Aleksander Dmitrijevitj Lanskoj, also kalled Sasjenka (1758-1784) was a Russian favourite and the lover of Catherine the Great from 1780 to 1784.

Lanskoj was made aide-de-champ of Potemkin

Potemkin

Potemkin is a Russian surname which derives from the word Потёмка Potyomka meaning "dark". It may refer to:People*Prince Grigory Potyomkin, statesman and lover of Catherine the Great...

 in 1779, was introduced by Potemkin to Catherine in 1780, tested by Anna Protasova

Anna Protasova

Countess Anna Stepanova Protasova was a Russian lady-in-waiting and noble, confidant of empress Catherine the Great....

and 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 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 Orlov from court. He died of diphtheria, but rumors claimed his health had been weakened by aphrodisiacs.