Word: potemkine
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...Potemkin is no lap dog, however. As head of the ministry of war, he is involved in all major national decisions; as governor general of the southern provinces, he is directly responsible for administering the regions most severely affected by the Turkish war. The Empress has consulted him on almost everything, asking him to correct the grammar in her massive correspondence, requesting his views on new music and poetry. Neither Catherine nor Potemkin has any clear policy about the American Revolution, because their main concern at this time is their troublesome neighbor Turkey. If Potemkin remains in power, he will...
...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...
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...