According to historians, Catherine 2 - is the embodiment of absolutism in Russia.But we must not forget that in her reign, our country has become one of the most important players on the world political arena and began to take the first steps towards the development of business and industry.So, it was attached to the Russian Crimea, reformed, changed the internal administrative structure of the state, as well as many changes in the economy.However, the private life of the empress called and calling no less interest.In particular, at all times, the inhabitants have a lot of questions about why Bobrinsky Earl, son of Catherine 2, born out of wedlock has grown away from the court.
Grigory Orlov
story about who was the Earl Bobrinsky, son of Catherine 2, you can not start without the mention of his father - Grigory Orlov.This, then a young and very attractive, the officer appeared at the court of Elizabeth 1 in 1760 and immediately gained a reputation of Don Juan.Soon he was fascinated by the wife of Crown Prince Peter Fedorovich - Catherine, who managed to achieve an important destination lover Treasurer Office of the Chief of artillery and fortification.A particularly important role in the life of the future Empress young nobleman started to play after the death of Elizabeth 1. And when Catherine came to the throne, Orlov became the all-powerful favorite and won every conceivable honor.
illegitimate son
against Orlov and Princess were not a secret to anyone, moreover, her husband - after his accession to the throne - the unloved wife relocated to the other side of the palace, and had never been visited.So Catherine carefully concealed her pregnancy, which was impossible to pass off as "legitimate."Fortunately, everything worked out, because when April 11, 1762 the Empress went into labor, valet Vasily Shkurin set fire to his house, and Peter F. court ran to watch the fire.Thus, the birth of a boy known only to a few close Catherine, and she managed to avoid a scandal and imprisonment in a monastery.
Count Bobrinsky, son of Catherine 2: early years
child born in the mystery of the emperor and the court, parents named Alexis and because leaving it in the Winter Palace was no way, gave it to the family valet Shkurina, orderingto give him a baby for his son.Two months after the events occurred famous coup, his own mother made a little Alyosha mistress of a vast state, and his father - one of the most powerful nobles of the Russian Empire.But all these events had no effect on the fate of the child, and up to 12 years of age, he grew up in the same terms as other children couple Shkurin.Although it must be said that the family was not destitute valet, and in 1770 his sons, together with Alexei, at public expense was sent to study in Leipzig.Upon graduation, he was returned to Russia, and on the orders of the Empress he began to dignify Alexei Grigoryevich Bobrinsky.
Origin of the name
Modern man can remain puzzled why the all-powerful father could not recognize the child from the woman he loved?However, what happened to the illegitimate son of Catherine 2, for the people of the nobility, who lived in the 18th century, it was quite in order.In particular, the royal mother bought for him the village Spassky, or, as it is called, beaver, located in Epifanskie County Tula province, and told him to give him the name of the name of the estate.Since then, the funds for the maintenance of a young man had to go not from the treasury, and the revenues from their own serfs.Thus it was founded the estate, known today as the estate of Count Bobrinskys.
Life illegitimate son of Catherine 2 until the reign of Paul 1
primary education abroad, Alexei Bobrinsky was adopted in Overland Cadet Corps, from which he graduated in 1782 with a gold medal.After that, the young man enlisted in the army with the rank of lieutenant.However, before assuming their duties, he, together with other most distinguished graduates said the institution was sent on a long journey to cities in Russia and then Europe.At the end of the trip he turned out to be a young man in Paris and decided to stay there, leading wild life rich playboys.After various adventures, rumors which provoked Catherine 2, the future Count Alexei Bobrinsky appeared in Russia only in the winter of 1788.The mother did not want to see him and told him to go straight from Riga to Revel, where he was to serve as a captain-seconds.But military career did not appeal to the young man, and in 1790 he wrote a report to his resignation, which was granted.After some time, the future Earl Bobrinsky (son of Catherine 2) purchased, with the permission of the matter, Ober-Palen castle, and married Anne Ungern-Sternberg.After the wedding, the couple visited the capital, and were kindly received by the Empress, who asked the sister as she was not afraid to marry a man, love affairs that earned him the reputation of the lady's man?However, Catherine 2 did not invite the young to live at court.So Alex Bobrinsky back with his wife in the Ober-Palen and lived there until the death of his mother.Then he could not suggest what changes await him in the future.
