https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:52:30 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/644/do-we-adapt-to-our-environment https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/644

Amidst the discussion on idea of our ability to adapt to the environment and "family tree" of all living organisms as proposed by Pallas, unbeknownst to the courtiers then, the Vice-Chancellor's only daughter was suffering from heartbreak after a short-lived fling with aknown womanizer (it's not known who but Knyaz Alexander N. Dolgorukov is suspected). Afterwards, some staff swore they saw her sob silently in the hallway before returning home. Certainly, it wasn't a fling for her!
When someone mentioned her decision to sponsor the poor Smolnyi Institute final years to get higher education in maths & botany, Dashkova seemed most eager to return to the discussion topic. Is she hiding something? Is her sponsorship more than just advancing young girls' education? Regardless of real intentions, she certainly showed herself unable to skillfully "adapt" to court intrigues...
Later on the same day Dashkova's tea salon took place, Tzarevich Pavel eagerly left the capital, feeling a sense of (timed) freedom.
What could await him there? Certainly, meeting his admired relative King Frederick the Great was at the top of things he'd like to do!
NB: Pavel's events will be halted for the duration of his absence from Saint Petersburg until his return announcement.
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]]> Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:33:37 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/642/special-awards-ceremony-savoyard-delegation https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/642

The award ceremony for our newest patron Knyazhna Varvara N. Golitsyna’s courage against her uncle’s alleged crimes certainly attracted a few jealous eyes from other young ladies, but also shone in many bachelors' eyes! Everyone was surprised by the Empress' decision to also take her as a Freylina (Maid of Honour).

The Savoyard Delegation was represented by their Ambassador, half-brother of King of Sardinia - Duc de Chablais. The Empress was very pleased with their gift - a   stomacher brooch that was prepared for her, and was pleasantly surprised how grown and pretty his daughter was.



To celebrate the Savoyard Delegation, the Empress took the Ambassador for the first dance, and all joined in, including Graf Sheremetev who showed possibly signs of affection towards Baryshnya Anna Vorontsova by sharing their first dance!
(more photos)




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]]> Sat, 01 Jun 2019 18:17:57 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/641/well-timed-dinner https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/641

Yet at another whim, Tzarevich Pavel (perhaps like his father once did) decided to make fools out of the court and shut the doors to his apartment at the last minute announcing that there will be no event hosted tonight by him.
Seeing an opportunity, the Shuvalovs hosted dinner later in the day. Yet the biggest surprise was the return of Knyaz Yusupov - the young eligible bachelor who is one of the richest people in the empire! The conversation ranged from military, arts to   sciences and literature, the last of which resulted in a heated discussion between him and Knyaginya Dashkova.


This was only defused by the gracious host and the chaperoned cousin of Dashkova's Anna Vorontsova...


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]]> Wed, 29 May 2019 20:26:11 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/640/spilling-tea-in-knyazhna-golitsynas-tea-salon https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/640

While the hostess, the young Knyazhna Golitsyna, was comfortably “spilling tea” in her own salon, including speculations on the rushed clear out of the late Tzarevna’s apartment, other tensions arose in the Golitsyn stronghold, especially in regards to Knyaginya Golitsyna’s “legendary” singing!
Graf Sheremetev’s close friend and Belossersky noticed a few glances, mostly from Baryshnya Anna towards the Graf, on the other hand...

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]]> Sat, 25 May 2019 17:28:13 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/639/is-it-time-to-move-on https://livinghistoryvw.com/ekaterina-vorontsova-dashkova/blog/639

Since morning and into the evening the palace staff were tirelessly, one could say in a rushed manner, clearing out the late Tzarevna Natalya's things, including her favourite floral painting, her pet Papilon's bed and the portraits of her parents.
Are the apartments expected to be refurbished? Is there a new contestant bride to arrive later this year already?

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The next generation Shuvalovs have made a comeback to the court with a great afternoon of poetry (and much, much gossip) hosted by Grafinya Zinaida Shuvalova! The host seemed not as much touched by the late Tzarevna's passing.
Another comeback has also been made by one of the honorary members of the royal family Baryshnya Varvara von Engelhardt. She seemed quite unsettled when her uncle Grigory Potemkin’s name was ever mentioned. Can she regain the very top of Empress’ favour?

