September 23, 1836
The 83-year-old prince died in Vienna. Andrey Razumovsky — diplomat and philanthropist. "Archduke Andreas."
Was born in Glukhov (now - Sumy region of Ukraine) in 1752. He owed the family’s sharp rise to prominence to his uncle, To Alexey Razumovsky, who was the empress's favorite Elizabeth Petrovna.
Father - the last hetman of the Zaporizhian Host Kirill Razumovsky - created for his children in Petersburg "academy" like a closed lyceum in a separate palace.
Completed home education in Strasbourg university. In 1769, at 17 (already under Catherine II) joined the navy. He took part in the Battle of Chesma and later commanded the frigate Ekaterina.
In 1775, at 23, with the rank of major general, he left military service and transferred to the court.
He was a dandy and a womanizer—his vests alone cost several hundred rubles. He became close to the "young court" thanks to his friendship with the heir to the throne. Pavel (He called him "fidèle et sincère ami"—"faithful and sincere friend"). But he compromised himself with an affair with his first wife and correspondence with foreign countries.
In 1776, he was removed from court by the Empress and exiled from St. Petersburg. But a year later he was appointed ambassador to Naples, where he quickly became a favorite with the Italian queen. In the mid-1780s, he was ambassador to Denmark и Sweden. In 1790, at 38, he was appointed ambassador to Austria - his first wife, the Countess Elisabeth Thun-Hohenstein, was originally from Vienna.
The best thing to do would be to send Andrei Razumovsky there. His wife is a widow and has connections there. His youth has faded, he's been burned many times, even to the point of going bald. (Catherine II to Potemkin)
He was able to renew the treaty between Russia and Austria and participated in the negotiations on the divisions Poland. But he became too close to the Austrian court - even Suvorov asked him to "leave behind Viennese prejudices."
Vienna can never be as knowledgeable in military operations as I am. Don't establish another Hofkriegsrat [court military council in Vienna] (from Suvorov's letters to Razumovsky, 1799)
Eventually, Paul I removed him from office and sent him back to the Russian Empire, Baturin (now Chernihiv region of Ukraine).
Everything distances me from my country, nothing can bind me to it (from Razumovsky's letters to his wife in Vienna)
In 1801 Alexander I restored him to the post of Austrian ambassador. During the Napoleonic Wars, Razumovsky convinced the Austrian government to join the anti-French coalition.
In 1807, after the Peace of Tilsit, he retired. Despite his debts, he lived in Vienna in luxury. To make his travels more convenient, he built himself a stone bridge across the Danube.
Periodically participated in diplomatic missions.
In 1813 he accompanied the Emperor on his campaign in France, conducted peace negotiations.
In 1814-1815, he participated in the Congress of Vienna, which established a new order in Europe after Napoleon's defeat. For this, he was granted the title of prince with the title of Serene Highness, and later the rank of Privy Councilor First Class, a high salary, and various benefits that helped improve his financial situation.
He collected paintings in his gallery, organized musical evenings and maintained a string quartet in which he was the second violinist. He was famous as a patron of the arts and Haydn, Mozart и Beethoven (the latter dedicated the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies to him, as well as “Russian” string quartets based on folk songs).
In Viennese high society, he was half-ironically nicknamed "Erzherzog Andreas" (Archduke was the hereditary title borne by members of the Austrian royal family). According to one version, this was due to his intelligence and refined aristocracy; according to another, it was due to his pride and arrogance.
In 1816 he married for the second time - to a countess Constantine-Dominique Thürheim. And shortly before his death he converted to Catholicism.
