The Empress's confidant.

Dashkova Ekaterina Romanovna (1744-1810), princess, Russian public and political figure.

Born on March 28, 1744 in St. Petersburg. Daughter of Count R.I. Vorontsov. Received good education in the house of his uncle, State Chancellor M.I. Vorontsov. In 1758 she married the guards officer Prince M.I. Dashkov and by 1761 gave birth to two children.

Upon moving to St. Petersburg, she became close friends with the wife of the heir to the throne, the future Empress Catherine II. Accepted direct participation in the preparation and implementation of the coup d'etat on June 28, 1762, which brought Catherine to the throne. However, contrary to expectations, Dashkova did not gain significant influence at court. After her husband's death, she left St. Petersburg altogether.

In 1769-1771 and 1776-1782. made two trips abroad, visiting Germany, England, France, Switzerland, Holland, Italy and Scotland. During her travels, Dashkova gained fame as one of the most educated women of her era, met with famous philosophers and statesmen of Europe (J. J. Rousseau, Voltaire, D. Diderot, Kaunitz, Friedrich 1G).

In 1783-1796. Dashkova was the director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences and Arts and at the same time the first president of the Russian Academy for the Study of the Russian Language. With her participation, editions of the collected works of M. V. Lomonosov and the six-volume explanatory dictionary Russian language, the magazines “Interlocutor of Lovers” were founded Russian word” and “New Monthly Essays,” public courses in the sciences and humanities have reopened.

In 1796, in connection with the coming to power of Emperor Paul I, Dashkova was removed from all posts and exiled to the Korotovo estate in the Novgorod province. And although in 1801 she was allowed to return to the capital, to active work she didn't start again.

Dashkova's literary heritage includes journalistic articles, plays, poems, and several translations. The most famous are her memoirs “Notes”, containing interesting information O Russian history XVIII century, the value of which is reduced due to some bias of the author.

Born in St. Petersburg. Daughter of Count Roman Illarionovich Vorontsov and Marfa Ivanovna, née Surmina. Goddaughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and Peter Fedorovich. Until she was four years old, she lived on her grandmother’s estate. She was brought up in the house of her uncle, Chancellor Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov. She received an excellent education.

Extraordinarily capable and intelligent, Dashkova became one of the first scientific women in Russia. She played a significant role in the palace coup of 1762, being a supporter of Catherine II. After the accession of Catherine II, she lived with her family in the palace. During the coronation she was made a lady of state. Endowed by nature with rare abilities and ambitious, she wanted to be the first in everything and believed that the empress owed her the throne. Without receiving proper remuneration and recognition of her merits, Dashkova moved away from the court.

From 1762 to 1764 I lost two close people, my husband and son Mikhail. Having a hard time experiencing the loss, she lived in solitude, not participating in public life. In 1769 she went abroad with her children, where she lived in total almost ten years. Traveled through Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Poland, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Prussia. Abroad she met Voltaire, Diderot, and Smith, who spoke flatteringly about her. Diderot said about the princess: “She is serious in character, usually does not express what she thinks, but if she speaks, it is simply and with true conviction... her soul is shocked by misfortune. Her beliefs are solid and her horizons are broad. She is brave and proud. She is imbued with disgust for despotism and what more or less resembles tyranny. She knows Russians well statesmen and openly expresses his opinion about them, praising their merits and at the same time speaking harshly about their shortcomings. She is as determined in her hatred as in her friendship, she has insight, composure, correct judgment.”

Dashkova was accepted as a member of many learned societies: was a member of Volny economic society, Philadelphia philosophical society, Stockholm Academy of Sciences.

Upon returning to Russia in 1783, she received the position of director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, becoming the only woman in the world in this position. She established a special Russian Academy for the study of the “Russian word.” She founded two scientific and literary publications: “Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word...” and “New Monthly Works,” where G.R. was published. Derzhavin, D.I. Fonvizin, Ya.B. Knyazhnin and others. Author of many literary works. Special Interest represent her memoirs.

During the accession of Paul I, Dashkova was removed from all positions. She was exiled to the village, where she lived until the death of the emperor.

Since 1759 she was married to an officer of the Preobrazhensky regiment, Prince Mikhail (Kondrat) Ivanovich Dashkov. She had sons Pavel and Mikhail (who died early); and daughter Anastasia, married to Andrei Evdokimovich Shcherbinin.

Ekaterina Romanovna was fond of music and sang beautifully. Shortly before her death, she donated her “natural cabinet,” collected during her travels, to Moscow University.

The princess was buried in the church of the village of Trinity, Moscow province.

A unique case in world practice, when a woman was at the head of two Academies of Sciences (St. Petersburg and Moscow) for about eleven years.

Growing up in the aristocratic family of the Vorontsov counts, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova took an active part in the overthrow Peter III(an ardent supporter of Prussia who did not love Russia), and in the elevation of Ekaterina Alekseevna to the throne in 1762.

On Peter and Paul Fortress 10 o'clock struck. The procession reached the Kazan Cathedral. They served a prayer service. The crowd and carriage moved towards the Winter Palace.

Catherine was carried into the Winter Palace in her arms. The hated Prussian who betrayed Russia has been overthrown! There's a woman on the throne again!

Dashkova, looking at Catherine, thought with pride: “And it’s her! She, the one who suffered from the rudeness and ignorance of the emperor’s husband... and today, and now? How unexpectedly, she, my friend, was reborn! How much courage, history will mark me! And she owes her freedom and this, even to me, incomprehensible and inexplicable rebirth to me alone.”

Who is Ekaterina Dashkova, and what is her fate?

Family of E. R. Dashkova

Dashkova was born on March 17, 1743 in the family of Count Roman Illarionovich Vorontsov; her mother Marfa Surmina died when Katya was two years old. The little girl's godparents were Empress Elizaveta Petrovna and her nephew Peter, the future Peter III.

Even during their mother’s lifetime, the eldest daughters Maria and Elizaveta Vorontsov were maids of honor in the palace, and the sons Alexander and Semyon were in public office and became famous as "steadfast statesmen." Father Roman Vorontsov gave his youngest daughter Katya to his brother Mikhail Illarionovich, the Grand Chancellor of Empress Elizabeth. Katya was raised with his daughter Anna, her same age. The pupil turned out to be capable and at the age of 14 she already spoke four languages.
“Mocking and talented and the way she draws,” her contemporaries were surprised and admired. But after a serious illness (measles), she spent a long time in solitude far from St. Petersburg; self-education, self-reflection with people close to her changed her mocking and cheerful lively mind. At the age of 15, she had a personal library of 900 volumes, mainly French philosophers and natural scientists.

To the horror of her relatives, she rejected all blush and jewelry, ignored balls in palaces, finding them boring, dancing shameless, but at the same time she was not devoid of romanticism. At the age of 15, Catherine fell in love and got married in 1758.

Love.

