Zoubov
Zubov or Zoubov ( Зу́бов ) is a family of Noble S Russian S which took part in the highest businesses of the State in the Années 1790, when Plato Zubov succeeded the count Orlov and to the prince Potemkine as favorites of Catherine II of Russia Catherine II the Large one says.
Origin
Zubov are a former family considered, initially appeared with the service of Duc S Muscovite S with the XV {{E}} century. Nicolas Vasilievich Zubov (1699 - 1786) is used with the Academy as economy, and his/her son Alexandre Nikolayevich Zubov (1727 - 1795) is famous to be himself enriched while being with the service by the vice-governor of Vladimir. He have three girls and four boys, including three, Nicolas, Plato and Valérien were made counts by Catherine II the Large one.
Prince Plato Zubov
Plato Alexandrovich Zubov (November 15th 1767 - April 7th 1822), or von Zuboff , as he prefers being called, is the third wire. It is thanks to a relative moved away, the marshal of infantry Nikolaï Saltykov, which it meets the empress. Saltykov introduces the young person and beautiful officer to the court provided that it helps it in its quarrel with the favorite of long time of Catherine, the prince Potemkine. In August 1789, Catherine writes in Potemkine that it returned to the life after peaceful and long winter " like a mouche" does it;. " Now I feel and merry again " well; , that it adds, while speaking about his/her new friend, " dark and mysterious homme". Catherine informs Potemkine in her following letter thus, " our bébé" , as it calls it, " cry once the access to my room have refusé" to him;. Young following one another lackeys each month in the heart of Catherine, Potemkine do not attach more importance than that to this new connection. Catherine was 60 years old and Zubov only 22, the old courtier could not believe that their relation would last one period of time prolonged.Zubov, however, was arranged to establish a strong influence on the affections and the character of Catherine. In 7 years, it is made count then Reichsfurst, title of nobility appointing the prince of the Saint Germanic Roman Empire, and becomes thus the fourth and last Russian to obtain this title. Died of Potemkine, it succeeds to him as a governor-general of the Novorossiïa or " Russie" news; , a historical zone located now especially on the territory of the Ukraine and the southern part of Russia. Thus Fédor Rostoptchine brings back to Semion Vorontsov the 20 aoùt 1795, " the count Zubov is all here. There is no other desire but it his. Its power is higher than that of Potemkine. It is as irresponsible and incompetent as front, although the empress continues to repeat that it is " the greatest genius which the history of Russia has connue".
During its years of being able, Zubov piled up an enormous fortune. The empress confers to him tens of thousands of Serf S, at the same time the courtiers compete to lavish each one, the most extravagant present to him. In the last years of the reign of Catherine, even the majority of the most futile and unimportant subjects pass through the decision of Zubov. A crowd of beggar " petitioners" piled up in the room to lay down every morning, hopelessly trying to draw the attention of sound Singe of company if not him even, while the general old men prepared his Café. The secretaries of Zubovs them grew rich on the pot-with wine which the petitioners gave. They all were regarded as singularly inefficient in the businesses of State, but with the moin one of them remains in the posterity, the Spanish Jose De Ribas, as a founder of Odessa.
The character of Zubov is capricious and unstable. Alexandre Souvorov and Denis Fonvizine is under his protection, but it is indicated as being the instigator of the persecution of Alexandre Radischev and Nikolaï Novikov. It does not let appear any regards towards the heir to the crown Tsesarevich Paul, the Paul future Ist As much expected it, the death of Catherine brings it at the edge of the Folie. During 10 days, it hides in the house of his Olga sister. The eleventh day, the emperor Paul I {{er}}, visits him, drinks with its health and " wishes him; as many years of prosperity than there are drops in a vase" . Nevertheless, it is dispossessed of its provinces, statement of all its functions and it is strongly advised to him to go abroad.
During the reign of Paul, Zubov travels in Europe, where it is shown like a curiosity. To Teplitz it falls in love with the countess with the Rock-Aimont, then is proposed with the princess of Courlande which refuses. After obscure a Duel, where it refuses to take there share and which results from its assistance to kill the cousin of the king of France Louis XVI, the Knight of Saxony, Zubov withdraws himself in his Palais Rundāle drawn by the architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli located in Courlande, formerly seat of the duke which claimed to belong to the dynasty of the Biron, Ernst Johann von Biron. He completely finished his life withdrawn of the world, with for only contact his serfs whom he treats without pity. Its young widow, Thekla Walentinowicz, the girl of a local landowner, remarie with the count Shuvalov, and of this fact introduce the vast domains of Zubov into the family Chouvalov.
Count Valérien Zoubov
Zubovs under Paul and Alexandre Ier
The older brothers of Plato, Nicolas (1763 - 1805) and Dimitri (1764 - 1836), are made generals when their family is with the capacity. Nicolas was used in the army as Souvorov, supports the marshal of infantry in his intrigues against Potemkine and marrie with his only daughter, illustrates it Suvorochka (1775 - 1844), whose their line always exists until now.Nicholas Zubov is implied in the Conspiration driving with the Assassinat of the emperor of Russia Paul I {{er}}, which one says that the proper sister of Nicholas Olga Zherebtsova (1766 - 1849) was the inspirer. The count Piotr Alekseevitch Pahlen and other conspirators met and discussed the plans in its residence. Some maintain that it adapted the funds passing by it that the British government intended to the conspirators. She flees in England to escape anger from Alexandre I {{er}}, wire of Paul, where she becomes the mistress of the prince regent and gave rise to a natural son, named George North, name of alleged sound royal father.
In the years of decline of her life, the sister of Plato turns over to the Russian capital, where it tries to influence the political matters through her son-in-law, the prince Aleksey Orlov. In the Years 1840, it made knowledge with Alexandre Herzen, a writer and thinker, " father of the Socialism russe" , which will point out its opinions and its character with admiration in its Mémoires " My past and pensées" , " My Past and Thoughts ":
" Like has tree in winter, she maintained the linear outline off her boughs after the leaves had fallen off and the scraggy bare branches had been pinched with cold, all the more clearly demonstrating her magnificent stature, her daring bulk, and the trunk, though white with frost, still stalking lordly and sulkily and braving every tempest and gust ".