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Abiding Easter traditions, the Easter Feast had to take place, regardless of late Tzarevna's recent death. The conversation was forced by all parties involved, although the Empress tried to lighten the conversation with a fitting toast "for the new beginnings", which didn't sit well with her grieving son.









 





Tzarevich Pavel has just given away his wife's body to the priests to prepare for the funeral and has already gone into mourning. Displeased with his mother and all courtiers, he eventually left.





 









Not half an hour has passed when a guard rushed into the dining hall abruptly interrupting the Empress and hurriedly reported that the heir apparent was ready to jump from his salon's window in desperation and grief. All courtiers panicked and were utterly shocked!





 





The Empress showed signs of panic as well as this was her son still, but could only walk at fast pace followed by all of her subjects from one end to the other end of the palace as she was, still, the Empress of All Russia. 





 





Whilst the Empress and Vitze-Kantzler Golitsyn kept talking to him, thus distracting him, the nearby Grenadyor Dobrynin swiftly grabbed on Tzarevich and pulled him away from the window ending possibly the state's greatest crisis yet! For his heroic action, the Empress will give the man a reward, but for now, he only gets a slap on his face from the emotional wreck that is the future Emperor of Russia...







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The Midnight Service first celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Yet no one can truly be joyous with the latest turn of events. The clergy, all in red, perform the chants and singing, letting the incense smoke fill the chapel hours on end. The Empress, clad in her blue Russian gown, attended, as it abides the monarch to maintain a strong relation with the Russian Church. Her son Pavel, however, was nowhere to be seen, and no one could tell where he was.
Rumours say he has shut himself in his dead wife's bedroom with the corpse. Even on the day she has died the room has been giving off unbearable stench, but now with a corpse in the humid spring days - the thought alone makes one shiver!
Baryshnya Anna Vorontsova was seen sobbing by herself, whilst her chaperon stood before her next to the Empress. Graf Sheremetev couldn’t help but be concerned for her, and, in fact, other ladies who might, indeed, face the same fate.

After completing the lithurgy for the Easter Vigil, the Archbishop gave blessings to each attendant. The Empress was first to do so followed by her subjects, who hoped to progress their own agendas.
People could not ignore the agitation and cold looks the Empress gave to her Vitze-Kantzler Knyaz Golitsyn throughout the night. Before being able to find out why, the Empress promptly left, possibly to check on her grieving son. Does it mean he’s falling from grace?

Trying to pretend that everything is fine, Knyaz Golitsyn consulted with his cousin and the Empress’ confidante Knyaginya Natalya Golitsyna. Yet both were clueless as to why, leaving promptly to scheme their next move.

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5 agonizing days later, the screams stop… But no outcry of a newborn is heard. The Grand Duchess develops high fever and in delusions she has a moment of euphoria before taking final breath. The room is left in a state of complete disarray - the light is dim, the blood around the body has soaked the sheets multiple times over and the stench is unbearable unless you've gotten used to it.

The Ober-Kamerger Knyaz/Prince Golitsyn emerges bearing the bad news - the newborn son suffocated in the womb and the mother is dead. The courtiers lament, whether for the deceased mother or loss of an heir to the Russian throne.

In utter grief, Tzarevich/Grand Duke Pavel refuses to surrender the body for funeral preparations, and he is left alone there for the rest of the day.

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The midwife has several times alarmed the Empress that something was wrong, however, only today were the doctors rushed in to start operating on Tzarevna Natalya.
The doctors, however, report that it is too late as the baby’s head has pushed too much to perform an emergency C-section.
Only a miracle can save the mother and the child now...

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Graf Razumovsky invited several guests to his city residence, including Graf Sheremetev, Protoierei Korshunov, Baryshnya Vorontsova and her chaperon and cousin Knyaginya Dashkova. Family matters, theology, arts and chess, of course, were discussed extensively.
The host seemed flustered with mentions of Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeevna, when prompted by the oblivious Knyaginya Dashkova. He did, however, express that he looks forward to parenthood (and marriage certainly?). The cryptic messages were unsettling - could the rumours of the affair be true then? Could it be that Tzarevich is not the baby's father??
Baryshnya Vorontsova presented herself in the most amicable way possible to boost her marriage prospects, happily accepting Razumovsky's wager. An unusual choice for a lady, yet encouraged by her chaperon Dashkova. Late into the night, the round was left unfinished - who will win?

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