Countess Praskovya Aleksandrovna Bruce (Прасковья Александровна Брюс; née Rumyantseva; 1729–1785) was a Russian lady-in-waiting and noble, confidant of Catherine the Great.
She became the lady-in-waiting of Catherine soon after Catherine's arrival in Russia in 1744 and continued in that position after Catherine's elevation to the throne in 1762. Bruce was described as an attractive woman and as the "right hand" of Catherine. Bruce was called "Brussja" by Catherine, who entrusted her with her most intimate personal affairs. Catherine said that Bruce was "the person to whom I can say everything, without fear of the consequences". Bruce was described as Catherine's closest confidant in her private affairs.
Bruce is best known in history as l'éprouveuse for the role that she allegedly played in Catherine's love life. According to legend, Bruce would "test" any prospective lovers sexually before they became the lovers of Catherine after they had been suggested by Grigory Potemkin, chosen by Catherine and examined by a doctor. The same role has been attributed to Bruce's successor as lady-in-waiting, Anna Protasova. That is unconfirmed, and it is unknown how much truth there is, despite that being a well-reported story in history.
Bruce played an important role in developing the relationship between Catherine and Potemkin, notably as a messenger, and played that role until the relationship was consummated in 1773. Bruce was then given the task persuading Potemkin to leave his exile and enter a relationship with Catherine.
In 1779, Catherine was directed into a room and witnessed her latest lover, Ivan Rimsky-Korsakov, having sex with Bruce. The person who directed her is believed to have been Aleksandra von Engelhardt on the order of Potemkin, who wished for the removal of both Korsakov and Bruce from court. That resulted in the fall of both Korsakov and Bruce. Korsakov was sent in exile to Moscow.
Bruce soon followed him, but the relationship of Bruce and Korsakov soon ended. She returned to her spouse and was dismissed as a lady-in-waiting and replaced by Anna Protasova (1745–1826), the cousin of Alexej Orlov, who is mentioned as l'éprouveuse in the poems of Lord Byron.
Simon Sebag-Montefiore : Potemkin och Katarina den stora (2005)
Marie Tetzlaff : Katarina den stora (1998)
August 26, 2023
praskovya, bruce, countess, praskovya, aleksandrovna, bruce, Прасковья, Александровна, Брюс, née, rumyantseva, 1729, 1785, russian, lady, waiting, noble, confidant, catherine, great, born1729died1785, aged, spouse, count, james, bruceoccupationlady, waiting, c. Countess Praskovya Aleksandrovna Bruce Praskovya Aleksandrovna Bryus nee Rumyantseva 1729 1785 was a Russian lady in waiting and noble confidant of Catherine the Great Praskovya BruceBorn1729Died1785 aged 55 56 Spouse s Count James BruceOccupationLady in waiting Contents 1 Life 2 In popular culture 3 See also 4 ReferencesLife EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Praskovya Bruce news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Countess Praskovya Aleksandrovna Rumyantseva was born into the noble Rumyantsev family she was the sister of Marshal Count Pyotr Rumyantsev and married to Count James Bruce governor of Saint Petersburg She became the lady in waiting of Catherine soon after Catherine s arrival in Russia in 1744 and continued in that position after Catherine s elevation to the throne in 1762 Bruce was described as an attractive woman and as the right hand of Catherine Bruce was called Brussja by Catherine who entrusted her with her most intimate personal affairs Catherine said that Bruce was the person to whom I can say everything without fear of the consequences Bruce was described as Catherine s closest confidant in her private affairs Bruce is best known in history as l eprouveuse for the role that she allegedly played in Catherine s love life According to legend Bruce would test any prospective lovers sexually before they became the lovers of Catherine after they had been suggested by Grigory Potemkin chosen by Catherine and examined by a doctor The same role has been attributed to Bruce s successor as lady in waiting Anna Protasova That is unconfirmed and it is unknown how much truth there is despite that being a well reported story in history Bruce played an important role in developing the relationship between Catherine and Potemkin notably as a messenger and played that role until the relationship was consummated in 1773 Bruce was then given the task persuading Potemkin to leave his exile and enter a relationship with Catherine In 1779 Catherine was directed into a room and witnessed her latest lover Ivan Rimsky Korsakov having sex with Bruce The person who directed her is believed to have been Aleksandra von Engelhardt on the order of Potemkin who wished for the removal of both Korsakov and Bruce from court That resulted in the fall of both Korsakov and Bruce Korsakov was sent in exile to Moscow Bruce soon followed him but the relationship of Bruce and Korsakov soon ended She returned to her spouse and was dismissed as a lady in waiting and replaced by Anna Protasova 1745 1826 the cousin of Alexej Orlov who is mentioned as l eprouveuse in the poems of Lord Byron In popular culture EditBruce is played by Gina McKee in the 2019 TV miniseries Catherine the Great See also EditMaria ChoglokovaReferences EditSimon Sebag Montefiore Potemkin och Katarina den stora 2005 Marie Tetzlaff Katarina den stora 1998 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Praskovya Bruce amp oldid 1165597345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
