Countess Ekaterina Ivanovna Razumovskaya was the sister of Empress Elizabeth and was the wife of the last hetman of the Zaporozhye Army.
Biography
Catherine was born in 1729 into a family belonging to an old family - the Naryshkins. The mother of Peter I, Natalya Kirillovna, belonged to this family. Naval officer, Captain Ivan Lvovich was Catherine's father, mother was Daria Kirillovna. Ekaterina Ivanovna herself was the closest relative of Empress Elizabeth - they were second cousins to each other.
Ekaterina Ivanovna's parents died early: her mother died in 1730, her father in 1734. At the age of five, the girl was left a complete orphan; Senator Alexander Lvovich, her uncle, took care of her upbringing.
Razumovskaya possessed nobility, a huge inheritance and an attractive appearance. These circumstances helped her to become a court maid of honor. After Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1741, Ekaterina Ivanovna became a member of the Queen's personal retinue.
A little later, Elizabeth decided to determine the fate of Alexei Razumovsky's younger brother, who at that time was her favorite. So Kirill Grigorievich Razumovsky got Ekaterina Naryshkina as his wife.
At the time of the wedding, the bride was seventeen years old, the groom a little over eighteen. The engagement took place in the summer of 1746, and the wedding took place in October. The wedding had a royal scale, and the groom received, along with the bride, a huge dowry - 44 thousand peasants, several estates near Moscow, Penza, Romanov Dvor in Moscow, jewelry, a solid library, furs, prints, etc.
The Razumovsky family was later awarded attention from Catherine II - in July 1762 she honored their residence with her presence. Later, the empress repeatedly expressed her dissatisfaction with Razumovsky's military career - he bore the title of hetman of the Zaporozhye Army, Field Marshal. This became the reason for a cooler attitude towards the family later.
A family
Kirill Grigorievich and Ekaterina Ivanovna had eleven children: 6 sons and 5 daughters. All the children lived long enough and quite happily. The only exception was daughter Daria, who died at the age of nine. According to the descriptions of contemporaries, the couple lived well. Disagreements happened mainly in matters of raising children - Ekaterina Ivanovna, as a rule, spoiled children very much.
Razumovsky is described by historians as a generous, direct and accessible person. Catherine II herself said the following about him:
On the other hand, Kirill Grigorievich allowed himself romances on the side. But the life of Ekaterina Ivanovna could not be called unhappy or failed. She performed not only the roles of wife and mother, but since 1762 she was awarded the title of Dame of the Order of St. Catherine of the 1st degree. This order was awarded to the grand duchesses, ladies from high society, and formally it was the second oldest in the hierarchy of Russian awards from 1714 to 1917.
Ekaterina Razumovskaya died at the age of 42, in the summer of 1771. The last refuge was the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where her husband's elder brother rested. Since she was a relative of Empress Elizabeth, courtiers - ladies and chamberlains - were on duty near her coffin.
Children of the Razumovsky
Natalya Kirillovna - married NA Zagryazhsky, was a maid of honor. She was familiar with A. S. Pushkin. She had a physical ailment (hunchback) that prevented her from having children. Once I decided to take away my niece, the daughter of Anna Kirillovna Maria, without permission. The parents tried to get their daughter back, but Natalya Kirillovna announced that Maria would become her heir (her fortune was enormous), and they retreated. Maria received an excellent education, her aunt treated her well and married V. P. Kochubei.
Alexey Kirillovich - served in the civil service with the rank of chamberlain, privy councilor, then senator and minister of public education. He was married to Varvara Sheremetyeva, who was one of the richest Russian brides.
Elizaveta Kirillovna, a lady-in-waiting who went against the will of her father and Empress Catherine, married PF Apraksin.
Pyotr Kirillovich is the chief chamberlain and a real privy councilor. He also arranged his personal life against the will of his father.
Andrei Kirillovich - diplomat and philanthropist, represented the interests of Russia in Vienna.
Daria Kirillovna - died at the age of 9.
Anna Kirillovna - maid of honor, was the wife of Prince Vasilchikov.
Praskovya Kirillovna - maid of honor, was married to General I. V. Gudovich.
Lev Kirillovich - Major General, his wife was Maria Golitsina, whom her first husband lost at cards.
Grigory Kirillovich - lived almost his entire life outside of Russia. He was engaged in geology, botany and literature. He was an honorary member of the Russian Academy.
Ivan Kirillovich - Major General, commanded the Little Russian Grenadier Regiment.
