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The Enlightened Empress
The Hostess of the Palace
"The richness and splendour of the Russian court is above all pretentious
descriptions. The traces of ancient Asian magnificence are mixed with
European exquisiteness. A huge suite of courtiers either follow or preceed
the Empress. Luxurious and brilliant full dresses and abundancy of precious
stones on them are much more magnificent than at any other European court...
Of the luxury articles of the Russian nobility we foreigners are most
of all astonished with the abundancy of precious stones shining on different
parts of their costume... Many of the noblemen are almost studded with
diamonds", wrote the English traveller and historian William Cox who visited
the Winter Palace receptions.As compared with magnificence of the court
way of life the personal requirements of Catherine were moderate as she
intentionally pointed it out. The state secretary of Catherine II who
described the last ten years of her reign Gribovskoy indicated that she
wore a plain loose dress of grey or violet silk. Orders and jewellery
decorated her costume made of brocade or velvet all in the same style
only at gala receptions. She introduced a fashion of wearing "Russian
style" dresses at the court and used elements of national costume in her
attire.
Catherine and her retinue
Catherine II was able to see talents in people and to use them for the
sake of her country. "Study people, try to use them, don't believe everybody;
look for real virtues even though they are deeply hidden...", she wrote
in her "Notes". Courage of brothers Orlovs brought her to the throne,
political intuition of Grigory Potemkin served her policy, as well as
intellect and cunning of the Count Alexander Bezborodko, European education
of the Countess Ekaterina Dashkova led the Russian Academy of Sciences,
patron of arts Alexander Stroganov with his love to arts headed the Russian
Academy of Arts as its president.Talented Field Marshals Piotr Rumiantsev-Zadunaisky
and Alexander Suvorov helped her win glorious victories. But it was not
only for political benefits that Catherine sought in her retinue. Being
deprived of warm and cordial affection from early years, being obliged
to marry against her heart, pushed aside from bringing up her son Catherine
needed sincere humane relashions, she longed for a confidant and support.
A short love affair with handsome Stanislaw Poniatowski when she was still
a young and lonely Grand Duchess showed her that marital unfaithfulness
with impunity was an inevitable attribute of worldly life. Love, courage
and devotion of Grigory Orlov paved Catherine the way to the throne. But
it was not only this and his beauty, it was a genuine affection to each
other that tied them together.
The Empress openly admits liaison with Grigoriy Orlov, grants him titles
and lands, let him have rooms in her palace, thus manifesting her own
right to favouritism that will later become a part of her policy. Count
Potemkin one of the distinguished political figures in Russia will not
only be her companion and counsellor, but also a friend and favourite
in place of Orlov. The French representative at the Russian court Count
de Segur wrote about Potemkin: "There has been either at court or at civil
or military service a nobleman so magnificent and yet so wild, a minister
so enterprising and yet so lazy, a general so brave and yet so irresolute."
Among her favourites Catherine had both clever adventurers and stupid
but handsome men, some were amusing, for the others Catherine played the
role of an educator of "young and innocent " soul. But only very few who
really touched her heart. And still fewer who got the right to influence
the policy of the Empress. "I have always felt inclined to be under the
influence of people who knew the things better then me, it only bothered
me that they shouldn't pretend and desire to get possession of me", confessed
Catherine II in her letter to Melchior Grimm.
"My day is carefully scheduled" - testified Catherine in her letter to
m-me Joffrin. In winter on ordinary days the Empress got up at 6 am and
spent 3 hours in a mirrored cabinet devoting this time to the most serious
work - literary activities, editing of the laws and acts of the state.
At this she had the strongest coffee while cream, cakes and sugar served
for breakfast were sent to her favourite dogs.After 9 a.m. and for about
3 hours the Empress listened to the reports in her bedroom. At noon she
received her grandsons . Till dinner time Catherine II read or made copies
of the cameos, after dinner sorted out the correspondence. At 6 p.m. she
had an evening meeting in her rooms or visited the performance in the
Hermitage Theatre. The guests left her after 9 p.m. At 11 a.m. the Empress
was asleep. To this week-days schedule receptions, balls and masquerades
were added on holidays.In summer Catherine II lived in her favourite summer
palace in the Tsarskoe Selo (the Tsarz Village) where her usual time-table
was preserved except for the early morning walks in the park intead of
the work. Her mode of life was governed by strict order based on self-discipline,
diligence and responsibility for the fate of the huge country.
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Cipher with
the initials E II
Saint Petersburg
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view

Full-dress
of Catherine of the type of the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment
Saint Petersburg
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Chess figurines
Master Andrian Sukhanov
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Empress Catherine II walking in the garden of the
Tsar's Village
Nikolai Utkin
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