Grigory Orlov


Grigory Orlov
Count Grigory Orlov, by Fyodor Rokotov
Coat of arms
Tenure1761 – 1772
Full name
Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov
Other titlesCount
Known forOverthrowing Peter III
Born(1734-10-17)October 17, 1734
Bezhetsky Uyezd, Tver Governorate, Russian Empire
DiedApril 24, 1783(1783-04-24) (aged 48)
Moscow, Moscow Governorate, Russian Empire
BuriedYuriev Monastery
NationalityRussian
Residence
List of residences:

– Estates in Kazan and Moscow governorates
Ropsha manor (since 1764)
Gatchina manor with villages (since 1765)
Lode Castle (since 1771)

Noble familyOrlov
IssueAlexei Grigorievich Bobrinsky
Personal details
SpouseEkaterina Nikolaevna Zinovieva
Parents
  • Grigory Ivanovich Orlov (father)
  • Lukerya Ivanovna Zinovieva (mother)
Occupation
  • Statesman
  • Military leader
  • Patron
AwardsOrder of St. Alexander Nevsky (1762)
Order of St. Andrew (1763)
Order of St. Vladimir 1st class (1782)
Military service
Allegiance Russian Empire
Branch/service
Years of service1749 – 1783
RankGeneral-in-chief
CommandsIzmailovsky Life Guards Regiment
Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment
Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment
Life Guard Horse Regiment
Battles/wars
А. I. Chorny (Chernov). Portrait of Count G. G. Orlov.
Hermitage Museum

Prince Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov (Russian: Григорий Григорьевич Орлов; 17 October 1734 – 24 April 1783[a]) was a favourite of the Empress Catherine the Great of Russia, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (1772), state and military figure, collector, patron of arts, and General-in-Chief.[1]

He patronised M. V. Lomonosov, D. I. Fonvisin, V. I. Bazhenov and gave them financial support. Honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts (since 1765). He collected paintings (including Rembrandt, P. P. Rubens, Titian), sculpture, Chinese, Japanese and Russian porcelain, hunting weapons, etc. (Orlov's collection has been preserved almost completely; it is now in the State Museum-Reserve "Gatchina" of the eponymous city). A large landowner, particularly of the Gatchina manor, where Orlov commissioned the construction of a palace and a landscape garden.[1]

He became a leader of the 1762 coup which overthrew Catherine's husband Peter III of Russia and installed Catherine as empress. For some years he was virtually co-ruler with her, but his repeated infidelities and the enmity of Catherine's other advisers led to his fall from power.


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