When his younger brother Platon became Catherine II's lover, the "colossus" was made a count and general.
Following one obscure duel, in which he refused to take part and which resulted in his aide's killing Chevalier de Saxe, son of Prince Francis Xavier of Saxony and cousin of Louis XVI, Zubov withdrew to his Rastrelliesque Rundale Palace in Courland, formerly the seat of the Biron ducal dynasty.
Platon | Platon Zubov | Zubov | Platon Poretsky | Platon Obukhov | Platon Levshin |
The Countess Catherine Shuvalova, (born Catherine Saltykova on 23 June 1743 - died on 13 October 1816, Rome) - was the daughter of Field Marshal Earl Pyotr Saltykov, Empress Catherine II's Lady-in-waiting of the Imperial Court of Russia, confidant of Platon Zubov and courtyard of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Alexeievna (Louise of Baden).