Biography
Ekaterina Nelidova was from the family of a poor nobleman, but the origin did not prevent her to take a place at the courtyard of the emperor. Easy character and cheerful knife helped a girl to conquer Paul I and get the status of his favorite.Childhood and youth
Ekaterina Ivanovna Nelidova was born 12 (24) December in the village of Clematino Smolensk province. According to various sources, the year of the girl's appearance is varied from 1756 to 1758. Katya was a daughter of a poor lieutenant Ivan Dmitrievich and grew in a large family.
In the hope of giving daughter the best future mother sent the girl to the newly opened Smolny Institute, which was the brainchild of Catherine II. Little Kate easily managed to conquer teachers with natural grace and a dance gift.
Contemporaries described Nelidov as a fun, bright, but ugly appearance and failed growth. However, in the portrait of Dmitry Levitsky's brush, it is depicted as a pretty miniature girl. The picture was created on behalf of the Great Empress after the student Smolny flashed in the role of Serbina in the formulation of the "Mother's Mother". To this image, Alexey Rzhevsky dedicated verse published in the local newspaper.
Activity at the courtyard
After the release from the Katya Institute, awards with the Venenine Catherine II was awarded and was pressed as Freillina to Princess Natalia Alekseevna - a spouse of the Senior Son of the Russian Empress. When Zesarevna died, Nelidova moved to the second wife of the heir to the throne of Maria Fedorovna.A focusing and brisk girl easily was able to win the location of the future emperor and soon earned the status of Paul's favorite I. The young man was not happy in marriage and did not find general those for conversations with his wife, but with Katya he could talk about everything. Nelidova managed to cope with the difficult challenge of Cesarevich, and she took over the mission to guard and defend him.
According to contemporaries, relations between young people had a platonic character. The emperor himself wrote about the tender friendship between him and the favorite. Maria Fedorovna initially did not prevent her husband's communication with his Freillan, recognizing the spiritual nature of communication, but then considered a rival in the girl. Katya has a life in the court, and she simplified the empress to allow her to settle in the Smolny monastery.
After the death of Mother Paul climbed the throne and immediately appointed Nelidov Camera Freilina. It was no less favorable to relatives of the favorite, giving them military ranks. The ruler has repeatedly sent expensive gifts in Catherine, but she did not want to take them, calling them, and not pleasant.
During this period, the influence of Kati on the ruler was becoming stronger. She could openly express her opinion on the actions of a man, not afraid to cause his anger. The woman was guided exclusively noble motives and often as a kindness of souvenous asked Paul to change the anger to grace in relation to innocent and dear people. It was under the influence of a non-class emperor refused to destroy the Order of George Victorious.
The actions of Catherine allowed her to earn respect for the courtiers, but it did not save it from intrigue. Wanting to get the location of the emperor, Ivan Kutaisov sucks him in Favoritus Anna Lopukhin. Under their influence, Paul began to treat his wife badly, and when Nelidova was standing for her, then the ruler fell into disgrace.
Then the woman decided to return to Smolny. After her departure, there was no one to pacify the temper of the emperor, and he did not bother to arrest and punish those who caused the slightest suspicion of infidelity. Maria Fedorovna was saddened by a discharge in the relationship of a spouse with a former favorite, since he lost the only faithful friend in the face of Nelidova. She even tried to reconcile them, but did not have time, since Paul was killed.
The death of the ruler shook Katya, which at once aged for several years. She tried to support the empress, who could no longer do without her tips and instructions. Soon Maria Fedorovna went after his spouse.
Personal life
On the personal life of Nelidova knows little. Being the favorite of the emperor, Katya never married, did not give birth to children.
The woman brought up her niece Alexander, who replaced her daughter. The will of the fate of another niece Catherine Varvara became camera-free and alleged mistress of Nicholas I, the youngest son Paul I.
Death
The last years of life a woman spent in Smolny, where he met old age. Freulin died forgotten on January 2, 1839, the cause of death is unknown. Nelidova's grave is located on the Baby Cemetery.
The image of the emperor favorite was used in the TV series "Catherine. Implanting, "based on the biography of Catherine Great. The drama shows the Relations of Freilina with Pavel Petrovich. Youth Katu played actress Diana Milyutin.
Also already matured Nelidov is mentioned in the "Union of Salvation" film, which reveals the history of the Decembrist uprising. A woman embodied Larisa Male.