According to the memoirs of Princess Dashkova,
"... in the evening she was returning from visiting, the weather was so good that she wanted to walk, accompanied by her sister Samarina. They had barely gone a few steps when the tall figure of a man appeared in front of them, under the influence of the moonlight the young man struck her imagination, she I asked my sister who he was, and the answer was that Prince Mikhail Dashkov was a distant relative of Peter I. Katya felt that they were destined for each other.” According to the memoirs of A.I. Herzen, “The Countess comes home and dreams of a beautiful officer, the officer comes home, in love with the beautiful Countess,” and having heard about the seclusion of the young Countess and captivated by a fateful meeting in the moonlight, he soon proposes to 15-year-old Katya Vorontsova and asks for her hand.

The wedding of the newlyweds took place in the family circle, and a year later, in February 1759, daughter Anastasia was born, a year later son Mikhail and then son Pavel, Mikhail dies in infancy. Ekaterina Romanovna loved her husband, but her happiness did not last long and at 21 she remains a widow with two children in her arms.

This woman carried three earthly passions through her life: family, Empress Catherine and science.

Women's Friendship

We first met Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna when Ekaterina Vorontsova was 15 years old. From the first meeting at the ball, Katya sincerely fell in love future empress.

Dashkova picked up Ekaterina Alekseevna’s fallen fan and handed it to her, and sympathy arose between them.

According to Dashkova’s memoirs, “The charm emanating from the Grand Duchess, especially when she wanted to attract someone, was too powerful for a teenager who was not fifteen years old to resist” and she gave her her heart forever. Despite a strong rival in the person of Prince Dashkov, who soon also fell in love with Ekaterina Alekseevna, all rivalry between them disappeared.

Ekaterina Alekseevna seemed to respond with the same affection, they read together, discussed many issues, and Ekaterina Alekseevna often emphasized Dashkova’s intelligence and erudition, saying that she was dying of boredom when she was not there, that another, equal to Katya, in all of Russia barely Is there any? When Dashkova wrote poems and dedicated them to her friend, that is, Catherine, in response she highly praised her talent and begged her to continue to love, assuring Dashkova of her sincere and fiery friendship, which should never be destroyed.

At nineteen, Ekaterina Dashkova takes part in a coup d'etat.

Main actor The plot that was being prepared from the very beginning was Ekaterina Alekseevna herself, an experienced, secretive politician, she played a deadly game and precisely checked her every step. She alone knew all its participants, who gradually agitated the soldiers and officers of their regiment in favor of Catherine. The officers spread rumors among the soldiers, in the light of which the Empress was a benefactor Russian people, and her husband looked like an enemy of the nobility and a weak-minded tyrant who dreams of removing his wife and legal heir by putting them in the Shlisselburg fortress. Along with the Orlovs, Ekaterina Romanovna Vorontsova-Dashkova began to play one of the active roles in preparing the coup. The young romantic Dashkova spoke everywhere about the merits of Ekaterina Alekseevna, thereby attracting a lot of conspirators to the circle of conspirators. famous figures such as Kirill Razumovsky, Panin, Repnin, Volkonsky and others.

On the day of the coup Izmailovsky Regiment went after Catherine and the heir Paul; Ekaterina Alekseevna, surrounded by officers and soldiers, drove up to the Kazan Cathedral. Archbishop of Novgorod and Velikolutsk Dimitri proclaimed Catherine the empress, and Paul the heir to the throne. When Dashkova made her way to Catherine with extraordinary efforts, they rushed into each other’s arms shouting: “Well, thank God! Glory to God!” They were given horses and both women rode gracefully past the jubilant army. Then, going around the column, they stood in front and led a huge army towards the Holsteins. More and more troops joined them.

At night, the troops set up a bivouac, Ekaterina and Dashkova spent the night in a suburban tavern, falling asleep on the only bed there. One cannot help but admit that there is something amazing in this courage of two women who changed the fate of the empire, in this revolution carried out by a beautiful and smart woman, surrounded by young people in love with her, among whom in the foreground is the spectacular nineteen-year-old Ekaterina Dashkova on horseback in a Preobrazhensky uniform and with a saber in her hands.

Blows of fate.

The first disappointment awaited Dashkova when she found out that Grigory Orlov was the empress’s lover. She realized that much was hidden from her.

Due to her youth and naivety, Dashkova believed that she contributed to the coup, but then realized with bitterness that Catherine and her circle carefully hid the coup plan from her. Having discovered the falsity in Ekaterina’s behavior, Dashkova realized the insincerity of the relationship, and friendship and joint dreams immediately collapsed. Catherine II moved away from Dashkova with the speed of royal ingratitude.

According to A.I. Herzen, “Empress Catherine wanted to reign not only with power, but with everything in the world - genius, beauty; she wanted to attract attention to herself alone, she had an insatiable desire to please. She was in the full splendor of her beauty, but she was already thirty years old. She would probably be able to keep a weak woman, lost in the rays of her glory, praying to her, not very beautiful, not very smart, but the energetic Dashkova, who spoke about her glory, with her mind, with her fire and with her nineteen years, She couldn’t stand being near her.”

Dashkova’s lofty dreams and dreams of the good of the fatherland are all in the past; the Empress paid her 24 thousand rubles, awarding her with a Star and a Catherine Ribbon for special merits. After some time, together with her husband Mikhail, she sent the Dashkovs away from her.

Dashkova experienced great disappointment upon learning that Peter III was strangled, John VI ( former emperor) killed, captured Princess Tarakanova died in the fortress. Dashkova understands that Catherine is carefully freeing herself from any contenders for the throne. The Empress no longer forgives either bold statements or Dashkova’s desires to participate in government affairs. Only Dashkova's serious illness after the death of her beloved eldest son and husband (1763) saved her from arrest.

Dashkova returned to the estate near Moscow. Having learned that Mikhail Dashkov had ruined their entire fortune with debts, she paid them off by selling all her jewelry, and then together with her daughter Anastasia and youngest son Pavel returned to the ruined Trinity estate, which she raised with her energy in five years.

In 1769, Dashkova and her children went abroad for two years under the name Mikhalkova. In Danzig they stayed at the Rossiya Hotel. Having discovered two monumental canvases in which wounded and dying Russian soldiers ask for mercy from the victorious Prussians, Dashkova was indignant and sent her secretary to buy different colors paints. After dinner, having firmly locked the door, she repainted the uniforms in the paintings, turning the victors into the vanquished, now the Prussians begged the Russians for mercy. Dashkova is pleased, imagining the surprise of the hotel owner.

In the Belgian city of Spa, she met two families - Morgan and Hamilton, who became friends for the rest of her life. Mary will come to her in Russia and brighten up the most difficult years on the eve of her death.

In London, she visited Oxford University and met with Russian students. In the library, she noticed a Russian-Greek dictionary, and she had the idea of ​​​​creating a Russian grammar and dictionary, which she would bring to reality as president of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In Paris, Dashkova met the great philosopher Diderot, who helped the young woman establish relations with Empress Catherine II. They often talked, Dashkova behaved steadfastly and with dignity. She hated despotism and any manifestations of tyranny; she preferred a constitutional monarchy.

