Orlov Family

Categories / Capital/Personalia
ORLOV FAMILY, nobles, counts and princes, known since the 17th century. Brothers Grigory, Vladimir, Alexey and Fedor Orlov took an active part in the take-over of 28 June 1762, which enthroned Empress Catherine II (they were made counts the same year). Grigory Grigorievich Orlov (1734-1783) was Prince (1763), Serene High Prince (1772), a favourite of Empress Catherine II's (1760-72), General en Chef (1764), General Fieldzeichmeister (1765), Director General of Engineers (1765) and Chief of the Cavalier Guard Corp (1762). He was the first owner of the Marble Palace and the Gatchina Grange. The Orlovskie Gates were constructed in Tsarskoe Selo in his honour in 1772. That year, he lost the Empress' sympathies, in 1775, was expelled from the Court. Alexey Grigorievich Orlov (1735 or 1737-1807) was the brightest member of the family. As General en Chef (1769) and participant in the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-74, he was awarded the first rank of the St. George Order. Additionally, he was awarded the honorary title of Chesmensky to his family for the victory over the Turkish fleet in the Chesme sea battle on 24 June 1770. In 1774-75, he captured the Princess Tarakanova and brought her to St. Petersburg; in 1775, he retired. A statue of his figure was placed at the plinth of the monument to Catherine II. Orlovskaya Street in St. Petersburg was named after him, and a marble obelisk was erected in Tsarskoe Selo. Fedor Grigorievich Orlov (1741-96) was General en Chef (1774), Chief Procurator of the Fourth Senate Department (1764-68), a participant in the Russian-Turkish War of 1768. The Chesme Column was built in his honour in Tsarskoe Selo (1776). His illegitimate son, Alexey Fedorovich Orlov (1782-1861, St. Petersburg; legitimised in 1796), was a Count (1825), Prince (1856), Cavalry General (1833), Adjutant General (1820), and an Honorary Member of Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1856). He was the Commander of the Cavalry Life Guards Regiment (1819-28), and participated in the suppression of the Decembrists uprising, for which enjoyed Emperor Nicholas I's favour and confidence. In 1844-56, he was Chief of Gendarmes, Commandant of the Main Imperial Apartment, and the Head of the Third Section of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery. In 1856-61, he was President of the State Assembly of the Cabinet. In 1848-57, he owned the building at 39 Liteiny Avenue (see Pashkov's House), as well as a summer residence in Strelna (a wooden Palace burned down in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45; Orlovsky Park has survived). He was buried at the Holy Annunciation Church of the Cavalry Life Guards Regiment (grave not preserved).

References: Голомбиевский А. А. Биография князя Г. Г. Орлова. М., 1904; Шеремет В. И. Генерал-аншеф А. Г. Орлов: На кону стоял весь европейский политик России // Воен.-ист. журн. 1996. №5. С. 50-60; Кабанов В. В. Орловы: Ист. хроника. М., 1997. M.O. Meltsyn. Catherine II, Empress
Nicholas I, Emperor
Orlov Alexey Fedorovich, Duke
Orlov Alexey Grigorievich, Count
Orlov Fedor Grigorievich, Count
Orlov Grigory Grigorievich, Count
Orlov Vladimir Grigorievich, Count
Pashkov Ivan Vasilievich
the Orlovs
Liteiny Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 39
Orlovskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Голомбиевский А. А. Биография князя Г. Г. Орлова. М., 1904
Кабанов В. В. Орловы: Ист. хроника. М., 1997
Шеремет В. И. Генерал-аншеф А. Г. Орлов: "На кону стоял весь европейский политик России" // Воен.-ист. журн., 1996 Marble Palace
Senate
Russian Academy of Sciences
Cavalry Life Guards Regiment
Third Division
State Assembly
Pashkov House (Liteiny Avenue)