Natalia Sheremeteva
Encyclopedia
Princess Natalia Borisovna Dolgorukova, née Sheremetev
a (Наталья Борисовна Шереметева; 1714-1771), was one of the first Russia
n women writers. She has been called the most accomplished Russian memoirist of the 18th century.
Natalia's father was Count Boris Sheremetev, Russia's first native Field Marshal
. He died when she was 4. She was betrothed to Prince Ivan Dolgorukov, a bosom friend of young Peter II of Russia
and his prospective brother-in-law. After the Emperor's sudden death, Dolgorukov fell into disgrace, but Natalia did not desert her lover, and insisted on getting married. She was 16 at the time.
Several days after the wedding, the entire Dolgorukov family was exiled to Beryozov, a remote Arctic town. She gave birth to two sons in exile but was allowed to return to Moscow ten years later, after her husband's execution. She took the veil in Florovsky Convent of Kiev
, but not before her children had grown up and married. Her short memoir was written shortly before that date. It appeared in print in 1810.
Sheremetev
The Sheremetev family was one of the wealthiest and most influential noble families of Russia.The family held many high commanding ranks in the Russian military, governorships and eventually the rank of Count of the Russian Empire...
a (Наталья Борисовна Шереметева; 1714-1771), was one of the first 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 women writers. She has been called the most accomplished Russian memoirist of the 18th century.
Natalia's father was Count Boris Sheremetev, Russia's first native Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
. He died when she was 4. She was betrothed to Prince Ivan Dolgorukov, a bosom friend of young Peter II of Russia
Peter II of Russia
Pyotr II Alekseyevich was Emperor of Russia from 1727 until his death. He was the only son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, son of Peter I of Russia by his first wife Eudoxia Lopukhina, and Princess Charlotte, daughter of Duke Louis Rudolph of Brunswick-Lüneburg and sister-in-law of Charles VI,...
and his prospective brother-in-law. After the Emperor's sudden death, Dolgorukov fell into disgrace, but Natalia did not desert her lover, and insisted on getting married. She was 16 at the time.
Several days after the wedding, the entire Dolgorukov family was exiled to Beryozov, a remote Arctic town. She gave birth to two sons in exile but was allowed to return to Moscow ten years later, after her husband's execution. She took the veil in Florovsky Convent of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, but not before her children had grown up and married. Her short memoir was written shortly before that date. It appeared in print in 1810.
External links
- The 1913 edition of Dolgorukova's reminiscences
- The Ballad of Natalia Dolgorukova, by Kondraty Ryleyev