One day Diderot touched upon the issue of slavery of Russian peasants in their conversations. Dashkova replied, as far as she was concerned, she had set up a management system on her estates that protected peasants from being robbed by petty officials. The welfare of the serfs is constantly growing on her estates, and she is crazy to dry up the source of income with cruelty. Dashkova interested Diderot in the country, and he came to St. Petersburg in 1773, but their meeting in Russia did not take place, since Dashkova was still in disgrace.

An adult, married Tsarevich becomes a dangerous contender for the throne of Russia; a conspiracy arises among a group of people dissatisfied with Catherine’s rule who dream of placing a legitimate heir on the throne. But the plot, according to Bakunin’s denunciation, was discovered in a timely manner. Among the conspirators were the Tsarevich, his wife Natalya, Pavel’s teacher Nikita Panin, Repnin and others; they even suspected Dashkova, but no one knows for sure, since Dashkova was in exile at that time.

In 1775 E.R. Dashkova went abroad with her children to complete their education. In 1779, her studies were completed, but she was not allowed to return to Russia. The years of wandering continued. In Paris, she spent time in the company of Diderot, D'Alembert, and Raynal. In 1781 she met the outstanding American statesman Benjamin Franklin. Their friendship grew into a partnership between two outstanding people their countries.

Only in 1782 was Dashkova allowed to return to Russia and she was “mercifully” received by Empress Catherine II. The events of 1762 seemed to them long history, but fame as the first Russian educated woman reached St. Petersburg and the pragmatic Catherine II decided to use her again - offering her the post of director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. This was an important step; an eye and an eye were needed. But the “iron lady” had the acumen and energy.

The “lucky streak” has begun. Son Pavel Dashkov receives rank from Field Marshal G.A. Potemkina, Polonskaya's niece was hired as a maid of honor in the palace. And Ekaterina Dashkova herself in 1783 became the first woman in Russia (with the exception of empresses) to occupy a high government position.

Dashkova E.R. agreed to take this post not without hesitation. She found herself in a farm neglected by previous presidents and harnessed herself to this cart. After Lomonosov, she found the scientific and educational activities of the Academy disorganized. She thought through the steps of her activities. Her enormous energy, activity, intelligence and education made it possible to enhance the work of the Academy. It revived academic life and led to the standards envisaged by the founders of the Academy. The work of academicians was freed from the tutelage of the bureaucratic apparatus. Puts in order the neglected economy of the Academy, scientific, educational and publishing activities.

Courses are opened not only for students, but also for outsiders. The success of the courses taught in Russian by Kotelnikov, Ozeretsky, Sokolov, Severgin and others - the Academy trains domestic scientific personnel - was great.

During eleven years of leadership, Dashkova strengthened the academic economy, paid off debts, replenished the library, improved the work of the printing house, established the compilation of maps of the provinces, and organized expeditions to various regions. Was established publishing activity, the following works were published:

Complete works of M.V. Lomonosov.
"Description of the land of Kamchatka."
"Notes of Travelers".
"Academic News".
"Interlocutor for lovers of the Russian word."
Russian dictionary and grammar.

Dashkova's main achievement, the creation of a Russian dictionary and grammar, according to Pushkin, is " greatest contribution into Russian culture", according to Karamzin, " complete dictionary, developed by a team of professors led by Dashkova and published by the Academy, is one of those phenomena with which Russia will surprise attentive foreigners, which have been maturing not for centuries, but for decades.”

Dashkova jealously guards the dignity of the Academy, the Russian (Moscow) Academy was created, the members of which are: Rumovsky, Protasov, Kotelnikov, Fonvizin, Derzhavin, Kheraskov, Knyazhnin and others.

“During my directorship,” Dashkova wrote to Ekaterina, “from this institution came large number persons who are in the service of Your Imperial Majesty, where they benefit the Fatherland, are rewarded with various titles."

During the two years of the existence of Sobesednik, Dashkova herself published ten articles. The publication of Knyazhnin's book "Vadim Novgorod" in Sobesednik caused sharp irritation of Catherine II, who feared for her throne.
In addition, Catherine Romanovna's friendship with Benjamin Franklin aroused the wrath of Empress Catherine; as with one of the leaders liberation war American colonies against English king, which found great support and sympathy from all the progressive people of Europe and Russia.

In this regard, in 1794 E.R. Dashkova said goodbye to the Academies and left for her Trinity, where in 1796 she greeted with pain the news of the death of Catherine, whom Dashkova had once proclaimed Great. She remembered their friendship and her ardent youth, inspiration, obsession and bitter disappointment in Catherine, who, immediately after coronation to the throne, tried to show the young enthusiastic Dashkova who was the boss here.

Personal tragedy and the last years of Dashkova’s life.

The years of “luck” ended immediately after receiving news of the secret marriage of Pavel’s son with the daughter of the merchant Alferov. "The wound inflicted mother's heart incurable. For several days I could only cry, then I became seriously ill. “- wrote Dashkova in her “Notes”. Having received a letter from her son two months later, where he asked his mother’s consent to marry, she was shocked and answered him that she knew that he was already married and his hypocrisy was outrageous.

Daughter Anastasia, with her extravagance and hostility towards her mother, also caused her a lot of grief. The daughter broke up with her husband and went on a spree, demanding that her mother pay her debts. Dashkova E.R. depressed and sometimes the thought of death comes to her, but religion saves her.

Immediately after the death of the empress, by order of the new emperor Pavel, Dashkov was exiled to the distant poor village of her husband in the Novgorod province. The governor of Moscow gave her Paul’s order: “to think in exile about what she did in 1762.” Without resisting, the half-ill Dashkova in 1796, by order of Emperor Paul, went to winter frosts in exile to while away the days in a peasant hut, devoid of amenities.

After some time, Dashkova turned to Empress Maria Feodorovna with a request to spare the sick, unfortunate woman. The Empress, taking pity on her, turned to Paul I. The first time he categorically refused to pardon Dashkova, and only the second time, at the request of her son Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov, he allowed Dashkova to settle on the estate of the Kaluga province in 1798. Soon, Prince Dashkov stood up for his officer, for which he fell out of favor with the emperor, but his son’s fall, fortunately, did not affect the fate of his mother. Dashkova's disgrace lasted until 1801.

Having come to power, Alexander I invited Dashkova to return to St. Petersburg, but she, thanking the emperor, refused, saying that “her time had passed, and her health did not allow it.”

In the Kaluga province, she devoted herself entirely to economic activities.

Back in 1794, in her memoirs, she tries to show her historical place in Russia, her human qualities and virtue, justifies herself in relation to her children, her daughter-in-law, abandoned by her son. During her son’s life, Dashkova did not recognize this unequal marriage, and only after her son’s death in 1807 did Dashkova reconcile herself. A touching meeting took place between two unfortunate women, and they burst into tears from the grief of loss.

The son had no children and Dashkova found an heir from the Vorontsov family - Ivan Illarionovich (1790-1854), a great-nephew, whom she took care of from birth. Ivan Illarionovich was the only son of his parents and after early death father was raised by his mother Irina Ivanovna Izmailova. Thanks to his mother and the influence of the famous aunt E.R. Dashkova he received a brilliant European education. From birth, Dashkova, literally, stood at his font, was friendly with Irina Ivanovna, and the personal qualities of her godson captivated her forever.

