Andrei Budberg
Encyclopedia
Count Andrei Yakovlevich Budberg (August 10, 1750 – September 1, 1812) was a Russian
diplomat
who served as Foreign Minister in 1806-07.
His ancestors moved to Livonia
in the 16th century from Westphalia
. Budberg was born in Riga
and entered the military service in 1759. He participated in the Russo-Turkish war 1768-1774
. In 1783 Budberg was promoted to podpolkovnik
. The same year Riga governor-general
George Browne
recommended Budberg to the Empress Catherine II
as a diplomat. In fact, Budberg had been serving in the army as an infantry
officer and had no diplomatic experience. Brown did it because he was a good friend of Budberg's parents.
In 1784 he was appointed a tutor to Catherine's grandson Alexander
and held this position until 1795. In 1793 Budberg was sent to Stockholm
to arrange marriage of Catherine's granddaughter Alexandra Pavlovna and young king of Sweden
Gustav IV Adolf. Initially consent was given, but later Gustav IV Adolf renounced the betrothal. Two years later Budberg was appointed ambassador in Sweden. In 1799 Catherine II died and Paul I
succeeded her. Paul I disliked Budberg and soon he was forced to resign.
In 1804 Alexander I appointed him to the State Council
. Budberg was known for his distrust of Napoleon
and in 1806 he became Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, in 1807 when the treaties of Tilsit
were signed, he resigned and retired from politics.
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
diplomat
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
who served as Foreign Minister in 1806-07.
His ancestors moved to Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
in the 16th century from Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
. Budberg was born in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
and entered the military service in 1759. He participated in the Russo-Turkish war 1768-1774
Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774
The Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 was a decisive conflict that brought Southern Ukraine, Northern Caucasus, and Crimea within the orbit of the Russian Empire.-Background:...
. In 1783 Budberg was promoted to podpolkovnik
Podpolkovnik
Podpolkovnik is a military rank in Slavic countries which corresponds to a lieutenant colonel in English-speaking states. Usually this word is translated as lieutenant colonel, however the transliteration is also in common usage, for the sake of the historical context.The exact name of this rank...
. The same year Riga governor-general
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
George Browne
George Browne (soldier)
George Browne, Count von Browne in the nobility of the Holy Roman empire was an Irish soldier of fortune who became field-marshal in the Russian service....
recommended Budberg to the Empress Catherine II
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
as a diplomat. In fact, Budberg had been serving in the army as an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
officer and had no diplomatic experience. Brown did it because he was a good friend of Budberg's parents.
In 1784 he was appointed a tutor to Catherine's grandson Alexander
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
and held this position until 1795. In 1793 Budberg was sent to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
to arrange marriage of Catherine's granddaughter Alexandra Pavlovna and young king of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Gustav IV Adolf. Initially consent was given, but later Gustav IV Adolf renounced the betrothal. Two years later Budberg was appointed ambassador in Sweden. In 1799 Catherine II died and Paul I
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
succeeded her. Paul I disliked Budberg and soon he was forced to resign.
In 1804 Alexander I appointed him to the State Council
State Council of Imperial Russia
The State Council was the supreme state advisory body to the Tsar in Imperial Russia.-18th century:Early Tsars' Councils were small and dealt primarily with the external politics....
. Budberg was known for his distrust of Napoleon
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
and in 1806 he became Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, in 1807 when the treaties of Tilsit
Treaties of Tilsit
The Treaties of Tilsit were two agreements signed by Napoleon I of France in the town of Tilsit in July, 1807 in the aftermath of his victory at Friedland. The first was signed on 7 July, between Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Napoleon I of France, when they met on a raft in the middle of the Neman...
were signed, he resigned and retired from politics.