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Birth of Alexei F. Orlov, eminent statesman and military leader of Nikolai’s age
8 (19) October 1786 was born eminent Russian statesman, General of Cavalry, Count Alexei F. Orlov.
Alexei Fyodorovich was the illegitimate son of Fyodor G. Orlov - renowned figure of Catherine's age. On the personal order of the Empress he was given noble rights and his father's name. Alexei Orlov received a good education at home, which he continued in a French boarding school. In 1801, he joined the Board of Foreign Affairs, and three years later was appointed a cadet in the Life Guards Hussar Regiment and was soon promoted to the rank of cornet. Serving in the regiment, Orlov participated in the wars with France in 1805 and 1806-1807. Having distinguished himself in the famous battle of Austerlitz, he was awarded a gold sword with the inscription "For Bravery".
In 1809, Lieutenant-Captain Orlov entered the service in the Life-Guards Horse Regiment, as a member of which was involved in all the major battles of the Patriotic War of 1812. In the battle of Borodino, he was wounded 7 times and awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class, and of St. George, 4th class for his military merit. As adjutant to heir to the throne, Constantine Pavlovich, Orlov participated in foreign campaigns of the Russian army, and, having distinguished himself in the fighting, was soon promoted to colonel and appointed aide-de-camp of the Emperor Alexander I.
Later on the career of Orlov was rapidly developing: in 1817 he was promoted to Major General, two years later was made the commander of the Life-Guards Horse Regiment; in 1821 Orlov, promoted by that time to Adjutant General, commanded a brigade of the Cuirassier Guards Division keeping the post of the commander of the Horse Regiment. Orlov proved his devotion to the throne during the events of 14 (26) December 1825: he was one of the first to administer the oath to Nicholas I and then attacked resolutely the Decembrists on the Senate Square. As an award, the new emperor granted Orlov with the title of a count.
In 1828 Orlov accompanied the emperor to the operations of the Russo-Turkish War that had just begun, and then, as the commander of the chasseur horse division took part in a series of battles where he had distinguished himself and awarded the golden arms decorated with diamonds. On a commission of the emperor he led talks with Turks which resulted in conclusion in 1829 of the Treaty of Adrianople advantageous for Russia. The culmination of diplomatic success of Orlov was the conclusion of the Treaty of Hunkar Iskelesi with Turkey in 1833 – a treaty of peace, friendship and defensive union of the two states.
In 1836 Orlov became a member of the State Council, then was appointed to the post of the guardian of Cesarevitch Alexander and accompanied him in his travels in Russia and abroad. In 1839 Alexei Feodorovich was awarded the Order of St. Andrew The First Called. In the end of 1830s – early 1840s Orlov was one of the closest people to the emperor and enjoyed the full confidence. In 1844, he replaced the deceased Count A. H. Benkendorf as Chief of the 3rd Department of His Imperial Majesty's office and the chief of the gendarmerie. In this position, Orlov proved himself as an active guardian of the society from Western liberal influence. In the second half of 1840s he was appointed chairman of the Military Schools Board, supreme commander of the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages, chairman of trustees of the prison, and a member of several committees and commissions.
New Emperor Alexander II appointed Orlov chairman of the Russian delegation at the Paris Congress of 1856 which completed the Crimean war. Skillfully negotiating with representatives of the European powers, Alexei Fyodorovich managed to achieve the signing of the agreement on terms acceptable to Russia, minimizing the territorial losses and achieving the rejection of a number of humiliating provisions, originally put forward by the victor countries.
After returning to Russia Orlov, who had been awarded the princely title, took over as chairman of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. The last chapter in the work of Orlov as a statesman was his participation in the preparation of the peasant reform as chairman of the General Committee for review of decisions and assumptions about serfdom. However, Orlov, being a staunch opponent of the liberation of the peasants, directed all efforts to delay the process of the reform.
At the beginning of 1861 failing health forced him to retire from all his posts. Alexei Orlov died on 9 (21) May 1861 in St. Petersburg at the age of 74.
Lit.: Высылка И. С. Тургенева из Петербурга. Два письма гр. А. Ф. Орлова к министру народного просвещения П. А. Ширинскому-Шихматову // Русский Архив. 1894. Кн. 1; Кипянина Н. С. Внешняя политика Николая I // Новая и новейшая история. 2001. № 1, 2; Колпакиди А. И., Север А. М. Спецслужбы Российской Империи. М., 2010; Мнение князя А. Ф. Орлова о крестьянском вопросе // Чтения Имп. Моск. Общества Истории и Древностей Российских. 1872. № 4; Муравьёв-Карский Н. Н. Русские на Босфоре в 1833 году. М., 1869; Три письма графа А. Ф. Орлова к графу А. Х. Бенкендорфу // Русский Архив. 1889. Кн. 2; Шильдер Н. К. Император Николай I, его жизнь и царствование. Т. 1—2. СПб., 1903.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:
Зотов Р. М. Исторические очерки царствования императора Николая I. СПб., 1859;
Татищев С. С. Император Николай и иностранные дворы. СПб., 1889.