Therefore, finding herself without an heir after the death of her son Pavel, Dashkova made a choice: it was her great-nephew who was worthy to bear the name Dashkova.

With the permission of Emperor Alexander I, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova appointed an heir for herself in 1807 and bequeathed all possessions and the surname Vorontsov-Dashkov to her godson Ivan Illarionovich Vorontsov.

Thus, since 1807, a new dynasty of counts Vorontsov-Dashkov appeared, who faithfully served the fatherland and continued the traditions of the famous Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, engaged in education. The childless daughter Anastasia was deprived of her inheritance during her mother’s lifetime, and she was assigned only a lifetime annual pension, which she received from the heir.

In recent years, Dashkova lived on the Troitsky estate, surrounded by her assistants and peasants. On the advice of her friend Kate Hamilton, Mary Wilmot came to stay with Ekaterina Romanovna and lived in Russia for five whole years.

Getting from St. Petersburg to the Troitskoye estate, she heard a lot of terrible gossip about the character and inappropriate behavior of Ekaterina Romanovna. Tyranny, stinginess, gloominess and other qualities did not fit with Hamilton’s romantic ideas about a young heroine galloping with a saber in front of the army. Arriving at the princess's estate, she saw a woman with a pleasant face, open and intelligent, dressed in a black dress and with a silver Star on her left shoulder. She was affectionate and Mary immediately felt the most ardent love for her. Mary was the last affection of this wonderful and lonely woman; she filled the emptiness of her life.

Dashkova is full of energy again, begins to study Russian with Mary and French languages, stage plays, travel around religious places Moscow region: Lake Pleshcheyevo, Trinity-Sergius Posad, Rostov-Yaroslavsky, etc.

They attend balls in Moscow, meet with famous people who respected her, although she differed from all the noble guests in her simplicity of dress, freshness of face, and lack of jewelry, with the exception of the Star.

Mary is surprised by her tirelessness and variety of activities: building houses, drawings, a theater, a hospital, greenhouses, increasing her already very large capital, business correspondence, attitude towards religion. Mary noted the contradiction in the princess's habits, commitment to ancient traditions and great interest in everything new.

Rich spiritual world Dashkova and the diversity of interests is felt in her letters.

Dashkova began writing her “Notes” in one breath, writing from memory, presenting it quickly, and correcting almost nothing. Her goal was “...not to preserve for posterity episodes of her amazing life, but to show how dangerous it is to sail on the same ship with strongmen of the world this... and how the court atmosphere stifles the development of the most energetic natures..."

Her memoirs are not a work of history, they are subjective and not even accurate, but they paint a broad picture of Russian reality.

The fate of "Notes".

Mary Wilmot left Russia in 1808 two years before the death of Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova. Dashkova gives Mary a souvenir of the happy years spent together on the Troitskoye estate, opal Swedish Queen, fan of Catherine II and main jewel of his life - the manuscript of "Notes". At Russian customs, Mary was obstructed, they were looking for dangerous papers and the manuscript was taken away, but she was consoled by the fact that the copy had prudently already been sent outside Russia.

After Dashkova’s death, Mary, fulfilling the will of her “Russian mother,” prepared the saved copy for printing. But she is prevented brother Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkov Semyon Romanovich. He did not want to allow the appearance of a book that described the behind-the-scenes details of the coup, discussed the problems of serfdom and other issues that had not lost their urgency during the reign of Alexander I.

Therefore, the first edition English appeared only in 1840. Herzen A.I. became godfather Russian translation of "Notes", which with his preface were published in 1859. Herzen called E.R. Dashkov as his favorite, saying:

"What a woman! What a strong and rich existence!"

Now these documents are being handled by a descendant of Dashkova’s heir, professor of Russian literature, Count Vorontsov-Dashkov Alexander Illarionovich (1945), living in the USA (Virginia).

Who was she, this woman who led the country's largest scientific institutions for more than eleven years?

A writer. She writes plays, poems, articles, memoirs – “Notes”, and translates. Herzen, an admirer and biographer of Dashkova, calls the “Notes” a document extremely important for XVIII studies centuries.

A connoisseur of the arts. Her judgments about architectural monuments and works of painting amaze with their accuracy and depth.

A teacher. She is familiar with many achievements pedagogical science, adheres to progressive views in matters of education professed by enlightenment philosophers, and develops new system education.

Philologist. On her initiative, the first explanatory dictionary of the Russian language is being published. She participates in its compilation and takes upon herself the explanation of concepts related to morality, politics and government.

Editor. Under her leadership, the magazine “Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word” is published, in which she attracts many talented writers to participate. Dobrolyubov dedicates his first research to “The Interlocutor”.

Naturalist. During her travels, she compiles a herbarium and a collection of minerals. She studies horticulture and grows gardens.

A musician. She is fond of folk songs, sings beautifully, and tries, and successfully, her strengths in composition.

Surgeon. With a lancet in her hands, she saves a man from death.

“Not only have I never seen such a creature, but I have never heard of such a thing,” her guest Mary Wilmot writes about Dashkova to her family in Ireland. She teaches masons how to lay walls, helps gardeners make paths, goes to feed cows. She composes music and writes articles. , corrects the priest if he prays wrong. She corrects her household actors when they go astray. She is a doctor, a pharmacist, a paramedic, a blacksmith, a carpenter, a judge, a lawyer..."

A unique case in world practice, when a woman was at the head of two Academies of Sciences (St. Petersburg and Moscow) for about eleven years.

Growing up in the aristocratic family of counts Vorontsov, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova took an active part in the overthrow of Peter III (an ardent supporter of Prussia who did not like Russia), and in the elevation of Ekaterina Alekseevna to the throne in 1762.

The clock struck 10 o'clock at the Peter and Paul Fortress. The procession reached the Kazan Cathedral. They served a prayer service. The crowd and carriage moved towards the Winter Palace.

Catherine was carried into the Winter Palace in her arms. The hated Prussian who betrayed Russia has been overthrown! There's a woman on the throne again!

Dashkova, looking at Catherine, thought with pride: “And it’s her! She, the one who suffered from the rudeness and ignorance of the emperor’s husband... and today, and now? How unexpectedly, she, my friend, was reborn! How much courage, history will mark me! And she owes her freedom and this, even to me, incomprehensible and inexplicable rebirth to me alone.”

Who is Ekaterina Dashkova, and what is her fate?

Family of E.R. Dashkova.

Dashkova was born on March 17, 1743 in the family of Count Roman Illarionovich Vorontsov; her mother Marfa Surmina died when Katya was two years old. The little girl's godparents were Empress Elizaveta Petrovna and her nephew Peter, the future Peter III.

(Portrait by an unknown artist of the young Princess Dashkova, née Vorontsova)

Even during their mother’s lifetime, the eldest daughters Maria and Elizaveta Vorontsov were ladies-in-waiting in the palace, and the sons Alexander and Semyon were in government positions and became famous as “steadfast statesmen.” Father Roman Vorontsov gave his youngest daughter Katya to his brother Mikhail Illarionovich, the Grand Chancellor of Empress Elizabeth. Katya was raised with his daughter Anna, her same age. The pupil turned out to be capable and at the age of 14 she already spoke four languages.

