I've just finished a fascinating biography of this man (by Simon Sebag Montefiore) and come to the conclusion that this was a character to whom, history has done a disservice. He is certainly worth looking into - a man who was both warrior and humanitarian, the father of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, lover and secret consort to Catherine The Great (she would not have been nearly so great without him), builder of cities, extender of the empire, moderniser of the Russian army. He never ever lost a battle. A great man lost to the petty jealousy of his contemporaries and second-rate historians.
On top of that, he could consume vast quantities of wine and eat a whole salted Goose in one sitting. My kind of historical hero
If, like me, you were ignorant of his achievements, he's worth reading about.
When he died, the Cossacks wept and planted a spear on the Steppes to mark his passing. Frankly, I'm surprised nobody has made a film about this guy.
On top of that, he could consume vast quantities of wine and eat a whole salted Goose in one sitting. My kind of historical hero
If, like me, you were ignorant of his achievements, he's worth reading about.
When he died, the Cossacks wept and planted a spear on the Steppes to mark his passing. Frankly, I'm surprised nobody has made a film about this guy.
