Person
Grigory Orlov
favorite of Catherine the Great of Russia
Count Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov (Grigory Graf von Orlow) (1734–1783) is the favorite of Catherine the Great of Russia who presumably fathers her son.
He leads the coup that overthrows Catherine's husband Peter III of Russia, and installs Catherine as empress.
For some years, he is virtually co-ruler with her, but his repeated infidelities and the enmity of Catherine's other advisers lead to his fall from power.