Definition
Princess Tarakanova (c. 1755 – 1775) was an alleged claimant to the Russian imperial throne during the reign of Empress Catherine II. She asserted that she was a legitimate daughter of a previous Russian monarch, a claim that led to her arrest, imprisonment in the Peter and Paul Fortress, and eventual death under disputed circumstances.
Overview
According to contemporary Russian and European accounts, a woman identifying herself as “Princess Tarakanova” appeared in the 1760s claiming to be the secret daughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna (or, in some versions, of Peter the Great). She presented herself as a rightful heir to the Russian throne, which attracted the attention of foreign diplomats and anti‑Catherine factions. Catherine II’s government regarded her as a political danger and, after diplomatic maneuvering, succeeded in having her seized in 1775. She was taken to Saint Petersburg, transferred to the Peter and Paul Fortress, and detained in the fortress’s prison. While imprisoned, a flood in the fortress’s basement reportedly caused her death; however, the exact cause and date of death remain subjects of historical debate.
Etymology/Origin
The name “Tarakanova” is derived from the Russian word tarakan (таракан), meaning “cockroach.” The surname is believed to have been a nickname rather than a legitimate aristocratic family name, suggesting the woman’s true identity was unknown or that the appellation was used to denigrate her. No definitive birth name or lineage has been verified by reliable primary sources.
Characteristics
- Claimed lineage: Alleged daughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna (or, less consistently, of Peter the Great).
- Political activity: Engaged in correspondence with foreign envoys and Russian dissidents, seeking support for a claim to the throne.
- Arrest and imprisonment: Captured by agents of Catherine II in 1775 and confined within the Peter and Paul Fortress.
- Death: Traditionally reported to have died during a flood that inundated the prison cells in 1775; some later sources suggest she may have died of illness or been executed, but accurate details are not confirmed.
- Cultural impact: Her dramatic life and death inspired numerous works of art, literature, and music, including the 19th‑century opera La Princesse Tarakanova (by Antonín Dvořák’s contemporary, though the opera itself remained unfinished), the 1938 French film Princess Tarakanova, and various paintings depicting her alleged drowning.
Related Topics
- Pretenders to the Russian throne (e.g., False Dmitriys)
- Catherine II of Russia (Empress Catherine the Great)
- Peter and Paul Fortress (historical prison)
- Russian succession crises of the 18th century
- Cultural representations of historical pretenders in art and literature
Note: Precise biographical details about Princess Tarakanova’s birth, true identity, and the exact circumstances of her death remain uncertain; contemporary records are limited and often contradictory.