“Mocking and talented and the way she draws,” her contemporaries were surprised and admired. But after a serious illness (measles), she spent a long time in solitude far from St. Petersburg; self-education, self-reflection with people close to her changed her mocking and cheerful lively mind. At the age of 15, she had a personal library of 900 volumes, mainly French philosophers and natural scientists.

The wedding of the newlyweds took place in the family circle, and a year later, in February 1759, daughter Anastasia was born, a year later son Mikhail and then son Pavel, Mikhail dies in infancy. Ekaterina Romanovna loved her husband, but her happiness did not last long and at 21 she remains a widow with two children in her arms.
This woman carried three earthly passions through her life: family, Empress Catherine and science.

Women's Friendship.

We first met Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna when Ekaterina Vorontsova was 15 years old. From the first meeting at the ball, Katya sincerely fell in love with the future empress.

Dashkova picked up Ekaterina Alekseevna’s fallen fan and handed it to her, and sympathy arose between them.

According to Dashkova’s memoirs, “The charm emanating from the Grand Duchess, especially when she wanted to attract someone, was too powerful for a teenager who was not fifteen years old to resist” and she gave her her heart forever. Despite a strong rival in the person of Prince Dashkov, who soon also fell in love with Ekaterina Alekseevna, all rivalry between them disappeared.

Ekaterina Alekseevna seemed to respond with the same affection, they read together, discussed many issues, and Ekaterina Alekseevna often emphasized Dashkova’s intelligence and erudition, saying that she was dying of boredom when she was not there, that another, equal to Katya, in all of Russia barely Is there any? When Dashkova wrote poems and dedicated them to her friend, that is, Catherine, in response she highly praised her talent and begged her to continue to love, assuring Dashkova of her sincere and fiery friendship, which should never be destroyed.

(A. Antropov. Portrait of Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna)

At nineteen, Ekaterina Dashkova takes part in a coup d'etat.

From the very beginning, the main character in the impending conspiracy was Ekaterina Alekseevna herself, an experienced, secretive politician; she played a deadly game and carefully checked her every step. She alone knew all its participants, who gradually agitated the soldiers and officers of their regiment in favor of Catherine. The officers spread rumors among the soldiers, in the light of which the empress was a benefactor of the Russian people, and her husband looked like an enemy of the nobility and a weak-minded tyrant who dreams of removing his wife and legal heir by imprisoning them in the Shlisselburg fortress. Along with the Orlovs, Ekaterina Romanovna Vorontsova-Dashkova began to play one of the active roles in preparing the coup. The young romantic Dashkova spoke everywhere about the merits of Ekaterina Alekseevna, thereby attracting a lot of famous figures to the circle of conspirators, such as Kirill Razumovsky, Panin, Repnin, Volkonsky and others.

On the day of the coup, the Izmailovsky regiment went after Catherine and the heir Pavel; Ekaterina Alekseevna, surrounded by officers and soldiers, drove up to the Kazan Cathedral. Archbishop of Novgorod and Velikolutsk Dimitri proclaimed Catherine the empress, and Paul the heir to the throne. When Dashkova made her way to Catherine with extraordinary efforts, they rushed into each other’s arms shouting: “Well, thank God! Glory to God!” They were given horses and both women rode gracefully past the jubilant army. Then, going around the column, they stood in front and led a huge army towards the Holsteins. More and more troops joined them.

At night, the troops set up a bivouac, Ekaterina and Dashkova spent the night in a suburban tavern, falling asleep on the only bed there. One cannot help but admit that there is something amazing in this courage of two women who changed the fate of the empire, in this revolution carried out by a beautiful and intelligent woman, surrounded by young people in love with her, among whom in the foreground is the spectacular nineteen-year-old Ekaterina Dashkova on horseback in Preobrazhenskoe uniform and with a saber in his hands.

Blows of fate.
The first disappointment awaited Dashkova when she found out that Grigory Orlov was the empress’s lover. She realized that much was hidden from her.

(F. Rokotov. Portrait of Prince G. Orlov)

Due to her youth and naivety, Dashkova believed that she contributed to the coup, but then realized with bitterness that Catherine and her circle carefully hid the coup plan from her. Having discovered the falsity in Ekaterina’s behavior, Dashkova realized the insincerity of the relationship, and friendship and joint dreams immediately collapsed. Catherine II moved away from Dashkova with the speed of royal ingratitude.

According to A.I. Herzen, “Empress Catherine wanted to reign not only with power, but with everything in the world - genius, beauty; she wanted to attract attention to herself alone, she had an insatiable desire to please. She was in the full splendor of her beauty, but she was already thirty years old. She would probably be able to keep a weak woman, lost in the rays of her glory, praying to her, not very beautiful, not very smart, but the energetic Dashkova, who spoke about her glory, with her mind, with her fire and with her nineteen years, She couldn’t stand being near her.”

Dashkova’s lofty dreams and dreams of the good of the fatherland are all in the past; the Empress paid her 24 thousand rubles, awarding her with the Star and the Catherine Ribbon for special services. After some time, together with her husband Mikhail, she sent the Dashkovs away from her.
Dashkova experienced great disappointment upon learning that Peter III was strangled, John VI (former emperor) was killed, and the captured Princess Tarakanova died in the fortress. Dashkova understands that Catherine is carefully freeing herself from any contenders for the throne. The Empress no longer forgives Dashkova’s bold statements or desires to participate in state affairs. Only Dashkova's serious illness after the death of her beloved eldest son and husband (1763) saved her from arrest.

Dashkova returned to the estate near Moscow. Having learned that Mikhail Dashkov had ruined their entire fortune with debts, she paid them off by selling all her jewelry, and then, together with her daughter Anastasia and youngest son Pavel, they returned to the ruined Trinity estate, which she raised with her energy in five years.

In 1769, Dashkova and her children went abroad for two years under the name Mikhalkova. In Danzig they stayed at the Rossiya Hotel. Having discovered two monumental canvases in which wounded and dying Russian soldiers beg for mercy from the victorious Prussians, Dashkova was indignant and sent her secretary to buy different colors of paint. After dinner, having firmly locked the door, she repainted the uniforms in the paintings, turning the victors into the vanquished, now the Prussians begged the Russians for mercy. Dashkova is pleased, imagining the surprise of the hotel owner.

In the Belgian city of Spa, she met two families - Morgan and Hamilton, who became friends for the rest of her life. Mary will come to her in Russia and brighten up the most difficult years on the eve of her death.

In London, she visited Oxford University and met with Russian students. In the library, she noticed a Russian-Greek dictionary, and she had the idea of ​​​​creating a Russian grammar and dictionary, which she would bring to reality as president of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In Paris, Dashkova met the great philosopher Diderot, who helped the young woman establish relations with Empress Catherine II. They often talked, Dashkova behaved steadfastly and with dignity. She hated despotism and any manifestations of tyranny; she preferred a constitutional monarchy.

