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Primary sourceDocument1789

Title page of Catherine II's praise charter to Prince Potemkin

1789

The illuminated title page of Catherine II's 1789 praise charter to Prince Potemkin. It shows the official style of her imperial documents.

Shows the formal title page of an 1789 charter by which Catherine II praised her favourite Potemkin.

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Ornate illuminated title page in Russian Cyrillic with a gold-and-orange decorative border, a crowned monogram at top, crossed swords and a small harbor scene with ships at bottom, and a long block of red and black text.
Unknown author, Title page of Catherine II's praise charter to Prince Potemkin, 1789. Commons file.

About this source

What it is

This is the title page of a praise charter that Catherine II issued to Prince Grigory Potemkin in 1789. The Commons record gives the Russian title Похвальная грамота Екатерины II князю Потемкину. The page has a gold-and-orange decorative border, a crowned monogram at the top, crossed swords, and a small harbour scene with ships at the bottom. Below these is a long block of red and black Cyrillic text. The creator is listed as unknown.

Why it matters

The title page shows the formal style of imperial documents in Catherine's reign. The crowned monogram and the swords link the honour to the ruler and to military service. Potemkin was a leading figure in her government and army, and this charter is one way she marked his standing. The image records how the state presented its own authority on paper.

Look closer

  • What do the crossed swords, the ships and the crown each suggest about the reasons for the honour?
  • Why would the ruler's monogram be placed at the top of an official page?
  • What is missing from this page, such as the full text of the praise or the names of those who prepared it?

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