Aleksandra von Engelhardt
| Alexandra Branitskaya | |
|---|---|
| Countess Alexandra Branitskaya | |
Aleksandra Branicka
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| Spouse(s) | Franciszek Ksawery Branicki |
| Issue | |
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Titles and styles
Countess
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| Noble family | von Engelhardt |
| Father | Vasilt von Engelhardt |
| Mother | Yelena Marfa Potyomkin |
| Born | 1754 |
| Died | 1838 |
Countess Alexandra Branitskaya née von Engelhardt (Russian: Александра Васильевна Браницкая, 1754–1838), also known as Saneckka and Countess Branicka, was a Russian noble. She was the niece, confidant and likely the lover of Grigory Potyomkin, and the favourite and lady-in-waiting of Catherine the Great.
She was one of the most notable socialites at the Russian Imperial court during the reign of Catherine, and given a position close to a member of the Imperial family.
She was the daughter of Vasily von Engelhardt and his wife Yelena Marfa Potyomkin, and thus the niece of Grigory Potyomkin.
Alexandra was introduced to the Russian court with her five sisters (and her brother) in 1775. They were initially uneducated and ignorant, but was soon given a sophisticated polish and made to be the most favored woman at the Russian court; her sisters were treated almost as if they were a part of the Imperial family, and were to be known as "almost Grand Duchesses" and as the "jewels" and ornaments of the Russian court. Potemkin gave them large dowries and had Catherine appoint them ladies-in-waiting. They were alleged to be the lovers of their uncle, which was one of the most known gossip subjects and scandals of the age. His first mistress among them was Varvara: after her marriage in 1779, Aleksandra was pointed out as her successor.
Alexandra was the oldest of the sisters taken to court. She was described as ignorant and uneducated, but also as intelligent and willful, and with a magnificent and confident manner and a haughty personality which effectively hid her lack of education.
She was also a noted business person: she earned millions by selling timber and wheat. Her marriage was described as harmonious. Her spouse continued to waste their fortune and make huge debts, but this was always very temporary, as she, in parallel, continued to earn millions and thereby paid his debts quickly.
She was described by ambassador Harris as: " a young, very attractive and well-shaped lady, with a superior talent for creating plots"; he added, that she spent a lot of time with Catherine and Potemkin, and that: "unless her uncle changed his attitude toward her, she is likely to become the next female confidante (of Catherine)". She is described as an influential force at the Russian court. She is pointed out as the person who exposed the adultery between the favourite of Catherine, Ivan Rimsky-Korsakov, and Catherine's confidant and lady-in-waiting, Praskovja Bruce, thereby bringing about the fall of both Korsakov and Bruce (1779). She was treated as an "unofficial member of the Imperial family", a rank which was taken for granted until her death. British ambassador Harris reported that she received gifts and presents in exchange for information, and recommended her as an excellent informer, and she functioned as an agent for the British, from whom she received money.
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