One day Diderot touched upon the issue of slavery of Russian peasants in their conversations. Dashkova replied, as far as she was concerned, she had set up a management system on her estates that protected peasants from being robbed by petty officials. The welfare of the serfs is constantly growing on her estates, and she is crazy to dry up the source of income with cruelty. Dashkova interested Diderot in the country, and he came to St. Petersburg in 1773, but their meeting in Russia did not take place, since Dashkova was still in disgrace.

An adult, married Tsarevich becomes a dangerous contender for the throne of Russia; a conspiracy arises among a group of people dissatisfied with Catherine’s rule who dream of placing a legitimate heir on the throne. But the plot, according to Bakunin’s denunciation, was discovered in a timely manner. Among the conspirators were the Tsarevich, his wife Natalya, Pavel’s teacher Nikita Panin, Repnin and others; they even suspected Dashkova, but no one knows for sure, since Dashkova was in exile at that time.

In 1775 E.R. Dashkova went abroad with her children to complete their education. In 1779, her studies were completed, but she was not allowed to return to Russia. The years of wandering continued. In Paris, she spent time in the company of Diderot, D'Alembert, and Raynal. In 1781 she met the outstanding American statesman Benjamin Franklin. Their friendship grew into a partnership between two outstanding people of their countries.

Daughter Anastasia, with her extravagance and hostility towards her mother, also caused her a lot of grief. The daughter broke up with her husband and went on a spree, demanding that her mother pay her debts. Dashkova E.R. depressed and sometimes the thought of death comes to her, but religion saves her.

Immediately after the death of the empress, by order of the new emperor Pavel, Dashkov was exiled to the distant poor village of her husband in the Novgorod province. The governor of Moscow gave her Paul’s order: “to think in exile about what she did in 1762.” Without resisting, the half-ill Dashkova in 1796, on the orders of Emperor Paul, went into exile in the winter frosts to while away her days in a peasant hut, devoid of amenities.

After some time, Dashkova turned to Empress Maria Feodorovna with a request to spare the sick, unfortunate woman. The Empress, taking pity on her, turned to Paul I. The first time he categorically refused to pardon Dashkova, and only the second time, at the request of her son Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov, he allowed Dashkova to settle on the estate of the Kaluga province in 1798. Soon, Prince Dashkov stood up for his officer, for which he fell out of favor with the emperor, but his son’s fall, fortunately, did not affect the fate of his mother. Dashkova's disgrace lasted until 1801.

Having come to power, Alexander I invited Dashkova to return to St. Petersburg, but she, thanking the emperor, refused, saying that “her time had passed, and her health did not allow it.”

In the Kaluga province, she devoted herself entirely to economic activities.

Back in 1794, in her memoirs, she tries to show her historical place in Russia, her human qualities and virtues, and makes excuses in relation to her children, her daughter-in-law, abandoned by her son. During her son’s life, Dashkova did not recognize this unequal marriage, and only after her son’s death in 1807 did Dashkova reconcile herself. A touching meeting took place between two unfortunate women, and they burst into tears from the grief of loss.

The son had no children and Dashkova found an heir from the Vorontsov family - Ivan Illarionovich (1790-1854), a great-nephew, whom she took care of from birth.

Ivan Illarionovich was the only son of his parents and, after the early death of his father, he was raised by his mother Irina Ivanovna Izmailova. Thanks to his mother and the influence of the famous aunt E.R. Dashkova, he received an excellent European education. From birth, Dashkova, literally, stood at his font, was friendly with Irina Ivanovna, and the personal qualities of her godson captivated her forever.

Therefore, finding herself without an heir after the death of her son Pavel, Dashkova made a choice: it was her great-nephew who was worthy to bear the name Dashkova.

With the permission of Emperor Alexander I, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova appointed an heir for herself in 1807 and bequeathed all possessions and the surname Vorontsov-Dashkov to her godson Ivan Illarionovich Vorontsov.

Thus, since 1807, a new dynasty of counts Vorontsov-Dashkov appeared, who faithfully served the fatherland and continued the traditions of the famous Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, engaged in education. The childless daughter Anastasia was deprived of her inheritance during her mother’s lifetime, and she was assigned only a lifetime annual pension, which she received from the heir.

(E. Dashkova’s estate. Trinity Church)

In recent years, Dashkova lived on the Troitsky estate, surrounded by her assistants and peasants. On the advice of her friend Kate Hamilton, Mary Wilmot came to stay with Ekaterina Romanovna and lived in Russia for five whole years.

Getting from St. Petersburg to the Troitskoye estate, she heard a lot of terrible gossip about the character and inappropriate behavior of Ekaterina Romanovna. Tyranny, stinginess, gloominess and other qualities did not fit with Hamilton’s romantic ideas about a young heroine galloping with a saber in front of the army. Arriving at the princess's estate, she saw a woman with a pleasant face, open and intelligent, dressed in a black dress and with a silver Star on her left shoulder. She was affectionate and Mary immediately felt the most ardent love for her. Mary was the last affection of this wonderful and lonely woman; she filled the emptiness of her life.

Dashkova is again full of energy, begins to study Russian and French with Mary, stage plays, make trips to religious places in the Moscow region: Pleshcheyevo Lake, Trinity-Sergius Posad, Rostov-Yaroslavsky, etc.

They attended balls in Moscow, met famous people who respected her, although she differed from all the noble guests in her simplicity of clothing, freshness of face, and lack of jewelry, with the exception of the Star.

Mary is surprised by her tirelessness and variety of activities: building houses, drawings, theater, hospital, greenhouses, increasing her already very large capital, business correspondence, attitude towards religion. Mary noted the contradiction in the princess's habits, commitment to ancient traditions and great interest in everything new.

Dashkova's rich spiritual world and diversity of interests are felt in her letters.

Dashkova began writing her “Notes” in one breath, writing from memory, presenting it quickly, and correcting almost nothing. Her goal was “...not to preserve episodes of her amazing life for posterity, but to show how dangerous it is to sail on the same ship with the powers that be... and how the court atmosphere stifles the development of the most energetic natures...”.

Her memoirs are not a work of history, they are subjective and not even accurate, but they paint a broad picture of Russian reality.

The fate of "Notes".

Mary Wilmot left Russia in 1808 two years before the death of Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova. Dashkova gives Mary, as a souvenir of the happy years spent together on the Trinity estate, the opal of the Swedish Queen, the fan of Catherine II and the main treasure of her life - the manuscript of "Notes". At Russian customs, Mary was obstructed, they were looking for dangerous papers and the manuscript was taken away, but she was consoled by the fact that the copy had prudently already been sent outside Russia.

After Dashkova’s death, Mary, fulfilling the will of her “Russian mother,” prepared the saved copy for printing. But Ekaterina Romanovna’s brother Semyon Romanovich Dashkov prevents her. He did not want to allow the appearance of a book that described the behind-the-scenes details of the coup, discussed the problems of serfdom and other issues that had not lost their urgency during the reign of Alexander I.

