Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov
Encyclopedia
Count Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov (Russian: Михаи́л Илларио́нович Воронцо́в) (July 12, 1714 – February 15, 1767) was a Russia
n statesman and diplomat
, who laid foundations for the fortunes of the Vorontsov family.
At the age of fourteen, Vorontsov was appointed a kammerjunker
at the court of the tsesarevna
Yelizaveta Petrovna, whom he materially assisted during the famous coup d'etat
of December 6, 1741, when she mounted the Russia
n throne on the shoulders of the Preobrazhensky Grenadiers. On January 3, 1742, Vorontsov married countess Anna Karlovna
Skavronskaya, the empress's maternal first cousin, and in 1744 was created a count
and vice-chancellor
. His jealousy of Aleksei Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin
induced him to participate in Count Lestocq's conspiracy
against that statesman. The empress's affection for him (she owed much to his skilful pen and still more to the liberality of his rich kinsfolk) saved him from the fate of his accomplices, but he lived in a state of semi-eclipse during the domination of Bestuzhev.
On the disgrace of Bestuzhev, Vorontsov was made imperial chancellor in his stead. Though well-meaning and perfectly honest, Vorontsov as a politician was singularly timorous and irresolute, and always took his cue from the court. Thus, under Yelizaveta Petrovna he was an avowed enemy of Prussia
and a warm friend of Austria
and France
; yet he made no effort to prevent Peter III
from reversing the policy of his predecessor. Yet, he did not lack personal courage, and endured torture after the revolution of July 9, 1762, rather than betray his late master. Having promoted his niece Elizabeth
as a favourite mistress of Peter III, he naturally greatly disliked his wife Catherine
, and at first refused to serve under her, though she reinstated him in the dignity of chancellor. When he found that the real control of foreign affairs was in the hands of Nikita Panin
, he resigned his office in 1763.
Mikhail Voronzov may be said to have revived the fortunes of his ancient and illustrious family. His name is preserved in the lavish St Petersburg palace
he commissioned to the imperial architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli
. He squandered most of his personal fortune upon that edifice but was subsequently constricted to sell it to the crown for the lack of funds required to complete its interior decoration. His niece Catherine was on intimate terms with her royal namesake, and his nephew Alexander Romanovich Vorontsov likewise attained the dignity of imperial chancellor in the early years of Alexander I
's reign.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n statesman and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, who laid foundations for the fortunes of the Vorontsov family.
At the age of fourteen, Vorontsov was appointed a kammerjunker
Valet de chambre
Valet de chambre , or varlet de chambre, was a court appointment introduced in the late Middle Ages, common from the 14th century onwards. Royal Households had many persons appointed at any time...
at the court of the tsesarevna
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Yelizaveta Petrovna, whom he materially assisted during the famous coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of December 6, 1741, when she mounted the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n throne on the shoulders of the Preobrazhensky Grenadiers. On January 3, 1742, Vorontsov married countess Anna Karlovna
Anna Vorontsova
Anna Karlovna Vorontsova, née Skavronskaya , was a Russian lady in waiting, salonist and noble, cousin of the Empress Elizabeth of Russia...
Skavronskaya, the empress's maternal first cousin, and in 1744 was created a count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
and vice-chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
. His jealousy of Aleksei Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin
Aleksei Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin
Count Alexey Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin , Grand Chancellor of Russia, was one of the most influential and successful European diplomats of the 18th century. He was chiefly responsible for Russian foreign policy during the reign of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna.-Early life and career:Alexey was born...
induced him to participate in Count Lestocq's conspiracy
Conspiracy (political)
In a political sense, conspiracy refers to a group of persons united in the goal of usurping or overthrowing an established political power. Typically, the final goal is to gain power through a revolutionary coup d'état or through assassination....
against that statesman. The empress's affection for him (she owed much to his skilful pen and still more to the liberality of his rich kinsfolk) saved him from the fate of his accomplices, but he lived in a state of semi-eclipse during the domination of Bestuzhev.
On the disgrace of Bestuzhev, Vorontsov was made imperial chancellor in his stead. Though well-meaning and perfectly honest, Vorontsov as a politician was singularly timorous and irresolute, and always took his cue from the court. Thus, under Yelizaveta Petrovna he was an avowed enemy of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and a warm friend of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; yet he made no effort to prevent Peter III
Peter III of Russia
Peter III was Emperor of Russia for six months in 1762. He was very pro-Prussian, which made him an unpopular leader. He was supposedly assassinated as a result of a conspiracy led by his wife, who succeeded him to the throne as Catherine II.-Early life and character:Peter was born in Kiel, in...
from reversing the policy of his predecessor. Yet, he did not lack personal courage, and endured torture after the revolution of July 9, 1762, rather than betray his late master. Having promoted his niece Elizabeth
Elizaveta Vorontsova
Elizaveta Romanovna Vorontsova was a mistress of Emperor Peter III of Russia. During their affair, Peter was rumored to have intentions of divorcing his wife Catherine to marry Vorontsova....
as a favourite mistress of Peter III, he naturally greatly disliked his wife Catherine
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
, and at first refused to serve under her, though she reinstated him in the dignity of chancellor. When he found that the real control of foreign affairs was in the hands of Nikita Panin
Nikita Ivanovich Panin
Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin was an influential Russian statesman and political mentor to Catherine the Great for the first eighteen years of her reign. In that role he advocated the Northern Alliance, closer ties with Frederick the Great of Prussia and the establishment of an advisory privy...
, he resigned his office in 1763.
Vorontsov's Palace (Saint Petersburg)
The Vorontsov Palace is a Baroque palace compound which occupies a large parcel of land wedged between Sadovaya Street and the Fontanka River in Saint Petersburg, Russia....
he commissioned to the imperial architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli
Bartolomeo Rastrelli
Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli was an Italian architect naturalized Russian. He developed an easily recognizable style of Late Baroque, both sumptuous and majestic...
. He squandered most of his personal fortune upon that edifice but was subsequently constricted to sell it to the crown for the lack of funds required to complete its interior decoration. His niece Catherine was on intimate terms with her royal namesake, and his nephew Alexander Romanovich Vorontsov likewise attained the dignity of imperial chancellor in the early years of Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
's reign.