A Russian officer and politician who was a favorite of Catherine II and in 1762 helped her to seize power; when she visited the Crimea in 1787 he gave the order for sham villages to be built (1739-1791).

synonyms: Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin, Grigori Potemkin, Potemkin, Potyokin.

Dutch: Potemkin