She was hailed as the “Messalina of the North” and “the libertine on the throne.” There are legends about her “voluptuousness” and “gluttony.” Historians are still arguing how many lovers Catherine the Great had - dozens or hundreds? But she truly loved only one of her favorites, all her life, even after separation, only he secretly married him, only he was worthy of her passion and became the “night emperor” of Russia - Grigory Potemkin. How did a peasant son win the heart of the Empress? How did you manage to not only attract, but also retain this great woman? Legendary male strength? But she never had a shortage of “guard stallions.” A sharp mind, frantic energy, state talent? The fact that she never asked for anything - she gave everything herself - and sacredly kept the secret of their marriage? Or the willingness to accept it as it is? (They say that even when their passion faded, Potemkin continued to remain the master of the imperial bedroom, personally selecting young lovers for Catherine so that they would be beautiful, healthy, moderately intelligent, not arrogant and not eager for power...) Don’t judge this couple too harshly - they were not mere mortals and lived in a completely different era, when alcove pleasures often determined politics, the personal life of the Empress was a matter of national importance, and her secret husband was one of the largest statesmen of the century. NEW book from the bestselling author of “The First Passion of Catherine the Great” and “The Last Love of Catherine the Great” actually closes the topic, becoming the culmination of a trilogy about the unforgettable Catherine’s era, which is rightly called the “Golden Age” of the Russian Empire, about the grandiose achievements, heartfelt secrets and love secrets of the legendary Empress. Previously, the book was published under the title “Catherine and Potemkin . Secret marriage of the Empress."