Biography
Sergei Saltykov entered the history of Russia as the first favorite of Catherine II Great and, possibly, the real father of Paul I. The man played a significant role in the life of the Empress, however, the Fler Saltykov and to this day sheaven's mystery. The biography of the Favorite seems to be on arrival at the yard - and ends at that moment when he ceases to be Catherine is interesting.Childhood and youth
Early years Sergey Saltykov is little reflected in historical documents. His father is considered to be General-Annef Vasily Fedorovich Saltykov, a man with a severe fate and a difficult personal life. Few preserved certificates indicate that his character was heavy.
![Vasily Fedorovich Saltykov, Father Sergey Saltykov Vasily Fedorovich Saltykov, Father Sergey Saltykov](/userfiles/126/14020_1.webp)
There is no accurate information about the mother of the favorite. In the documents it is indicated that it was Marya Alekseevna Golitsyn, allegedly approximate Queen Elizabeth. However, the existence of this woman was not recorded in any documents, except for the only letter of Vasily Adadurova, from which it follows that it was stats-lady and there was a royal family of a long-relative.
There were still no official evidence of the presence of children from Vasily Saltykov. As for Maryia Saltykova - a woman could not find even on the genealogical tree of Golitsyn. No information about the childhood and adolescence of the future favorite was found. About how he was a child remains only to guess.
Career
The history of Saltykova begins directly at the court, to which the man arrives in the position of Chamber of the Heir to the throne, Peter III. Perhaps the reason for this beginning of court life lies in maternal ties. Already by 1752, a small yard lies at the legs of a young, beautiful and charismatic nobleman. He was adored by Freillins, and the heir, until the king, and the Grand Duke, makes Saltykov his confidant. The result of such a career was the abundance of rumors, which forced Sergey in a year to serve in Moscow.
![Peter III and Catherine II Peter III and Catherine II](/userfiles/126/14020_2.webp)
Before Elizabeth, Peter III himself asked for Saltykov, which indicates the highest level of confidence in the future emperor. After Sergey Vasilyevich returned to the yard, he quickly became close to Catherine. Events developed so rapidly that there are suspicions, do not eat the man with his wife Paul, in order to get the throne.
The fact is that Peter III in the role of her husband was specific and did not want to fulfill marital debt for a long time. Military games and soldiers were interested in the future emperor much more than a young wife. Perhaps intimate relations in the venance pair was not at all throughout the entire marriage.
![Sergey Saltykov and Catherine II Sergey Saltykov and Catherine II](/userfiles/126/14020_3.webp)
In any case, the love relationship between Sergey and Catherine Great began on the initiative of the man. The future empress was too young and fulfilled his own dignity in order to immediately begin to change the spouse. However, the young one was delighted with her - he was a smart, well, and comprehensively educated. With the feelings of Catherine tried to cope six months. Then Peter, perhaps, not without the help of Elizabeth, became interested in another woman. So besides your own attraction, the motive of Catherine began to revenge with an unfaithful husband.
The personal life of the heir to the throne was difficult to call exemplary. Having healed after a certain operation (possibly circumcision), from male littleness, the Grand Duke changed the Favorite. During this period, his beloved was Elizabeth Vorontsov, which surprised the courtiers - the woman was considered extremely unattractive, although not devoid of mind.
![Elizabeth Vorontsova Elizabeth Vorontsova](/userfiles/126/14020_4.webp)
Catherine also no longer particularly hidden the presence of a novel on the side. By December 1752, she was pregnant, but the case ended with miscarriage. Repeated pregnancy did not make himself wait, and in September 1754, Pavel Petrovich appears, the future emperor Paul I. On probable paternity of Saltykov, not only rumors, but also portraits - the similarity of the favorite with the emperor obviously. Peter's doubts were so great that in their manifesto he not only did not designate his son the heir, but did not mention at all.
![Sergey Saltykov and Paul I Sergey Saltykov and Paul I](/userfiles/126/14020_5.webp)
Saltykov at this time begins a diplomatic career, departing as a messenger first in Sweden and then to Hamburg. With Catherine, they during this period led an extensive correspondence. She continued to favor a man, and in Cerbst it was waiting for a very warm welcome - Catherine provided a diplomat with recommendations.
To be a favorite of Catherine, who became an empress, he did not happen. A month after the promotion of a woman for the throne Saltykov issued 10 thousand rubles. And sent to Paris to the authorized minister. It was not enough to sense from this - for this post a man was too frivolous. Stay in Paris ended with debts and a stream of complaints on the minister.
In 1763, Sergei Vasilyevich appointed a position to Regensburg, but in the spring of 1764 to offer Saltykov to Dresden, instead of Simolin, Empress responds to condescendingly and ironically, calling the former favorite "Fifth Wheel".
On this, official information about Saltykov is broken.
Personal life
In 24, Sergey Vasilyevich married Freilline Matrene Pavlovna Balk, this marriage was the only one in his life. The wife of the diplomat was obviously pious and sacrificed a lot of money to the Assumption Cathedral. There is no information about the presence of a pair of children. Spouse Saltykova died in 1813, while in his home in Moscow. Lane, near which this house was standing, named Saltykovsky.
![Matrain Pavlovna Balk, wife Sergey Saltykov Matrain Pavlovna Balk, wife Sergey Saltykov](/userfiles/126/14020_6.webp)
Contrary to mutual rumors, to Darius Saltykova, the infamous Saltychikha, Sergey Vasilyevich, has nothing to do anything. The woman belonged to the nature of Saltykov through the spouse and the blood relative was not. The nobleman did not take any participation in the fate and the death of Saltychikha and did not interest her in any way.
Death
The circumstances of death are specifically unknown. According to rumors, being an older person, he went to Paris and disappeared during the revolution. There are guesses that Saltykov still survived to the top of Paul I and, perhaps, he was familiar with him. The cause of death has not been specified anywhere.
![Portrait of Sergey Saltykov Portrait of Sergey Saltykov](/userfiles/126/14020_7.webp)
As a year of death, Sergey Vasilyevich is mentioned in 1807, but for the accuracy of these information, no one can vouch.
Memory
- 2014 - "Ekaterina" (TV series), actor Rinal Mughametov
- 2015 - "Great" (TV series), actor Ilya Soskov
- 2018 - "Bloody Baryna" (TV series), actor Peter Rykov