Beauty in Russian: 7 famous secular lionesses who shone in tsarist Russia

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

At different times, there were their own ideals of perfection and beauty, and in Russia in tsarist times there were always many completely charming women who were able to conquer not only with their external data, but also with their mind, upbringing and manners. Today, such girls are called secular lionesses, and in today's review we suggest recalling the most famous secular lionesses of the times of tsarist Russia.

Ekaterina Bagration (1783 - 1857)

She was married by order and demand of Paul I to General Peter Bagration at the age of 18. The emperor took pleasure when he arranged the fate of his subordinates, but Ekaterina Bagration (nee Countess Skavronskaya) was not at all going to put up with the fate of the submissive wife of her unloved spouse. She left her husband and went to conquer new heights. She moved from one European capital to another, earning the nickname "the wandering princess." However, for her love of translucent white outfits, she was called a "naked angel", and for her excessive fascination with men - a "white cat". Surely, she was quite happy, conquering men's hearts.

True, her female fate did not work out. Catherine Bagration in 1810 gave birth to a daughter from an Austrian minister, after which she changed several lovers, among whom were princes, ministers and even Alexander I. She married the second time to the English General Howden, but he very quickly cooled down to her wife, whose beauty began wither by then, and left Catherine to live alone.

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

Avdotya Chernysheva (1693 - 1747)

She was brought up at court from childhood and was able to attract the attention of Peter the Great. But the daughter of the impoverished noblemen Rzhevsky did not limit herself to relationships with just one lover. The tsar married the beauty to his own orderly Grigory Chernyshev, but neither marriage nor the birth of children forced her to moderate her ardor.

When Anna Ioanovna ascended the throne, Avdotya Chernyshova became one of the Empress's favorites for her ability to entertain her with news stories and all sorts of funny stories. And even under Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna, she did not lose her influence, she was able to achieve count status for her husband and retired, only becoming a widow in 1745.

Maria Naryshkina (1779 - 1854)

Catherine II was involved in the arrangement of the fate of Maria Svyatopolk-Chetvertinskaya, she also married the young maid of honor to the Chief Jägermeister Dmitry Naryshkin. With her beauty and natural grace, Maria Naryshkina won the heart of Tsarevich Alexander Pavlovich, widely known for his weakness for female beauty. She became the most brilliant favorite of Alexander I, and their love affair lasted for 15 years and was severed at the initiative of a secular beauty. On her account there were several more conquered male hearts.

READ ALSO: Shy or femme fatale? Maria Naryshkina: the most brilliant favorite of Alexander I >>

Daria Lieven (1785 - 1857)

She was not only a secular lioness, but also a secret agent of the Russian government in London and Paris, for which she received the nickname "diplomatic Sibyl." Her husband, Christopher Lieven, made a brilliant military career, and the princess herself easily started romances in St. Petersburg. After the transfer of her husband to the diplomatic service, Daria Khristoforovna quickly settled in Europe and was able to bring considerable benefit to the Russian Empire. At the same time, some considered her evil, while others worshiped the courage and ingenuity of a secular lioness.

READ ALSO: Princess Daria Lieven is a Russian spy who seduced the most influential European politicians >>

Zinaida Volkonskaya (1789 - 1862)

She was born in Germany, became the maid of honor of Louise of Prussia and was able to win more than one male heart. After moving to Russia with her husband Nikita Volkonsky, she organized a literary and art salon, captivated Alexander I with her beauty, and the great Pushkin called Zinaida Volkonskaya “the queen of muses and beauty”. She was young, beautiful and talented. Batyushkov, Bruni and Venevitinov fell in love with her at different times, and there were persistent rumors among the people that she brought misfortune to all men in love with her. In the late 1820s she settled in Rome and there she too was able to become an adornment of secular society.

READ ALSO: The fatal "queen of muses and beauty": why Princess Volkonskaya was considered a witch in Russia, and a saint in Italy >>

Sofia Kiselyova (1801 - 1875)

As soon as she appeared at her first ball, 17-year-old Sophia Pototskaya made a splash. This was dedicated to her by Pushkin "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai", and the poet's friend Vyazemsky simply admired the beauty. She could count on the love of her husband Pavel Kiselev, but he very quickly lost interest in his wife, carried away by her younger sister Olga. Sofia broke up with her husband and became a real star, shining in the salons of Vienna and St. Petersburg, Baden-Baden and Nice. However, she lived her age alone, surrounded only by faithful servants.

Julia Samoilova (1803 - 1875)

The daughter of General Palen became the wife of Nikolai Samoilov in 1825, but their family life did not work out from the very beginning, especially since the 24-year-old count was in love with another, against whose marriage his mother protested. However, two years later, the couple peacefully parted, and Julia soon left for Milan and began to shine in society, surrounding herself invariably with creative people. Her acquaintance with Karl Bryullov, an affair with whom lasted 18 years, became fateful for her. After breaking up with the artist, she was married twice, but lived out her days alone.

Each generation of people creates its own beauty canons. In the first half of the 20th century, thanks to the advent of accessible photography and cinema, new standards of female attractiveness began to form. Since that time, the media began to create and disseminate stereotyped ideas about what is beautiful and what is not. Therefore, old photographs of actresses, singers and courtesans are all the more valuable because they keep the memory of that femininity and beauty that were not imposed on people from blue screens.