Therefore, the first edition in English appeared only in 1840. Herzen A.I. became the godfather of the Russian translation of the Notes, which with his preface were published in 1859. Herzen called E.R. Dashkov as his favorite, saying:

"What a woman! What a strong and rich existence!"

Now these documents are being handled by a descendant of Dashkova’s heir, professor of Russian literature, Count Vorontsov-Dashkov Alexander Illarionovich (1945), living in the USA (Virginia).

Who was she, this woman who led the country's largest scientific institutions for more than eleven years?

Writer. She writes plays, poems, articles, memoirs - "Notes", and translates. Herzen, an admirer and biographer of Dashkova, calls the “Notes” a document extremely important for the study of the 18th century.

Connoisseur of the arts. Her judgments about architectural monuments and works of art are striking in their accuracy and depth.

Teacher. She is familiar with many achievements of pedagogical science, adheres to progressive views on issues of education professed by enlightenment philosophers, and is developing a new education system.

Philologist. On her initiative, the first explanatory dictionary of the Russian language is being published. She participates in its compilation and takes upon herself the explanation of concepts related to morality, politics and government.

Editor. Under her leadership, the magazine “Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word” is published, in which she attracts many talented writers to participate. Dobrolyubov dedicates his first research to “The Interlocutor”.

Naturalist. During her travels, she compiles a herbarium and a collection of minerals. She studies horticulture and grows gardens.

Musician. She is fond of folk songs, sings beautifully, and tries, and successfully, her strengths in composition.

Surgeon. With a lancet in her hands, she saves a man from death.

“Not only have I never seen such a creature, but I have never heard of such a thing,” her guest Mary Wilmot writes about Dashkova to her family in Ireland. She teaches masons how to lay walls, helps gardeners make paths, goes to feed cows. She composes music and writes articles. , corrects the priest if he prays wrong. She corrects her household actors when they go astray. She is a doctor, a pharmacist, a paramedic, a blacksmith, a carpenter, a judge, a lawyer..."

DASHKOVA EKATERINA ROMANOVNA

(b. 1743 – d. 1810)

The most educated woman of the 18th century. Made a huge contribution to the organization scientific process in Russia. The only woman in the world, heading two Academies of Sciences. Author of numerous literary translations, articles and “Notes” (1805).

E. R. Dashkova’s contemporaries believed that it was only by an accidental, whimsical mistake of nature that she was born a woman. McCartney's English envoy wrote: "She is a woman of unusual strength of mind, possessed of masculine courage and fortitude, capable of overcoming difficulties that seem insurmountable, a character too dangerous in this country." Like most of her relatives, Ekaterina Romanovna tried to live usefully for the Fatherland. Only among the sedate, reserved Vorontsovs did she stand out for the frenzy of her actions, perhaps because she early recognized herself as a man of action, and the world of science and politics was closed to her. A woman of her intelligence, temperament and organizational gift was looked at not only in Russia, but also in Europe with surprise bordering on misunderstanding.

Ekaterina was born on March 17, 1743 and was the daughter of Count Roman Illarionovich Vorontsov and Marfa Ivanovna Surmilina (Dolgorukaya by her first husband). At two years old she lost her mother, and at four she was virtually left without a family. The father was more willing to indulge in social entertainment than to take care of raising five children. Only the eldest, Alexander, lived with him; Semyon was raised by his grandfather; Maria and Elizabeth, while still children, were taken to the palace and became young ladies-in-waiting. Catherine was raised by her father's brother, Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov, vice-chancellor and later chancellor. His only daughter (the future Countess Stroganova) and niece lived in the same rooms, studied with the same teachers, and even dressed the same. Magnificent house, splendor and luxury, the attention of relatives and the special care shown to her goddaughter by Empress Elizabeth and the heir to the throne Peter, did not turn her into a “carefree butterfly.” A thirst for knowledge and some kind of incomprehensible pride, “mixed with tenderness and sensuality,” forged a strange alloy in Catherine’s character - “the desire to be loved by all the people around her” and to prove to them her originality. By the age of 13, she spoke four languages, was good at drawing, and was good at music. Among her books there was no place for cloyingly sentimental novels; her lively mind was attracted by Bayle, Helvetius, Voltaire, Diderot, Boileau, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and was interested in politics and social order various states.

Perhaps everything would have turned out differently, but, having given the girl a remarkable mind, nature deprived her feminine attractiveness. D. Diderot described Catherine after the meeting as follows: “Not a beauty at all. Small in stature, with an open and high forehead; with full, swollen cheeks, medium-sized eyes that extend somewhat under the forehead, a flat nose, a wide mouth, thick lips, a round and straight neck - she is far from charming; there is a lot of life in her movements, but not grace.” Having fallen madly in love with the handsome lieutenant, Prince Mikhail Ivanovich Dashkov, Catherine managed to “take him prisoner.” At one of the balls, when he was showered with compliments for the sake of decency, she told her uncle-chancellor passing by that the young man was asking for her hand. In May 1759 their wedding took place. The young wife often had to turn a blind eye to her husband’s social affairs, but she considered her marriage happy.

The Dashkov couple settled in Moscow. Her husband’s relatives liked Ekaterina, but it turned out that she practically couldn’t communicate with them because... she didn’t know Russian. With her characteristic energy, she soon mastered her native language, which was very useful to her later. Dashkova's life away from the court proceeded quietly and modestly - her beloved husband, books, music and everyday everyday problems of caring for her children, Anastasia and Mikhail, replaced her with society.

In July 1761, leaving their growing children with their mother-in-law, the Dashkovs returned to St. Petersburg. Ekaterina Romanovna renewed her friendship with Grand Duchess Ekaterina. Only in her did she see the future enlightened monarch and therefore was actively involved in the preparation palace coup. From her “Notes,” Dashkova appears to be almost the head of the conspirators. But numerous historical sources indicate that her role was more showy than significant. Due to her young age (she was only 19), the conspirators tried not to involve her in their plans. But the proud, vain princess, aware of her mental superiority, acted independently, winning over the flower of high society to Catherine’s side. She even went into confrontation with the Vorontsov family, who stood on the side of Peter III.

On July 28, 1762 - the day of the coup - Dashkova did not leave her “good friend”. These were best watch in her life. Imagine her disappointment when, expecting honors and glory, she was not particularly noted in the distribution of awards. The princess's dreams are to become an associate and confidante of the Empress, to receive the rank of colonel of the guard and a place in the meeting of the highest state council did not come true. Catherine II did not even allow the thought that such an energetic, intelligent and daring person could stand next to her. She was going to reign alone and did not long tolerate her friend in the palace, forgetting about subordination, allowing herself “immodest freedom of language, reaching the point of threats.” According to Diderot, only the birth of his son Pavel in May 1763 and a long illness far from the court saved Dashkova from arrest.