assignment of the title of Count Alexei Bobrinsky
Almost immediately after his accession to the throne successor Catherine 2 recalled the half-brother.The fact that Paul 1 had no reason to be jealous or hostile to the illegitimate offspring, because neither one nor the other had never known a mother's love.He invited him to St. Petersburg, and in the letter stated that from now on Alex G. Bobrinsky can come to the capital and go out at any time he pleases.In addition, the imperial orders it was built in the count's dignity.Thus, the notorious Russian politicians, military leaders, writers and industrialists Bobrinsky - graphs, received the title of his relative - Emperor Paul 1.
last years
1 Paul decided to also return Bobrinsky its rightful share of the inheritance Orlovand granted the father's house and St. Petersburg commandery in Gdov district.Moreover, the day of his coronation, the emperor personally promoted him to major general.But Earl Bobrinsky, photo from the portrait which indicates a strong resemblance to Catherine 2, did not like the military.So a year later he was asked to retire and decided to take up farming.Since then, the estate of Count Bobrinsky Bogoroditsk become one of the most prosperous and exemplary in Russia.In addition, retired Major-General engaged in mineralogy and astronomy, even built in a small observatory of the metropolitan mansion.
Bobrinsky (columns)
Through the illegitimate son of Count Orlov, Catherine 2 had four grandchildren, among which deserves special mention Alexei Bobrinsky made famous specialist in the field of agriculture and is the founder of industrial production of beet sugar in Russia.Equally famous was his younger brother - Vasily, who was one of the first joined the Southern Society of the Decembrists.By happy coincidence the day when St. Petersburg was the December uprising, he was with his family in Paris, and, therefore, was not arrested.On his return to Russia he was busy estestvoispytatelskoy activities and charity work, particularly in the area of public education.
Manor Bobrinskys today
In 1933, the estate of the famous Count's kind of been converted into a museum complex, which is one of the main attractions of Tula region.Among his most important works - palace Bobrinskys graphs, the exposure of local lore museum, the family tomb, a planetarium and a luxurious park, developed in the late 18th century.On the estate is preserved as a church, built in 1774-1778 years.
Bogoroditsk Museum Collection
works of art and various rarities still interested in the estate of the first owner.Therefore, it is a collection that gathered Bobrinsky Count (son of Catherine 2), and became the basis of the funds of the museum complex in Bogoroditsk.Today they include several thousand items.Among the most valuable appear the following:
- paleontological collection of the skeleton animals Pleistocene;
- archaeological findings such as stone axes from the Bronze Age;
- lifetime editions of works Tsiolkovsky;
- personal belongings of the genus Bobrinskys.
Palace Bobrinskys
tourists visiting the Tula region, definitely recommend to visit Bogoroditsk.Located there is the palace and park ensemble is the creation of the famous architect IE Starov and superb example of architecture of the end of the era of Catherine.Today it is difficult to believe that the palace of Count Bobrinsky Bogoroditsk badly damaged during World War II - from him there was only a part of the walls.Thanks to extensive restoration work carried out in the mid-1970s, this magnificent architectural structure has been restored, and the interiors recreated from surviving sketches and eyewitnesses.By the way, few know that the estate of Count Bobrinskys was well known Leo Tolstoy, who lives in Yasnaya Polyana, located near these places.By the way, it he described it in "Anna Karenina" as the estate of Alexei Vronsky.And the Museum of Count Bobrinsky Bogoroditsk participated in the All-Russian contest "7 Wonders of Russia", which was conducted in 2007-2008.And he went to the semifinals!
Traveling the Tula region, be sure to try to visit the museum of Count Bobrinsky, whose building is a real architectural gem, always admired by tourists, not expecting to see such magnificence in the province.
