Statesman.
One of the most outstanding diplomats of the 19th century. As a Foreign Minister he succeeded in reversing the humiliating peace terms that were imposed on Russia after the Crimean War.
Background
Lived: 1798-1883.
Alexander Gorchakov was born in Estonia in an aristocratic family. His schoolmate at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum was Alexander Pushkin.
Career
Gorchakov chose the diplomatic career and joined the Foreign Ministry in 1856, under the tutelage of Foreign Minister Count Nesselrode. Thereafter he spent some years abroad, mostly in Prussia. It was there that he met and befriended with Otto von Bismarck. They became friends and rivals.
Foreign Minister
In 1867, Gorchakov was appointed Foreign Minister and later also the Chancellor of Alexander II. His main goal was to find allies against Austria and England and to nullify the embarrassing Treaty of Paris (1856), that had ended the Crimean War. According to the treaty, Russia had no right to keep its fleet on the Black Sea.
With his skillful tactic of playing Prussia against France, Gorchakov unilaterally denounced the treaty in 1870. That was his greatest achievement.
Gorchakov advocated the League of Three Emperors: Alexander II of Russia, Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary and Wilhelm I of Germany. However, he did not really succeed in extending Russia’s impact in the Balkans.
Gorchakov lost his influence at the Congress of Berlin (1878), where the success of Russo-Turkish War (1877-78) was all given away.
Death
Alexander Gorchakov resigned in 1882 and died a year later.
Russia Under Alexander III
Alexander Gorchakov
Statesman.
One of the most outstanding diplomats of the 19th century. As a Foreign Minister he succeeded in reversing the humiliating peace terms that were imposed on Russia after the Crimean War.
Background
Lived: 1798-1883.
Alexander Gorchakov was born in Estonia in an aristocratic family. His schoolmate at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum was Alexander Pushkin.
Career
Gorchakov chose the diplomatic career and joined the Foreign Ministry in 1856, under the tutelage of Foreign Minister Count Nesselrode. Thereafter he spent some years abroad, mostly in Prussia. It was there that he met and befriended with Otto von Bismarck. They became friends and rivals.
Foreign Minister
In 1867, Gorchakov was appointed Foreign Minister and later also the Chancellor of Alexander II. His main goal was to find allies against Austria and England and to nullify the embarrassing Treaty of Paris (1856), that had ended the Crimean War. According to the treaty, Russia had no right to keep its fleet on the Black Sea.
With his skillful tactic of playing Prussia against France, Gorchakov unilaterally denounced the treaty in 1870. That was his greatest achievement.
Gorchakov advocated the League of Three Emperors: Alexander II of Russia, Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary and Wilhelm I of Germany. However, he did not really succeed in extending Russia’s impact in the Balkans.
Gorchakov lost his influence at the Congress of Berlin (1878), where the success of Russo-Turkish War (1877-78) was all given away.
Death
Alexander Gorchakov resigned in 1882 and died a year later.
Russia Under Alexander III