Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov

Illarion Vorontsov was born on 27 May 1837 in Saint Petersburg. He belonged to the noble family Vorontsov. He took part in the conquest of Central Asia in the 1860s and was appointed Major General in 1866. He was in charge of the Life Guard Horse Regiment in 1867–1874. He was on friendly terms with the future Alexander III of Russia and, following Alexander's father's assassination, established a counter-revolutionary squad, or druzhina, called the Holy Brotherhood.

Alexander III put Vorontsov-Dashkov in charge of the imperial court and made him Full General of Cavalry. He also was made responsible for imperial stud farms and vineyards. Following Nicholas II's coronation, he was dislodged from the office of Minister of Imperial Properties but was appointed to the State Council of Imperial Russia instead. The Russian Revolution of 1905 recalled Vorontsov to active service, and he ascended to the helm of the Viceroyalty of the Caucasus.^[1]

As Russia's second-to-last viceroy of the Caucasus, Vorontsov-Dashkov implemented several reformist policies, but his time in office was marred by a general era of revolution, war, and social upheaval.^[2]

He was officially in charge of the victorious Russian forces in the Battle of Sarikamish during the early months of World War I, although the effective command lay with General Alexander Myshlayevsky. In September 1915 he was removed from command and replaced with Grand Duke Nicholas.^[3] He died on 15 January 1916 in his Vorontsov Palace.

He married in 1867 Countess Elizaveta Andreevna Shuvalova, daughter of Count Andrei Petrovich Shuvalov. His youngest son Alexander's descendants represent the only continuation of the Vorontsov family in the male line.

Russian decorations^[4]

• Knight of St. Anna, 4th class, 1861; 3rd Class, 1864; 1st Class, 1870
• Gold Sword for Bravery, 4 June 1862
• Knight of St. Vladimir, 4th Class with Swords and Bow, 1865; 3rd Class with Swords, 1867; 2nd Class, 1874; 1st Class, 1894
• Knight of St. George, 4th class, for distinguished service during the war, 27 June 1867; 3rd Class "For the valiant skilful leadership of the Caucasian Army, whose heroic exploits achieved brilliant military success in actions against the Turks", 15 August 1915
• Knight of St. Stanislaus, 1st Class, 1868
• Knight of the White Eagle, with Swords, 1878
• Knight of St. Alexander Nevsky, 1883; in Diamonds, 1888
• Knight of St. Andrew, 14 May 1896; in Diamonds, 1904
• Portraits of the Emperors Alexander II and Alexander III, in Diamonds, 1908
• Portrait of Emperor Alexander III, in Diamonds, 21 February 1913

Foreign decorations^[4]