneuvering to retain his power by appealing solely to the Empress's judgment rather than her emotions...
French Charge d'Affaires Marie-Daniel Bourree, Chevalier de Corberon, has already reported to Paris that "Potemkin's reign is drawing to a close, even though he is smiled upon." Swedish Envoy Baron Frederik Nolcken speaks of the prince's "feigned or real disgrace." British Charge Richard Oakes believes "his favor to be absolutely at an end," and furthermore "it would not be surprising to see him end his career in a monastery...
...these current predictions in St. Petersburg come true, which is by no means certain, it would mark the end of the most passionate of Catherine's many passions. Tall, muscular but hardly handsome, sometimes witty, some-tunes morose, Prince Potemkin once studied theology but chose the army instead. He thus played a minor role in the 1762 coup by which Catherine and Guards Officer Grigori Orlov overthrew Catherine's weakling husband Peter III. Orlov introduced young Potemkin into court circles, where he at once amused Catherine by imitating her German accent. Orlov soon became jealous, so he and his brother...