"The Wandering Duchess" and War Hero Bagration: An Unhappy Marriage Blessed by Emperor Paul I

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration is one of the most famous military leaders of Russia. He would have such a life partner as Tatyana Larina in Pushkin's novel "Eugene Onegin", and he, by the will of fate and by the will of the extravagant emperor, will marry the frivolous beauty Ekaterina Skavronskaya. “Ice” and “fire” cannot come together, and their marriage almost from the first days became saturated with falsehood and deception. It's not just that she was nicknamed "the wandering duchess"

Order of Paul I, which destroyed the family happiness of the famous general Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration

Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration is a descendant of an ancient family of Georgian kings. His father, after moving from Tiflis, carried out military service on the defense line along the Terek. Young Peter was brought up and raised in the location of the garrison in Kizlyar, where he began his army career. He did not receive a systemic education, but from his "young nails" he absorbed all the subtleties of the art of war: there is no better school than service in the Caucasus. The accumulated skills and abilities will allow him to later lead the Jaeger Corps, which was, in fact, special forces.

Speed of reaction, decisiveness, courage, courage of strategic and tactical decisions, and at the same time, discretion and attentiveness - all these qualities of Bagration will be highly appreciated by Suvorov and Kutuzov. Both commanders entrusted him with risky military operations, counted on him in the most difficult moments of hostilities or, if necessary, with lightning marches.

Hero of the war of 1812, commander, who went through Suvorov's school and learned his lessons well. His words: "In military service, the first subject is military order, subordination, discipline, unanimity and friendship" - Bagration brought to life, commanding army formations, he was loved in the army, he, like his teacher, took care of the soldiers, the battle not only led the army, but he himself fought like a lion.

His benefactress and distant relative Anna Alexandrovna Golitsyna helped him advance in society. In the light, Bagration behaved prudently and balanced, had surprisingly even relations with everyone, even with the entourage of Paul I, next to whom there were many influential intriguers. And the emperor himself favored the commander, probably for his diligence, excellent order in the units entrusted to him, who showed themselves equally well both on the parade ground and in battle. Bagration was close to the court and often dined in a narrow circle with the emperor himself.

When he first saw his future wife at the ball, Pyotr Ivanovich was struck by her beauty, but he carefully concealed it and looked after other ladies in front of her eyes. The very same Ekaterina Skavronskaya conceived to conquer the heart of Bagration, already famous at that time, which she achieves, immediately after that she loses all interest in him.

The ardent southerner fell into the netted space and could no longer hide his feelings. This was noticed in the light that was brought to the attention of the emperor. The autocrat orders to bring Catherine Skavronskaya to the palace in a wedding dress and to arrive there for Peter Bagration. The wedding ceremony was attended by the Emperor himself and the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, who donated luxurious jewelry to the bride for her wedding dress.

Five years of an unhappy marriage that brought neither heirs nor mutual love to the commander

Ekaterina Skavronskaya Sr., the mother of the bride Bagration was one of Potemkin's favorite nieces, her husband was the plenipotentiary representative in the Kingdom of Naples. Their daughter, Catherine, was a wealthy bride. At the time of meeting with Peter Bagration, she was only 18 years old, and at the same time she was already a special, fatal seducer with the face of an angel, experienced in matters of the heart. A spoiled and capricious beauty, she is accustomed to luxury and life in the thick of events of high society.

He was at that time 35 years old, he was already in the rank of major general and had experience only in military affairs. He was a sincere man and, as they say, a big heart.

The age difference did not matter as much as the difference in their worldview, moreover, the trick of Paul I with this hasty wedding simply destroyed the chances of mutual rapprochement between the newlyweds, which appears only with the natural course of events. The mind and heart of Catherine Skavronskaya will never be occupied with the image of her illustrious husband. Catherine comes up with a legend about her poor health, and after five years of their, conditionally, life together, the spouses finally leave: he goes to war, and she goes to Vienna, ostensibly in order to improve their health.

"An unspoken diplomat", or for what merits did Ekaterina Pavlovna Skavronskaya go down in history as a "wandering duchess"?

Ekaterina Pavlovna travels around Europe, making a splash everywhere with her beauty, luxury of outfits and rich receptions arranged by her, enjoying the attention of fans, including many famous people, including the Prince of Prussia. But, ironically, Skavronskaya herself experienced the most stable feeling for the Austrian diplomat Count Metternich, who was a match for her - he changed the chosen ones with kaleidoscopic speed. Catherine even gave birth to a daughter from him.

The only thing that connected the Bagration spouses at this time, and even then at a distance, was patriotism. Much to her surprise, the capricious coquette found herself in the role of a freelance diplomat, and right under the noses of the French in her salon in Vienna, she was conducting useful negotiations for Russia with various influential persons. She becomes an assistant to the Russian ambassador to Vienna Razumovsky, and Emperor Alexander I calls the charming compatriot "an intimate friend".

One, but fiery passion: what did Peter Bagration do before his death and did the general forgive his wife?

How did Peter Bagration react to the stormy life abroad of his wife? By the nobility of his soul, he sincerely believed that she was really weak in health, and only because of this she was forced to live away from him, and he himself was constantly busy with military affairs, because of which he could not pay due attention to her. And he considered external circumstances to be the reason for their not established family relations.

Shortly before his death, the legendary commander orders a portrait of his wife. Generous, he never held any grudge against her for the fact that he never had the happiness of love and family hearth in his life.

Such a hasty marriage was an exception in the military environment of that time. For many reasons, the military people tried do not rush to get married.