Count Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov

Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov
Count Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov
Born	(1837-05-27)27 May 1837 Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Died	15 January 1916(1916-01-15) (aged 78) Alupka, Russian Empire
Allegiance	Russian Empire
Service/branch	Imperial Russian Army
Years of service	1856–1916
Rank	General of the Cavalry
Commands held	Russian Caucasus Army
Battles/wars	Caucasian War Russo-Turkish War Revolution of 1905 World War I
Awards	see below

Count Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov Илларион Иванович Воронцов-Дашков (27 May 1837 – 15 January 1916) was a notable representative of the Vorontsov family. He served as Minister of Imperial Properties in 1881-97 and the Governor General of the Caucasus Viceroyalty (1801–1917) in 1905-15.

Illarion Vorontsov was born on 27 May 1837 in St. Petersburg. He took part in the conquest of Central Asia in the 1860s and was appointed Major General in 1866. He was in charge of the Hussar regiment of the Leub Guard in 1867-74. He was on friendly terms with the future Alexander III of Russia and, following his father's assassination, established a counter-revolutionary squad, or "holy druzhina", whose members included Konstantin Pobedonostsev, Nicholas Pavlovich Ignatiev, and Mikhail Katkov.

Alexander III put Vorontsov-Dashkov in charge of the imperial court and made him Full General of Cavalry. He also was made responsible for imperial stud farms and vineyards. Following Nicholas II's coronation, he was dislodged from the office of Minister of Imperial Properties but was appointed to the State Council of Imperial Russia instead. The Russian Revolution of 1905 recalled Vorontsov to active service, and he ascended to the helm of the Viceroyalty of the Caucasus.

His job drove him close to a mental breakdown. On 21 November 1905 twenty-five Azeris were shot by Armenians in Tiflis. Illarion was so desperate he gave 500 guns to the Mensheviks to keep the peace.