Alexander Lanskoy

Who was Alexander Lanskoy?

Aleksander Dmitrijevitj Lanskoj, also called Sasjenka was a Russian favourite and the lover of Catherine the Great between 1780 and 1784.

Lanskoj was made aide-de-camp of Grigory Potemkin in 1779 and was introduced by Potemkin to Catherine in 1780. After being "tested" as a lover by Anna Protasova, he became the official lover of Catherine. He was reportedly genuinely in love with Catherine, and their relationship was described as a happy one. He did not involve himself in politics, did not accept bribes or ask for favors or gifts and shared her cultural interests. In 1782, he and Potemkin collaborated to remove Count Orlov from court. He died of diphtheria, but rumors claimed his health had been weakened by aphrodisiacs.