Count Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov was a notable representative of the Vorontsov family.
Background
Illarion Vorontsov was born on 27 May 1837 in Saint St. Petersburg. He was on friendly terms with the future Alexander III of Russia and, following his father"s assassination, established a counter-revolutionary squad, or "holy druzhina", whose members included Konstantin Pobedonostsev, Nicholas Pavlovich Ignatiev, and Mikhail Katkov.
Career
He served as Minister of Imperial Properties in 1881-1897 and the Governor General of the Caucasus Viceroyalty (1801–1917) in 1905-1915. 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 Hussar regiment of the Leub Guard in 1867-1874.
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. His job drove him close to a mental breakdown.
On 21 November 1905 twenty-five Azeris were shot by Armenians in Tiflis.
Illarion was so desperate he gave 500 guns to the Mensheviks to keep the peace. 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.
He died on 15 January 1916 in his Vorontsov Palace.
Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky; Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Leopold
Order of St. George; Order of St. Andrew; Order of the White Eagle