Volkonsky, Mikhail Nikitich

Born in the family of Prince Nikita Fyodorovich Volkonsky and Agrafena Petrovna , nee Bestuzheva , "in the old courtyard outside the Tver gates near the Strastov Monastery in the parish of the Nativity of the Virgin" ^[1] . In childhood, he lived with his grandmother Catherine Ilinichna, urozh. Miloslavskaya. From 1724 he was brought up by his grandfather P. M. Bestuzhev-Ryumin in Kurland.

In 1732 he was enrolled in the Ground gentry corps established by the Empress, where he studied for 4 years. In 1738-1739 fought with the Turks , in 1740 accompanied A.I. Rumyantsev to negotiations in Constantinople . He met the Duke of Holstein ( Peter III ), when he first entered the borders of Russia in 1742.

Detailed information about the service of Volkonsky until 1756 contains a journal compiled by him, kept by his descendants, the princes Golitsyn-Prozorovsky. This valuable historical source was introduced into scientific circulation only in 2004 ^[1] .

Released from the cadet corps as a second lieutenant, in 1749 Volkonsky already bore the rank of colonel. Repeatedly he traveled to Poland “for reconnaissance and secret negotiations with tycoons” ^[1] . During the Seven Years' War, he distinguished himself at Palzig and Kunersdorf . Made in the rank of lieutenant-general on August 18, 1759. Two years later he was appointed commander of troops stationed in Poland. In 1762 in Neumark signed a truce with Prussia.

On the day of the palace revolution of 1762, Lieutenant Colonel of the Horse Guards Volkonsky joined the number of supporters of Catherine , for which he received from her the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky , the title of senator and the rank of chief general. In 1764, he commanded a corps in Poland; in 1767, he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called . In 1769, the newly ambassador to the Commonwealth.

After the Plague Riot in 1771, M. N. Volkonsky was appointed Commander-in-Chief to Moscow. In 1773–1774, during the Pugachev uprising, at the request of Volkonsky, considerable military forces were tightened to Moscow (horseback patrols of the rebels reached Lyuberets ), guns are set up at the residence of the governor. In 1774, Volkonsky was one of the leaders of the general investigation of E. I. Pugachev and his main associates. In 1775 he organized in Moscow famous amusements about the conclusion of peace with Turkey .

From the mother’s brothers, the counts Mikhail Petrovich and Alexei Petrovich Bestuzhev , Prince Volkonsky inherited considerable land ownership. Upon his retirement in 1780, he retired to his estates. He died on December 8, 1788 and was buried in the family tomb - Borovsky Pafnutiev monastery .

In January 1745, Mikhail Volkonsky married Elizabeth Alekseevna Makarova (1725–1782), daughter of A. V. Makarov , cabinet minister Peter I , and Praskovya Yuryevna Ladyzhenskaya. He took her dowry 700 souls and a house in St. Petersburg. Married born:

• Alexander (1745-1748)
• Alexey (born and died 1748)
• Anna (1749-1824), maid of honor, in September 1775 in the presence of the court and the empress was betrothed to Prince P. M. Golitsyn , but in November 1775 he was killed in a duel. In 1780 she became the wife of Prince A. A. Prozorovsky . Since 1801, the state-lady, since 1809, the cavalier lady of the Order of Sts. Catherine first class.
• Peter (1751-1754)
• Maria (1752-1765)
• The lion (1754–1792), the real chamberlain, is childless.
• Pavel (1763-1808), a chamberlain, childless.

Since the sons of Mikhail Nikitich did not leave offspring, his only heir was the daughter Anna and her descendants, the princes Golitsyna-Prozorovskys .

• Volkonsky // Great Russian Encyclopedia / S. L. Kravets. - M .: The Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2006. - T. 5. - P. 637. - ISBN 5852703346 .

• Journal of life and service of Prince Mikhail Nikitich Volkonsky
• Papers of Prince M. N. Volkonsky (1713—1789) // Russian Archive, 1865. - Ed. 2nd - M., 1866. - Stb. 681-722.