Nikita Ivanovich Panin
Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin (Russian: Никита Иванович Панин, scientific transliteration Nikita Ivanovich Panin; * 18.jul / September 29 1718greg in Danzig. .. . † 31 Märzjul / April 11 1783greg in Saint Petersburg ) was from 1764 to 1780 Russian Foreign Minister under Catherine II.
Life
Panin rise was supported by Chancellor Alexei Petrovich Bestuzhev - Rjumin. With the accession of Empress Elizabeth in 1741, he received his first court office as chamberlain. In 1747 he was Russian ambassador in Copenhagen, 1749 in Stockholm. In 1760 he returned to Russia and received a governor post in the Grand Duke Paul Petrovich. 1762 Panin was produced by Peter III. promoted to Privy Councillor, but was involved in the same year in the coup that deposed Peter and Catherine the Great made to the Tsarina. 1763 appointed Catherine him in the Secret Cabinet and appointed him minister of foreign affairs. 1767 was the elevation to the rank of count.
Panin followed the foreign policy principle of " Nordic chord " by looking at Prussia and England as the most important ally, next to Saxony, Poland and the Scandinavian kingdoms. Together they should form a counterweight against Austria, France and Spain. Thus, the Russian foreign policy under waved Panin on the binding to Austria. However, neither Prussia under Frederick the Great might admit nor England to such a close relationship with Russia, Panin as she imagined.