Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov Chesmensky | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 5 October [O.S. 24 September] 1737 Lyutkino, Bezhetsky Uyezd, Moscow Governorate (now Tver Oblast), Russian Empire |
| Died | 5 January [O.S. 24 December 1807] 1808 (aged 70) Moscow, Moskovsky Uyezd, Moscow Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Service | |
| Years of service | 1749–1775 |
| Rank | General-in-Chief (army) General Admiral (naval) |
| Unit | Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment |
| Commands | Baltic Fleet |
| Known for | Government work, diplomacy, horse breeding.[1] |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Order of St. Andrew Order of St. George |
| Alma mater | First Cadet Corps |
| Children | Anna Orlova-Chesmenskaya |
| Relations |
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Count Alexei (Alexey) Grigoryevich Orlov-Chesmensky (Russian: Алексей Григорьевич Орлов-Чесменский; 5 October [O.S. 24 September] 1737 – 5 January [O.S. 24 December 1807] 1808)[2] was a Russian soldier, general-in-chief,[3] general admiral and statesman, who rose to prominence during the reign of Catherine the Great. His joint victory with Grigory Spiridov and Samuel Greig in the Battle of Chesma put him in the ranks of the outstanding Russian military commanders of all time; and although he lacked naval experience, he was the only authority in those circumstances who could ensure proper co-ordination of action.[4]
Orlov served in the Imperial Russian Army, and through his connections with his brother, became one of the key conspirators in the plot to overthrow Tsar Peter III and replace him on the Russian throne with his wife, Catherine. The plot, carried out in 1762, was successful, and Peter was imprisoned under Alexei Orlov's guard. He died shortly afterwards under mysterious circumstances, and it was popularly believed Orlov had either ordered, or personally carried out, his murder. Handsomely rewarded by Catherine after her accession, the Orlovs became powerful at court. Alexei was promoted and took part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–74, commanding a naval expedition to the Mediterranean in 1770, which destroyed the Ottoman fleet at the battle of Chesma. For his success he was granted the honorific Chesmensky. The Russian victory sparked off the Orlov Revolt in the Greek territories of the Ottoman Empire soon afterwards.
Orlov remained in the Mediterranean, and received the unusual commission of seducing and then capturing Princess Tarakanoff, a pretender to the Russian throne. Orlov was successful in doing so, and tricked her into boarding a Russian ship at Livorno, where she was arrested and transported to Russia. Alexei's brother, Grigory, Catherine's lover before and after the coup overthrowing Tsar Peter III took place, fell from favour soon afterwards, and the Orlovs' power at court diminished. Alexei became a renowned breeder of livestock at his estates, developing the horse breed known as the Orlov Trotter and popularising the Orloff breed of chicken. He left Russia after the death of Catherine and the accession of her son, Tsar Paul I, but returned after Paul's death and lived in Russia until his death in 1808.
- ^ Fedyunina 2023.
- ^ Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style.
- ^ Polovtsov 1905.
- ^ "Сто великих полководцев – История.РФ" [A hundred great military commanders]. 100.histrf.ru. Russian Military Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-07-30.