Maximilian von Alopeus
Encyclopedia
Baron Maximilian von Alopaeus (also Magnus Martin Alopäus; 1748—1822) a Russian diplomat
, born at Vyborg
in Finland
, and educated at Turku, afterwards at Göttingen
, was intended for the ecclesiastical profession, but his employment as secretary by Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin
, Russian ambassador at the Swedish court, was the first step in a gradual rise through the political ranks . In 1783, Alopeus was appointed resident-minister at the court of the Bishop of Lübeck
, where he maintained the correspondence between Tsesarevich
Paul
and Frederick II
. In 1789, Alopeus was sent to Berlin where he stayed for 6 years, gained favor from Frederick William II
, and secured the signing of the allied treaty between Russia and Prussia . He was named minister plenipotentiary
at the court of Berlin, by the Empress Catherine
, in 1790.
In 1795, Prussia having withdrawn from the coalition by the Treaty of Basel
, he remonstrated; and in 1796, he left Berlin, to which court he did not return till 1802. In 1802, he was appointed envoy at the Prussian court. The rapprochement of Russia and Prussia in 1806 to a considerable degree is due to his work. In 1807, he was sent to London as an ambassador, but the peace of Tilsit
put his mission to an end.
Alopeus participated in the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle
. He retired from diplomacy in 1820, to Frankfort-on-the-Main, where he lived till his death. He is said to have left very valuable manuscript memoirs.
He was followed on his diplomatic career by his younger brother David Alopaeus
.
His daughter Natalie (ca.1796–1823) was married with Konstantin von Benckendorff
.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, born at Vyborg
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and educated at Turku, afterwards at Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, was intended for the ecclesiastical profession, but his employment as secretary by Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin
Nikita Ivanovich Panin
Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin was an influential Russian statesman and political mentor to Catherine the Great for the first eighteen years of her reign. In that role he advocated the Northern Alliance, closer ties with Frederick the Great of Prussia and the establishment of an advisory privy...
, Russian ambassador at the Swedish court, was the first step in a gradual rise through the political ranks . In 1783, Alopeus was appointed resident-minister at the court of the Bishop of Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
, where he maintained the correspondence between Tsesarevich
Tsesarevich
Tsesarevich was the title of the heir apparent or presumptive in the Russian Empire. It either preceded or replaced the given name and patronymic.-Usage:...
Paul
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:...
and Frederick II
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
. In 1789, Alopeus was sent to Berlin where he stayed for 6 years, gained favor from Frederick William II
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
, and secured the signing of the allied treaty between Russia and Prussia . He was named minister plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
at the court of Berlin, by the Empress Catherine
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...
, in 1790.
In 1795, Prussia having withdrawn from the coalition by the Treaty of Basel
Peace of Basel
The Peace of Basel of 1795 consists of three peace treaties involving France .* The first of the three treaties of 1795, France made peace with Prussia on 5 April; , * The Second was with Spain on 22 July, ending the War of the Pyrenees; and*...
, he remonstrated; and in 1796, he left Berlin, to which court he did not return till 1802. In 1802, he was appointed envoy at the Prussian court. The rapprochement of Russia and Prussia in 1806 to a considerable degree is due to his work. In 1807, he was sent to London as an ambassador, but the peace 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...
put his mission to an end.
Alopeus participated in the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle
Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818)
The Congress or Conference of Aix-la-Chapelle , held in the autumn of 1818, was primarily a meeting of the four allied powers Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia to decide the question of the withdrawal of the army of occupation from France and the nature of the modifications to be introduced in...
. He retired from diplomacy in 1820, to Frankfort-on-the-Main, where he lived till his death. He is said to have left very valuable manuscript memoirs.
He was followed on his diplomatic career by his younger brother David Alopaeus
David Alopaeus
Count Frans David Alopaeus was an Imperial Russian diplomat. He followed his older brother Maximilian von Alopaeus into a diplomatic career. He was enrolled at the Military Academy in Stuttgart from 1781 to 1785. He studied at the Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen...
.
His daughter Natalie (ca.1796–1823) was married with Konstantin von Benckendorff
Konstantin von Benckendorff
Konstantin von Benckendorff was a Russian general and diplomat. His brother Alexander von Benckendorff was also a general and statesman, and his sister Dorothea von Lieven was a political force famous at London St. Petersburg, and Paris....
.
Books
- Rede Ihrer Majestät der glorwürdigst regierenden Kaiserin von Russland Catharinen der Zweyten bey seiner Aufnahme, als Beysitzer in die Königliche Deutsche Gesellschaft zu Göttingen den 24ten September, 1768 devotest gewidmet von Magnus Alopäus aus Wiburg, Beysitzern des Königl. Historichen Instituts., Göttingen, gedruckt bey Johann Albrecht Barmeier, 1768, Libris.se