There was no place for the princess next to the empress. And then the hope for a happy one collapsed family hearth. My husband died during the military campaign against Poland. The disgraced 20-year-old widow took up the task of restoring the neglected farm. Her economy bordered on stinginess. The proud princess did not hesitate to graciously ask for help from the Empress and Potemkin, with whom she was in wonderful relationship. Without selling an inch of family land, she soon paid off her husband’s debts and at the end of 1769, under the name of Mrs. Mikhailova, she went on a trip to Europe with her daughter Anastasia and son Pavel (son Mikhail died in the fall of 1762). The princess failed to remain incognito. In Berlin, Emperor Frederick II insisted on meeting with Dashkova “under any name”; she was received with special honor at Oxford, and in Paris she communicated with Diderot. Famous philosopher noted that “her way of thinking reveals firmness, height, courage and pride. The princess loves the arts, knows the people and needs of her fatherland. She sincerely hates despotism and all manifestations of tyranny. Accurately and fairly reveals the advantages and disadvantages of the new institutions.”

Dashkova filled her days to the limit - universities, libraries, museums, churches, workshops of famous artists and offices of scientists and thinkers. Her views, intelligence, and energy aroused surprise and respect in Europe. But, returning to Russia, Dashkova became convinced that the empress had not replaced her anger with mercy and had nowhere to apply her knowledge and strength. Ekaterina Romanovna began translating serious works of Helvetius and Diderot, wrote on social and philosophical topics under the pseudonyms “Russian” and “Noble Russian”. She directed all her energy towards the children. The princess developed a whole system of education and training. The intensity of training to which she condemned her son was to create a man of encyclopedic knowledge. At the age of 13, Pavel was admitted to the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), the best in Europe at that time, and three years later received a Master of Arts degree. The mother was proud of her son. 1776–1782 she spent time abroad to observe his development, and to complete Paul's education she undertook an extended trip to Europe. But the young man seemed to be “poisoned” with knowledge. Dashkova failed to create a “new person,” and the moral character of her son and daughter subsequently forced her mother to endure ridicule from others more than once and ultimately led to a break with her children.

But the second trip abroad brought the princess European recognition for herself. The best representatives of science and culture spoke with respect about Dashkova. She was valued as an art connoisseur. Musical works, written by Ekaterina Romanovna, had great success in England. The princess was interested in mineralogy (she donated her famous collection of minerals, valued at 50 thousand rubles, to Moscow University), astronomy, cartography, economics, politics and, of course, literature. Catherine II, who was known in Europe as the patroness of the sciences and arts, unexpectedly invited Dashkova to head the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1783). Its president K.G. Razumovsky did not interfere in the activities of the institution, and the princess actually fulfilled his duties.

Ekaterina Romanovna did not make any discoveries in science, but her organizational abilities and sober assessment of her activities turned the Academy of Sciences from a “gathering of famous scientists” into a “complex factory of scientific products.” Communication with leading European experts allowed her to impartially highlight and promote the work of world-class scientists such as Leonhard Euler.

Having put her finances and work process in order, Dashkova began organizing scientific and educational activities: she opened public courses at the academy, and resumed the work of the printing house and publishing house. Grouped around her recognized masters Russian literature: G. R. Derzhavin, D. I. Fonvizin, M. M. Kheraskov, Ya. B. Knyazhnin, V. V. Kapnist and others. Literary and social magazines “Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word” and “New Monthly Works” "were extremely popular. Under her supervision, the publication of written monuments on the history of Russia was continued, 43 parts of the collection “Russian Beat” were published, and the publication began full meeting works by M. V. Lomonosov.

As a patriot of her homeland, Dashkova tried to transform the academy, suffering from dominance German specialists, to the institution of Russian science. She introduced three new courses - mathematics, geography, natural history, – which were read by Russian professors at native language and free for listeners.

The princess's energy supported creative and scientific quests. “It seems to me,” wrote E. Vilmont, one of the daughters English girlfriend Dashkova - that she would most likely be at the helm of the government, either as the commander-in-chief of the army, or as the chief administrator of the empire. She is positively born for business in large sizes…” Ekaterina Romanovna needed a wide field of activity, only then did she feel in demand. At one of the meetings with the empress, the princess proposed the establishment of the Russian Academy of Sciences and from September 1783 she became its president. “The main subject of the Russian Academy should be the enrichment and purification of the Russian language and the dissemination of verbal sciences in the state,” is written in the charter it prepared. This was also served by the work of prominent scientists and writers, organized by Dashkova, to create the first Russian explanatory dictionary (“Dictionary of the Russian Academy” in 6 volumes, 1789–1795), which included 43,257 words. Ekaterina Romanovna herself wrote several definitions and selected more than 700 words starting with the letters “c”, “w”, “sch”.

For the head of two Russian academies there were no small matters. She spoiled the architect’s nerves during the construction of the new academy building, and selectively selected young men for training, expelling famous blockheads. And despite all the meager funds allocated under Dashkova, an “era of prosperity” reigned in the Academy of Sciences. But the princess’s tactlessness, quarrelsomeness, and unrestrained speeches led to confrontation with those around her and contributed to the deterioration of relations with the empress. This hit Dashkova’s excessive pride hard, and her ebullient forces began to betray her.

At 51, Ekaterina Romanovna looked like a decrepit, masculine old woman. Loneliness was especially painful for her. The children did not live up to expectations. Son Pavel did not make a fast career, although thanks to his mother’s efforts he received the rank of lieutenant colonel. The princess could not forgive him for trampling on the greatness of the aristocratic Vorontsov-Dashkov families: without her consent, he married the daughter of the merchant Alferov for love and was happy with this simple woman. The behavior of daughter Anastasia also did not please the princess. She took after her mother in unenviable appearance, and besides, she was hunchbacked and stupid. When she was only 15 years old, Dashkova hastily married her to the weak-willed alcoholic Shcherbin. The son-in-law led a dissolute life abroad, and the daughter, even living next to her mother, constantly fell into scandalous stories, and then ran away to her unlucky husband.

Broken by the troubles, Dashkova was forced to ask for leave, which, after Paul’s accession to the throne, turned into resignation, and then into exile in a remote Novgorod village. This forced rest for an active and sensitive woman became a real disaster. Ekaterina Romanovna was on the verge of suicide. Emperor Alexander returned her complete freedom, but she was unable to find herself at the “young court.”

Dashkova lived alternately in Moscow and on her Trinity estate. In society they treated her with respect, but they were afraid of her mocking and sharp mind. The princess was tormented by illness, she felt the constant need for friendly participation. Therefore, Dashkova had deep sympathy for the sisters K. and M. Vilmont. She even wanted to adopt Mary. At the urgent request of this girl, who shared her loneliness, Ekaterina Romanovna wrote “Notes” (1805) - a wonderful monument to the history of Russian culture, which reflected not only the multifaceted activities of an extraordinary woman, but also her life full of drama.

Fate was cruel to the old princess. In January 1807, her son died. They lived nearby in Moscow, but did not communicate. The scandal over the inheritance that Anastasia created at the funeral completely quarreled Dashkova with her daughter, but reconciled with her daughter-in-law. In June she left her “Russian mother” and Mary. Sadness and loneliness have become our lot recent years the life of this extraordinarily gifted but only partially realized woman. E. R. Dashkova died on January 4, 1810 and was modestly buried in Troitsky.