Catherine II, Empress of Russia | Autograph letter signed, to Alexei Orlov, on his defeat of the Turks, 1770

Catherine II, Empress of Russia

Autograph letter signed ('Ekaterina'), to her favourite Alexei Orlov,

in Russian, congratulating him on his defeat of the Turkish fleet at Chesme, sending him a ring to replace the one he had lost “…as soon as I heard that a ring with my portrait was lost by you during the battle, I ordered another one, herewith enclosed…having lost the ring, you won the battle and destroyed the enemy fleet. Having received another, you will win other battles…”, and remarking that his letters reveal his generosity and love of humanity “…we knew it long ago, but now all the world can see it…”; in the lengthy postscript she describes with engaging candour the visit of Prince Henry of Prussia, whom she had found intelligent but “as heavy as a leaden bird on my arm…” and who had spoken highly of Orlov’s glorious feats in battle, 3 pages, 4to, 3 October 1770, with additional leaf containing printed, typed, and manuscript translations of the text into English, small tears to edges, light stain to lower gutter

Personal letters of Catherine the Great are rare. Alexei Orlov was one of the famous Orlov brothers who were instrumental in bringing Catherine to the throne; it was at his estate that her husband Tzar Peter III was murdered in 1762. His brother Gregory was Catherine's recognised chief lover. Written two months after Orlov annihilated a larger Turkish fleet at Chesme, the Empress expresses pleasure at the news of the victory and sends him a ring, a compass and her portrait. Orlov’s victory at the Battle of Chesme was the greatest Ottoman naval defeat for 200 years. It gave the Russians control of the Aegean and triggered a major revolt in Greece against Ottoman rule.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 10 May 1984, lot 244